Life in San José

Most of the LASP semester is spent in San José, Costa Rica's capital city. Like most urban areas, San José is a city of contrasts: wealth and poverty, the powerful and the powerless, theatrical productions and street festivals, upright citizens and petty thieves. It is an exciting and challenging location for your cross-cultural introduction to Latin American society.

Housing

Each student is placed with a family that lives in or near San José. The families who are chosen to "adopt" one LASP student each semester come from a cross-section of the Costa Rican Christian community. Families are urged to integrate students into normal family lives as much as possible. Costa Rican homes may be relatively simple, so students may share a room with a "sister" or "brother." When appropriate, students should expect to help out around the house. Meals will likely be very simple and students will be served the same food that their family eats. Rice and beans are staples in Costa Rica and are usually eaten once or twice a day.  During the travel components of the program, students stay with families in hostels, hotels or dormitories.

Safety

Costa Rica has a 100-year democratic tradition, respects human rights and has no army; people are proud of their peaceful traditions. While it is impossible to predict or prevent risk, if one stays out of problematic areas and practices preventative measures (about which students will receive more instruction during orientation), the threat of danger is reduced. Each semester the LASP staff monitors the conditions of the regions they are hoping to visit in an effort to avoid unnecessary risks.

Health

Participants are expected to cover any medical expenses which might be incurred and so must be covered by a family or institutional health insurance policy. All students must obtain an International Student Identification Card which provides supplemental health insurance to cover certain needs unique to international situations.

In accordance with the U.S. Center for Disease Control, (CDC) participants in all CCCU cross-cultural programs must have Hepatitis A immunization. Other than that, the U.S. CDC indicates that immunizations beyond those required in the U.S. are not necessary for travel in the areas visited during LASP. However, students may wish to consult a doctor and/or the CDC, as the latter does note a low risk of contracting cholera, dengue, malaria or papalomoyo in parts of Central America via contaminated food or water and through insect bites.

Transportation

Transportation in San José is inexpensive. The metropolitan bus system is well developed and can take you where you want to go in a relatively short time. Bus fare is about forty cents per ride and the buses run daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. San José also boasts a superb taxi system, which will take you most places for under six dollars. For trips outside San José the buses run frequently, dependably, and inexpensively.