4 Month Vacation with Language, Culture and Friends!

Rather than trying to convince you to study abroad with Sol, I will just tell you a little about what led me to the decision and how my experience turned out.

Choosing a program was a big decision for me. Before I left I was leaning towards a different program, when I came upon Sol. Sol offered more in the program and was a thousand dollars cheaper, so that made my decision easy.

Upon arrival the program director picked me and the other students up from the airport and dropped us off at our designated host families. My host mom immediately offered me something to eat and drink. She was so friendly and welcoming, which immediately put me at ease. The first thing I noticed about Costa Rica was the water that she gave me and how fresh it tasted. It is the best water I have ever had.

The following day we went on a tour of Heredia. It was so much fun and gave us a chance to get to know everyone in our group. Our program director took us to a cafe called "Espigas" where they serve coffee and pastries. We also went to a market and tried several kinds of delicious fruits I had never heard of.

As far as school goes, I had class Monday-Wednesday/Thursday depending on the term. Everyday I would walk to class with my roommate and friend who lived next door. Class was about a fifteen minute walk from my host family's home. After class we would walk to town, take the bus to San Jose, or get ready for our weekend excursions.

Sol planned several excursions for us, and often on our weekends off we would plan some of our own. We traveled all over Costa Rica and also went to Panama and Nicaragua. My favorite places we went to were Granada, Nicaragua, Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna, and the rafting day trip.

Aside from the activities mentioned above we also took dance lessons, cooking classes, went on a tour of San Jose, went to several markets, visited local churches, volunteered at a local elementary school, volunteered with Niños sin fronteras (Children without borders), and visited a Toucan Rescue Ranch.

I studied in Costa Rica for a semester, and by the time it was coming to an end I wished I would have signed up for a year. It was a fun, safe experience that enabled me to grow as a person in several aspects of life. Writing this review a year and a half later makes me wish I was back in Heredia with my host family and friends that I grew so close to during my study abroad experience.