Camryn’s Spring Semester in San José

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Able to discover what an AIFS Overseas program in Costa Rica is like? We lately spoke with Camryn from the College of South Carolina, who studied overseas within the Central American metropolis of San José throughout the spring semester. 

Uncover how Spanish, sustainability, and “pura vida” got here collectively for a transformative semester overseas in Costa Rica! 

When you select to examine overseas, you must determine the place and when to go. Luckily, AIFS Overseas offers you entry to dozens of wonderful cities world wide; plus, quite a few phrases to select from — examine overseas within the fall, spring, summer season, January Time period, or Winter Quarter! Right here’s why Camryn selected San José: 

“I selected Costa Rica due to the programs supplied on the College, and the way carefully associated they’re to my main (Environmental Research). Certainly one of my principal objectives was to broaden my perspective of sustainability, and I wished to study Costa Rican practices and be surrounded by like-minded people. I’ve additionally taken Spanish lessons all through my life, so I wished a Spanish-speaking nation. I might extremely advocate this program to others as a result of Costa Rica is an incredible nation. There are totally different locations to go each weekend, the AIFS Overseas employees listed below are extraordinarily supportive, and the deliberate AIFS journeys are value it as effectively.” 

Whenever you examine overseas is completely as much as you. For those who’re like Camryn, your determination will make sure you don’t miss soccer season again house! 

“Through the fall semester, soccer is a large [part of] our college tradition. I wished to review overseas within the spring in order that I wouldn’t miss a semester of the soccer season. Additionally, the spring semester in Costa Rica is their dry season, so there may be the least quantity of rain annually from January – April. The climate is gorgeous right here: February was round 75-80, and now it’s about 80-85 levels Fahrenheit. Each weekend, there was a special place to journey to, and I’ve actually loved my time right here this semester.” 

Teachers Overseas 

One of many greatest benefits of finding out overseas is attending to expertise a brand new educational tradition and taking lessons that will not be accessible at your own home college. Beneath, Camryn describes her expertise at Universidad Veritas: 

“I like that my host establishment provides all kinds of lessons regardless of being a really small college. These lessons attraction to [many] college students from a broad spectrum of nations and beliefs. I additionally loved how small the lessons are, between 7-12 college students. This dimension felt very intimate, and we labored collectively fairly often. The professors have been additionally extra approachable as a result of there have been fewer college students in every class. The construction of sophistication work was very attention-grabbing. Not one of the lessons had exams or quizzes; as an alternative, we every had a number of displays all through the course or different forms of work. Lastly, Veritas has extracurricular actions. For instance, I paid $40 for 12 yoga lessons, and there are free volleyball video games each Monday evening the place anybody can be part of.” 

Hear Camryn clarify her programs in additional element: 

“I took Spanish 201: Intermedio 1 Gramatica y Conversacion (4 credit), Local weather Change Impacts and Variations (4 credit), Costa Rican Environmental Coverage (4 credit), and Techniques Considering and Sustainability (3 credit). My favourite class is Costa Rican Environmental Coverage. We had group tasks on campus that [felt] actually impactful. 

The programs have been related in [how the] materials was offered—normally via PowerPoints. Nonetheless, there have been many various points, equivalent to the educational methodology, the place exams are changed with displays, documentary evaluation, and group work. Veritas is totally different from what I’m used to, contemplating that the professors listed below are additionally very laid again. They’re extra lenient with deadlines, they usually have a free syllabus that’s versatile.” 

As an AIFS Overseas Inexperienced Ambassador, these Environmental Research programs have been completely aligned along with her efforts in Costa Rica!

Private & Skilled Progress 

Learning overseas is a wonderful strategy to turn into extra unbiased and to develop as an individual whereas additionally setting your self up for future educational {and professional} success. As Camryn explains: 

“I’m glad that I selected to enroll at Veritas as a result of I’m having fun with my environmentally centered lessons. These lessons have solidified my future objectives to work with sustainability. Being immersed in a special tradition has broadened my perspective of sustainability, and I hope to foster these connections between folks within the US. The nation’s phrase, ‘Pura Vida’ has actually resonated with me, and I’ve grown as an individual discovering that I don’t want fancy issues to get pleasure from life. I’ve had a lot enjoyable exploring this nation and the pure wonders that it has to supply. By pushing myself out of my consolation zone, I created new friendships and linked with all of my professors and the AIFS Overseas employees. I’ve improved my professionalism and communication expertise all through my lessons, with all of my assignments being group work and displays.” 

