Alors je cherche à partir 6 ou 9 mois a l'étranger, mais je n'arrive pas à me décider entre le Costa Rica et Bocas del toro au Panama ? Durant mon séjour, je désire trouver une population chaleureuse, des paysages incroyables, une belle nature, une ambiance de fête où règne notamment la salsa...
Bocas del toro, m'attire pour son côté moins touristique, ses plages paradisiaques et sa nature. Mais j'ai peur justement d'être à l'écart et d'être trop au calme justement, j'aime voir des gens, parler, m'amuser !! Et le Costa Rica m'attire pour sa faune et sa flore, son ambiance que l'on dit tranquille mais tout de même une ambiance de fête. Alors ce qui m'embête c'est son côté très touristique et donc plus cher puis j'ai aussi peur de pas trouver une "population chaleureuse".
Alors pourriez-vous me faire partager vos avis quant à la destination et me dire réellement à quoi je peux m'attendre.
Pourriez-vous également m'orienter et donner votre avis sur les organismes comme EF, ESL ...
je pars le 29 avec une organisation qui s'appelle Activity International (une organisation holandaise) un peu comparable avec WEP mais avec des contacts plus personnels et toujours pret à aider + répondre aux questions que j'ai!
Moi je pars au Costa Rica et je vais suivre un mois de cours à la CRLA et puis je vais faire un mois de bénévolat ...
Tu ne peux pas combiner les deux?:) Ca te permet de voyager et de voire deux magnifiques pays :)
J'ai regardé l'organisme que tu m'as cité, le hollandais c'est pas mon truc :) mais je vois qu'en effet il est semblable à WEP.
J'avais déjà pensé à faire des cours puis ensuite du bénévolat et je n'ai pas creusée l'idée plus loin, je vais regardé plus en détails.
Tu pars où exactement au Costa Rica ?
je pars d'abord un mois à San Jose et puis le deuxième mois je vais faire du bénévolat. Je peux choisir si je veux faire des projets naturels ou plutot du social. Je pense que je vais faire plutot les projets naturels. Je ne sais pas encore lequel, ils nous expliquent toutes les possibilités sur place ;)
Je suis partie avec EF trois fois donc je pense pouvoir t'aider.
Je suis partie un an avec EF à Quito en Equateur.
EF est un organisme super car ils ont leur propre école et leurs professeurs propres. Ils sont tous natifs d'ailleurs donc au niveau de la langue, c'est un plus. De plus, sur place, tout une équipe est là pour te venir en aide ou t'aider dans la réalisation d'excursions que tu voudrais faire.
Ils te donnent le choix entre un hébergement en famille (les + : tu parles la langue du pays, ambiance chaleureuse et cocooning ; les - : tu peux être à 45 minutes en transports en commun de l'école) ou en résidence ( les + : ambiance internationale, près de l'école, indépendance ; les - : être âgés de plus de 18 ans).
Sinon j'ai été très satisfaite des cours qui m'ont permis d'avoir une approche personnelle pour que je progresse.
Je te conseille le Costa Rica car des amies à moi sont parties avec EF là-bas et les deux ont dit que les paysages étaient sublimes, que la résidence EF était géniale et à deux pas de la mer, que les gens étaient super gentils ! Le soir, elles sortaient dans les bars (il y a de super bons coktails apparemment lol).
EF est génial car il t'encadre de début de ton séjour à la fin. Il y a un vrai suivi et puis, à ton retour, tu fais partie des "alumni", les anciens "EF Students".
Mon année à Quito a été la meilleure de toute ma vie !
Pour en revenir au Costa Rica, tu ne seras pas déçue au niveau de la faune, flore, plage et fête.
J ai vecu au Panama 3 ans et passe pas mal de weekend a Bocas. De plus j ai un amis qui a passe 2 mois la bas pour apprendre l' espagnol.
