COSTA RICA STUDY ABROAD HANDBOOK
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Table of Contents Introduction Why Study Abroad? …………………………………………………………...... 4 Why Costa Rica? …………………………………………………………...... 5 Program Requirements …………………………………………………………....6 Getting Ready Getting your passport………………………………………………………...…...... 6 No need for a Student Visa! ……………………………………………………….7 Airfare……………………………………………………………………………...7 Health and health insurance………………………………………………………...7 LU bureaucracy…………………………………………………………………….8 Program cost…………………………………………………………………...... 9 Extra costs…………………………………………………………………….....…9 Currency & accessing your money while in Costa Rica………………………..…...10 In Costa Rica Climate …………………………………………………………...... 12 Living with a host family……………………………………………………...... 12 Food & Meals……………………………………………………………….……15 Schedule, Coursework, and Costa Rican School……………………………….….16 City of Heredia …………………………………………….……………………..19 Sámara …………………………………………………………………………....21 Maps of Heredia and Sámara …………………………………………………...... 23 Communications …………………….…………………………………………....24 Visiting Nicaragua – Part of the program Purpose, Itinerary, What to expect……..………………………………………….25 Extracurricular activities Free activities at school ……………………………………………………………26 Optional Day Trips………………………………………………………………..27 Longer travels and excursions ……………………….……………………………30 Personal and Cultural Preparation Strongly recommended prior travel readings ……………………………………...31
4 Updated Feb/14 Basic Spanish language differences ………………………………………………...31 Students’ expectations for the program? …………………………………………...32 Culture Shock ……………………………………………………………..…….....33 Copy of Program Code of Conduct ……………………………………………...... 36 Common Sense Precautions …………………………………………………….....38 Home Stay Tips …………………………………………………………………....42 Contact students who have already participated……………………………………46
Why Study Abroad?
Been thinking about studying abroad but not sure if it is the right option for you? Are you wondering if it’s worth your time? If you ask any student who has studied abroad they will tell you that it is a life changing experience that they will never forget. Not convinced? Here are the top ten reasons for studying abroad, according to http://www.vistawide.com/studyabroad.
1. Studying in a foreign country is the best way to learn another language.
2. Studying abroad provides the opportunity to travel.
3. It allows you to get to know another culture first hand.
4. It will help you develop skills and give you experiences that a classroom could never provide.
5. It will give you the opportunity to make friends all over the world.
6. Studying abroad helps you learn about yourself.
7. It expands your worldview.
8. It gives you the opportunity to break out of your academic routine.
9. It can enhance the value of your degree.
10. It enhances employment opportunities! Only 4% of undergraduates study abroad. Do something to set yourself apart from other applicants!
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GETTING READY
Why Study in Costa Rica? Costa Rica is an enchanting country with a rich, culturally and ethnically diverse population as well as breathtaking geography and biodiversity. It is politically stable with a strong infrastructure and a safe environment in which to learn.
When you are totally immersed in a language, you learn much faster and more easily. Language and culture are inseparable, and during your stay, you will learn about the cultures of Costa Rica. While improving your Spanish, you will find out more about its history, its people and its important cultural centers. In addition, travel itself is education. It can often be a life-enhancing and life-changing adventure!
Heredia, where the school is located, is an exceptionally welcoming community with a small-town atmosphere. With historic buildings, some dating from the town’s colonial days, and surrounded by coffee plantations, Heredia is very close to Costa Rica’s capital, San José, as well as volcanoes and rain forests. The climate is mountainous and mild.
The fishing village of Sámara, part of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast, is an exceptionally welcoming coastal community with a relaxed and typical small-town atmosphere. Students will spend one of their weeks studying at the Sámara campus, which is located directly on the beach in the northwestern ranching province of Guanacaste. By studying in both Heredia and Sámara, students will be introduced to different Costa Rican lifestyles, both of which are “off-the-beaten path”.
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Program Requirements In order to be eligible for the program, students must first consult with program advisor. Basic language prerequisites are FLS31100 and FLS31200, and culture and/or literature prerequisite are a minimum of ONE FLS30000-level literature class or a FLS30000-level culture class. All participants must also adhere to the Foreign Language department academic policy before and during the program: “All students majoring or minoring in Spanish must complete all courses with a “C” or better to have the Spanish course count towards the major or minor. Majors and minors in Spanish must maintain a B average or better in Spanish courses.” Getting your Passport If you don’t already have a passport this should be the first thing you do! Without your passport you will not be able to complete the other steps in the application process. Processing your passport can take 4-6 weeks, so make sure to apply right away!
Applying for your passport is simple! Go to http://www.usps.com/passport/ for instructions. You can either enter your information into the forms online or print them out to fill out.
On the following site you can find the nearest place to turn in your passport application by entering in your address. http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
To apply for your passport you will need: The application form
7 Updated Feb/14 A copy of your birth certificate A Driver’s license A passport photo $100 payable by check, credit card, or money order
It is possible to buy your passport photo there, but it costs $15 for only one. Walgreens does passport photos for a cheaper price.
You must have a passport to enter Costa Rica. If you do not have one, please arrange for one immediately. It is a good idea to make a photocopy of the passport pages bearing your photo, passport number and entry stamp. You will also need your passport when changing money. Please be alerted that if your passport will expire within 90 days of your departure (even if you are not staying that long), new laws may make this passport invalid. We advise that you replace your passport if it will soon expire.
Student Visa – NO need for one! You will not need a student visa to study in Costa Rica. Upon arrival, Americans are granted a 90 day visa as tourists for free. Since your stay will be longer than 90 days, a weekend trip to Nicaragua or Panama will be planned so you can exit Costa Rica and re-enter the county with a new 90 day visa to finish your stay, and stay even longer if you want!
Airfare Maite Núñez-Betelu will give you the dates of the beginning and ending of the semester program in the fall. You are responsible for the purchase of your flight. Since the price of gas has been fluctuating greatly lately, flight prices have also gone up. As of winter 2014, most R/T flights to San José, Costa Rica, go for around $500-$800.
Some travel agencies specialize in student travel: STA Travel and also www.studentuniverse.com, Exito Travel and www.travelocity.com, but also check www.expedia.com and www.orbitz.com. Just keep searching…
Health and Health Insurance Before you go: Immunizations No special immunizations or vaccinations are required for entry into Costa Rica. Many doctors now recommend the Hepatitis A vaccine which protects against things in food and water. It is also always a good idea to have an up to date tetanus shot (within the last ten years). You do NOT need malaria protection for any areas you will be visiting in Costa Rica, but make sure you discuss all your options with your own doctor.
Medical Insurance It is highly recommended that you purchase this. Complimentary medical insurance is NOT provided with this program. We strongly recommend it if your current policy does not cover you when out of the country.
8 Updated Feb/14 To purchase accident and health insurance (plus trip cancellation insurance if you prefer to add), contact the insurance provider directly, and this must be done before your departure. Please call Travelex, 800.228.9792 or see their website www.travelex-insurance.com/index.asp?LOCATION=13-1069. This address will automatically enter the location number. If you telephone, you will need to give them the Location Number 13-1069.
The product number which most students choose is TraveLite Travel Protection, and it is not available through website, only by request BY PHONE. This insurance will cover accidents, illness, and emergency evacuation. The cost depends on the length of your stay, but is reasonable.
Health Concerns Sanitation standards are high in Costa Rica, and your family will take the normal precautions in preparing food. Water directly from the tap is considered safe in Heredia and Samara, but precautions should be taken in other areas. The school will assist you with any medical needs you may have. Medical care in Costa Rica is considered quite well and is less expensive than in the U.S.
LU Bussiness To prepare for your semester abroad program in Costa Rica as well as your return to LU the following fall, you will need to visit the following LU offices at least once before your trip. Visit the financial aid office: Make sure all your applications for loans, etc… are complete for both the current academic year as well as next year. Visit the Business Office: Schedule/Arrange your ‘balance’ payment, if you have one, ahead of time. Visit Michelle at housing to arrange your withdraw from your housing in the Spring, but most importantly, plan your return next Fall! Visit your advisor(s) to discuss/review where you are at with your studies (your gen eds, major/minor requirements, your electives), review your Spring schedule in Costa Rica, and plan your Fall schedule ahead of time! By deciding together which courses you plan on taking in the Fall, it will be much easier for you and your advisor to go through the enrollment process when March comes around and you are registering in CR while your advisor is here at LU. Visit your W+L supervisor and let him/her know that you won’t be working next semester but would like to return to your work when you return.
