Skip to main content

Spanish Camp in Costa Rica

My experience in Costa Rica can be described in 3 words: lively, beautiful, and friendship. 

When I first arrived in Costa Rica I was so nervous to stay with a host family and meet new people. Right when I stepped out of the airport I was met with a smiling face holding a sign with my name on it. I was also so happy and relieved that she spoke some English. On the drive to our host family I noticed they had lots of American fast food places which made me sad, but it was also funny at the same time. I was expecting to see all of these Costa Rican restaurants and the first thing I saw was a McDonalds.

The next day at school I met some of the greatest people. Right from the start I made some amazing friends. Everyone was so welcoming and amazing. I am so happy I met the people I did. We still are talking and I hope we stay in touch! We are already planning a reunion. It is a truly amazing experience to be with amazing people from different places for two weeks. The staff were also amazing and I hope someday I can see them again.

One thing that helped me keep my mind of being home sick or thinking about my family was all the activities we did. We were always busy doing something. We got to go zip lining twice, we learned to salsa dance, we learned home to cook some traditional meals, and we got to spend time with our host family. We also got to have a Costa Rican BBQ with our host families and the school. I think my favorite night was when we went to taquiera. We got to go to dinner and see a show and we got to dance. It was a lot of fun and it allowed for some good bonding. I felt really comfortable with everyone I met. 

Our first host family took us to see them play soccer. It is very common for people in the family to play on a neighborhood soccer team. Our host dad also took me to a local store to get bread. The bread was fresh out of the oven. It was some of the best bread I have ever tasted it. We also got to smell some of the coffee in the store. The coffee in Costa Rica is something amazing. It isn’t bitter at all. 

I think my second host family was my favorite because they were really interested in helping us learning Spanish. Our host dad still texts us to say good morning and good night. Our host mom also made some amazing food. I felt very at home when I was staying a there home which is nice because you are dealing with some many other new things.

A little advice for new participants: open up and don’t be shy. It will be a much better experience if you are open to new things and you speak Spanish! The number one thing you need to do is speak Spanish! It doesn’t matter how much experience you have.


-Ada Novak

 For more information about our immersion programs in Costa Rica and other Spanish-speaking countries, check out these pages!

Summer in Costa Rica
Programs in Spanish-speaking countries
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tips for Teens Traveling Independently

Many of our programs allow you to choose your own program dates, flights, and length. Some advantages to this are that families have control over booking flights and are able to use frequent flyer miles. One challenge, however, is that students must travel independently to their program destinations. Some teens are understandably nervous about flying alone.  Here are some tips to help teens and parents feel more at ease about traveling internationally without a chaperone or flight leader. Before booking your ticket Check with us before booking your ticket to see if anyone else from your area will be attending your program at the same time. We can put you in contact with one another. Booking your ticket Whenever possible, choose a direct flight. Fewer fights mean fewer opportunities for flights to be delayed or for other problems to arise. If a direct fight is not possible, choose a flight that stops or makes connections in the United States. Whenever possible, stick with t
19 comments
Read more

How to Write a Letter to Your Host Family

The letter to your host family is one of the most important pieces of your program abroad application; it’s the host family’s first impression of you. Exchange programs take many factors into account when matching you with a host family, but ultimately it’s up to the host family to decide whether to host you or not. Here are a few helpful tips to writing a great letter to your future host family: Use a positive tone. “The main reason a student’s dossier is passed over by families is unintentional negativity,” explains Rebecca Gundle, Program Coordinator for ANDEO International Homestays. A student might be trying to explain her preferences, but when she devotes equal attention to describing her dislikes, she comes across as negative or picky. A family wants to know that the student they host will be adaptable and willing to try new things. Keep your tone upbeat and positive. Go deeper than the application form. Try to avoid simply reiterating what is on the form. This is a c
3 comments
Read more

Tackling the Dust Bunnies (and other surprising benefits of hosting an exchange student)

By Elizabeth Markleson, host mom You could say I'm a relaxed housekeeper. Our kitchen table is covered with piles of papers "to be dealt with later", our sink is often full of dishes, and you can be sure there is a whole family of dust bunnies living under the furniture. When my kids were little and they would see me go into my cleaning mode, they would always ask, "Who is coming to visit?" Not much changes over the years! When it comes to housework, a guest is a great motivator. The days were ticking down before our Spanish student arrived and my to-do list was getting longer and longer. “Don’t stress too much about it,” my sister said. “Isn’t your student just supposed to blend into your family as it is? This is an exchange student, not a visiting dignitary, after all.” True, but I am a strong believer in the power of first impressions. When my daughter went to Spain a few years ago, her host family added some really nice touches to make her feel welcome..
2 comments
Read more