Bocas del Toro est du cote Caraibe, c est la destination la plus touristique de Panama. Beaucoup de Backpackers, beaucoup de fete etc.. mais tres petit pour un long sejour. De plus, en plus du tourisme les locaux parle plus anglais (originaire de jamaique) que espagnol. Donc tu n apprendras pas forcement l'espagnol. Si tu veux vraiment apprendre l espagnol je ne te conseillerai pas Bocas del Toro meme si c est magnifique. Et le Costa non plus... Essaye plutot l amerique du Sud.
J'ai décidé de ne pas partir avec EF, ni avec un autre organisme de ce type, car les frais sont vraiment très élevés et je ne cherche pas du pur commercial. De plus, je n'ai pas été conquise par EF, parce que trop trop cher, et j'ai lu pas mal d'avis négatifs sur eux, bref ...
Sinon, mon choix s'oriente d'avantage aujourd'hui pour un séjour au Costa Rica, j'ai vraiment envie de découvrir ce pays, après ca m'ennuie de savoir, qu'apparemment il y a trop de touristes et que je ne parlerais pas espagnol.
J'ai opté pour une autre formule de séjour, moins cher et plus authentique, avec au départ 1 ou 2 mois de cours de langues, puis quelques mois de bénévolat. Mon séjour se déroulerai à Samara beach, si vous pouvez d'ailleurs me dire quoi que ce soit sur Samara, n'hésitez pas ! ^^
Mais vraiment, pourquoi ne me conseilles-tu pas le Costa Rica michael?
Je trouve just que c'est blinde d'anglophone dont beaucoup de surfer americains qui ne font jamais l effort de parler l espagnol, meme pour commander une biere! Par contre etudier 2 mois et ensuite faire du benevolat ou voyager par la suite c est tres bien. (assure toi qu'il n y a pas trop de francophones ou anglophones en stage) ou bien fait l effort toi meme de parler et de leur repondre en espagnol et essaie de passer beaucoup de temps avec les locaux. Bocas del Toro tu pourras y aller de toute facons pour un long weekend, c est tres proche du costa rica.
ca va ? alors des petites news de ton séjours stp ?
car je compte partir en séjours linguistique pour l'espagnol en mars 2012 mais je n'arrive pas me décider entre trois destination, le mexique playa del carmen, costa rica (coté samara) ou alors buenos aires. Difficile le choix !
comment c'est passer le tient ? on s'ennui pas trop au bout de deux mois au costa rica ? car je compte partir 4 mois... mais peut etre que c'est mieux de combinée deux pays... please un peu d'avis!
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My name is Deborah, I’m French. I’m married and have two children. I’m a clinical psychologist specializing in psychotraumatology, and I’m also pursuing medical studies.
For some time now, I’ve been seriously considering moving to the United States. My long-term goal is to practice medicine in the U.S., with a particular interest in forensic pathology. I know the journey is demanding (USMLE, residency, fellowship, etc.), but I’m ready to commit to several years of hard work.
For now, I’m focused on building this project thoughtfully. I want to improve my English, better understand the American system, and connect with people who’ve already gone through this process or are living in the U.S.
I have a few questions:
- Are there any doctors or international students here who’ve successfully matched into a U.S. residency?
- When did you start preparing for the USMLE?
- What advice would you give to someone still in medical school?
- Which states would you recommend for a future career in forensic pathology, with a good quality of life and good schools for kids?
- Is it better to do an observership or a research fellowship before applying for residency?
- What are, in your opinion, the pitfalls to avoid when planning such a project?
Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to respond. I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share!
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Hi there!
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I found housing that costs me 7,000 baht (I know it’s a bit pricey, but it’s super convenient...), which works out to about 160 € all-inclusive. So, I was wondering if it’s realistic to live on 500 or 600 € per month, and if so, under what conditions? Is that enough, considering I’ll be working 40 hours a week?
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WEP offers loads of different projects, including one I really like: helping and volunteering on a farm, particularly in South America (Peru or Argentina).
