Costa Rica: San Ramón - Life Sciences, Spanish Language, and Culture

Costa Rica is a lush tropical paradise full of all sorts of life. I personally saw several sloths, monkeys, toucans, frogs, and coatis (my favorite) on several different occasions! Some of these encounters were even on school campus. Classes were taught by amazing professors that were passionate about Costa Rica's biodiversity and had an interest in our education as students. The town I was in, San Ramon, was lovely in itself as everything was extremely walkable and there were several charming cafe's and restaurants to go to for snacking, homework, or to meet up with friends. My host family was very supportive during my stay and encouraged seeing as much as I could during the four months I was there. The weekends were reserved for going out and seeing someplace new in the country since almost every destination had a convenient bus route from our city. These trips were usually done with friends that I met within the program which was interesting since almost everyone is from a different state or region in the US. I got to experience beautiful beaches, forests, cultures, and people during my semester abroad and I wouldn't change any of it!

I absolutely loved my time abroad! It really changed me for the better. At first, I was very hesitant to get out of my comfort zone and really see the country because of my fear of spending money, but once I broke through that barrier, I couldn't stop traveling! I saw both coasts, went to both the Nicoya and Osa Peninsulas, visited the mountains in Monteverde, experienced San José night life, and so much more.

When I wasn't traveling, I really enjoyed spending time with my amazing host family, who included me in so many of their family activities, which made it feel like I had a home away from home. I really liked that I studied in San Ramón, because while it isn't nearly as big as something like San José, it still has so many things to do and see. It's smaller size also makes it a lot safer and easier to get around.

While I do speak Spanish, many of the other program students went into the experience with very little Spanish skills and were able to have an awesome experience while also learning SO MUCH of the language along the way - so if you're nervous or unsure about going because of Spanish skills, GO ANYWAYS :) If you DO study Spanish, studying abroad will help so much - my biggest Spanish issue before this experience was understanding native speakers, and now I'm SO much better at it. Costa Rican Spanish is a good place to start because it's a very neutral form compared to the Spanish in other Hispanic countries.

As for academics, while we did have some bumps in the roads with professors, for the most part, I learned so much and had some amazing professors with whom I formed some great bonds. The program staff was super helpful, and since it was such a small program, it was a more personal experience. The small class sizes allowed each individual to receive more academic attention and therefore have better success.

Overall, while my study abroad experience began because I was required to do so for my Spanish minor, I got so much more out of it than just that. I now have a network of friends all over the United States and Costa Rica and feel like a more well-rounded perspective with a more open-minded view on life.

This experience gave me so much insight into what I want to do when I graduate college. The love that I felt and experienced during this adventure was incredible. Whether is was my amazing host mom or my amazing friends I met through this program my love for the Spanish language, the Spanish culture, and travel overflowed!!

I always felt supported and knew that everyone in the program wanted me to have an amazing, life-changing experience! When I traveled to other places I always felt safe and knew that I had a support system in San Ramon to help me figure out the issues I had with transportation or just general confusion. Costa Rica is such a small country that it is easy to travel during the weekends and see all the cool attractions it has to offer!

I will be forever grateful for this program!!!

To start off I was placed in the most wonderful host family. They were extremely welcoming and treated me as one of their own. I was able to have my own bedroom and bathroom for privacy and alone time when needed. Other than that outside of the classroom I spent all my time with my host parents and grew extremely close to them and their entire family. The food was amazing and I was fully immersed in both the language and culture on a daily basis. I learned so much about myself as a person here.

My host mother was one of the kindest people I've ever met! She truly was a Grandma-Away-From-Home for me, taking me under her wing as though I were her own kid. I've made some lifelong friendships, both with fellow students and locals, which allowed me to truly assimilate into the Tico lifestyle! The coordinators and teachers were extremely supportive and went out of their way when I expressed interest in graduate school at the UCR, even setting me up with a campus visit!
As the title suggests, I'm totally moving back someday.

I am so beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad through USAC! This program gave me the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and to fully immerse myself in a different culture and diversity. This brought me to be open minded in learning cross cultural skills and gain intercultural competency early in life. Revealed another part of the world using a lens that is calibrated more discreetly than how it would be seen with my own eyes within the U.S. Costa Rica is an extraordinary tropical country where everyday I was able to learn and explore the huge biodiversity culture. Also I like to mention, that this country has an amazing universal healthcare system therefore I recommend if you or someone close to you is interested in both health science and biodiversity I highly insist on going to study abroad in San ramon, Costa Rica through USAC! Because they were able to prioritize a combination of academic opportunities and the ability to learn culture, langange, and diversity. Pura Vida!

I had the most amazing semester abroad in Costa Rica!!! It's hard to point out one thing that was my favorite because every experience I had, every trip I went on, every meal I ate just kept getting better and better. One of my favorite aspects was staying with a host family, I think that is something everyone who wants to go abroad should look for in a program, as I learned so much about the language and the culture of the country. This location is perfect for all types of people as there is so much to see - you can relax at one of the many beautiful beaches on the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, you can hike through rain and cloud forests, and see volcanoes all while seeing many different types of tropical animals and plants right up close.

Studying Abroad wasn't something that I thought I would be able to do in college. Between the Covid-19 pandemic, an intense college course load, and financial constraints, I had given up on studying abroad being a feasible option for me. However, when I received an email about the Summer Session offering in San Ramon it was like the stars aligned. It was the perfect program timeline to fit with my classes, I was able to obtain scholarships and financial aid, and it had everything that I was looking for in a program.
My time in San Ramon was spent immersing myself in the Tico culture, learning a new language, trying new foods, making life-long friendships, and learning every day. One of my favorite parts of my experience was learning about the Costa Rican health care system. One of my professors was an Emergency Room doctor in San Ramon, and through him, I was able to learn about tropical diseases, shadow at the local hospital, and visit a child care clinic in town. It was extremely rewarding to learn from a professional in the field as well as observe for myself.
My time spent with my host family was also one of my favorite parts of the experience. It can be absolutely terrifying to live with strangers, especially when they speak a different language. However, they were so accommodating and welcoming and it truly made me feel like a part of San Ramon to be with them.
I also can't forget about the incredible new experiences I had. I was able to learn how to surf, dance in traditional styles, kayak in bioluminescent waters, see amazing waterfalls and volcanoes, hike through one of the most biodiverse forests in the world, and so so much more. Costa Rica will always have a very special place in my heart, and I can't wait to go back someday!