"My semester in Costa Rica must be the best experience I've had so far in life"

Endless beaches, bustling wildlife, a rich and varied culture – Costa Rica offers a completely different lifestyle and everyday life than what one is used to as a student in a Scandinavian country.

I chose to travel to this small country in Central America to take a break from my student life in Norway:

– The reason I ended up studying in Costa Rica was simply because I was tired of studying in Norway. Additionally, I've always been very eager to study abroad and experience a new culture.

Spanish was also a subject I had taken in middle school, which I wanted to improve in, so this was a golden opportunity to do so. I went to an information meeting with Kulturstudier after seeing a post on Facebook.

– The information meeting made me very curious about Kulturstudier, and I did some research on the different places one could go.

The program in Costa Rica seemed absolutely perfect for me!

I remember sitting in a math class when I decided that this was something I really wanted to do, and I signed up.

I was a bit nervous about traveling all alone, but I thought it would be a fantastic way to meet new people and maybe make friends for life – which I absolutely did!

A little while after I signed up, a friend of mine also decided to join, which was definitely reassuring, but it would have been perfectly fine to go alone.

With Kulturstudier, you become part of a student group where the vast majority of students come from Norway, Sweden, or Denmark.

Group sizes may vary from semester to semester. Many travel alone, while others know someone beforehand. The sense of community within the group is something that most students highlight as a highlight:

– What I miss most about everyday life in San Isidro has to be living with all the other students, and just experiencing a different way of life than I was used to, in a different culture.

– Living together with others who are experiencing exactly the same as you, and who are getting all the same new impressions as you is something quite unique.

We all had to learn to communicate with each other, with teachers, and with complete strangers on the street or in the store, in Spanish, English, and Norwegian.

To this day, I sit and reflect on what it was like to live in Costa Rica, and that semester must be the best experience I've had so far in life.

I would love to go back one day if the opportunity arises!

As a student in San Isidro, learning Spanish becomes a natural part of everyday life. In the classroom, you are thrown into it and challenged in more ways than you might be used to from language instruction in Norway.

The combination of an intensive curriculum and how you use the language in your daily life ensures that you learn quickly and efficiently.

– Even though I had some Spanish knowledge beforehand, there was quite a bit that was new when I arrived at the university in Costa Rica.

– The fact that almost all the teachers spoke only Spanish was quite intimidating at first. Although it was a challenge to understand everything they said, one quickly got used to it!

The learning curve was incredibly steep, and we learned so much in the relatively short time we were there. I personally think that all the subjects were very well structured with regard to the curriculum.

There were many who knew more Spanish than me, and they addressed this in a very good way. We were divided into different groups based on how much Spanish one knew. I have only heard good things from all the different classes.

– Even though some days might have been a bit heavier than others, it was quite easy to get through.

Our teachers were also very adept at trying to make themselves understood, and were concerned that everyone should grasp what we were going through.

Some might feel a bit apprehensive about having Spanish, either because they haven't had it before, or because they are not so comfortable speaking it aloud.

It can be reassuring to know that as long as you get to the classes and become acquainted with the teachers and fellow students, you start to feel very comfortable after a while.

Each semester we offer some exciting elective courses, or "electives", in addition to Spanish. These subjects provide interesting insights into current social issues, such as sustainability:

– I was surprised by the sustainability subject, which I took as an "elective" alongside Spanish.

This was a subject I didn't know much about before I started. It was very educational. We learned a lot about sustainability throughout Costa Rica and how important it is to preserve nature.

The lectures could be a bit long and dry, but the excursions we had to places like Longo Mai and Fudebiol made up for it! That was perhaps what I liked most about the entire study program – that we got to go on so many different trips and learn an incredible amount about both the nature and culture of the country.

In addition to experiencing the beautiful Costa Rica, many of the students go on excursions within and beyond the country's borders during, and especially after, the 16-week teaching period in San Isidro.

– During my stay in Costa Rica, we went on many different excursions, both inland and abroad.

There are some trips that stand out a bit more, for example the trip we took to Puerto Viejo, which is located on the Caribbean coast. There we got to experience a completely different culture than the one in San Isidro.

– In Puerto Viejo, there was a much more colorful atmosphere heavily influenced by Afro-Caribbean culture. The beaches here are something I will never forget, especially Playa Negra, "the black beach".

My advice is to take a tuk-tuk to Playa Punta Uva! We traveled with a guide who took us around and helped us see a lot of different animals, including a whole bunch of sloths, the national animal of Costa Rica!

If you're not quite ready to go on a mini-safari, you should walk around the city. It's quite small, but packed with a variety of shops and restaurants. That's where I bought most of my souvenirs.

– Another trip that stands out a bit extra in my memories is Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

This is a very cozy small town just a short bus ride away from San Isidro. There is an extremely beautiful nature, and I would recommend a trip to Manuel Antonio National Park! There are lots of animals to see and beautiful beaches.

While I was in Quepos, I went skydiving, which is one of the craziest experiences I've ever had. So if you're an adrenaline junkie, I would highly recommend it!

There are an extremely large number of places one can go when in Costa Rica, whether you want to lie on the beach and swim or surf and party. I recommend Dominical and Santa Theresa for surfing, Uvita for snorkeling, and San José for shopping.

– When it comes to trips abroad, I would highly recommend Mexico. We went to Cancun during Día de Muertos, which was absolutely amazing. We got to experience a lot of culture and taste a lot of delicious food.

While you're there, I would recommend visiting Chichen Itza, a temple where you can explore the history of the Maya people.

If you have a special interest in tequila, this is the place to taste all kinds of different types!

– I am incredibly grateful for all the wonderful memories I have gained during my stay in Costa Rica and I would never want to be without them. I would recommend everyone to step out of their comfort zone and travel!

• Study in Costa Rica