Program Cost
9 Updated Feb/14 Ideally, participating in the program shouldn’t cost any more than what it would cost you to spend a semester at the St. Charles campus. You will register here and pay your fees to LU as if you were going to attend courses here. You can pay these fees using family contributions, grants, loans, etc.—however you normally do it. LU will then pay the Costa Rican campus for your participation in the program, which will include: 20 hours a week in the classroom Most books a private room in the home of a host family most meals: breakfast and dinner with the family, and on occasion, lunch Some cultural activities and excursions transport between the Heredia campus and other sites to be visited administrative fees However, students with very generous scholarships, whose fees to LU amount to less than what it costs LU to send a student to Costa Rica will need to contribute the difference in these amounts. The cost for the program in the Spring of 2009 was $5,650. For Spring 2011 it was $5,930. For Spring 2013 it was $5,899.
All participants must be in good standing with the Business Office for all previous semesters before being allowed to officially enroll in November.
Extra Costs
There will be other costs that you need to keep in mind when planning your budget. Besides the cost for tuition you will also need money for: Airfare (probably $500- $800 for a round trip) Passport and passport photos Most lunches (from $1/day, if you cook it at home, to $8/day, if you eat in a very nice restaurant; most participants eat casados, the traditional Costa Rican lunch served in small cafes around town, and which include rice, beans, veggies, plantains, sometimes a side pasta, and your choice of meat, chicken or fish, for about $3-$4/day) Local transportation (About $2-$5 locally, and you can get to San Jose for less than a dollar by public bus.) Entertainment/Shopping/Day-trips and longer excursions (see details later in this handbook)
Here is what some students had to say about spending money in Costa Rica:
“I had more than enough money for my 4 months down here. Since breakfast and dinner are provided, I didn’t really spend too much money on meals. On average, I spent between $15 and $20 per week. It depends on the school excursions as well because some have and admission fee while others are free. On any excursion with the school, make sure you have some change (coins) to take the bus or a taxi. Like I said, I had more than enough, but if you plan to buy a lot of souvenirs or make a lot of weekend trips, plan on extra expenses. With the money from LU and the money I spent from my own accounts, I spent about $700.00 for the whole 4 months.” Katie Charleville
10 Updated Feb/14 “Every week was different, but I would say in a normal week, just for lunches and going out a few nights of the week, I spent $20-$30. It’s hard to know how much I spent during my time down here in total. I would say between $1,500.00 and $2,000.00” Annie Grohmann
“I brought $2,000.00 and I feel like I could have brought more. But I am a spender…☺SO it just depends on how much you spend and what you buy. For the most part the food is pretty cheap and the excursions with the school are mostly free, although some cost money. Also if you plan on going to different beaches like we did public transportations is pretty cheap and you can find really cheap hostels for like $8 a night so it’s pretty cheap to travel as well.” Kellie McMenamy
Currency & Accessing your Money
While in Costa Rica
Currency: The currency of Costa Rica is the colón. The plural is colones. As of February 2014, the exchange rate was 508 colones to $1 US. You can check the current exchange rate by checking the Universal Currency Converter website – www.xe.com
For accessing your money, you have several options: traveler’s checks, credit cards, cash and debit card. Although cash and debit cards are the easiest to use. Remember that there is the extra fee that the bank will charge you for using the atm, be aware of this.
Traveler’s checks: Please be sure to bring your passport with you when exchanging traveler’s checks. You can change dollars into Costa Rican money at the airport, and the school can also help you exchange cash or traveler's checks. You will need to have local currency to use in restaurants, taxis, etc. Please bring your extra money in U.S. traveler's checks. Also, if using traveler’s checks, note that the second signature (signed at the time of cashing) must completely match the first signature on the checks (the one you sign at the bank or place of purchase.)
Credit cards and debit cards: Avoid relying entirely on your debit or credit cards as sometimes the ATM cards do not work in Costa Rica (rarely). You can also withdraw US dollars from most. We have had students report that if they have a zero in their pin number they have experienced problems withdrawing cash, so if you have a zero in yours, change it before you leave the U.S. Be sure you have a 4-digit password—not a spelled out word—they don’t accept them.
Cash-only: Less safe when used as your only option (in case you displace your money). Be alerted that Costa Rican banks are ultra strict about not changing or accepting torn or stained US currency. Make sure your bills are in good condition. Bring a variety of bills, from $1 dollar bills to $20 dollar bills, all in good condition. To exchange U.S. dollars into colones, bring your passport, not a copy, to the bank, and they will exchange it for a small fee. You can also get
11 Updated Feb/14 colones when purchasing items from the pulperia across from Intercultura, when you use U.S. dollars.
Debit card: Don’t forget to call your bank and let them know you will be going to Costa Rica! Otherwise it is possible that they will deactivate your debit card because they think there might be fraudulent charges.
Remember that you should only carry small amounts of cash with you while in CR. If you're on a sight-seeing walk-about, don't walk around with tons of cash. Take only as much money as you think you'll need for the activities you plan. If you see something you want to buy and don't have the cash on your person, a small deposit will always secure it.
Summary: As a general rule, it is a good idea to bring along both a credit card, several one-dollar bills, and at least $100 in cash (small denominations are better), in case you need to pay for services before you are able to change your money to colones.
Spending Money: You will not need extra money above your fixed costs. In a home stay, a good breakfast and a main daily meal are included. You will need extra money for lunch each day and optional weekend excursions. Some of these excursions are $20 or less, while those requiring overnight hotels are $100 and up. Most students take an average of $100 per week as additional spending money. You can manage for less money, however.
There is a $26 US airport departure tax, and this is payable in US cash dollars. Please set aside money for this expense. The airport will only take colones, dollars or VISA (no Master Card).
IN COSTA RICA
Climate
In summer in Costa Rica (December through April), it is usually sunny all day with average temperatures of 75- 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect this climate in Heredia for most of your stay. In the coastal areas—so during your stay in Sámara--temperatures are higher, about 90-95 degrees F. The rainy season (green season) is May to mid-November. September and October are the rainiest months. In the rainy season days often start sunny with rain falling in the afternoon and evening. The country is beautifully green in the rainy season, and rain rarely lasts all day long. September through November can often be cloudy all day with sporadic rains. Temperatures vary primarily with elevation, not with season. In the mountains it can be cool at night any time of year. There can be frost at 10,000 feet. Average temperatures and days (1) of rain for each month are: Jan 66 (1), Feb 66 (0), Mar 69 (1), Apr 71 (4), May 71 (17), June 71 (20), July 70 (18), Aug 70 (19), Sept 71 (20), Oct 69 (22), Nov 68 (14), Dec 67 (4).
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Living with a Host Family
There is one housing option, which happens to be the best one: a stay with a local Costa Rican family! The majorities of our past participants have had a wonderful experience with their host families, and remain in contact with that ‘other’ family to this day via facebook and emails. In the past, student’s families have brought them along on vacation or to family functions, showed them around the town of Heredia, cooked special Costa Rican meals for them, helped them with studying or homework assignments to improve their Spanish, etc.
Obviously, there will be some differences between what you are used to at your own family house and on our LU campus, and your experiences with a local familia tica. Some might call them advantages, others disadvantages.
Benefits of living with a host family: More opportunities to speak Spanish Learning about Costa Rican culture first hand Trying Costa Rican cuisine and learn how to cook it, if you are interested Building relationships the family will do your laundry and clean your room weekly Most families live close enough to school to walk every day If you live with a host family, you will have breakfast and dinner at home. Since you will be responsible for your lunches, most families allow you use their kitchen to prepare your lunch, if you choose to do so, and will give you space in their fridge
13 Updated Feb/14 Disadvantages: There will be some cultural differences (what you eat on a regular basis, meal times, sleeping arrangements for the family members) There will be some basic family/house rules you will need to follow
What will your family stay be like & a few quick tips:
The Costa Rican school will arrange your family home-stay accommodations, which are simple and modest, but each student has his or her own room. Participating families are chosen for their friendliness and helpfulness, have been carefully screened and are constantly evaluated. These families host foreign students throughout the year and want to share their language and culture with them. They receive a fee and are supposed to provide what has been agreed upon, but they enjoy having foreign students. Laundry and many meals are included. Your family will keep your room and the bathroom you use clean. However, please do keep your bedroom picked up. Your family will provide laundry service and should change your bed linens weekly. You should ask the family where to leave your dirty clothes for washing and on what days. In some families, it is polite to wash your own undergarments. Wait for instruction from your family before you put undergarments in the laundry hamper. Regarding meals, breakfast and dinner will be with your family and they will include traditional Costa Rican fare, and can of course be accommodated to specific diets (vegetarian, allergies). It helps if you state right away in the first few days what you like/dislike, and if the portions are not to your liking. Remember: avoid wasting food! All families are within walking distance of the school. To stay with a local family allows you to practice what you are learning in a real, natural Latin American cultural setting. Please be considerate with telephone calls. The school will sell telephone cards in $10 and $20 amounts, and these can be used at school and with your host family for both local calls and international calls. This is the best way to make calls. You can receive calls in your host family at no charge. Be cautious about not receiving calls late at night or after a certain hour. If you need to call a taxi, have your family teach you how and also offer to pay for using the phone, although most of the time they will not accept it. Most Costa Rican plumbing requires that toilet paper be thrown in the wastebasket, not in the toilet. This is a common practice. Homes in Costa Rica usually have hot water in the shower only, not in the wash basin. Many use an electric device for this purpose, so do not expect a huge volume of hot water. Turn the water on slowly until you hear a buzzing noise. Do not turn on too much water, as it will only heat to lukewarm with large volumes of water. The first time you go to shower, have the family instruct you on how to use it. Your family will provide you with a door key, and you can come and go as you please. Late hours are acceptable, but just be considerate about noise. If you have guests, please inform your family of any visitors you may have. Please do not offer or give your guests alcoholic drinks or have overnight guests. It is polite to ask your family prior to inviting guests over. Be sure to introduce your guest to your family, as they like to be involved in your life. You will be with the same family for the duration of your program. Remember that every family is different, and human personalities are involved. Usually friendly, enthusiastic flexible students tend to create a friendly and positive atmosphere. In these cases your family will probably include you more in the family's social activities and outings. If you have a problem with the family, please discuss it immediately with the school director. Most often, these problems can be easily and quickly resolved, and your family stay is an important part. You will not “get the family in trouble” by discussing your concerns with the school. If you are not happy with the family, please discuss this with the school staff. Your family experience is important, and you should feel very comfortable. You will become a family member, just be open and flexible. Please show your family consideration, courtesy, and respect. And remember it takes time to build relationships, as long as you are friendly towards your family, they will provide you with a great experience.
