USAC Costa Rica: Heredia - Latin American Studies & Ecology

Overall, I loved my time in Costa Rica. However, if I had the chance to do it over again, I would have probably picked a direct exchange program where I was more fully immersed in the culture/language, but there were many qualities of the USAC Heredia program that make it valuable especially for those who haven't traveled much or don't speak Spanish. Pros: The home stay!!! I loved my familia tica. The food was great, the house was always perfectly clean, and I got to go on trips with my host family. It was sad to leave and I'm still in touch with them! Opportunities to meet other local university students at UNA. Gustavo, the Spanish track IV professor, was INCREDIBLE. The bus system in Costa Rica is awesome and I got to travel almost every weekend Cons: Surrounded by other English speakers. -Classes are not very rigorous or challenging. -Not great for students who already speak Spanish conversationally. - Sometimes the program directors are a little disorganized. I'd love to see USAC allow students to enroll in classes directly at la UNA.

If you are someone who has never been outside the program or doesn’t speak Spanish, this program would probably be great for you. However, if you want full immersion you will not receive that through USAC. They don’t tell you that your classes will have zero locals which means you have to go out of your way to make local friends.

My time in Costa Rica was definitely hard but one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences I have ever had the pleasure of taking part in. Not only did my fear of being a solo traveller dissipate, I now strive to travel anywhere an everywhere whether it be with friends, solo, or with new people I meet along the way. Without my solo trip to La Fortuna, I would not have learned so much about myself and I certainly would not have met some of my best friends to this day. Thank you Costa Rica for opening my heart, mind, and soul to a new way of living and looking at the world around me.