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Hi there,
Our departure time is getting closer (we have less than 2 years left—it’s both a long time and so short!). To start preparing seriously, we’ll need quite a bit of info. If anyone knows the rates charged by movers for a crate to French Polynesia, or what pitfalls to avoid (I know you can get quotes directly from movers, but I’d love insights from actual customers😉).
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PS: Same question for my wife, a nurse, regarding her integration.
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In the summer of 2026, my husband is being transferred to New Caledonia. We’ll be living near Nouméa. Do you know if the early childhood sector is a good field for jobs there?
Can’t wait to discover this island! Right now, we’re in the middle of all the administrative paperwork for our 3 kids, finding housing, bringing our cat to the territory, and so on!
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Hi there,
I’ve been living in Bali for a month now, but unfortunately on a VOA visa. I’m looking for a European company that’s set up in Indonesia. I’m in electrotechnical maintenance—air conditioning, cold rooms, 220V/380V electricity. I’ve been a tradesperson for 3 months and can bring my full professional toolkit. If anyone’s interested, let me know!
You can send me a message.
Best regards,
I’d love to go to Japan to travel, and if things go well, work there too.
Has anyone tried finding a job there? Is it even possible without speaking Japanese?
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I’d like to get some information about my eligibility for the DV Lottery.
About my background:
• I earned a *Bac Pro* through VAE (*Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience*), issued by the *Éducation nationale*.
• I also have a professional certification as a *Conseiller en Insertion* (Employment Counselor), issued by the Ministry of Labor.
• Altogether, this adds up to a *Bac+2* level.
I’d like to know if this level qualifies me to apply for the DV Lottery.
Regarding my work experience:
• I work as an *Employment Counselor*.
• I checked on O*Net Online for the classification: Job Zone 4, SVP Range: 7.0 – <8.0.
• I only have one year of experience, but I handle similar tasks in business creation.
So my question is: can I apply for the DV Lottery despite my relatively short experience, given that my job falls under Job Zone 4?
I’m looking for info on villages around Aix, like Fuveau, Bouc-Bel-Air, or even Éguilles and Venelles?
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Starting this spring, we want to settle near Aix-en-Provence. We're tired of living in the mountains with all the snow—we really need some sunshine and a fresh start. Is it hard to find a house to rent there? What about prices? If you have any great tips or useful info about the area, we’d love to hear it. I work in education and want to do prevention work in Marseille or Aix—are there jobs in the social sector?
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I’m an osteopath and I’d like to set up and open an osteopathy practice in Thailand. I don’t have a precise location in mind yet, but I’m thinking maybe Hua Hin.
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Hello everyone,
We’re a small family from the south of France, with a 2-year-old little boy, and we’re dreaming of starting a new adventure abroad by opening our own business. For now, we haven’t chosen a specific destination yet.
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Our idea is to travel to different countries to explore, compare, and refine our project. We’d be really happy to read your tips, experiences, or anecdotes if you’ve already undertaken a similar project or if you know key points to anticipate.
Thanks in advance for your shares and help—it would really help us move forward with our project! 😄
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Dublin as an au pair in a few weeks.
I’m looking for a reputable language school. It’s so hard to choose! Has anyone already done a language stay in Dublin? Any tips? Thanks so much! :)
Hi everyone, so I’m planning to go study at a community college in the U.S., but the only snag is which one—there are so many options over there! I’ve heard about one in California, Diablo Valley College, and another in Florida, Valencia College. I know both states are super attractive for tourism, but my main criteria are teaching quality and price. I’m open to any advice, comments, or suggestions—thanks in advance! The start of the semester is coming up, and I’m a little nervous...
READY, SET...... GO...... TO YOUR KEYBOARDS!!!!!!!! lol
Hi! I’m looking for an apartment in Malaga from September (2025) until January for my Erasmus exchange, but I’m not finding much, and it seems like there are a lot of scams. Does anyone have any leads or tips? Thanks!^^
