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We are very happy that you have decided to study the Spanish language with us in Costa Rica and we look forward to meeting you! Below are some tips concerning items to bring, cultural differences, the homestay situation and general advice to prepare you for your stay.
I THINGS TO BRING
What you need to bring depends on where you study and travel (as well
as your specific interests). The following list provides some general
suggestions and is compiled from eight years of student feedback.
Please e-mail if you have any questions.
1. Heredia
Climate
Heredia has a comfortable climate of 80? F year round; night time temperatures
are around 70?F. During the rainy or green season (May - December)
the mornings are typically sunny and the afternoons rainy.
Clothing
Bring a light jacket or sweater for the evening, comfortable walking
shoes, cotton pants, shorts, collared shirts or tee-shirts. Causal
wear is typical and men do not need a tie. You may want to bring
one nice outfit for a night out, in some discos you cannot enter with sneakers
and tee-shirts.
2. Monteverde
Climate
Monteverde has an average temperature of 60 to 70? F. The climate
is similar to the Central Valley in the rainy season with sunny mornings
however there is a greater tendency for afternoon rain showers (more rain,
more frequently). In the dry season it is warm and very dry.
Roads in Monteverde are often rocky and muddy (especially during the rainy
season). We would like students who have difficulties walking due
to back, knee or feet injuries to be aware of these conditions so that
they may request a homestay that is near the school.
Clothing
In Monteverde it is best to dress in layers due to warm mornings and
possibly rainy afternoons. Bring tee-shirts that can be worn under
long sleeved button downs, cotton pants, a few pairs of shorts, a jacket,
warm socks and warm pajamas. In Monteverde, nights are much cooler
during the rainy season (May - December). We recommend that students
bring a sweatshirt or sweater to use during this time. In addition,
bring any items you need to pursue personal interests (camping gear, hiking
boots, etc.)
3. Flamingo
Climate
On average temperatures in Flamingo range from 80 to 85? F. Climate
variations are similar to our other locations in terms of the rainy season;
however, daily humidity levels are higher.
Clothing
Summer attire is recommended. Being a beach town with a more relaxed
atmosphere, casual wear is more common than in other parts of the country
(i.e. shorts, sandals and tank tops). Don’t forget your swimsuit
and sunscreen!
Additional notes about clothing.
• If need be you can purchase clothing in Costa Rica; it is usually
more expensive than in North America (and often of lesser quality).
• Women will find that the clothing they wear will strongly influence
how they are treated on the street. Short or skimpy shorts, tight
clothing or bralessness may evoke rude comments and even aggressive behavior
from some men.
• Both sexes wear shorts in the city, but to a lesser extent than in
the U.S. and shorts are not worn in the evening.
D. General items
Other useful items to bring are a small flashlight, pocket alarm clock,
walking shoes, bathing suit, binoculars, camera (and film), insect repellent,
sunscreen, sun glasses, towel and pocket knife.
During the rainy season (May through December with September and October being the most rainy months) it is very important to bring an umbrella and rain slicker (in Monteverde a rain poncho and rubber boots - boots can be brought with you, rented at the Monteverde Reserve for hiking use or purchased in Santa Elena for $8). While most toiletries can be purchased in the pharmacies in Costa Rica, imported items are heavily taxed and are more expensive. Any prescription drugs should be brought with you. If you wear glasses or contact lenses it is best to bring along an extra set. Costa Rica uses the 110 voltage system so you do not need to use adaptors for your electrical appliances.
E. Classes
For classes you should bring a notebook and a Spanish/English dictionary.
C.P.I. gives you a homework book, a vocabulary book and various handouts
on different grammar points (you may want to bring a binder to organize
handouts). 501 Spanish verbs and/or a favorite grammar book are helpful
resources to consult as well.
II HOMESTAY
Your “Tico family” attempts to make you feel as comfortable as possible;
in your homestay you have a private room where you sleep, study or just
relax. The bathroom and living quarters are shared with the family.