14 Updated Feb/14 Behaviors to avoid in this conservative society: swearing, using English when some may not understand it, saying things like “in the US this is better, bigger, etc…”
Time and electricity: Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time, but they do not observe Daylight Savings Time.
The voltage and plugs are the same as in the United States. No adapters are needed for appliances such as hair dryers or electrical shavers. Plugs are not as numerous, however, and electrical power outages occur frequently, especially during rainstorms.
Please read the more detailed Home Stay Tips document at the end of this package.
“My family stay was great! They were very hospitable and helpful, from school work to my social life. I really enjoyed the food I was given. My mom also provided all of the required services with pleasure and even rejected my help when I offered. They were always very respectful of me, always”. Tracy Luley “Although travel guides and some store clerks speak English, the host families either don’t know English or won’t speak it with you so it is good to be able to communicate. For example, my host parents have started taking class, but cannot speak a sentence in English, in order to communicate, I had to at least have a basic speaking knowledge and relatively basic vocabulary (believe me, there were still times I had to run to my room in the middle of dinner to grab my dictionary if I was trying to converse with them, but for the most part, we were able to understand each other quite easily).” Katie Charleville
Food and Meals
Students who live with a host family will be provided with breakfast every morning and dinner in the evening. What should you expect to eat? Here are some common traditional options: Gallo pinto is rice and beans dish which can be served at any meals: sometimes with eggs, cheese and natilla for breakfast, sometimes with your casado for lunch ($2-$3.50), or as a side dish with your dinner. Casado is the traditional lunch served in all corner restaurants and markets, which can include meat (choice of beef, chicken or fish), gallo pinto and/or pasta salad, fried plantains and some veggies.
15 Updated Feb/14 Of course, if you are on the coast, expect to eat anything freshly caught like fish and seafood (served either in ceviches, grilled or blackened, and if you go to the Caribbean coast, you try the traditional Caribbean-style food which includes lots of lime, coconut sauces, rice and lots of rondón! Generally, Costa Rican food is not spicy. Of course, you can also find a variety of restaurant that will serve ethnic foods, like Chinese, Japanese, Italian and even US foods (McDonald’s, Taco Bell, etc). As for beverages, coffee is obviously king in Costa Rica. If you do drink it, fine, and if you are not a coffee drinker yet, you will become a coffee expert! Since CR is a tropical country, there are lots of fruit, which means that fresh fruit juices can be found at every corner. You can ask for un batido de mango (papaya, piña, melon, mora, sandia, etc…), con agua embotellada o con leche, sin o con hielo, your call!
Requirements/Policies of CR Program Reminder of the language and cultural program requirements: Academic Pre-Requisites for the semester program: Students must consult with program advisor for enrollment. Basic language prerequisites are FLS31100 and FLS31200, and culture and/or literature prerequisite are a minimum of ONE FLS30000-level literature class or a FLS30000-level culture class.
LU Foreign Language department academic policy: All participants must also adhere to the Foreign Language department academic policy before and during the program: “All students majoring or minoring in Spanish must complete all courses with a “C” or better to have the Spanish course count towards the major or minor. Majors and minors in Spanish must maintain a B average or better in Spanish courses.”
Schedule of CR Program The program lasts 16 weeks and usually starts mid-January until early May. There are 15 weeks of classes, with a one week Spring break scheduled during Semana Santa. The classes are very intensive: classes are held Monday through Friday, 4h/day, from 8:30 to 12:30. Each course is very intensive, lasting only three weeks each. There are daily assignments, frequent tests, weekly or bi-weekly longer assignments and/or portfolios. To miss even one day of class is NOT recommended. Do your best at attending part of a class, even if you are very sick.
Coursework of CR Program FLS 31300 Advanced Spanish Composition Workshop (3) This composition course is designed to polish the student’s writing skills in Spanish through practical applications of writing, reading, and editing skills. FLS 33700 Costa Rica: History and Society of 19th and 20th Centuries (3) This course will provide a survey of the history and society of Costa Rica from the 19th and 20th centuries, with emphasis on politics and environmental and importance of women. FLS 36000 Literature of Costa Rica (3) This course will examine works of prose, poetry and drama written by important Costa Rican writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will increase their familiarity with the literature of this country while improving their skills in literary analysis. FLS 31400 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (3) This course introduces the student the many major linguistic concepts of Spanish linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax. The course will also explore the Costa Rican dialects.
16 Updated Feb/14 FLS 36100 Latin American Theater (3) This intensive course will introduce the many concepts of drama analysis through reading and analysis of several major Latin American plays. The student will also study the ways these plays reflect the historical context in which they were written and the concepts of various literary movements.
Each of these courses are all upper-level designed to help students perfect their Spanish grammar and vocabulary, as well as gain an extensive knowledge in each of these fields. Since they are all advanced-level, it also means that students should expect to have lots of work to do in class, and lots of homework to prepare after class, and such on a daily basis.
Since Costa Rica has a different grading tradition than in universities in the United States, all participants in our semester program will adhere to the following letter grade scale:
Grading Scale for Courses Taken in Costa Rica Semester Abroad Program in Costa Rica
GRADING SCALE: A 93-100% or excellent (exceeds state standard) B 87-92.9% or very good (meets state standard) C 80-86.9% or average (approaches state standard) D 73-79.9% or poor but pass (well below state standard) F Below 73% or failure (remedial action necessary)
Costa Rican School
Intercultura of Heredia, Costa Rica is located at Heredia Centro, Calle 10 and Avenida 4, Heredia, Costa Rica (30 minutes from San José). It is located in a former private home which has been extensively expanded and enlarged, specifically for school purposes. It has gardens, a comfortable reception area, and well equipped classrooms.
Orientation Tour
17 Updated Feb/14 On the first Monday after your arrival, there will be an orientation tour at 12:45 pm during which you will be formally introduced to the school, the staff, and your professors. There will then be a short walking tour so you can familiarize yourself with the surroundings of the school and the main plaza of Heredia, and you will also learn where a few cheap places to eat are. You will also be taken through the market and central park. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours. It is conducted primarily in Spanish, but English may be used for questions.
“The level of teaching actually exceeded my expectations. I never felt afraid of messing up, I learned a ton, and had a blast doing it. I feel that there was a lot of creativity involved with how the curriculum was set up and I was always interested. The different courses helped me tie together the history of Hispanic culture, because in addition to learning Costa Rican history and culture, we also learned about various Latin American countries. Also, all of the reading involved helped me to improve my vocabulary. My overall experience at the school was phenomenal. I liked the course schedule the way it was, because after 4 hours, everything starts to stick, and it also provided plenty of time in the afternoons to work on homework, study, do cultural activities, or just relax. Also, going through one course at a time really helped me be able to focus on one thing and learn it really well.”
