This post comes to us from our partner institution in San Jose, Costa Rica: ICDS (International Center for Development Studies) that you can learn about here:
https://www.apistudyabroad.com/programs/costa-rica/san-jose/
Participating in ICDS programs gives you a once in a lifetime opportunity to live with a host family in Costa Rica and experience cultural immersion.
How to decide if living with a host family is the right choice for me?
First ask yourself, what do I want to learn from my study abroad experience? To answer that question, take into account the following aspects:
- Homestays provide an instant support system.
- They help you to improve your Spanish.
- Facilitates cultural immersion.
What are the challenges of living with a host family?
“At times it was very challenging and that is when I was able to see myself growing as a person” ICDS former student
Living with a host family comes with a few challenges; here are some of the most common ones:
- Food; occasionally families struggle to get the right food for every potential dietary restriction, but if you explain in advance ICDS will find the right family that adjusts to your needs.
- Independence; students are often concerned with losing their independence but, on the contrary, Costa Rican families are flexible and respectful of your independence
- Integrating; families respect your space while enabling you to integrate as much as you wish.
It’s a different experience from what you’re used to, but isn’t that why you want to study abroad?
Create new memories with ICDS and your Costa Rican host family!
