Program Reviews

The two weeks in Athenas was really fun!!!!! I feel as I grew as a person, I become more confident. Not only did my Spanish improve but I feel like I become closer to many people. It was two weeks that are very special and I will never forget. I am so glad that I went on this trip. It was Amazing!!!!!! I loved the amount of freedom that we had. I loved our host family and Athenas. I loved all our Spanish lessons and Culture lessons. I especially loved the movie and the hot springs. I am very lucky to have had the experience that I did.

I came on this trip with a group of upperclassmen from my school and I barely knew any of them as I was the only freshman. I had one clear goal for my stay in Argentina, and that was to improve my Spanish proficiency. Despite this narrow-sighted objective, these three weeks proved to be much more - academically, linguistically, emotionally, and personally. When we landed in Buenos Aires, a wave of panic hit me as I started to doubt my confidence. The two weakest components of my Spanish skills were speaking and listening, and as our group switched from speaking English to Spanish, insecurity crept up my spine. The first few days were definitely the toughest for me, but my confidence slowly rose as my Spanish was improving. Listening to my friends' talk on day one and on the last day was such a cool experience because their improvement was evident as well. I can safely say that by the end of the trip, the quality of each parts of my Spanish skills had improved tremendously. I was not afraid of conversing with locals anymore; in fact, talking with my apartment's doorman and with my host mother nightly were some of my favorite interactions during the trip.

On a separate note from the linguistic development that had come from my classes and the immersion component, the most valuable experience that I gained from this trip was the relationships I made with my fellow classmates. Spending the afternoons going on cultural excursions and the nights going to the mall or just talking at a local cafe were invaluable. I would have never expected to become close friends with some of the kids. Instead, our group became a small family, as weird as that might sound. Saying farewell to our host-mother was an experience that I will never forget. I could not believe that the three weeks had already come to an end; although we were all tired and ready to go home, it felt like I had only been in Buenos Aires for a couple of days.

My expierence was unique because we were treated like our host parents kids. When ever i would come home and be worried about time my host parents were there for me just like their own kids. Also i really got a true feel for what native speaking is like. Also, there was no translator for me if i was stuck in a situation anywhere and i had to improvise what i was saying i was really forced to speak which was sometimes really chAllenging but i loved being challenged.

I have fallen in love with Costa Rica. It is a beautiful country with such an amazing and rich culture. The locals here are incredibly friendly and always greet you when you´re out walking. The food here is some of the most amazing food I´ve had in my life, and everything is so fresh. My host mom and the teachers here were very kind and really helped me break out of my shell when speaking Spanish. All of the cultural activities and excursions were to the most beautiful places and always had something fun to do. A part of me will always be with Costa Rica and eagerly await to return!

My study abroad experience in Costa Rica this summer was incredible and definitely an experience I will remember forever. My host family was one of the best parts! With me being an only child, living with 6 other people here was a great time! We stayed up late singing to songs we all loved. We played volleyball in our backyard almost every day. The food was also delicious! Also, the professors/directors were so kind and helped us in every way possible to not only improve our Spanish as students, but to ensure each student had a fullfilling experience.

This trip has strengthened my spanish as well as catered to my desire for new experiences. The trip provided me with an extensive amount of spanish usage, as well as a new appreciation for Costa Rican culture. It has given me a good balance between learning and genuine fun. I have also gotten to get close with my host family, who took great care of me and allowed me to form a genuine bond with them.

The directors of the trip, Maria and Judith, were awesome, as they struck a perfect balance between learning Spanish and having fun. Also, they prioritized our safety at all times. Furthermore, I loved my host family and want to visit them in the future. They treated my housemate and I as family and really cared for us. Lastly, I really enjoyed all three of the excursions as they were a great opportunity to bond with the other kids on the trip. Overall, it was a great experience!

I enjoyed my experience with Sol Abroad very much, and would not hesitate to recommend the program. Not only does Costa Rica provide a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop for the experience, the Sol Abroad team, both the teachers and the staff who organize the cultural activities make sure that you are cared for. I enjoyed the walks to school, the delicious fruit, the friendly atmosphere in town, and coming home to Los Apartementos Athenas to enjoy a peaceful and and quiet evening.

Once upon a time... there was a man named Andrew. He decided to tell one of his students that he was God. The student believed him and proceeded to pray under his stewardship. One class he handed out papers to his disciples each 14-15 year old reaching out to grasp the thin piece of scripture. All but one student recived one. That student was Theodore Tolan. The one student who prayed for him, the student who cherished his lord, the student who carried his teachings throughout the valleys of Austin TX. The student pleaded and pleaded to consider the knowledge of his lord. Eventually he was passed ink, a quill, and the words of god. What he understood was that if he signed his name on the script he would be able to travel to the happiest nation in the world for 2 weeks with his lord. With a large and profound stroke of the quill along the paper, the disciple checked yes in the square inscription on the document. A few months later he is having the time of his life becoming more and more compfortable with speaking Spanish. He is eating large quantities of delicious food, zip lining through a rainforest and thanking his holy father, Andrew Lantz, for blessing him with this opportunity.

This program was a very good experience! Our host family was very nice and easy to talk to, the directors were more than capable and very nice, and the country was a very nice place. I really felt like I was immersed in the culture, and I learned a lot. . .