Fascinatingly vivacious while serving to foster a precocious demeanor. Past Review
By James V (Point Loma Nazarene University) - abroad from 01/16/2012 to 05/11/2012 with
USAC Costa Rica: Puntarenas - Spanish Language, Ecological, and Latin American Studies
Much personal growth, as well as an understanding of the Spanish language. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were not very rigorous at all; however, I appreciated this because it allowed me time to go out and experience the culture, travel, etc, without having to worry about classwork. Because of this, I was able to learn the language better than if I had spent more time in a classroom or done more work. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was excellent. While there were some classroom problems (we kept getting moved from one to the other) these were the falt of the school itself. The administration did everything the could to help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had great host parents. |
| * Food: |
The food served at my host house was always very good. The Costa Rican fare had both good and bad sides (specifically the hot dogs). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By the end of my stay I was fairly conversational in Spanish (having no skills coming into the course). While I had thought it impossible that anyone could mistake a 6'2'' Anglo-European for a Costa Rican, it happened on three separate occasions that I can remember. I once even got into a national park at the far-cheaper resident's rate. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't experience any health issues so I don't know. |
| * Safety: |
USAC did a good job explaining the dos and don'ts, and I always felt at least relatively safe in my travels. |
| 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) |
Three meals a day were provided by the host family, and traveling in Costa Rica and Central America are almost as cheap as one chooses to make it. I spent a total of $1400 for the entire semester, while taking trips every weekend, buying too many souvenirs, and snacks in between classes every day. I also went on three longer week-long trips, including visits to Nicaragua and Panama. It's possible to take a bus all the way across country for no more than $9, and I never paid more than $12 a night for lodging (average was $6 of $7). Watch out for food though, however. |
| * 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? | Take the cheap way to get there, look around for lodging once you're there (ignore the guy who wants to "help" by taking you to his cousin's hostel) and ignore the money-changers with "legit" calculators (I learned that one the hard way). Also take advantage of the school's cafeteria if they have one: it may be subsidized and thus cheaper. And don't be afraid to eat the street-meat (as long as you're careful about it you won't get sick). |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | High School Spaning II |
| 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? | Get out and get yourself into impossibly sticky situations where you absolutely must use the language to survive. Now all of a sudden you can speak fluently, like magic. And avoid touristy areas where a lot of English is likely to be spoken; that'll only spoil the fun. |
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? |
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? | Money Changers on the Nicaraguan border are rarely honest. That's why they're there. Panamanian boat taxi operators are also skilled in the art of ripping off lone American travelers. That's all. |
