Parents – Your space for questions & comments!
2006 Parents – I would like those who have had a student return from this program to post any information that they think would be useful for all of those parents about to send their student in July 2007.
2007 Parents – Please feel free to post any questions that you may have about the program and either one of the other parents or myself will certainly respond!
When we went to the doctor to get the Typhoid pills, they said that there could be a side affect. Has anyone had any adverse reactions (diareeah) to these pills? Hannah could have taken the shot, but the doctor kind of talked her into the pills…
both had either headache/ sore arm, or upset stomach…
so either way it didn’t seem like fun. She is going to start the pills within the month (to get it over with) but I just wanted to know how everyone else did??
Also…
can you tell me about the food- water in Costa Rica.
The nurse (when we got the Typhoid pills) said that if you san see it, smell it, touch it, or taste it… then don’t eat it. (no kidding, that’s what she said). She also said no water- no bottled water. Yeah, RIGHT! You can’t go without food and water- this nurse was nuts. We laughed about it all of the way home… but still, I think I’d feel better hearing from someone who went last year. Ms. Woerner assured me that the food/ water are safe and everyone did fine… but can someone from last summer elaborate (or echo her?) Did anyone get sick?
I was just curious… (and concerned).
Thanks-
Jennifer Ucchino
Well i drank water from my faucet at my house in Costa Rica and i drank bottled water atleast everday and i was perfectly fine, and the food is amazing!!!! They have the best fresh fruit! None of the food i had ever made me sick ((and i ate a lot there so thats a wide variety of foods!) i hope this can help you at all!
I took pills (I’m pretty sure they were the typhoid pills) and I was perfectly fine. I think that they are just like any other pills. Some people may have some side affects, but some people won’t have any troubles at all. I took them weekly and felt nothing. Hannah may be different; maybe she is more sensitive to the pills, maybe not. But I think pretty much depends on the individual.
As for water and food. Pretty much the same as Sarah. I drank pretty much whatever. Faucet water and bottled water. I did get slightly sick one night, but just a stomach ache from something I probably shouldn’t have eaten anyway (a very greasy piece of meat). I used pretty much the same rules I use here: if you take a bite and you think “You know, I might get sick from this,” then don’t eat it. But most of the food is amazing, so there’s not much to worry about.
Another thing parents may want to know (from my personal experience):
I called my parents the first night I was there to let them know I made it. But I only emailed them after that. Calling home was too hard for me. Just know that your child may not want to call home (just hearing my parents’ voices was very hard for me). You may want to talk to your kid about this before they leave so you know what they’re going to do to keep in touch with you (so there is no misunderstanding).
Could anyone tell me- are the power outlets different there? I must admit, I am a plugged-in type of girl with hairdryers and ipods galore. Haha… well i have an adapter if needed, but its one less thing to pack if i dont.
some houses have different outlets…but you should be okay. i had a little adapter but didnt need to use it. the outlet looked different, but my straightener, ipod charger, camera charger, and hair dryer all fit in it fine…so you should be okay! i think it just depends on the house though. so…to be safe..depending if you have the room to pack it…you might want to : ]