Sina spent 7 months perfecting her Spanish with EF in Costa Rica and then lived and learned in Rome for 2 months.
Departure and arrival
My trip began in September 2021. The first few months in Costa Rica were incredible. I had never been outside of Europe before this trip and everything was very new to me. I immediately made close friends at school. I was very sad when some of them went home every week.
Pura Vida – Leisure in Playa Tamarindo
Outside of school, I spent a lot of time at the beach or exploring Tamarindo. In the evening we often went out to bars or clubs, which was my absolute favorite activity. I love Latin music and its atmosphere. I danced for hours and spoke a lot of Spanish. At the weekend I went on trips either with school or with friends. My favorite trip was a five-day road trip across the country. There were five of us and we stayed in a different bed and breakfast every night.
Accommodation
I lived with a host family in Costa Rica, but I didn't feel comfortable with them. The cleanliness was not up to my standards and I expected more food. After I reported this situation to the school, I was able to move directly to a new host family.
The first three months flew by very quickly. After that, things slowed down and I got used to everyday life. I was always a little sad when some of my friends had already finished their course.
From Costa Rica to Italy
When I first arrived in Rome I had a bit of a culture shock. From eating rice and beans every day, we now had pizza or pasta every day. Instead of the school bus, there was now the subway or tram to get to the course. I traded the beach and the Pacific Ocean for Italian art and architecture.
Accommodation and leisure in Rome
During my time in the Italian capital, I lived with a host family again. My host parents' apartment was very small and their food wasn't quite to my taste, but luckily I always had very nice roommates.
In Rome the leisure program looked a little different than in Costa Rica. After class, I often went out for ice cream with other students or we went sightseeing together. In the evening we regularly met for a delicious Roman or Neapolitan pizza.
If you are also thinking about doing a language stay and still have questions, please feel free to write to me on Instagram (sina._juon). I kept a diary there, which can give you a good insight into the everyday life of an exchange student.
