CIS Abroad - Semester in Costa Rica - Universidad Veritas

Studying abroad with CIS Abroad at Universidad Veritas in San José, Costa Rica was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, if not THE best decision. I knew I’d be immersing myself in a new culture, meeting new people, and navigating a different academic system, but I just had no idea just how much I would grow on a personal level. This experience didn’t just change where I was; it changed who I am as a person. To be honest it was not all easy, the first few days were kind of overwhelming. I was in a brand-new country, surrounded by a language I wasn’t fluent in, trying to figure out everything from how to get to class to what bus to take to get places. But pretty quickly, I started to feel more at home, and it all became worth it. Costa Ricans (aka Ticos) are some of the warmest, most laid-back people I’ve ever met. Everyone was so patient and kind, even when I messed up my Spanish or had no idea what I was doing. That welcoming vibe made it easier to just be myself and not stress so much about standing out or not fitting in perfectly. One of the most important things I’ve taken away from this experience is just how much more confident I’ve become. Before studying abroad, I sometimes second-guessed myself or played it safe, and I was not happy with being myself. But here, I had to figure things out on my own—from navigating public transportation to handling classes in a new system to planning weekend trips with friends. I felt like I could be my fun and comfortable self because of all the things I was achieving, and the supportive friends and staff I was surrounded with along the way. Each time I pushed myself, even in small ways, I could feel myself growing. Whether it was ordering food in Spanish without overthinking it or making new friends from around the area, I started realizing that I can actually do this. And that I really can do anything I put my mind to. And that mindset started to carry over into everything I did. If there’s one phrase you’ll hear all the time in Costa Rica, it’s “pura vida.” It literally means “pure life,” but it’s really more of a lifestyle. People here just get how to live in the moment. They don’t stress over the small stuff. They take their time, enjoy life, and focus on what matters most, which is connection, nature, and peace of mind. Before I came to Costa Rica, I was used to being constantly busy, always chasing the next assignment, work, event, or goal. But in Costa Rica, I learned to slow down. I started to let go of the pressure to be “on” all the time. I learned that it’s okay to relax, take a breath, and just be. Honestly, that’s a lesson I really needed. Looking back, I can see just how much I’ve grown. I’m still me of course, I still love meaningful conversations, trying new foods, and dancing, but I feel more grounded now. I’ve learned how to trust myself more, handle challenges better, and embrace uncertainty instead of running from it. I don’t think I realized how strong I was until I came here and had to rely on myself in ways I never had before. From all the fun and exciting excursions and challenges to everyday life, the experience has shaped me as a person. We snorkeled with sharks, ziplined, horseback rode to a volcano, and became a family. Now, I feel like after leaving Costa Rica I left not just with amazing memories, but with a stronger sense of who I am and what I’m capable of. If you’re even thinking about studying abroad, do it. Seriously. Costa Rica, especially with CIS Abroad and Universidad Veritas, gave me more than just an academic experience. It gave me confidence, clarity, and a fresh outlook on life. You’ll come back with some crazy stories, but more importantly, you’ll come back with a stronger version of yourself. And you might just pick up a little pura vida along the way, actually, you definitely will.

This was such an amazing and transformative experience. I really enjoyed meeting so many new people from all over the country. It can be taunting going into a new culture but CIS made the adjustment so easy. They were always available to help us with any of our needs and it made everything so much smoother to have such a great support staff. The program includes amazing excursions that really helps you get closer to your peers, and makes you feel more comfortable. I would 100% recommend this program to other students.

This program was a great opportunity for any interested student ranging in fluency to beginner Spanish levels. There were a variety of course options, which not only led to flexibility but also led to a diverse group of students. Through CIS you have a built-in group of other students who may be in your classes, at nearby homestays, and who you can go on excursions with making a new country feel homey. Being at a nearby and smaller private university, you really get to learn from the professors and take home not only knowledge in what you took classes in but also cultural knowledge and stories. Overall, a great way to get out of your comfort zone!

