Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Pura Vida, mae. Past Review

By (American University) - abroad from 07/06/2016 to 11/15/2016 with

IFSA: Heredia - Universidad Nacional

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I grew as a person and learned to be more independent, even though I was living with a host family. I met new people who I have continued to stay in contact with, learned about various cultures, learned about the environment and our impact, and learned who I was.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This program was amazing. The immersion into the Costa Rican classes was the best I could've asked for.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Rodney was always there to answer all my questions and, being native, had numerous suggestions on everything from restaurants to beaches.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living with a host family definitely was the highlight of the experience.

* Food:

Gallopinto and casados were the mainstays, but they never got old.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

With all of my classes in Spanish and with locals, it allowed integration to be a natural process.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any issues, but fellow people in my program went to the doctor for various illnesses and never reported any problems.

* Safety:

The one big thing is to never be alone, especially at night. Cat calls and robberies definitely happen, but the best thing to do is stay together in numbers.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

There was no negative in this program, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? For me, going out to bars was the most expensive. Beer was more expensive than liquor, so if you want to go out, just be mindful of how much you're spending.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

The program staff only spoke to use in Spanish, so that was the first key sign that we needed to use Spanish. They encouraged us to us it as much as possible.

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? Intermediate Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? The best thing to do is to make friends with the locals. Additionally, it is important to disconnect from social media and the United States.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Immersion
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I think IFSA and American University both provided excellent resources to be prepared for the program.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.