Language Studying 

Language fluency is not required for almost all of our packages. For Camryn, finding out overseas in Costa Rica and taking Spanish language lessons allowed her to enhance her present Spanish expertise: 

“Whereas this program is in a Spanish-speaking nation, it isn’t required to know Spanish earlier than attending. I do have earlier expertise with the Spanish language, however there are college students in my program with no expertise. At Veritas, we have been required to take not less than one language class, and we took a placement examination and oral interview for our right stage. I took Intermedio 1: Gramatica y Conversacion. That is equal to Spanish 201, so I’m at an intermediate stage. In Costa Rica, many individuals communicate not less than a little bit little bit of English, so it’s comparatively simple to speak. At Veritas, there are plenty of lessons which are taught in English, and a few are additionally taught in Spanish. There are numerous choices relying in your language stage.” 

Housing 

Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas packages. Camryn was very glad along with her homestay: 

“I lived with a number household, and I extremely advocate this feature. I acquired breakfast and dinner daily, and my host mother has a fridge the place my roommate and I have been allowed to maintain groceries for lunch. Additionally, the AIFS Overseas workplace proper subsequent to campus has a fridge, pantry, and kitchenette for college kids to make the most of throughout their operational hours. My host household could be very good, and the household is extraordinarily welcoming. Their home can be a few 10-minute stroll to the college, and Veritas has a shuttle that operates all through the day.” 

As Camryn defined, AIFS Overseas housing is conveniently positioned close to your host establishment, so that you by no means need to go far to your lessons! 

Cultural Appreciation 

Whenever you examine or intern overseas, you’ll naturally immerse your self in a brand new tradition. As you get extra accustomed to it, your understanding will develop, and also you’ll doubtless discover some points of the tradition that go away a deep impression on you. As Camryn explains: 

“I appreciated how variety and welcoming they’re, and all Costarricense (Costa Ricans) are very variety. Their tradition is ingrained with particular phrases of endearment equivalent to their phrase rather than ‘you’re welcome’ which is ‘con gusto.’ This interprets to ‘with pleasure’ or ‘my pleasure,’ they usually use the phrase ‘Pura Vida’ fairly often as a strategy to say you’re welcome or get pleasure from. 

The Pura Vida way of life is my favourite cultural expertise. Whereas this may increasingly appear very broad, I actually love their tradition of welcoming, endearment, love, and ease. They don’t want luxurious to get pleasure from their lives, and I’ve loved attending to know my host household very effectively. I went to a farmer’s market with them one weekend the place I noticed the domestically grown meals being bought for natural consumption and supporting native farmers. I additionally [danced] with individuals who loved instructing my mates and I Latin American dances.” 

Taking Journeys & Making Mates Overseas 

AIFS Overseas provides day journeys and excursions included within the worth of each examine overseas program. These journeys assist deepen your understanding of your host nation and typically take you to neighboring nations. As Camryn explains, these journeys are sometimes the proper alternative to make mates with different AIFS Overseas members: 

“My favourite journey was to Manuel Antonio [National Park] as a result of I actually wished to see as a lot wildlife as potential. It was so superior to have a guided tour via the nationwide park, in addition to have plenty of free time to ourselves. I liked that this nationwide park is a seashore city as effectively, so my mates and I have been in a position to spend private time on the seashore, too. All of the excursions have been effectively deliberate, and the itineraries have been extraordinarily useful. The locations we visited have been lovely, and I loved each. 

I didn’t know anybody in my program earlier than attending, and it was very simple to make mates. Nearly all of the scholars in my program are very social, and everyone seems to be trying to make mates simply as a lot as I used to be. Additionally, with the deliberate AIFS Overseas journeys all through the month of February, everybody turned nearer on these journeys the place all of us interacted and hung out collectively.” 

Are you a pupil able to take the leap and examine overseas like Camryn did in San José 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 school college students examine overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes plenty 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.