Tracy Luley
“The level of teaching was up to my expectations or higher. The teachers were all very excited to teach us and were very prepared. They taught what was included in the books and also added information they knew. The academic integrity standard was upheld. The total experience of the class was different than classes I have had at LU because there were fewer students in the class. It was challenging to have only 3 students in class but this was good because it forced us all to participate. I was happy that we had class only in the morning. Four hours a day was intense but I don’t think it was too much. It was fine with me to go 5 days a week. It was good to have the afternoons free to go to dance class, excursions in San José, grammar class, etc…I liked that we only had one class at a time for 3 weeks. It would be very challenging to focus on all the classes at the same time, especially the large projects at the end of each of them. It was also nice to only have homework from one class, it seemed more manageable even if it was a large assignment.” Lauryn Beasley
“The faculty and staff here is great! Everyone is so caring, friendly, and helpful. The schedule of classes does take some getting used to but it’s not too bad. It’s nice having the afternoons free to attend dance classes or whatever fun activity the school is offering!” Annie Grohman
C
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City of Heredia
Founded in 1706 at the foot of the extinct Barva volcano, Heredia is a short commute from San José. One of Costa Rica's largest coffee mills is on the outskirts, the National University is located here, and there are some impressive mansions on the western side of town. There are some architectural gems in Heredia. The main church on the central park, dating from 1797, is one of the few in Costa Rica that survive from the colonial period. Set back is El Fortín, the old Spanish fortress tower that is the symbol of Heredia. Another interesting item to see in Heredia is an art deco church on the secondary square at Calle 6 and Avenida 8. Heredia is now known as the Silicon Valley of Costa Rica, as there is a large Intel presence there. Heredia facts: Population: 80,000 Altitude: 3,779 feet Location: 11 kilometers from San Jose. Sights near Heredia: San Pedro de Barva - museum specializing in coffee, Butterfly Paradise, Bosque de la Hoja Park, Monte de la Cruz Park, Braulio Carrillo National Park - cloud forest, Barva Volcano, Peace Waterfall Park
Heredia is a beautiful town with lot of history and there are certain sites you don’t want to miss: Parque central Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción (1797) El Fortín (1867) Casa de la cultura, formely the residence of President Alfredi González Flores (1913-1917)
Since Heredia is a college town (la Universidad Nacional is just east of the Parque Central), there are a lot of students that go out with friends to concerts, bars and clubs. Here is a list of some fun places to check out on a night out: La Choza El Bulevar El Rancho de Fofo
Remember to always take a cab at night, to never walk at night, to never leave an establishment with unknown folks and to stay in groups with people you know.
Getting around
19 Updated Feb/14 You will live close to campus, so you will be able to get around mostly by walking during the day. The town center is only a three minute walk away from campus.
During the evening (anytime after 7pm), make sure to always take a cab. Your mama tica can easily call one for you if you are going from your house to meet some friends. And at the end of the evening, you can get the bartender or the restaurant server to call you a cab to go home, although many times taxis will wait outside of the bars. There is also a taxi line right at the Parque Central, although you don’t want to walk 5 blocks to it to get a cab. Cabs in Heredia/San José are very inexpensive, usually no more than $2-$5 dollars depending on where you go.
If you want to go to San José—or anywhere else in Costa Rica for that matter--there is a great public transportation system. There are many bus ‘stations’ around Heredia/San José, so depending where you are heading, you may need to go to a different ‘station’. ‘Stations’ tend to simply be a line of people of the side of a particular street (with no sign around), and a bus that stops every once in a while for a couple of minutes to pick them up. You can ask locals where the bus stops are, and they will be happy to help! Buses are very inexpensive and generally comfortable.
Sámara, Guanacaste
The location is at Sámara Beach, in the southern Guanacaste area (NW) of Costa Rica. This location is about five hours from Heredia. Sámara is a small, casual town (3,000 inhabitants). It rains a great deal in the green season. Take an umbrella or rain coverup. It also can be very hot. Bring insect repellent, as there are many bugs at the beach. Especially important is mosquito protection. Be careful on the beach at night. Do not swim at night or walk alone late. Have a copy of your passport with you. Internet is not available in most houses in Sámara, but there’s great connection at the school. Please see www.samarabeach.com for general information on the area.
20 Updated Feb/14 On Sunday nights there is a short tour of the town at 6 pm. You will also meet the Sámara program coordinator at this time. In addition, every Monday at 12 noon, there will be an orientation at the school, obligatory for students new to Sámara. You will meet the Spanish Department Coordinator in this meeting. For students reserved with families: 7 nights are included, with breakfast and dinner daily, private room and laundry service. You must ask for your family information BEFORE leaving for Sámara. Houses are basic, but comfortable. There are fans, but no hot water. Water in the showers is not uncomfortably cold, but more room temperature. All houses are within 1 km of the school, a short walk or bike ride. You will see bugs, and it will be hot! The friendly geckos, though they often leave signs of their passing, are Sámara’s natural enemy to mosquitoes. Remember that you are in RURAL Costa Rica, a tropical country, and you must be prepared for this type of experience. To appreciate and get the most out of your Sámara family experience, be very flexible; this is a real cultural experience and you will need to be able to adapt to different circumstances without problems. Sámara is NOT Heredia. If you have been staying with a family in Heredia, ask the family what they would like you to do with your things before leaving for Sámara. You can keep them at school if need be, but most will happily keep your things in your bedroom (some families will host another student during this week). You can leave them at school. You must tell your family when you will be returning. Please do not return with lots of dirty clothes for them to wash. There is a Banco Nacional in Samara Beach where you can exchange your traveler’s checks and dollars.
As a general rule, it is a good idea to bring along both a credit card, several one-dollar bills, and at least $75 in cash (small denominations are better), in case you need to pay for services before you are able to change your money to colones.
Be sure to bring enough money for the entire week including money for tours and equipment (bicycle, boogie boards, kayaks, snorkel; renting a surf board can be as little as $2 a day!). Classes at the beach alternate between morning and afternoon. All students have morning classes on Fridays. Students earning academic credits must attend all classes. There are optional daily workshops, such as dance class, yoga class, a bike tour, and a beading class! Don’t forget to bring: allergy medicine, medications, beach towel, insect repellent, sunglasses, sunblock, flashlight, flip-flops, sneakers, sun hat, and swimsuit. Map of Greater Heredia
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Map of Greater Sámara/Carrillo
Communications Calling home. Alert your family that phone calls are expensive, and it may be a few days before you contact them. You can call your U.S. family collect from the school and then give them the telephone number of your Costa Rican family. It is best and cheapest to have them call you. The best way for you to call long distance is
22 Updated Feb/14 through one of the International telephone cards. The school can sell you this card. At orientation you will be given instructions. There are a couple of different options for making international calls: Check to see if you can add on an international plan to your phone that includes the country you are traveling to This may require the additional of a SIM card and can only be done with your cell phone provider Purchase a disposable cell phone upon arrival into the country you are traveling to (sometimes the most cost effective route) Purchase international calling cards that you can use from payphones Use skype or something similar if you bring your laptop along with you, this is the easiest way to keep in touch as almost all the homestays have internet, along with the school.
Wireless Internet - Intercultura offers Wireless Internet access for those students with a laptop. Cost of the service is $15 and is valid for your stay. Telephone: The school telephone is 011.506.2260.8480. Phone calls will be expensive from Costa Rica unless using one of the school’s prepaid cards. It is best to have your family call you at a pre-arranged time. Mail: You can receive mail (it usually takes about 2 weeks to arrive) in care of the school address: Intercultura, P.O. Box 1952-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica, Central America. If you have anyone mail you a package, expect it to be quite expensive. For packages we recommend using a private mail service such as Federal Express, DHL. You will need to give the sender the street address of the school to be able to send it in this manner. If someone really needs to send you a package, we recommend keeping it small (under 4 lbs each package), use padded envelopes instead of boxes if possible, as these seem to arrive more quickly, do not send perishables (as two weeks of transit is common for mail), and make sure they put your name on the address somewhere so the school knows who the package belongs to.
VISITING NICARAGUA
Purposes Sometime half way through your semester program, you will go on a 4 day-excursion to Nicaragua, organized by a travel guide from Intercultura,
There are two important purposes for this excursion: get an introduction to this historical, beautiful, yet very different Central American country, and also get another Costa Rican 90 day visa as tourists upon your re-entry to Costa Rica.
Itinerary In the past years, the main ‘base’ in Nicaragua has been Granada, a beautiful and historical town right on the edge of Lago de Nicaragua. Activities generally included in the itinerary are: a walking tour of Granada and
23 Updated Feb/14 some of its main historical sites, a visit by boat on the lago (home to the only fresh water sharks of the world!!!), a hike to the Masaya volcano, and at least a half day at the Laguna de apoyo, an absolutely gorgeous fresh water lake at the top of an extinguished volcano.
What to Expect Despite all of its natural beauty, it won’t take you long to notice some major differences between prosperous Costa Rica and its poorer neighbor to the north. Economic prosperity is usually the result of many years of political stability, major investments in education from the local governments, free or relatively inexpensive health care, and work opportunities for the majority of the citizens of a particular country. While all those things exist in Costa Rica, very sadly, and for a variety of reasons, they don’t in Nicaragua. You will learn many of these reasons during your History of Costa Rica course, as well as during your visit in the country. Remain open minded, appreciate what you see and learn about, and make the most out of your stay there.
What to bring to Nicaragua? Jerry, who will most likely be your guide as well, or the guide that will go along with you, will meet with the group a few days before departure to review with you the itinerary, as well as the ‘what (not) to bring’ list.
