Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

One Hot Summer Past Review

By (Broadcast Journalism., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) - abroad from 06/01/2012 to 06/22/2012 with

USAC Costa Rica: Puntarenas - Spanish Language, Ecological, and Latin American Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned alot while I was abroad. I learned that I actually had the courage to leave home and go to another country knowing no one, and develop long-lasting friendships. I'm proud of myself for diving into a completely different country and learning the ways of life there, as well as picking up alot of Spanish. I now recommend studying abroad to everyone who considers it. It's a once in a life time opportunity and I wouldn't take it back for anything.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I think that USAC made the city of Puntaranas seem better than it actually was. They made it seem like it was a fun beach town when it fact it was a run-down, port town. I had a great experience with my teachers and those who were also studying abroad, but I was not ready to experience such culture shock.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

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)

* 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? $400
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget your money and go into your trip knowing that the American dollar and the Colon is not the same. Don't buy too many Trits! :)

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

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? Elementary 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? You will get plenty of opportunities to use another language when you're in a town where little to no one speaks English. It's very rewarding but at first, scary!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The USAC Program and my teachers
  • The friends I made
  • Being immersed in the culture
* What could be improved?
  • My host mom didn't really cook me food.. She just heated up corn tortillas and beans in a bag and called it a burrito. I wish I could have experienced more of the culture food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew just how hot it was going to be. I knew that I was to pack very light clothing but the website didn't mention that I would be constantly sweating even at midnight. This only applies to my city because San Ramon and San Jose's temperatures drop when it gets into the night, but my beach town didn't give any relief when it came to weather.

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.