ISA in San Jose, Costa Rica
Study in the economic, cultural, and political capital of Costa Rica - San Jose. ISA offers the chance to study Spanish language at Veritas University or Universidad Latina: San Pedro among a variety of other courses. Study with Costa Rican students in areas including Health Care, Environmental Studies, Liberal Arts, Business and more.
ISA has a great history of students being very pleased with the support, excursions, housing, and every other aspect of the program. The excursions included with the ISA-San Jose program include trips to the Arenal Volcano, Playa Tamarindo, and Panama among others. Click the "Visit Our Website" link above to see all of the details!
Reviews
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My time in Costa Rica was amazing!! I worked hard (their school system can be kinda intense) but 3 1/2 day weekends on the Caribbean are amazing!!! It was harder re-adjusting to America when I got back than it was getting used to Costa Rica. Pura Vida is a way of life.
Packing: (SEP-DEC) Clothing - San Jose is damp, Caribbean is humid. Generally pack for AZ winter (sweater in the am, tank top after noon). jeans are good most nights, but cargos/breathable fabrics are better. Bring comfy shoes for walking!!!! Umbrella and waterproof purse/backpack are the best investments EVER. Sun screen and Bug Spray only needed outside of San Jose. Bring Peanut butter. It's super expensive there, so bring some. You'll miss it. Trust me.
Safety: Petty theft is a problem in Latin America, but nothing much worse than that. You probably don't look Tico/Tica... so just be AWARE and be smart... Taxis are expensive BUT DO IT!! People I knew got robbed after dark! Get friends together and split it. Be cautious - roads are ridiculous and J-Walking is common law.
Food: Try the food!!!! Seriously!!! Pan integral with guyabana jelly. And ceviche - with enough hot sauce and mayo to turn it pink. So. Good. Gallo Pinto and Arroz con Pollo are obvious traditional favorites.
The Homestay Experience: It's fantastic. My "Mama Tica" was a wonderful woman (and an even better chef!), I really felt like a part of the family while I was there. She went out of her way to help me, and always had suggestions for things to do out on the town. I've studied Spanish for a long time, so I didn't struggle with that too much, but she worked with the other student who stayed with us(who had less Spanish) really well too.
Travel Advice: You'll have enough time on busses to do homework (So don't worry about it! !Pura Vida, Mae! :P) In addition to the ISA trips, be sure to hit the following: (1) Puerto Viejo, Limon on the Caribbean side for surfing and snorkeling - chill little surfer town (2) Playa Hermosa for shorter trips. It's the closest NICE beach to San Jose. Just south of Jaco, which is really popular for some reason I don't understand - it has painful rock beaches and dangerous surfing... (3) Montezuma for absolutely beautiful nature!! Waterfalls, forest - it's surreal. (4) Chirrpo for a really cool & challenging hike - it's one of the highest (if not THE highest) mountain in CR... (5) Also, try to hit one of the community-based ecotourism groups while you're there. Ecotourism is HUGE in Costa Rica and this is the purest form! (I did field research on efficacy of ecotourism groups while I was there.)
General Advice: Yes, you'll miss people back home, but don't let it get in the way. Skype is FANTASTIC, but you shouldn't be hooked up 24/7. That being said - live it up! Learn as much as you can, try as many things as you can, make as many friends as you can... Don't pass up an opportunity; you might not get to go back.
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Alumni Interviews
Interview with Kalyn Olehausen, ISA San Jose alum
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with ISA in San Jose, Costa Rica?
Kalyn: My motivation was mainly to gain practical experience with the Latin-American culture and Spanish language that I had been studying for 8 years. Originally, I had been looking into Spain programs (there was some kind of romantic appeal to Spain), but I wasn't able to find one that would fit into my major. The ISA in San Jose program, however, fit perfectly. I took two classes that count towards electives in my major (global governance), a required class for my Spanish minor, and a science course which counted as my last Gen Ed. It fit perfectly.
As I looked more into Costa Rica, the decision became even easier. Costa Rica is such a beautiful country with a diverse climate and a picturesque landscape (even on the walk from my Homestay to my school). Economically and politically, Costa Rica is far ahead of most other Latin-American countries, often being the first to take on innovative policies and also acting as mediator for regional conflicts.