Remember that after your 4 days in Nicaragua, you will be dropped off in Sámara for your week of class there, so when you pack for the trip, you will pack for both Nicaragua as well as Sámara. Travel as light as you can!
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Some activities and excursions will be arranged—and included—as part of your culture courses, and many, many more will be an option for you during your program.
Free Activities at School The school offers different free activities on a daily basis: salsa/merengue/bachata/cumbia tica dance lessons, Costa Rican cooking classes, Costa Rican jewelry making, among others. The school also has an Intercambio program, which is similar to LU’s Conversation Partner program: you get matched with one or many ticos who want to learn English, so part of your conversations are in English, and then the other half is in Spanish. Participating in the Intercambio program is a great, safe way to meet tico friends. The school also facilitates finding a placement for those interested in volunteer work in the Heredia area. This is another great way to get involved in your new environment and learn/practice your Spanish.The school is also hosts movie nights.
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Optional Day Trips There are many, many interesting sites to visit around Heredia. Some of those sites you can take a taxi or a local bus; for others you might need to go with a group organized by the school, and for which you would need to pay a small fee, depending on the location and things included in the tour (some of these half day activities cost around $10-30)
San Pedro de Barva - museum specializing in coffee Butterfly Paradise Bosque de la Hoja Park Monte de la Cruz Park Braulio Carrillo National Park - cloud forest -- hiking Barva Volcano -- hiking Peace Waterfall Park—Las cataratas de la Paz Poas Volcano
Most of these sites are must sees, so just ask around and decide which ones are more in tune with your personality, and budget!
Optional Weekend Excursions:
Some students in the past decided to stay with their familia tica every single weekend, while others traveled every single weekend!!!
25 Updated Feb/14 If you do decide to travel, you will have two types of trips to choose from: organized excursions (most likely with school groups), or independent traveling, by yourself or with other students and using public transportation,
Of course, the organized trips tend to be more expensive ($100-$200, depending on sites visited) but also hassle-free and hands-off. Independent traveling means planning everything yourself, meeting non-students folks along the way, and very likely saving lots of money, too. One way or the other, these activities and excursions are a great way to meet people and to see other parts of the country that you should try to fit it into your budget, if possible. If you travel independently, be sure to go with a two or more other friends. It is a lot less costly to use public transportation (ask your mama tica about the bus schedules). For example, you could travel to Puntarenas (a city a few hours away) by bus for less than $5 and be on the beach.
Some sites you should consider visiting during week end excursions could include:
La Fortuna/Arenal –hiking, hot springs, volcano Monteverde/Santa Elena – hiking, hotspring, zip lining Turrialba –rafting, hiking, volcano climbing and visiting the ruins of Guayabo Tortuguero, or the lesser known town of Parismina – Turtle hatching and volunteering Puerto Viejo de Talamanca – Caribbean town by the Panamanian border, beach, hiking Montezuma – Touristy Pacific town with nice beach, rocking climbing, and beautiful waterfalls (you can jump from). Santa Theresa- Beautiful beaches, young surf town atmosphere
There are certainly lots of fun destinations, each one of them offering a variety of relaxing and/or adventurous activities, in a beautiful tropical environment!
“I loved the zip-lining, the turtle watching on the beach, white-water rafting, and everything else…they were all great experiences. The school offered so many different cultural activities: movies at the school on Monday nights, excursions to dance places on Wednesday nights, and many other activities. Honestly, I don’t think I would have experienced all these things if they hadn’t been offered by the school. After all, I met the president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Oscar Arias when I attended a concert that the school told us about!”
Annie Grohmann “I loved when we went Zip lining through the rain forest that was an unforgettable experience for me. I also liked the volcanoes especially Volcan Poas because you don’t get to see an active volcano every day. I also liked going to Nicaragua and getting to swim in the top of a dormant volcano. It was a beautiful and relaxing day. I also loved Las Cataratas de La Paz. However, I also enjoyed navigating the country by myself during Semana Santa. One of my favorite of the excursions was going to Castros and Tobogan with the dance instructor Enrique. “ Kellie McMenamy
“I participated in dance class nearly every day, and it was a blast! Once English classes started, they also hosted Group intercambios, with both English and Spanish students. I really enjoyed these activities because I was able to meet people, play games, and practice with people who understood the process of learning, which made me feel comfortable if I made a mistake). I think going to these Intercambios was a huge help for me and gave me confidence. The school provided a lot 26 Updated Feb/14 of cultural, weekend excursions that were planned through Jerry. They can get to be a little bit expensive, so I did not go on any of them. However, any afternoons through the school are definitely worthwhile and inexpensive (they are free). “ Tracy Luley “I loved planning my own trips/adventures. They did not always go as planned, but it was so much fun to hop on a bus, meet some helpful people, and end up somewhere fantastic! If you are outgoing and not afraid of being spontaneous, I recommend doing things on your own. You meet great people, gain independence, as well as confidence in your communication skills.” Jacqueline Riordan
Santa Theresa Puerto Viejo Wildlife Refuge
Monteverde Ziplining Playa Jaco
27 Updated Feb/14 Longer Travels -- Vacation during
Spring Break/Semana Santa: You will have a Spring break: one week for Semana Santa (Holy week, the week before Easter). There will not be any classes that week, but you will be able to stay with your family and participate to their activities. However, you may want to go away for a few days to explore a different part of the country, so you may need money for this.
The school usually organizes a longer excursion during that week, but you can also use this opportunity to travel independently and take your time. You could either go to one location and just explore it in depth (if so any of the week end excursions locations suggested above have many days of activities to offer to travelers), or you could decide to go further away and see something different. Here are some recommendations:
Panama--Option #1: Start in San Jose, then spend a few days in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the Caribbean border of Panama, then cross to Panama and spend a few days at the beachy town of Bocas del Toro. From there you could take a bus to Panama City, for a few days, visiting the historical sites and the famous canal, and the take a super comfy direct bus Panama City-San Jose once your vacation is over.
Panama—Option #2: Start in San Jose and take a bus to David, Panama. From there head to Boquete, the ‘Switzerland’ of Central America, where you can hike, visit some ruins, and hang out in small hotsprings. You can then go to Panama City for a few days, where you book additional day excursions like kayaking on the Chagres, visiting an indigenous tribe like the Emberás, or perhaps even make it to Portobelo on the Caribbean side.
Nicaragua: Start in San Jose and take a bus to Los Chiles, by the Nicaraguan border. Cross the Rúi San Juan into San Carlos, small fishing town at the mouth of the San Juan and the southeastern edge of the Lago de Nicaragua. From there, take a boat taxi east on the Río San Juan and stay Sábalo lodge, in a thached roof hut overlooking this historical river. There you can arrange for hikes, kayak trips, and lots and lots of wild life! One of my favorite trips ever!
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29 Updated Feb/14 PERSONAL AND CULTURAL PREPARATION FOR YOUR
SEMESTER ABROAD
Basic Bibliography
Here is a very basic bibliography of books you should consider reading before and during your stay in Costa Rica. BE AN INFORMED TRAVELER!
Lonely Planet: Costa Rica. Current edition. Biesanz, M. H. et al. The Ticos: Culture And Social Change in Costa Rica. London: Lynne Rienners Publishers, 1999 Palmer S. & Molina, I. The Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics. London: Duke University Press, 2004 Ras, Barbara. Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion. San Francisco: Whereabouts Press, 1994. Skidmore T., & Smith P. Modern Latin America. 5th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001 Wallerstein, Claire. Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2006
Basic Spanish language differences You already speak Spanish, so you will notice quickly some special characteristics of the Spanish used in Costa Rica. The informal tú form is rarely used, and you will use the usted form almost exclusively, even to children. The catch all term is pura vida, with a wide meaning sort of like this is the life. It is used in many situations.
Students’ Expectations for Program?
30 Updated Feb/14 A very important question that each participant must ask him/herself before enrolling in the program is: What are my expectations for this program? Of course, all past participants have improved their Spanish skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. All participants have also highlighted in the end-of-program evaluations how much cultural knowledge they have acquired during their stay in Central America, from both the formal setting of the classroom as well as the informal daily contact with ticos and nicas. However, all students should be realistic about how much will be acquired: you will not come back from your 16-week stay in Costa Rica 100% fluent in the language and the culture!!! Why not? Well, first off one would need to discuss the term ‘fluent’. Does it mean speak without thinking in English? Does it mean not hesitating when speaking? Does it mean speaking with a tico accent? Does it mean speaking like a native speaker, with all the vocabulary in the dictionary from the Real Academia and never having to look up a word, regardless of where you are in the world? Know right away that this definition is not the correct one. If by ‘fluent’ you mean ‘getting by without having to look up words too often’ and understand ‘most’ of what is being said to you, you are getting closer. To become ‘native-like’, students need lots and lots of practice, which only comes with years and years of formal and informal studies, in an academic setting as well as by traveling extensively in a variety of Spanish speaking countries. We all know by now that there is no ‘one’ Spanish, but rather hundreds, all depending on where you are (Spain, Puerto Rico, Panamá, Argentina), who you speak to (educated / non-educated; poor / rich; men / women; young / old; etc…), and the topic of discussion. Let’s not forget either that, just like any other language, Spanish is ever-changing, which means new words are created daily, uses of regular words do change, especially in colloquial speech. There are, however, many things you can do to get as much as possible out of your program: Force yourself to always speak Spanish, at school, with your family, with the new friends you will make (it can be very easy to just speak English, so you have to stop yourself. It is up to you). Surround yourself with people with this same learning philosophy Remain positive and open minded Get as involved as possible with your family activities, at school (meet new friends who also want to practice Spanish), with the intercambio program (a program similar to our Conversation Partner program), in your new community (the school does offer some volunteering opportunities). Culture Shock!
