What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have always had a passion to travel and to live and work in a culture other than the one I was brought up in. I came to Costa Rica one vacation with my family and absolutely fell in love with Costa Rica, especially the Guanacaste province. Something felt right about this place, more so than any other country and location I had visited in the past.
Beach soccer in Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica
Why did you choose Costa Rica TEFL?
Choosing Costa Rica TEFL was not a difficult decision. The program was an intensive 160-hour course and guaranteed 10+ hours of real-life teaching time to local Costa Rican students. I thought it was also very special that they offer these courses free of charge during the week as a way to give back to the community that they operate out of.
The location being five minutes away from the beach was also a huge benefit! During our lunch break some of the other students and I would run to the beach, swim, eat lunch, then head back to class. Another reason why I chose the course was because the staff was personable and so helpful in answering all of my questions about everything, from visas to job placement assistance. It was nice to know that I was communicating with a small team of people vs. a large corporate company because it made me feel like they genuinely cared about each student’s experience.
What was your favorite part about Costa Rica?
Playa Samara, Costa Rica has become my home. Costa Rica is the most incredible country that I have been lucky enough to experience. If you hop in the car it feels like there is a new beach to experience every 20 minutes when you're in the Guanacaste province! If you continue driving to other parts of the country, the climate completely changes. In the summer, it can be sunny on the west coast and a torrential downpour for days on the east coast.
The food, culture, and biodiversity are so different per province. Playa Samara is a sleepy little beach town where people congregate from all over the world. I have been able to make friends from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, France, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, Venezuela, etc. Another plus is living only five minutes away from the beach. Life by the beach isn't too bad here in Costa Rica! :)
Alexis hanging out with a friend in Costa Rica
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
There are so many different things and people that made my time abroad extraordinary. I would say the scenery of Costa Rica and the people that I have met during my time here have been some of the most beautiful moments that I have experienced thus far. This country has a way of humbling oneself and for that I am forever grateful.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
During the application process, the administrative team was very personable and helped answer all of my questions, not only through email, but over Skype as well. Moving to a new country can be a big leap, but their team was able to put me at ease and reassure me that they would be there to support me not only during the course but afterwards as well.
The lifetime job placement assistance that they offered also stood out to me when choosing the course. After contacting past graduates of the program, I realized that Costa Rica TEFL had been supporting their careers even after they had graduated. It was nice to know that the program certifying these students truly did offer lifelong job placement assistance.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I did differently would have to be practicing my Spanish more. It's easy to speak to people here in English since a large majority of locals learn English in school or through tourism. I am still learning Spanish and taking lessons once a week but it's easy to let life get in the way and not practice as much as I would like to. One day I'll be fluent though.....one day......
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in Playa Samara during the Costa Rica TEFL course would be waking up to howler monkeys and a phone alarm. From here I would meet another classmate who lived next door for breakfast and then we would walk to class together. Class would begin at 10:30 a.m., and then we would have an hour lunch break and another session of class afterwards. English classes began at 5:30 p.m. and would last until 7:30 p.m. We would have to have all of our grammar and class materials together by that time and then after class we would either head to the local bar to play jenga, go stargazing on the beach, or just head home and fall asleep.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time I would travel to different parts of Costa Rica on the weekends. Most locations were in Guanacaste since we only had the weekend, but it was a great opportunity to learn how to surf at beaches with bigger waves and get a feel for what else was in the area.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I signed up for shared housing with a couple here in Samara. Tess was from New Jersey, USA and worked at the massage school and Fabricio was a local Samara surf instructor who owned Punta Islita Surf School. I think my favorite thing about living there was when they would make octopus with this special sauce and we would just sit on their couch talking and sharing a meal together. It felt like home.
La Fortuna waterfall in Costa Rica
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing every future participant should know before beginning the program is that you're there to work, not only for yourself but for the students coming to class everyday trying to improve their English for career purposes or otherwise. I would also keep in mind that the culture you are used to is probably different in many ways when compared to the one here. Be open to new experiences and expect things to be a little bit slower paced here and that a change of pace is good for all of us sometimes. :)
Would you recommend Costa Rica TEFL to others? Why?
I would absolutely recommend Costa Rica TEFL to anyone seeking to get TEFL certified or otherwise. I feel like the program taught me not only how to teach English but also how to be a successful communicator. The people who participated on the course, as well as those who taught it, were extremely impactful in a positive way and I think that Samara also provided an incredible atmosphere to learn and to thrive in.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is to experience something more than what you're used to, to recognize that there is so much more out there in life, and that to only surround yourself with what is familiar is to limit yourself from so many amazing opportunities and people.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I actually am still living in Costa Rica and I have no plans to go back to the United States anytime soon! Every week is something new and this country is constantly impacting me by helping me to grow and to learn.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is not necessarily you impacting other people; it's letting other people and a place impact you.
