AIFS Abroad: Study, Intern, or Study & Intern in Costa Rica

I went into this study abroad program not knowing anyone but ended the semester with life-long friends. I spent the semester attending Veritas University, where I took incredible classes in Spanish language and dialects, Ecotourism in Costa Rica, and Mural Painting and Public Art. All of my courses had cultural components and/or excursions included, which I loved as a way to get outside the classroom. AIFS took our group on three weekend excursions at the beginning of the semester, which provided awesome opportunities to see more touristy parts of the country (Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano) and make new friends in the program. They also did smaller excursions into the city throughout the semester, such as museums or butterfly gardens, and had a nice goodbye-dinner at the end of the semester for all of us. AIFS, unlike the other study abroad programs partnered at Veritas University, has a small student center right near campus. This place was a lifeline for me during the semester; I loved having a place to make lunch, reconvene with friends, or talk to the incredible program staff Karla or Jesenia. They truly got me through the semester and I don't know what I would have done without them. I loved my experience abroad because of the support I received and would definitely recommend any program with AIFS!

I don't have enough good things to say about studying abroad with AIFS in Costa Rica. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and AIFS was hands down one of the best parts of the experience. Not only does AIFS have an office building near the university (and none of the other programs do!), but Karla (resident director), Jessenia and Pablo (assistant resident directors) go out of their way to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable. AIFS was by far the most organized, professional, and kind program that I saw and would 1000% choose them again to study abroad. The classes weren't hard and there was a really good balance of academics while also being able to explore the country. If you're deciding which company to choose to study abroad: GO WITH AIFS. You won't regret it.

My study abroad trip to San Jose, Costa Rica was the best 4 months of my life. In the time that I was there I hiked up multiple mountains and a volcano. I also made hikes to 6 different waterfalls in which I got to swim in 2 of them. I went to a black sand beach, many white sand beaches and a beach made out of broken seashells (I suggest wearing shoes, lol). I got to ride on more boats than I can count, a banana boat, a buggy, a zipline, and many busses. I also got to take 2 Spanish Classes that ensured you learn the language and 3 Elective classes that all applied towards my degree. My host family and the support staff (Karla and Catalina) were my specific highlight though. No matter what problems came up, my host family, Karla, and Catalina were there for me. Everyone in Costa Rica was so nice and I miss them everyday. If you love to do adventurous and sometimes adrenaline activating activities, Costa Rica is the trip for you!

Global Experiences in San Jose provided us an opportunity to explore an environment that was very different from what most of us were used to and in a way that gave us time to go explore on our own during many of the weekends (in addition to a few planned trips to places that were really unique and interesting). San Jose (and sometimes Costa Rica as a whole) was very different from what some of us expected and they were many weekends where we had really amazing and crazy adventures. We were able to explore so much, have so much fun and make lifelong memories along the way.

Besides our weekend and planned trips, we spent most of our actual time in San Jose at our internships. All of our internships were pretty different and unique (mine was an NGO working to organize girls' clubs in disadvantaged communities to prevent teen pregnancy), although some of us had shared experiences with similar work environments or focus areas. Our local coordinator, Mariel, was really helpful and really tried to set us up with the best suited internships but did so almost entirely with people or groups that she knew first-hand or second-hand or trusted would be great opportunities for us.

Mariel was very friendly and even organized a group-work day where we all went to a work-share area with a pool and shared about our work experiences and learned about each other, which was a great addition to our already-planned events. She also really tried to set me up with an additional internship in another field I'm really passionate about (i.e., indigenous issues) and although the opportunity did not pan out about because of lack of availability, she really tried to find me another opportunity on top of the one she had already set me up with, which was really generous and thoughtful, and I know future interns will be in great hands.

An internship through Global Experiences in San Jose is unreal. It's unlike anything you've done in a place that most people don't travel to. Having both support and independence makes it an amazing experience for sure! There are so many things unique to living in San Jose and in Costa Rica that really do make the experience both professionally and personally worthwhile in every sense. Being able to travel with the group of interns and on your own make the experience just that much better.

Mariel was amazing and such a huge help to adjusting to Costa Rican life, was able to show us all the local spots and make the two months in San Jose feel like home. There isn't anything that quite lives up to how incredible, personal and unique a trip like this really is!

If you are looking for a work experience unlike any other, then look no further! San Jose is a wonderful city filled with great opportunities for people with almost any interest imaginable. Your internship will be high-quality; you won't just be getting coffee, you'll be involved in meaningful work that impacts your company/organization. While there are certainly challenges throughout the experience, learning how to overcome them is incredibly rewarding, and by the end of your internship, you will have grown into a more mature, confident, and capable person. You will also make connections through your work that will be invaluable in your future professional endeavors. Going all the way to a country like Costa Rica might be an intimidating prospect, but the results are far more gratifying than anything you might find in a more familiar setting. If you want to gain work experience while having an adventure, then this is the program for you!

Interning in San José, Costa Rica was a really interesting experience that took me far out of my comfort zone. This is a unique location because once there, you are immediately immersed in the culture. This may seem like a lot at first, but it ends up being helpful because you get acclimated quickly! Even though Costa Rica is small, it is one of the most biodiverse countries in the whole world. When here, be sure to go on adventures every weekend to see all of the beauty Costa Rica has to offer--from the highest mountains and volcanoes to the beautiful beaches! This experience has pushed me far outside of my comfort zone, which has aided me so much in my personal and professional development! If you are interested in the Spanish language, adventuring, or just doing something really unique, you must come to CR!

I did a J-Term in January 2019 with AIFS in Costa Rica. It was a lovely and fun trip. I loved Costa Rican culture. The people were so friendly and my host family was so kind to me. Their culture is so relaxed and I felt welcomed there. We were doing something different everyday. I took a tour of San Jose, I visited different restaurants, I went to the malls, we went to Manuel Antonio (which is amazingly beautiful), I visited a volcano, a church, and a haunted house in Cartago, I visited museums, saw all types of cool animals, I saw a waterfall, and got to taste some amazing food. The staff of AIFS were so friendly and made sure we had a good time. It was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The only thing I wish was that I did a semester abroad, but J-Term was good since our group was very small and I got to know the other people better (the semester program has a lot of people).