One of the factors most influential in a student’s stay in a foreign country is their awareness of an ability to adapt to the inevitable process of culture shock that occurs. Culture shock is the syndrome affecting anyone who comes to a new country for a significant time, and it involves symptoms as simple as feeling homesick and worn-out. In its more serious aspects, culture shock will affect the way you perceive your host family, the local population, and every aspect of your stay. The more you can prepare yourself, the more you will understand why you react as you do in many situations; and the more you understand, the easier it will be to cope in a positive way, and the sooner you will adjust to life in this new culture. This excerpt from a U.S. government training guide explains why and how culture shock occurs, and what it entails.
“In an effort to get over culture shock, we think there is some value in knowing about the nature of culture and its relationship to the individual. In addition to living in a physical environment, every individual lives in a cultural environment consisting of man-made physical objects, social institutions, and has the capacity to learn and use it.
31 Updated Feb/14 Culture chock is brought on by the anxiety that results from losing all you familiar signs and symbols. These signs or cues include the thousand and one ways in which we orient ourselves to the situation of daily life, when to shake hands and what to say when we meet people, when and how to give tips, how to give orders in a restaurant, when to take statements seriously and when not. These cues may be words, gestures, facial expressions – all customs or norms which we acquire in the course of growing up, and are much a part of our culture as the language we speak or the beliefs we accept. Psychologists now believe that more than fifty percent of all communication is non-verbal. All of us depend, for peace of mind and our efficiency, on these cues, most of which were are not consciously aware.
When an individual enters a strange culture, all or most of these familiar cues are removed. No matter how intelligent, broad-minded, or full of goodwill s/he may be, a series of props have been knocked out from under him/her. This is followed by a feeling of frustration and anxiety. All people react to this frustration in much the same way, but in varying degrees. First, they reject the environment which causes the discomfort! The ways of the host country are bad because they make us feel badly! Another phase is regression. The home environment suddenly assumes a tremendous importance. To a U.U. citizen, everything from the U.S.A. becomes irrationally glorified. All the difficulties and problems are forgotten, and only the good things back home are remembered.
Some symptoms of culture shock are: excessive concern over cleanliness and the feeling that what is new and strange is ‘dirty’; a feeling of helplessness and a desire for one’s own nationality; irritation over delays and other minor frustrations, out of proportion to their causes; delays and outright refusal to learn the language; excessive fear of being cheated, robbed or injured; great concern over minor pains; and finally that terrible longing to be back home in familiar surroundings, to talk to people who really make sense, and to be able to use ‘real’ money!
Individuals differ greatly in the degree to which culture affects them. Although not common, there are some individuals who cannot live in foreign countries. Those who have observed people go through a serious case of culture shock and on to satisfactory adjustment, have discerned the following steps in the process.
Honeymoon phase: During the first days and weeks most individuals are fascinated by the new. But the ‘tourist’ mentality does not normally last and the foreign visitor has to seriously cope with the conditions of real life.
Hostile Phase: It is then that the second stage begins, characterized by a hostile and aggressive attitude towards the host country. This hostility evidently grows out of the genuine difficulty which the visitor experiences in the process of adjustment. There is mail trouble, school trouble, language trouble, housing trouble, transportation trouble, shopping trouble, and the fact that people in the host country are largely indifferent to all these troubles! They help, but they just don’t understand your great concern over these difficulties. Therefore they must be insensible and unsympathetic to you and your worries. The result? “I just don’t like them”. You may become aggressive, band together and criticize the host country, its ways and its people. This criticism is not objective, but derogatory. Instead of trying to account for conditions and the historical circumstances which have created them, you talk as if the difficulties you experience are more or less created by the people of the host country for your special discomfort. This second state of culture shock is a crisis in the disease.
Grin-and-Bear-it Phase: As the visitor succeeds in getting some knowledge of the language and begins to get around by him/herself, the beginning of his adjustment to the new cultural environment is taking place. S/he may still have difficulties but takes a “this is my cross, I will bear it” attitude. Usually in this stage
32 Updated Feb/14 the visitor begins to become more interested in the people of the host country. The sense of humor returns and instead of criticizing, jokes about difficulties., The visitor is now on the road to recovery!
Effective Adjustment Phase (last Phase): In the final stage of the adjustment, the visitor accepts the customs of the country as just another way of living. He can operate within the new milieu without feeling anxiety, although there are moments of strain. Only with a complete grasp of all the cues of social intercourse will the strain disappear. For a long time the visitor will understand what the host nation is saying, but is not always sure what is meant! With a complete adjustment, s/he accepts the food, drink, habits, and customs, and actually begins to enjoy them! When the visitor leaves the country, s/he genuinely misses it and the people”.
The best advice I can give for this program is to go into it with an open-mind. You will have a lot of expectations, and once you arrive things will be much different than you had planned. The culture is completely different than the culture of the U.S. Just remember you are only there for 3 months (which some days may seem like a very long time), but it will go by way too fast. So enjoy every day there, and take advantage of every opportunity to travel, practice your Spanish, build relationships with your families and make friends with the locals. After a week of being home, I already wanted to go back. Save your money now, if there is one thing I regret it was not traveling enough. Although the country is small, there is so much to see! -Anna Hantack
33 Updated Feb/14 Copy of Program Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct Contract and Terms of Participation for SLCSA Program
The Department of Foreign Languages of Lindenwood University expects our international programs to be a unique educational and transformative experience for all participants. Participants have responsibilities to each other, as a community of learning, and to their hosts, as representatives of Lindenwood University, to engage in appropriate conduct. As such, SLCSA maintains this code of conduct:
• I understand that I must be engaged in all academic aspects of the program, including (but not limited to) punctual attendance to classes, completion of assignments, and participation in class discussions. Missing even just one class for unexcused reasons can jeopardize the course grade. • I understand that I must take part in required group activities, including (but not limited to) group meetings, projects, field trips and service learning engagements. • I understand that I must respect the property and privacy of fellow participants. • I understand that any conduct which is threatening to the well being of another student, or that is demeaning to him/her, or any conduct which negatively impacts another participant’s engagement or participation in the program, are prohibited. • I understand that I must exhibit common courtesy and respect toward others. I will respect the needs and space of others. As Costa Rica is a conservative society, I’ll avoid calling undue attention to myself and others group employing common sense precautions to prevent dangerous situations (conservative dress code, prudence in social interactions, in public place, not walking at night, etc…) • I understand that I must pay attention and obey any written and verbal instructions given by the Program Coordinator or her on-location representatives, as well as group leaders, instructors, guides and travel company personnel. that I must abide by the laws of the host country, and the rules of host institutions (dormitories, classrooms, workplaces etc.). • I understand that I must always keep in mind that my safety and the safety of the others in the group is of the out most importance, and any conduct which threatens the viability of future Spanish Language and Culture Semester Abroad programs in the host country is prohibited. • I understand that the use of illicit or controlled substances, under any circumstances, is neither permitted nor acceptable. In the event of my incarceration resulting from receiving, distribution or purchasing illicit or controlled substances, Lindenwood University and their representatives will not be responsible for me nor will they be involved in the pursuit of an outcome relative to the situation. • I understand that I must comply with the Lindenwood University Student Conduct Code (available online at http://www.lindenwood.edu/studentDevelopment/docs/HB/StudentHB.pdf and demonstrate, while in Costa Rica and traveling to and from this country, a responsible behavior based on the Code. I understand that my behavior as part of The Lindenwood University group will be governed by the same rules that apply to my behavior while I am at Lindenwood University. I also understand that I must abide by the Lindenwood’s policy prohibiting sexual harassment. • I understand that there are some very serious repercussions if my conduct does not meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct Contract, per the judgment of the Program Coordinator. The consequences to any breech of the Code of Conduct vary according to the offense(s), and may include dismissal from the Semester Program (program fees are not refundable), a required and immediate return to the United States, to the student’s expulsion from Lindenwood University, at the discretion of the university administration. The responsibility of any costs related directly or indirectly to the student’s dismissal, including but not limited to hotel stays and unscheduled flight changes, will be the responsibility of the student. If I am required to return to the United States, the student will not be accompanied on the return trip by a Lindenwood University chaperone. The consequences for failure to perform according to the
34 Updated Feb/14 Student Conduct Contract are very serious.
______I am not currently on social probation at Lindenwood University.
I have read and understood the Code of Conduct Contract and the Terms of Participation, and I accept these terms.