Our homestay families are experienced in housing students who are in Costa
Rica to learn Spanish and they, too, want to help you attain your goal
of learning Spanish. Socializing with your family and asking questions
is a great way to learn about Costa Rican culture. Please keep in
mind that families typically spend leisure time visiting relatives, engaging
in community activities or being at home and this is how most of your quality
time will be spent with the family.
1. Food
The family prepares a light breakfast and a dinner for you each day.
They serve you the same meals which they, themselves, are accustomed to
eating. Comida tipica, or typical dishes, rely heavily on rice and
beans which is the basis of many Costa Rican meals. Gallo pinto,
the national dish of fried rice and black beans, is very common, particularly
for breakfast. Other popular dishes are arroz con pollo (rice and
chicken) or arroz con mariscos (rice and seafood). If you wish,
you may purchase additional foods to your liking; there are supermarkets
in San Joaquín and Heredia . For those studying in Monteverde
there are supermarkets in Santa Elena and a co-op in Monteverde and those
studying in Flamingo there are small supermarkets in Flamingo and a larger
supermarket in Potrero. Often we are asked whether it is safe to
drink the water, yes, it is.
If you have special dietary requests or needs, please let the school know so we can assist in working with the family to meet your needs. Monday through Friday CPI provides a snack at 10:00 a.m.
2. Gifts
It is not necessary to bring a gift for your family however it is a
thoughtful gesture. Some popular gifts include: any item that represents
your hometown or culture, kitchen items (placemats, towel sets), notecards,
candy, small toys for children in the family (books in Spanish are extremely
popular), a picture book from your hometown/state/province, popular music,
artwork from your area. Host moms love scented body products like
lotions, creams and bath gels.
3. Cultural Issues within the homestay
You are a welcome guest in your host family and have a wonderful opportunity
to learn the language and about Costa Rican culture and in turn share your
culture with the family. As a “cultural embassador” there are some
important points to remember. Please take note of the following:
If you will not be home for dinner or will be home late in the evening please advise your family (please remember that it is not acceptable to come home in the wee hours of the morning).
In your homestay the family provides laundry services. By custom you may need to wash your own underclothing and intimate wear. The majority of host mothers hang clothes outside to dry rather than use a dryer(dryers are a luxury and most families do not have them); thus, if you need to iron your clothing, please ask the family for use of their iron.
It is not acceptable to walk barefoot in the house. Please keep your shoes on or bring slippers.
In Costa Rica there is a charge for each local call made regardless
of location; distance and length of call also affect the cost. For
this reason Costa Ricans generally limit their phone use; in consideration
of your host family do not use the phone to make local calls. Public
phones are available in many locations and a phone at CPI is available
to you. We prefer that you use a public phone or one at CPI should
you need to make local calls. For international calls please reference
the section titled COMMUNICATIONS.
III GENERAL CULTURAL ISSUES
The concept of courtesy is culturally-based so please take note of
the following differences.
1. The concept of personal space is different from North America.
People may approach you on the sidewalk and not make way until the last
moment.
2. The concept of time is very different. You may find
that you will wait in line longer than you are accustomed (especially in
banks). If you are invited to social event expect for others to arrive
½ hour to 1 hour later than the set time.
3.Restaurants. Tipping, add a small tip for good service on top
of the 10% service charge already added in restaurants.
4. What we would perceive as name-calling is often used as an
affectionate greeting (i.e. gordito, machito, negrito, chinita).
Costa Rican men have a tendency to call out to women when walking on the
street, it is best to ignore this (see point #10 below).
5. Titles are more commonly used than in the U.S., for example
don, doña reflect the sense that being polite includes using appropriate
titles of respect.
6. When a person enters someone else’s home s/he usually says
con permiso (with permission): the expected response is adelante or pase.
Con permiso is also used when ending a conversation and moving on to speak
to someone else in an office or a social setting or when leaving the room
or the table.
