Students find that the meals (breakfast and dinner) are typically freshly prepared with locally sourced vegetables, fruits and meats.  Do not be surprised to hear the blender running in the morning as your host mother prepares fresh sun ripened fruit juice -  your ‘fresco natural’.  Rice and beans are an important staple in most Costa Rican meals – even found at breakfast in the form of ‘gallo pinto’.  The ‘casado’ which is a 3 pronged dish of rice, beans and a meat is extremely common for lunch and dinner.  Pasta and soups are sometimes prepared.  The most popular fast food option tends to be fried chicken served with a side of pickled plantains and French fries.   

This is a lovely gesture and while families do not expect gifts nor should you feel obliged, usually by the end of one week many students feel close and connected to their families and want to extend a token of appreciation. We recommend gifts particular to your area of the world, for example: a mug,

You may enter your homestay the Sunday prior to your first Monday class, and must leave no later than the Sunday after your last Friday class. If you would like to start your homestay earlier or stay extra nights beyond Sunday then you would only need to pay extra per night. Please note that if you arrive in June or July extra nights are limited based on availability.

CPI does place students together upon request; however, because students tend to learn Spanish faster when not in constant contact with friends/spouses (due to the tendency to speak in their native language), it may be to your advantage to live in separate households; in the latter scenario you can request to be in host families near each other. Our experience is that spouses and families do tend to request to live with the same host family and we have host families which can accommodate up to 6 family members. 

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