Safety and Social Guidelines
In order to get the most out of your study abroad experience, it is important that you take into consideration the following safety and social guidelines. The following guidelines are designed to inform you, whether you are in San José or anywhere else in Costa Rica.
Be alert: Be aware of your surroundings and the people with whom you have contact. Know beforehand where you are going; avoid looking as if you are lost. Learn which areas should be avoided. If you find yourself in uncomfortable surroundings, act confident.
35 Updated Feb/14 Walk along well-lit and populated streets, do not walk alone at night. Avoid wearing Ipods or other electronic devises while walking or in public buses, in order to hear what is going on around you and look richer than you actually are!
Be prepared: Carry emergency contact numbers of your host family and school staff in a place other than where you keep your money. Carry a copy of your home address, the school, and your passport. Arrange to meet other students or friends: always avoid going out alone or walking alone at night Be very careful with new Costa Rican or other acquaintances: with them, don’t walk at night, don’t walk to your house, don’t give them your keys or address, and avoid getting in cars with them. Blend in: Avoid walking around with large backpacks, computers, or carrying/wearing cameras and Ipods (or other listening devices) in view. Don’t dress or behave in a way that will easily identify you as a tourist (dress like Costa Rican, but dress down a bit and more conservatively; no jewelry; no screaming that America is the best place on earth!). Ladies, dress down, particularly in a city; when you go out at night. While you are further developing your language abilities, try to learn the basic useful phrases for everyday use. Avoid theft: Carry small change for taxis and public phones. Carry a copy of your passport and only small amounts of cash; DO NOT carry all your documents, credit cards, traveler’s checks, cash, etc… Put your wallet in your front pockets. If you must carry a bag, wear it in front of you. Do not carry valuables. Never. Women should avoid carrying a PURSE, as these are easy targets. When you go walk around town, at night in a café or a bar, do not bring a purse: use your pockets instead, a small clutch, or something you can wear around your neck (that is still fashionable, of course). Avoid wearing jewelry or other accessories, whether it is valuable or not! Leave non-essential items; if you can’t replace it, don’t bring it! NEVER leave your bags unattended (even briefly!) in a restaurant, internet café, supermarket, airport, bus station. Always ask a friend traveling with you to keep an “eye on it”, which abroad means “put your foot on it” or “put the bag in front of you, or on your shoulder”. Do not hang your bag off the back of your chair in a café/restaurant/internet café, etc… When taking public transportation, do not store your bag above on the bus shelves then fall asleep!! It will not be there when you wake up! Store your bags under the bus in the ticketed compartments or on your lap/between your feet.
Be smart: If you are of age, and going to consume alcohol, do so in a responsible and culturally appropriate fashion (we will have a talk on this). It is best to go out with friends/other known students, never, ever alone. Don’t accept rides with friends or acquaintances that have had too much to drink. Do not walk home at night, take an official taxi, remember that taxi “placa” number and try to share taxis with friends. Avoid overt acts or display of patriotism, sexuality, or other culturally inappropriate behaviors. 36 Updated Feb/14 Be aware of stereotypes of foreign men and women, and try to avoid reinforcing them. Avoid conspicuous outfits or loud behavior. Understand local verbal and non-verbal communication. If you are carrying valuables on you, even if you are with other people, do not walk to your destination, especially at night: take a taxi or, at the beach, walk/ride with friends! Do not leave valuable unattended on the beach: leave them in reception or safely in your room! Do not swim at unknown beaches unless you are informed about tides and currents. Do not swim at any beach under the influence of alcohol, especially alone and/or at night.
Be prepared for any emergency: Have phone numbers of family and school contacts handy at all times. Know how to reach a doctor, a hospital or clinic, and the police. Know the exact location of your homestay and school. Always carry enough colonies to take a taxi home or to make a phone call. (pay phones in some areas do not accept coins, and you may need to use a phone card). If someone attempts to rob or mug you, give them your valuables without putting up a fight: it is better to lose material things than sustain an injury. If a car is involved, try to remember and later write down the license plates for future reference. Inform the school and file a police report immediately.
I ask that you keep these safety and social guidelines in mind at all times while traveling in Costa Rica. Please be sure to speak with me and the staff in Costa Rica if you have any questions or require further information.
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Code of Conduct Game!!!! 1. I have a friend visiting and s/he insists we go to the beach. a. We leave as early as possible Friday morning, missing my Friday class. b. We leave as early as possible on Friday, right after my class. c. I stay in my room and do my homework all weekend long.
2. A few of us are going to the beach for the weekend. a. I bring all my jewelry. b. I bring only long pants and sweaters, to be conservative and not get noticed. c. I bring a bathing suit, casual clothes, as a little of value as possible.
3. It’s Friday night a. I go to a bar alone to make new friends. b. I stay in my room, under my blankets, because I am scared to go out. c. I find a few friends (people I already know well) and we go to/leave from a venue together, responsibly.
4. I am getting ready for a Friday night out a. I put on a sequin tank top and I will be the only one in the bar dressed like this. b. I have this great mini skirt and high heel shoes that I can barely walk in, but they look soooo good! c. I dress modestly, but still cute!
5. I am in Costa Rica and I want to make some Tico/foreign friends a. I sign up for a school sponsored activity b. I go out with my hermanos/as, or primos/as, or family friends. c. I get to a bar and I spot a bunch of guys or girls at the bar so I just approach them.
6. We are in a bar and I see a person from our group who is not behaving according t our Codes of Conduct (dress code, “friendship” issues, alcohol, drugs) a. I just ignore that person and let her/him do his/her own thing. b. I leave the venue without that person c. I go get that person and we take a taxi together
38 Updated Feb/14 7. If I decide to ignore or not obey one or several policies from the Code of Conduct, Maite will not hesitate to: a. Give me an F for a course or even the program, depending what the offense is. b. Call my parents to let them know what I have been up to down here. c. Take any additional punitive measures at LU, according to the offence
If you think you get 100% on this quiz, you can go to Costa Rica for the semester!!! However, if you think you have an issue with some of these situations, or you think you may not be able to follow the Code of Conduct, let Maite know right away… you’re staying in the US with her! Yeah!
These rules are for your own safety, the safety of the other participants, as well as the future of the program in Costa Rica. You all agreed to these policies when you signed the Code of Conduct with Maite.
Consejos sobre el hospedaje –
Homestay Tips
Los siguientes consejos son para facilitar su experiencia en familia. Recomendamos leerlos cuidadosamente, dado que pueden influir mucho en la calidad de su estadía. The following guidelines and suggestions are aimed at facilitating your homestay experience with your new family. Please read them carefully, as they may greatly influence the quality of your stay and the impression you and your hosts make of each other.