7. Costa Ricans are non-confrontational and try to stay on good
terms with others. One example of this non-confrontationalism is
the indirect language used to indicate social/cultural norms.
8. Gender relations. It is not uncommon in Costa Rica for
the women of the house to be in charge of all household duties (you may
find less dividing of household chores between husband and wife than to
which you are accustomed). In addition, you may find that daughters
of the house are more restricted in their activities than sons - this is
particularly true in the case of curfews. The number of women in
the workforce has risen 40% over the past 25 years however there still
exist social pressures for a woman not to work and to dedicate herself
to home and family.
9. Stereotypes of foreigners or “gringos” The term “gringo” includes
not only North Americans but Europeans as well. There are three types
of stereotypes of which you should be aware. One is the “easy gringa”,
in which the idea is that foreign women are easy to seduce. Another
is that foreign women are easier to approach than Costa Rican women who
tend to be more reserved and cautious when approached by a man she does
not know. And lastly the “wealthy foreigner”, this comes from the
idea that the possession of the U.S. dollar is perceived as a sign of wealth.
10. Dress. Costa Ricans are neat about their dress so long
hair, unkempt beards for men as well as ragged denim jeans and ripped clothing
for both sexes are not acceptable. Mini skirts and short shorts for women
typically call attention, particularly to North American women. Men
tend to make comments and may even touch you. It is best to dress
more conservatively to reduce unwanted attention. Comments or “piropos”
such as machita, mamita rica, preciosa, muñeca are common.
These comments are to test your reaction or show off to friends.
What should be your reaction? It is best to ignore them and continue
to walk quickly and confidently.
11. Physical contact. Costa Ricans often give a kiss on
the cheek as a greeting, even on the first introduction. Another
common courtesy is for men to grasp a woman’s elbow up or down the steps
of a bus. Hold onto your bag or backpack, however, since he may have
other intentions. Any other type of physical contact (i.e. someone
grabbing you, kissing you on the lips under the guise of a simple greeting
or someone rubbing against you in a crowded place) is not acceptable.)
IV COMMUNICATIONS
1. Phone
Public phones work with either change or phone cards. For phones
using currency you may use five, ten and twenty colon coins. Lift
the receiver and line up the coins at the top of the phone box. Wait
for the dial tone and make your call. The coin drops when your call
is connected; place additional coins in the same slot and they fall when
needed. For the phone card system you need to buy a card, lift the
phone, insert the card in the slot and dial. There are no area or
city codes; simply dial the 7-digit number. For local information,
dial 113.
For international calls the following are access codes: MCI 0800012222, AT&T 08000114114 and SPRINT 08000130123. If you wish to make a collect call to the United States dial 175 to reach an English speaking operator. Please confirm that you are making a collect call because on occasion calls are charged to the residence by mistake. When using a telephone card or making a collect call you may use the phone in your homestay. Also, you may receive calls in your home.
2. Mail/Fax
At CPI we go to the post office for the students. Incoming and
outgoing mail can take up to 3 weeks. Packages take longer and often
must be picked up in “aduana” where you have to pay the tax on the package.
It is best to fax from the post office. You are welcome to receive
faxes at CPI.
V SAFETY ISSUES
Please do not be disheartened by the following comments, Costa Rica
is full of wonderful, friendly people, but we must mention certain precautions
to increase your awareness of potential problems and reduce the chance
of you becoming a victim of petty theft.
1. General
When travelling to San José or other areas, it is strongly suggested
that you leave your valuables and traveler’s checks at the homestay to
avoid the possible chance of theft. Do not wear jewelry, chains or
expensive watches because they mark you as a wealthy tourist. Always
keep an eye on your bags, camera or luggage in public places. You
need to be aware of your surroundings as you would in any major city.
Be alert on the buses and crowded places which are havens for quick and
alert crooks. Keep your bag with you at all times and carry it in
front of you, close to your body. For men, it is best not to carry a wallet
in your back pocket. Actually, you should only carry money in an
inside pocket and only carry the amount of money you need for the day.
