Best 3 weeks of my life! Past Review
By Lauren Camenzind (Missouri State University) - abroad from 06/03/2017 to 06/24/2017 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
I was able to see how other people lived and I got to really immerse myself in a culture different than what I am used to. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was AMAZING. They were so welcoming, fun to be around, and all around just the perfect fit for me. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt like I was in any danger in Heredia. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really enjoyed everything Costa Rica had to offer and I feel like my time there is unfinished. There are still so many things there that I want to experience. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I bought a lot of souvenirs so around $100. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep a notebook of your expenses so you can keep track of what you've spent and what you have left. |
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 |
Everyone in Costa Rica was very receptive to us speaking Spanish and genuinely wanted to help us learn and be able to communicate with us. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate 1 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Watch a lot of TV shows and listen to a lot of music that has Spanish in it. Also, try to speak it as much as possible with friends if you know anyone that speaks spanish. |
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?
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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? | 3 weeks is not enough time. I wish I could've stayed longer because there was a lot I feel like I missed out on. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