1. No espere el mismo estándar de vida como en su país. Las familias son de clase media generalmente: a menudo tiene sólo un baño, y es común tener colchón de espuma. En Costa Rica va a ver muchos insectos, ¡es un país tropical! Las casas no tienden a ser lugares silenciosos, es común escuchar tele o radio todo el día, y hay muchos carros y perros en las calles. La arquitectura no es estilo colonial. En breve, trate de evitar ideas preconcebidas. Do not expect the same Standard of living as that which exists in your own country. Families are generally middle-class, which means that you might be sharing a bathroom with several people, sleeping on a bed which has a foam mattress, and you will certainly see your fair share of insects! Most households are typically noisier than what you might be accustomed to, as is the street and traffic activity outside, and T/V/s are often on throughout the day. Costa Rica is also different from other Latin American countries; for example it does not have the spacious colonial architecture common in parts of Mexico and Guatemala. In short, try to avoid a preconceived notion of what you think it “should” be like. The more open you are to adapting to a different way of live, the more fulfilling your stay will be. 2. Sugerimos regalarle a la familia a la llegada chocolates, flores o algo de su propio país, además de mostrarles fotos de su hogar, compartir recetas y música, etc, para romper el hielo. It is a nice gesture to give the family a small welcome gift as a token of your appreciation, eg box of chocolates or flowers. Also bring photos of family and friends from back home. This is a good ice-breaker and a way for your hosts to get to know you better. You may also want to share music, magazines and typical recipes. 3. Su familia lava la ropa una o dos veces por semana. Debe preguntarle dónde y cuándo dejar su ropa sucia. Es normal que se lave su propia ropa interior—la familia le indicará dónde. Laundry is done by your family, usually once or twice a week. You should ask the family where to leave your dirty clothes for
39 Updated Feb/14 washing and on what days. However, it is customary for people to wash their own underwear (most Costa Rican do this in the shower or in the washing area, which he family can familiarize you with). 4. Las duchas son eléctricas; gire lentamente el grifo hasta oír que se enciende. No use mucha agua o se enfriará. ¡Pídale una demostración a la familia! Showers are heated by an electric water-heater. In order for this to work, you need to turn on slowly until you hear a buzzing noise. Do not turn on too much water, as it will only heat to lukewarm with larger volumes of water. Do not hesitate to ask your family for a demonstration! 5. Cada estudiante recibe una llave de la puerta de la casa. Puede ir y venir cuando quiera, pero sea considerado con el ruido si regresa tarde. ¡¡NO puede llevar visitas a la casa, sobre todo de noche!! Each student receives a front door key (remind your family if they forget the first day!). You should feel free to come and go as you please. Coming home late is fine, just be considerate about the noise, and lease, NO overnight visitors! Be sure to let your family know beforehand if you will be away for the night. 6. Haga llamadas locales rápidas desde la casa, son caras en CR. Al llegar sugerimos darle $5-10 al mes por el uso del teléfono. Para larga distancia, DEBE usar tarjeta pre-pagada o por cobrar (175 ó 110). No cobre nada a la cuenta de su familia—es muy caro para ellos. If you use the telephone for local calls, please be brief, as they are more expensive from private homes than from payphones. Students may give the family $5-10 at the beginning of their stay. For long-distance calls, be sure to buy a calling card, or ask your family to dial the operator (175 o 110) to call collect. Due to the high charges on any long-distance calls, what may seem like a negligible amount to a student is often a very significant expense for families, so students must be conscientious about not charging anything to their hosts’ bill. Also keep in mind that toll-free numbers in the U.S. are not free when dialed from Costa Rica. 7. Desayuno y cena se incluye con su hospedaje. Pregunta por el horario para no perder comidas. Dígale a la familia qué le gusta y qué no, ¡no se van a ofender! Frutas y verduras son abundantes, así que pídalas si le gustan. Breakfast and dinner are included with your homestay. You should ask what their meal schedule is so as not to miss meal times. Let the family know what you like and don’t like where food is concerned. As long as you do so politely, they will not be offended, as they would rather see you eat what they serve than waste it! If you like lots of fruits, vegetables and cereal, tell your homestay mother, as it simply does not occur to many Costa Ricans to serve these things despite their abundance. 8. El papel higiénico en CR se echa al basurero, ¡no en la taza! Si no hay, use la taza. In Costa Rica most plumbing requires that toilet paper be thrown in the wastebasket, not in the toilet! (If there is no wastebasket provided, you may then dispose of the paper in the toilet). 9. Si rompe algo, favor dígaselo a su familia. Respete las costumbres de la familia y las reglas de la casa, ej, con el fumado, las visitas, etc. Please let your host know if you damage or break something. This will help avoid future tensions, and most items are easily replaceable. Remember to always respect house rules on subjects such as smoking and visitors even when family members are not at home, as this shows respect for them and their customs. 10. No pida dinero ni lo preste, para evitar situaciones incómodas que puedan echar a perder su estadía. Do not borrow from or lend money to your host family. This may lead to an uncomfortable situation in the future and spoil an otherwise enjoyable stay. 11. Apague las luces detrás suyo y tome duchas cortas. La electricidad es un lujo y es cara, por eso se usa bombillos de bajo voltaje. No dé la impression de desperdiciarla. Remember to turn lights off when not using them and try to keep showers short. Electricity is regarded as a luxury, and many Ticos consider wasteful the manner in which foreigners use electricity, thus the low-powered lights in most homes. If you need more light in your room, you can ask your host mother for a higher wattage bulb or buy one yourself in a ny food store and let her know. 12. Use pantuflas o medias dentro de la casa, y no use ropa muy corta o reveladora—se considera descortés. Vístase en el baño o use una bata. Many Costa Ricans consider it impolite to walk around the house in bare feet. If you do not have slippers or flip-flops you may wear socks. They also tend to find very
40 Updated Feb/14 revealing clothing offensive, unless it is for a specific use such as going to the gym or the beach. Between the shower and your room, it is courteous to either use a robe or get dressed in the bathroom. 13. Cierre bien las puertas y portones detrás suyo. Por el crimen que existe, los ticos son muy precavidos en este sentido. Sea responsable con sus llaves y no tire las puertas, ni en carros ni en la casa. Be sure to be responsible about closing doors and locking gates behind you. There is some petty theft in Costa Rica and Ticos are accordingly cautious about keeping their houses locked. Be responsible with your keys and respect this custom! Also remember not to slam doors and gates; Costa Ricans tend to use more caution when closing them than foreigners do; this goes for taxis/cars as well as houses. 14. Es común en Costa Rica compartir camas entra la familia, incluso hijos grandes a veces duermen con la mamá. Trate de aceptar diferencias culturales sin criticar, esté o no de acuerdo con ellas. Don’t be surprised to learn that many family members share beds in Costa Rica. Even grown-up children sometimes prefer to sleep with their mothers rather than alone! Feel free to discuss cultural differences but take care not to seem judgmental, even though you may not agree with local practices. Try not to be critical; accept this culture as the unique one that it is! 15. Mantenga su sentido de humor. Siempre. No se deje estresar por las cosas pequeñas, y vea el lado divertido del asunto. Always try to keep a sense of humor. Instead of letting yourself get stressed about minor problems. Try to see the bright side. These problems will at the very least make for funny stories once you return home! 16. No espere servicio VIP de las familias, sino ser tratado como uno de ellos. Do not expect host families to provide you with VIP service and entertainment. The idea is for you to live as a family member, sharing in the routine and chores as well as typical outings. 17. Las familias se seleccionan por su interés en y actitud amistosa hacia los estudiantes, no sólo por lo económico. Cada familia es diferente, pero si Ud. Contribuye a una relación abierta y amistosa sentirá una Buena reacción de ella. Sin embargo, si se siente mal por cualquier razón, no dude en informar a la administración lo antes posible para buscar una solución. Although host families do receive a fee for each student, they are selected based on their interest in and friendliness towards their students. While each family is different, as long as you contribute towards an open and friendly relationship, you should enjoy a positive, rewarding homestay experience. However, if you have any problems or feel unhappy where you are, do not hesitate to talk to the administration so that we can rectify the situation. 18. Favor no hacer arreglos financieros directamente con la familia, sino por el programa. Puede extender su estadía si hay espacio en la casa, así que es mejor reservar con anticipación si piensa extender. Please do not make financial arrangements directly with families; these should always be done through the program. Extensions can also be made, but if there are other students coming to your family, we reserve the right to move you to a different household. In general, the farther in advance you extend, the more chance you have or remaining with the same family. 19. Puede haber otros estudiantes en la casa, pero siempre tendrá cuarto propio a menos que venga en pareja. No habrá más de dos o tres estudiantes total en la casa, pero también Ud. Puede pedir vivir solo si lo desea. There may sometimes be other students in your family, but you will always have your own room unless requested otherwise. In general there should not be more than two, occasionally three, non- Spanish speakers in your home. It is possible to request a home with no other foreigners, on a space-available basis. 20. Sea cortés con la familia, salúdela en la mañana con las frases amables que siempre se usan. No levantarse de la mesa sin decir “con permiso”, y avise si no va a llegar a comer. Si tiene un problema, expréselo de forma sutil y cortés, para mejor resultado, evitando las confrontaciones directas. Always be courteous with your host family, greeting them each morning with one of the many pleasantries that abound in Costa Rica’s system of social etiquette and that are typically used in all areas of conversations. Excusing yourself from the table and letting your mother know what time you will be home or if you will miss a meal are
41 Updated Feb/14 also considered the norm. Discussions or problems should be prefaced with small talk for best result, as Ticos tend to avoid direct confrontations. 21. Si tiene problemas, hable con Maite o con el director del programa en Costa Rica. También podemos explicar diferencias culturales que se pueden malinterpretar (ej cuando la familia dice “gordito” es cariñoso, o el hecho que es común no presentarse por su nombre la primera vez que se conocen). If you have any problems, comments or concerns about your family please talk to Maite or the Director in Costa Rica right away! We can help explain cultural differences that might otherwise be taken as personal insults (such as not introducing anyone by name when friends or family come to the house!). 22. Cuando regrese a la casa, escríbale a su familia para agradecerle: es un gesto bonito y puede llevar una larga amistad. When you return home, write to your host family thanking them. They will appreciate the gesture and you may begin a long-lasting correspondence which will solidify the personal relationships you develop during your stay.
Past Program Participants You Can
Contact For Information
These students, who have already participated in the program, will happily answer any questions you have about Costa Rica! If you are unsure about what to pack, have a couple of specific questions, want some more ideas about where to travel, or just want to see a few more pictures, email them!
Anna Hantack --- [email protected] Rebecca Peddicord --- [email protected] Jacqueline Riordan --- [email protected] Stacy Fischer --- [email protected]
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