An absolutely PHENOMENAL program Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I chose this program in part because the classes were in English. Given that there was no language barrier, the academic rigor was quite high. That said, the grading was very fair, and the focus was always on the experience rather than the academics. In that sense, the classes were perfect: they were very challenging and eye-opening, but I didn't have to worry about getting a good grade.

On-site administration of your program

The program coordinators are phenomenal. They are extremely dedicated to their work, and really warm and compassionate. All of them have lived in their native countries and the United States for a long time, so they are very familiar with both regions.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The program included 6 homestays in total (4 short-term rural homestays and 2 longer urban homestays). We also stayed in guest houses, hotels, etc. The living arrangements were very comfortable.

For the most part, the food was delicious and we were very well fed. In fact, one of the biggest challenges with food is that you're often served larger portions than you'd like, but it's polite to eat all of it. The stereotype that Central Americans eat only rice and beans is untrue. Even in the families with fewer financial resources, we were often served plantains, tortillas, cheese, meat, etc. If you have food concerns (gluten-free, etc.) don't worry about it. We had several students with SEVERE dietary restrictions, but our coordinators made sure that they were fed properly and fully (even in homestays).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This program is hard because you move around quite a bit, but the longer homestays (one in Quetzaltenango and one in Managua) give you the opportunity to really feel part of the culture. The trickiest part is El Salvador, since you're in a guest house for most of the time and it can feel pretty isolated from the real Salvadoran experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program coordinators were very serious about our health. I'll be honest—if you go on this program, it's likely you'll experience things like traveler's diarrhea, parasites, etc. Do not let that deter you. As long as you bring proper medicine (I HIGHLY recommend Ciprofloxacin) you'll be fine. Parasites are common, but medicine can be found at any pharmacy for less than $10. Things like Pepto Bismal are more expensive, so be sure to bring them with you.

This program took EXTREMELY good care of us. In every country, we were given safety instructions and frequent safety reminders. In El Salvador, the most dangerous of the three countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua), they drove us everywhere we needed to go. I rarely ever felt that I was in danger. However, you need to be smart when it comes to crime. A few students on our program had possessions stolen (including computers), so bring only what you absolutely need. There are computers available in all three countries, so you might consider bringing an iPhone or iPad instead if you can.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Central America is relatively inexpensive, depending on what you need. You won't need to buy much, since most is included in the program cost, but some things to consider are: Drinks/snacks at cafés (especially in Guatemala) Spring break (hostels, transportation, etc) Souvenirs You can usually find hostels for less than $15 a night, and they're pretty nice. Dorms are the cheapest—sometimes as little as $6 a night for a 6-person room.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

There were plenty of opportunities to use our Spanish—in homestays, at the language institute, and with speakers. Unfortunately when we were together (e.g., at guest houses) we ended up speaking only in English. This is not an immersion program—the focus is more on social justice than language-learning. That said, some students came into the program with almost no Spanish and were very competent by the end.

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• Dorm
• Other
• Host Family
• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Americans

• Traveling through an entire region (over 15 towns and cities!)
• Amazing speakers
• Rural homestays

• Encouraging us to speak Spanish even at the guest house
• More nature excursions (rainforest, etc.)

The Academic or Linguist