I had mixed feelings when I left Oslo in august as I left so many friends in Norway, but I am very happy to be in Costa Rica, and I love to be here. The first seven weeks have been amazing – everyone is very welcoming. This blog post will be about how the organization Kulturstudier, and the staff here have welcomed us, so you know what to expect when you arrive!
Kulturstudier have been excellent in every kind of way and the staff that work in San Isidro is so helpful, kind and service minded. We were met by a joint bus when we arrived, and they followed us directly to our houses.
I started my stay with living in Casa Blanca with seven other girls, and it have been a very good experience. Our house had a good standard and was in the city center. If we had small problems, like that we ran out of gas for the oven or wanted to hang a mirror on the wall, our “landlord” has been fast and fixed it the same day.
The housing situation made it easy to get to know other students and already the first weekend we rented a house near the coast together. I feel like all the students travelling with Kulturstudier are open-minded and easy to talk to, which is perfect when you are long away from home. Recently, Kulturstudier have included a five-week homestay with Costa Rican families so that we can experience how to live like a local. I have at this point just moved in with my host family and so far, so good. The swap was very well arranged, and the family have been very kind to us and given us the best start of our homestay.
The university have great teachers who help you with improving your language skills and give you advice on things to do in San Isidro. They also participate on some of the activities that we can participate on after school like the welcome party, the 15th of September (the Independence Day), and a whale tour. The school days are not very long, they can differ from two classes to six on a day. The university is tidy and the staff there is so welcoming. They arranged us a welcome ceremony and a traditional night before the Independence Day.
The student fee includes lunch from Monday to Wednesday (we finish before lunch on Thursday), and our two lunch ladies cook very good food. There have been Costa Rican cuisine, known for its rice and beans. The lunch break is long, and many students use the extra time to call some family members or friends at home, since the time difference makes it convenient to make the call at this time.
Although Kulturstudier encourage you to experience Costa Rica on your own as you would as a student in your own country, they are more than willing to help you answer your questions regarding your spare time. They also arrange some activities and trips you can join in your spare time. This far we have been to a Cloud Forest, a whale tour and a weekend-trip to Santa Teresa arranged by Kulturstudier.
To sum up, the organization have been very professional and take care of you in the best possible way. I am very happy to be a student in Kulturstudier and I am looking forward to all the experiences in the next 2,5 months.
– Ingvild (24)