Wonderful and Difficult and I would do it again! Past Review
By Gabriella H (Sociology, Viterbo University) - abroad from 06/15/2015 to 07/12/2015 with
AMIDEAST: Rabat - Summer Intensive Arabic
I gained so much I think a list would be too extensive. Culture, language, friendships, and much more. If I had the option, I would hop on a plane and do it all over again right now.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I loved my professors and the class structure. The environment was perfect and exactly what I needed in order to learn so rapidly in the intensive program. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Doha is beyond helpful. She is always around and offering help and totally accessible. Everyone else involved is also just enthusiastic and make the program feel manageable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was amazing. I would only suggest having families that have younger kids as it makes it easier to spend time with the family, especially at first. |
| * Food: |
When I was studying, it was during Ramadan, so the food was difficult to find at lunch, but all the food we could find (and that got from our host family) was really great. I loved most of the food, and having the homemade versions of traditional food was great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
In an intensive program it is really hard to do everything you want to do and still be focused on classes and learning. I felt like culture was a little lacking, but everyone still did their best to help us with experiencing things, and our professors were always up for a question or conversation about culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I personally didn't need any health care while I was in Morocco, but my roommate and other friends did and it was prompt and super convenient. Doha was all over helping them get a doctor and estimating prescription costs and what not. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe completely. It's like any city: you have to have a certain amount of awareness, but it isn't more or less unsafe than other other place. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Morocco is cheap compared to the US, and it was very manageable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70 or so, not including travel costs. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go conservative the first week or so and learn prices of the program and country, and then splurge a little on what you want a lot and skimp on what is less important if you have to. My guess is that in Morocco, you won't need to skimp much. |
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 |
They were great about letting you use it and supporting you if you needed a little push. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Nothing |
| 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 it to other participants and to your host family to the best of your ability. If you don't know a word or something you need to say, ask them to explain it to you. It helps you and makes them feel like they are involved and being helpful to you (which is something most want to do, I would say). |
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? | That it's not so scary and difficult. You will work hard and it is not light thing to take on, but it all feels worthwhile and is super fun. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
