Semester in Costa Rica - Universidad Veritas

As a very adventurous person, studying abroad was just up my alley. Truly, I was nervous about leaving on my own in a new country with another language I was only used to speaking, writing and practicing in school, but I also was the most excited I've ever been to journey a new place. Once I made my travels to CR and arrived at the airport I found my study abroad company waiting outside and a driver drove my new friends and I to our houses and we then settled in. Once walking around your neighborhood and school, you soon learn the routes, shortcuts, and best eating places quickly! Do not be alarmed by the looks or rumors about the capital San Jose, Costa Rica is a third world country, but it beautiful and really is a life changing experience. You will embrace diverse foods, new culture, and beautiful views of mountains, Pacific and Caribbean coasts, cloud forests, volcanoes and rain forests. This high level of biodiversity is what attracted me towards this opportunity - and I most definitely was not disappointed. If you are worried that you'll be so far away from home, I would say that your home-stay family truly makes you feel like a part of theirs, schoolmates become very close friends, and your program will include you in weekend trips as well. Costa Rica not only acts as an incredible chance to learn new culture, make new friends and have stories to tell for years to follow, but it also acts as a self confidence booster and makes you more than responsible and independent than ever before. I found honestly found out more about myself then I ever knew abroad then I ever discovered at home. I highly recommend traveling and studying abroad it opens your eyes to new levels that are beyond the ordinary.

Studying abroad for the Spring 2017 semester was my first time going out of the country, so I am really glad that I went with a program that would arrange housing, meals, activities, etc which put me at ease as a first-time international traveler. Now that I have studied abroad with a program, I feel equipped to travel on my own (which I have now!). I would highly recommend doing a program if it's your first time going abroad, but if you have experience travelling and adapting to new cultures/languages, it would be a lot cheaper to arrange travel plans independently. I loved my home stay, and students that did not like theirs were given the chance to switch homes. When a couple students got food poisoning, they went to the hospital and were reimbursed for the bills by CISabroad. Our on-site director went with them, check up on them, and helped with insurance questions. I loved being in the capital San Jose because I got to see the downtown area and got to see so many museums, tons of artsy boutiques and shops, and also got to see what daily life was like in the capital. There are so many giant fresh markets that are fun to explore! There is also a big (and confusing) public bus system that is super cheap, and there are bus terminals where you can buy tickets to destinations throughout Costa Rica, or to Nicaragua. I took several trips with friends to beaches using the bus terminals. The CISabroad excursions were great and a way to learn about the culture. Our on-site director knew so much about the culture, wildlife, and history of Costa Rica. We got a tour of the city on our second day there, and on all the excursions she would tell us interesting facts. If I could study abroad again, I totally would!!

I truly felt like an alien visiting a new planet where I did not speak their language well nor did I understand the culture. After only a month of living in this foreign place, my Spanish speaking ability and love for my host country skyrocketed. Costa Rica is the most beautiful place I have ever been exposed to and I have CIS to thank for that. The host family that took me into their home accepted me, a random American, almost as a son. The home-stay experience is so important since this is where you learn about your new country. CIS made sure I had a place I could truly call home. I really became more immersed in the culture because of them.