Morocco is incredibly challenging but incredibly rewarding Past Review
By Kate Meacham (Mount Holyoke College) - abroad from 08/26/2018 to 12/22/2018 with
AMIDEAST: Rabat - Regional Studies in French
I learned a lot about the importance of foreign language and was forced to confront my race in new ways. It was incredibly meaningful.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academics were a good amount of challenging for a study abroad program. Our program director, Doha AitAhmed, is incredible at her job and made students feel comfortable and excited to be in Morocco. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family did not like to speak French although I was on a French-immersion program. I quickly learned to speak a little Arabic through my program which was great, but overall, my host family did not know much about me personally. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Amideast did an incredible job with cultural integration. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Having access to counseling services was highly useful. |
| * Safety: |
General sexual harassment and being followed are difficult to deal with but our program did a great job of coaching us on how to handle those experiences. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Amideast was a great program for students looking to study in Morocco. Although the DC office is unorganized, the Morocco office is organized and efficient and makes students feel welcome and ready to embrace the adventure of studying abroad. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
2.5, I typically spent about $100/week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget at the beginning of the semester. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We spoke French and Arabic frequently. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate French |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak with your host family, speak with locals whenever possible |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Even for students who are brave and ready for a challenge, studying abroad is challenging in ways you could never predict. I wish I knew how much being in a new place would make me question my confidence. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
