Adeline’s Fall Semester in San José

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Need to hear from a university scholar who studied overseas in Costa Rica? We lately caught up with AIFS Overseas scholar Adeline from the Faculty of Charleston, who spent her fall semester finding out overseas within the Central American metropolis of San José. 

Learn on to find how Adeline’s expertise in San José with AIFS Overseas set her up for main tutorial success! 

Selecting a Research Overseas Program Vacation spot 

Deciding the place to examine overseas will be powerful for some college students (our crew can assist with that!) in any case, there are such a lot of superb AIFS Overseas packages to select from. Fortunately, you’re in for a life-changing expertise irrespective of the place you select. Right here’s why Adeline selected San José for her examine overseas vacation spot: 

“I knew that I wished to review in Latin America. I selected San José, Costa Rica because of the affordability of this system and the additional Spanish language element, [which included] one month of intensive Spanish previous to the official begin of this system.” 

Teachers Overseas 

Teachers make up an enormous a part of your examine overseas expertise. Fortuitously, all AIFS Overseas packages join you with a extremely respected college or establishment the place you possibly can advance your tutorial data and expertise. For some college students, like Adeline, finding out overseas is the proper alternative to earn much more credit than you’ll throughout a semester at your house college:  

“I attended Veritas College. I used to be impressed with the course choices and the range and depth of the language courses. This allowed me to take practically 21 credit whereas overseas.” 

Plus, finding out overseas offers you entry to programs that will not be obtainable at your house college. Hear Adeline describe her favourite class as a scholar in San José with AIFS Overseas and the influence it had on her future: 

“I actually loved my dialects course. Analyzing Spanish dialects and grammar exterior america was fascinating. The course uncovered me to a fashion of studying I had not beforehand been uncovered to as a Spanish scholar within the US, so this course modified my perspective. As a Latin-Americanist, this was life-changing for my skilled and profession improvement, and the angle I gained whereas overseas as a junior has formed my analysis and work as a senior. It’s greater than truthful to say that the courses, initiatives, subject journeys, and lectures made an unbelievable influence on my profession trajectory as an undergraduate scholar, and the expertise has afforded me nice alternatives whereas making use of for graduate college.” 

Skilled Development 

Whereas many college students select to intern overseas to advance their careers, finding out overseas may also influence skilled progress. Throughout her examine overseas program, Adeline went the additional mile and volunteered at a authorities municipality simply exterior San José. This expertise volunteering along with her examine overseas courses did wonders for her future profession: 

“Learning overseas allowed me to seek out my area of interest! I all the time knew I wished to work in Latin America and within the subject of diplomacy, however I didn’t have many specifics. After [volunteering] at a authorities municipality in Curridabat, I had the chance to see how governments in Costa Rica adapt to handle their issues in actual time; particularly, I noticed what a very good authorities does for its folks. Curridabat provided a wide range of cultural courses and neighborhood occasions that introduced the neighborhood collectively. Curridabat was additionally one of many most secure municipalities in Costa Rica, largely on account of their onerous neighborhood work. I used my examine overseas expertise in my functions for graduate college and have obtained a Rotary Worldwide Grant to review in the UK. I’ve been accepted into Oxford, the London College of Economics and Political Science, St. Andrews, College Faculty London, and King’s Faculty London. I’m so excited to journey once more subsequent yr!” 

For these like Adeline who need hands-on skilled expertise throughout their examine overseas program, AIFS Overseas provides Research + Internship packages, which mix a part-time internship alongside tutorial coursework. 

Making Mates Overseas 

Each AIFS Overseas program offers loads of alternatives to make associates. There are inclusive social and cultural actions, together with day journeys and excursions, the place you will get to know different AIFS Overseas college students whereas deepening your cultural understanding. Plus, when you’re at your program vacation spot, you’re free to make associates with the locals, like Adeline. She found that, along with serving to her enhance her Spanish proficiency and advance her profession, volunteering was an unbelievable option to make associates with the Costa Rican folks: 

“For future individuals, I might advocate volunteering a bit in your free time. It’s really one of the best ways to fulfill folks and type lasting connections. It is usually a good way to study in regards to the tradition of the host nation, whereas finding out it within the classroom.” 

Cultural Appreciation 

Whereas cultural variations might initially trigger tradition shock, over time, they typically encourage cultural appreciation. As Adeline found, experiencing Costa Rican tradition allowed her to enhance her personal life: 

“The Caribbean aspect of Costa Rica is definitely unbelievable. I adored the tradition, the folks, and the lifestyle. One factor that I particularly admired was the common appreciation for the setting and animals. At instances in america, issues are so quick paced that we are inclined to overlook the worth of being in contact with our environment and appreciating every day life. Whereas in Costa Rica, I started prioritizing sleep and my well-being, whereas previously I had not all the time acknowledged the worth in caring and valuing myself.” 

Housing 

All AIFS Overseas examine overseas packages embody housing, which can embody a homestay, scholar residence, or shared condo. Hear Adeline describe her expertise in a homestay: 

“I like my host household. They had been a superb outdated couple who had years of expertise in internet hosting examine overseas college students. I lived with one other housemate, who was additionally American, and we’re nonetheless shut associates! I loved interacting with my host household and our discussions throughout breakfast and dinner.” 

Sustainability 

Adeline found that by dwelling in Costa Rica, together with occurring an AIFS Overseas tour to indigenous territory, her views on sustainable practices shifted considerably: 

“By dwelling in Costa Rica, I bought to see sustainability in actual life. I imply that within the sense that sustainable practices had been included into the day-to-day expertise in a fashion that I had not seen beforehand. For instance, AIFS Overseas took us to go to an indigenous territory. We spoke with a chief who shared intimate data of agricultural and non secular practices. In recent times, these practices have gained recognition as Costa Rica strives to combine indigenous data into nationwide sustainability efforts, together with eco-tourism and conservation initiatives, which assist each cultural heritage and environmental safety.”

Why AIFS Overseas? 

There are such a lot of causes to decide on AIFS Overseas, and college students select our packages for all kinds of causes. Right here’s why Adeline selected AIFS Overseas: 

“I made a decision to go together with AIFS Overseas because of the scholarship alternatives and crew responsiveness. I had contacted different institutes for examine overseas, and so they both bought again to me late or didn’t get again to me. AIFS Overseas was the other! I referred to as and had an exquisite expertise on the telephone with a consultant who pointed me in the correct path. I additionally wished to review in Latin America, and AIFS Overseas had one of the crucial reasonably priced packages.” 

Because the winner of the AIFS Overseas John S. Linakis Scholarship, Adeline was in a position to examine overseas with us for nearly half the same old program price! 

Adeline’s Research Overseas Recommendation 

To any future examine overseas college students, Adeline provides the next recommendation: 

“Prepare for an incredible a part of your life! Whereas overseas, keep in mind to be your self. Have interaction within the highs and the lows. Make associates. And belief your self! The connections you type whereas overseas matter as a lot as you need them to. You may very properly see the shores of the place you examine once more, however you don’t have to, and neither is it assured. The essential factor is you! And the way you let your examine overseas expertise change you for the higher. 

I encourage you to make connections along with your host nation. It’s a stunning factor to have associates and much more significant to know you could have associates throughout borders. In the end, your examine overseas nation can start to really feel like a second house. So, ensure you have folks to come back again to.” 

Fascinated by finding out overseas like Adeline did in Costa Rica with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students examine overseas. Our packages include many useful inclusions, which takes lots of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in realizing you’ll have assist all through your total expertise overseas.