Livin' La Pura Vida! Past Review
By Kelsey S (Psychology and Pre-OT, University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) - abroad from 01/06/2012 to 05/12/2012 with
API (Academic Programs International): San Joaquin de Flores - Instituto San Joaquin De Flores
I learned so much about myself and gained a much deeper appreciation for other cultures. It opened my eyes to a whole world I didn't know about. Definitely worth while. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Most of my classes weren't very hard but they were really interesting. The professors were great! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very easy to talk to and I felt like they really wanted to get to know me. They were always there for whatever you needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
LOVED my host family! |
| * Food: |
lots and lots of rice and beans:) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was great living with a host family because I felt like I got to experience the true Costa Rican lifestyle. Although, I didn't get to meet that many ticos outside my family. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any medical issues while there so I can't really say. My friend did have an issue and from what I know everything went very smoothly on getting everything figured out. |
| * Safety: |
I felt relatively safe there. You will stick out because you are from the US but just be smart about it. Make sure to take cabs home if it is late at night and not go waving around large amounts of cash, basically common sense. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
I averaged about $100 a week. This included traveling every other weekend. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Figure out how much money you have to spend abroad and what things you really want to do (buy souvenirs, weekend trips, zip lining, etc.) . Make sure you set aside money for that and look what you have left to spend on going out to the bars and going out to eat. STICK TO YOUR BUDGET! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Our school encouraged us to use Spanish at all times at the school. Also in every class we were required to speak Spanish |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPA 305 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It isn't THAT scary to travel abroad. For every hard time you have while there, you will have a dozen more amazing stories:) |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