If you are robbed, immediately file a police report. You will need
this to make an insurance claim.
The following are suggested precautionary measures:
1. Make photocopies of all important documents, such as: your passport
(showing photograph and entrance stamp, airline ticket, credit cards, insurance
policy and driver’s license. Carry the photocopies with you and leave
the originals in your homestay. If this is not possible, carry the
originals with you in secure, inside pocket.
2. For credit card security, insist that imprints are made in your
presence. Make sure any incorrect imporints are destroyed.
3. In San José, be especially wary in and around the Coca-Cola
bus terminal (Calle 14, Avenida 1), particularly on the streets going to
the north. Never go to this area after dark. After dusk, do
not walk in the Parque Central and be particularly careful in the red light
district (between calles 4-8 and avenidas 4-10).
Traffic is perhaps the greatest danger in the city; be especially careful when crossing the street in San José as drivers do not give way to pedestrians. When walking, also be careful of sidewalks because of tilted curbstones - watch your step.
2. Money
Costa Rica’s currency is the colón (plural: colones).
Legally, money can only be changed at the bank or hotel cash desks.
In San José, you may see money changers in the street; never change
money with these people as they often use counterfeit bills.
There are banks in San Joaquín de Flores (CPI Heredia), Santa Elena (CPI Monteverde) and in Flamingo where you can exchange your money. If you need assistance, CPI is more than happy to help you; in fact, once a week one of our staff members travels to the bank to exchange U.S. dollars and/or traveler’s checks for you.
Travelers checks in the form of US dollars are widely accepted and safe for travel. The accepted forms of payment at CPI are travelers checks, personal checks, money orders and bank checks. You may pay for the optional tours offered by CPI with cash or travelers checks.
Visa credit cards are accepted in many places but Master Card, Discover and American Express are much less so. Large banks give cash advances on Visa cards throughout Costa Rica; private banks in large cities give cash advances on Master Cards. There is an American Express office in San José where cardholders can purchase traveler’s checks and receive cash advances.
There are ATM machines in Heredia and around big cities but they are not 100% reliable. ATMS are nonexistent in smaller towns such as Monteverde and Flamingo. Some ATMs accept only Cirrus or Plus cards, but not both.
Although CPI provides bank service once a week to change dollars and travelers checks into colones, for your first few days in the country we recommend that you purchase colones at the U.S. airport from which you depart or bring cash so you can change dollars into colones at the San José airport with a money changer (if there is one available - money changers are usually at the airport during the day only).
VI HEALTH
Immunizations are not mandatory for entrance into Costa Rica.
However, it is best to consult with your doctor as physicians tend to recommend
travelers receive immunizations for Hepatitis A and B.
If you become ill while in Costa Rica, the cost of medical treatment typically runs between $20-$35 per doctor visit. The school can assist you with making doctor appointments, if necessary.
VII TRANSPORTATION/DIRECTIONS
CPI Heredia is located between two major cities, Heredia and Alajuela,
you will find that traveling by bus is a good and affordable means of transportation.
The fares are around 100 colones each way, so have change or smaller bills
readily available. In San Joaquín you will find bus stops
on the principal road. You may take a bus from San Joaquín
(Alajuela bus, painted red and black) that stops in Heredia and continues
on to San José. A direct bus (painted white) to San José
stops in front of the school every 20 minutes.
To return from San José to San Joaquín, take the Alajuela bus that goes through Heredia or the direct bus (white). The red and black bus stop in San José is at Calle 10, between Ave. Central and Ave. 1. In San Joaquín, you may exit the bus at the first stop (near the clinica) or at the second (on the other side of the Celebrity factory). The direct bus (white) stop is at the Parque La Merced.