Hi!!! My name is Jasmine Villavicencio and I'm an International Studies and Spanish major at the University of Tampa. I got the amazing opportunity to study abroad spring semester during my sophomore year in college and it was one of the most amazing experiences ever. There I lived with a Costa Rican family who owned a restaurant and I was a five-minute walk away from the Universidad. Each weekend I was always out traveling to a new part of the country and during the school week my roommate and I would check out all the amazing vegan restaurants! One thing I recommend for sure is living with a host family. There, you can really get good advice on where to go and what's safe or not. They also make you feel so at home and welcome and you can really immerse yourself in the language!

I loved my experience with CIS abroad. From the time I arrived to the time I left it was truly unforgettable. Excursions, housing, and academics were excellent. I could not have chosen a better country or time to go abroad! They helped me along the way and gave me the tools I needed. Veritas is a small university located just outside the Heart of San Jose. San Jose is surrounded by mountains and volcanos. Every weekend you can take an excursion to the beach or the rainforest. There are endless possibilities. The academics are great. The department is small and so are the classes so the teachers get to give a lot of one on one attention. The class dynamic is also very flexible. The host families will become like your second family quickly. They not only help you learn Spanish but introduce and immerse you in the culture from food to music to dancing. It will be an unforgettable experience.

I had an amazing time in Costa Rica, there are times I still listen to the music and think about my time there. I miss the friends I made while I was abroad and it is truly a once in a life time experience. I would recommend everyone to take a semester to study abroad while in school. I think that my favorite thing that I was able to do in Costa Rica was the white water rafting (I ended up doing this twice!) I also loved the ziplines! I highly recommend the ones in Monte Verde.

Writing a simple review about my experience doesn't seem possible, but I'll try. My semester abroad in Costa Rica was crazy, wonderful, awful, and amazing all in one! It was so different than just traveling. I actually LIVED in another country for 5 months. Not every day was amazing and happy and crazy. Some days was normal, or even a little rough. But that's when I knew I'm not just a spectator; I'm actually there and living it. I lived in the capitol city of San Jose during the week, attending classes at Universidad Veritas. I took intensive Spanish and some electives. And as intense as those Spanish classes were, I learned absolutely so much. However, I learned so much more at my host home living with my "Familia Tica." These people let me in their homes and treated me like family, and showed me more culture than I could have possibly learned anywhere else. And on the weekends, the oh so amazing weekends, I traveled. I adventured. I explored. With new friends every weekend, I zip-lined through rainforests, I para-sailed over the ocean at sunset, I jumped off waterfalls... The adventures were insane and I couldn't have done them anywhere else besides Costa Rica. And the people I met will forever hold a special place in my heart. I became so close with some students and my housemates, but I also met "Ticos" (Costa Ricans) that it almost broke my heart to leave them. My favorite memory comes from a weekend when I traveled to Nicaragua and went volcano-sledding with my housemate. I fell in a heap at the bottom of the volcano, covered in ash and panting from exhilaration. I slipped when I tried to stand, so shaky but with a smile so big that it hurt my face. My crew at the bottom cheered and clapped as I ran the rest of the way to them, tripping over ash and rocks but never losing my smile. Thank you, Costa Rica, for everything you've shown me. PURA VIDA
-Moeryae

I had a great time studying abroad in Costa Rica. San Jose was a good location because it's the capital and you get to see museums and all the history but you are also in a central location to take buses to beaches/other parts of the country. This was my first time going abroad, so it was so helpful to go with a third party program that would coordinate my housing, some meals, academics, some excursions, etc for me. Now that I have travelling experience, if I were to study abroad again I would arrange it myself (do direct exchange instead of a program) to save money. I liked that the program had excursions at the beginning to help you get acquainted to the culture/country. As time goes on, you get more comfortable with travelling and navigating the language/money/culture, and you can plan your own trips. In my last month, I planned a trip to Nicaragua with 3 other girls, and for our week off we booked everything ourselves and traveled all over Costa Rica. Basically, the excursions are expensive but worth it at the beginning, but once you know how to travel you should plan trip with friends to save money plus you get to choose exactly what you want to do. When students got sick, they initially paid for the hospital bill themselves, and were reimbursed later from CISabroad. My pre-departure advisor Jessica was THE BOMB - so helpful and kind and understanding. She checked up on my several times and was SO much more helpful than my school study abroad advisor. I felt taken care of and supported as I prepared to leave the US.