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Expat Women Living in Costa Rica
If you are (or plan to be) an expat living in Costa Rica, please find below a list of expat clubs, schools, general links for women living in Costa Rica, country information and more...
Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR) http://ARCR.net
Costa Rica Central Valley Living Info http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CostaRicaCentralValleyLiving/
Cultural Activities, recommendations, suggestions, q & a, all you need to live in the central valley of Costa Rica.
A Group to share and exchange information about Valle Central or Central Valley in Costa Rica ( San Jose, Sabana, Rohrmoser, Pavas, Escazu, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colon, Puriscal, San Antonio de Belen, Cariari, Heredia, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Alajuela, La Gatita, San Pedro, Curridabat, Cartago, Moravia, Guadalupe, Tibas, San Cayetano, Desamparados, etc).
American International School (AIS) http://www.aiscr.com/
American International School of Costa Rica (AIS) is a non-profit, college preparatory private school. It offers a program modeled primarily on United States curricula to a multi-national student body of approximately two hundred students from preschool through twelfth grade.
British School of Costa Rica http://www.thebritishschoolofcostarica.com
The British School of Costa Rica is a private bilingual international school in Costa Rica founded by British people.
Conversa - Spanish Immersion http://www.conversa.net
Founded in 1975, Conversa is Costa Rica's most experienced Spanish school. We offer two ideal locations, our six-acre campus in the mountains of Santa Ana, and our in-town school on the western end of the capital, San Jose.
Country Day School- Escazu (CDS) http://www.cds.ed.cr/
CDS is an American School serving an international population. Country Day School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in the United States, and by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education. Focusing on the American High School Diploma and a wide range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the curriculum also prepares students for the Costa Rican Bachillerato examinations.
Country Day School- Guanacaste http://www.cdsgte.com/
The Country Day School is a U.S. accredited college preparatory day and boarding school situated in one of the world's most beautiful natural settings - the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.
European School of Costa Rica http://www.europeanschool.com/ Bilingualism is part of The European School philosophy. In an ever-shrinking world, students must have an easy command of not only their native tongue, but at least one other language as well.
International Christian School (ICS) http://www.icscr.net/
International Christian School is a multinational school promoting academic excellence and the active lordship of Jesus Christ in all respects of life.
La Escuela de Idiomas D'Amore http://www.amerisol.com
La Escuela de Idiomas D'Amore - Spanish Immersion Center.
Marian Baker School(MBS) http://www.mbs.ed.cr/
The goal of the MBS admission policy is to identify and select students who can succeed in our academically challenging program. We welcome students of any race, religion or national origin.
Pan-American School http://www.panam.ed.cr/
Pan-American School aspires to be the leading bilingual educational institution in Costa Rica.
United World College Costa Rica http://www.uwccr.com/
The college offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Most courses are offered in English as well as Spanish, making the College the first fully bilingual UWC.
These tips were kindly provided by volunteer Expat Women Mentors in 2007. ExpatWomen.com shares these tips in an effort to help but takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
Provided by Sharon W, an American in Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica
1.
Learn Spanish.
2.
Read widely about the culture.
3.
Make sure that you have a life of your own, not just as an adjunct to a spouse or the mother of children.
4.
Don't say "At home we...."
5.
Join things...join a mailing list or chat room dealing with your new home, volunteer somewhere.
Provided by Marina K, American, San José, Costa Rica
1.
Don't worry if you can't speak the language, most people here speak a little bit of English and if not they are super helpful.
2.
Get a 4 wheel drive, the roads can be atrocious. Always ask for a cash discount no matter where you shop, eat, stay and travel, you'll be surprised how many establishments honor cash as king.
3.
If you have kids, it's a great country for them and the Costa Ricans are super friendly.
4.
To start life in Costa Rica I recommend you come here with no less than $2000–$3000.
5.
It might seem cheap but everything adds up quickly, so have some money on hand.