Costa Rica has the highest literacy rate in the region and a booming ecotourism industry; it was the first country to abolish its national army and the first to set attainable goals for carbon neutrality. Costa Rica was a perfect subject for unique field research for my honors thesis. Additionally, knowing that Costa Rica is a very centralized country, I knew that studying in San Jose, the capital, would be advantageous.
GO: What made studying in Costa Rica a unique and special experience?
Kalyn: The people. Costa Ricans are such a warm, friendly people; they truly are willing to help you with anything you need, whether that's directions to the mall, help with your Spanish homework, or a dance partner. I loved picking up on all the cultural nuances, especially with the help of my "Mama Tica," who really made me feel like a part of the family.
There's nothing like spending 3 day weekends in a little surfer town in the Caribbean. Just sayin'. "Pura Vida" (literally "Pure Life": the national saying) is a way of life. There's such a relaxed lifestyle; it proved to be a stark difference from America's hustle and bustle, the deadlines, the stress.... I definitely brought some of that "take life as it comes" attitude back home with me.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Kalyn: My conversational Spanish has improved significantly. Immersing yourself in the language really is the best way to learn or improve your knowledge of it. It was exactly what I needed to refresh my passion for the language (after 8 years) and to encourage me to continue.
I was able to spend a semester in a beautiful country, taking all the classes that I would have been taking at home. It worked out perfectly with my academics (studying abroad doesn't have to set you back). I caught the travel bug. It's official. My experience in Costa Rica was unforgettable; now I need to see the rest!
Check out this great video on studying in Spain with ISA.
Further Info
About ISA
ISA distinguishes itself as a study abroad provider by its commitment to each individual student. ISA services are available to students, parents, faculty and advisers throughout the study abroad process. In addition to the ISA team in the U.S., ISA offers study abroad students constant support through resident directors available in study abroad locations globally.
Everyone at ISA is proud to be a part of offering a high quality study abroad experience to American and Canadian college students at an affordable price. We recognize that we play an important role in the worldwide effort of international educators to increase awareness of cultures and societies outside of each student's national boundaries. Our programs are designed to maximize our participants' learning abroad, and we understand that most college students need support and expert guidance before, during and after their time abroad.
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I enjoyed every second of my experience in Costa Rica, and I think program and the staff had every bit to do with it. The family that ISA chose to put me with was fantastic, I still skype with them today. They wanted to be involved in my life and I even took dance classes with my mama, and she taught me how to cook traditional food.
The food was full of carbs, and I gained lots of weight, but it was delicious. Gallo Pinto, Platanos, Casados, everything that I was served or ordered out was always very traditional. It was so different to what I would eat at home, but never once was I homesick for American food; however, now I'm homesick for Costa Rican food! Their food uses a lot of meat, but also a lot of dishes that were chopped vegetables, and it would definitely be easy to be a vegetarian if that was desired.
The staff at ISA was wonderful, from when they picked us up at the airport to our very last goodbye. The director did not only want to be our director, but also wanted to be our friend. She held meetings with us to make sure everything was going okay, and any problem was immediately addressed. When we were in the office they would help us plan trips, with our homework, tell us the best places to go, or just hang out with us. The classes I took were challenging because they were all in Spanish, but not only were they challenging, I felt like I learned way more in these classes than I ever did in any Spanish class in America. Also, the school was very welcoming, everyone wanted to get to know the Americans. There was even a club made just for us, the "culture club" where students from the university got together to show us traditional things that Costa Rican's would do.
I was always worried before leaving to go abroad; going to a foreign country, with a foreign language, with no one that I knew. However, once I arrived there, I immediately bonded with people in the program, and realized that these would be great friends. Now looking back I know that every single person I went on this study abroad with will be my friend for life. The experiences we had together are to great to put into words. I wish that someone would have told me to relax before I leave, be less uptight, because I didn't have anything to worry about.
Bottom line, I would recommend this program over and over again to a friend. I got to live in a city and experience a life completely different to my normal one. I think this program made me a better person, and I take so much less for granted now. Also, I had the opportunity to travel to beaches that people go to for their honeymoons. Some of the sites that I saw were incredible! As soon as it was time to leave I wished that I had signed up for a year abroad. Even now I find myself wishing I was still there living the Pura Vida life.