In Monteverde there is a bus that travels between Santa Elena and the Monteverde Reserve. It leaves from the town of Santa Elena at 6:20 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and leaves the Reserve to head back to Santa Elena at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The cost is 200 colones. (On Sundays only the 6:20 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. buses are available). Buses leave San José for Monteverde and Monteverde for San José twice daily at 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.
From Flamingo you have easy access to a variety of surrounding beaches. Buses leave Flamingo for Playa Brasilito, Playa Conchal, Playa Pan de Azucar and Playa Tamarindo each hour. Santa Cruz, described as the folkloric center of Guanacaste, is a city two hours from Flamingo; buses leave for Santa Cruz each hour. The bus daily schedule for San José - Flamingo is as follows: San José to Flamingo 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.; Flamingo to San José 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Taxis are another option; always check that the “taxista” is using the fare meter, the “maria”. If not, agree upon a fare prior to getting into the cab or look for another taxi. After 10:00 p.m. the taxi fares raise about 20% above daytime rates.
In San José the numbered streets (calles) go north-south and the numbered avenues (avenidas) run east-west. West of Calle Central, streets are even-numbered and east they are odd-numbered. North of Avenida Central the avenues are odd-numbered, to the south they are even-numbered. Costa Ricans use reference points/landmarks and meters (one block, more or less, is the equivalent of 100 meters) instead of street names and numbers when giving directions. For example, CPI Heredia is 125 metros este del cemeterio; CPI Monteverde is 100 metros norte de la bomba.
When walking, the important thing to remember is that pedestrians do not have the right of way so when you are walking use extreme caution. Additionally, drivers make turns at high speeds, frequently without signaling. WALK DEFENSIVELY.
VIII ARRIVAL DAY
If you have not already done so, please send your flight information
when confirmed so that a CPI staff member may meet you at the airport.
When you arrive to the San José airport you first go down an escalator
to immigration to get your passport stamped, after you pick up your luggage
you proceed to customs (you may or may not have your bag opened).
After customs you go up a set of stairs and exit the main building of the
airport. A CPI staff member is waiting for you at the exit, at this
point look for a sign that says CPI and your name. You will be given
a packet of additional information about Costa Rica including a student
card and family information. The driver takes you directly to your
host family (in the case of students studying in Heredia) or to the bed
and breakfast in the case of those staying in Monteverde or Flamingo (the
cost is $14 per night). The name of the bed and breakfast is La Dehesa,
265-6253, the address is 750 metros norte de la escuela Los Estados Unidos,
San Joaquín de Flores. In the case that your flight is delayed
or you cannot find the CPI representative there are public phones as you
exit the building, please call either 265-6213 or 225-2500 (this is a beeper
service, leave the message for CPI or Carlos Najarro).
For Monteverde and Flamingo bound students the driver will take you to the bus stop the following day. The Monteverde public bus leaves twice daily 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and costs $7; the Flamingo public bus leaves twice daily at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and costs $7. In the information you receive at the airport you will find a family card with the information about your host family. Your host family should be waiting for you when you arrive to the Monteverde and Flamingo areas respectively. If for some reason you cannot find your family, there are public phones in Santa Elena and Flamingo/Potrero so that you may contact the family.
NOTE: If you divide your time and need to travel between campuses, you have two options. One is private transportation or public bus; we will provide further details once you have begun classes. However, if you choose CPI Heredia in conjunction with any of the other campuses we highly suggest that you begin your studies in Heredia.
IX FIRST DAY OF CLASS
On your first day of class your family shows you the way to the school
unless you live for than a 25 minute walk from the school, in which case
you will receive transportation from a central point (your family will
show you where). When you arrive to C.P.I. (hopefully around 7:45 a.m.)
you are given a written and oral exam to determine your level of Spanish.
Our student coordinator gives an orientation and after all new students
have finished the exam class placements are given.
Thank you for choosing to study at CPI and if you need anything while you are here please let us know. We want to make your stay comfortable and will do everything possible to make this a wonderful learning experience for you.
Sincerely,
Romy Morales, Directora
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