Why did you choose this program?
The opportunity to learn about health in Costa Rica via Arcos came up at the perfect time. Needing to fulfill an abroad learning program was part of my necessary curriculum, and I have dreamed of being in a healthcare position nearly all my life. Having the program be in a Central American country only made that all the better, as I am also working on learning Spanish for my Global Studies degree.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Being on financial aid has helped my position significantly. I am consistently low-income. The most I had to spend was a pre-deposit and plane tickets there and back. Everything else was taken care of by the university and Arcos. The university supplied me with plenty of resources to help fund my trip, and it was scheduled far enough out that I was able to save up a little beforehand as well.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Don't let the price scare you away. Working directly with your school to communicate your needs is the best way to reach your dreams. I don't regret going even for a moment, and never felt like I had to sacrifice anything to make it happen. As long as you are prepared for the humidity and heat, and have some funds to backup emergencies, it is entirely possible to achieve.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
As I had all my meals taken care of, I only had to worry about spending money while abroad. Being able to have a safe host home to return to after school every day, and a hot meal waiting for me, made me feel incredibly accepted. The days were lined out by the hour, with school in the morning until afternoon, and free time in the evening. On weekends, we often had excursions, where we visited exotic and special locations important to Costa Rica.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I am autistic, and I have never in my life traveled outside of the United States. I have never even traveled on my own before. It was honestly terrifying to navigate the airports on my own, and especially in a location where Spanish is not my first language. However, I did it, and I owe it to my family back at home and our routine phone calls. After a week, I felt comfortable enough to do many more things on my own, despite the language barrier.
What is one thing you recommend to make your travels easier?
A thing that many people didn't mention before I left was the absolute need for a regional eSim. I arrived in Costa Rica and immediately had no data or internet access. Acquiring an eSim was much harder when I landed and would have been much simpler if I'd done so beforehand. Also, a nice little stash of spending money for emergencies is a must. While abroad, I got terribly sick during the second week, and had to stock up on Suero and pain killers. If I didn't have money for those, I would have been far more miserable.