The Best Thing I Could Have Done With My College Life Past Review
By A student (International Relations, Economics, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/26/2012 to 05/17/2012 with
CIEE: Rabat - Language and Culture
It was the most worthwhile thing I have done since I started college. I will never forget my time abroad, and I have made many friends who I intend to keep in touch with for the rest of my life.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Mohammed V, Soussi Qalam wa Lawh |
| 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. |
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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 was very hospitable. My host parents actually gave up their bedroom for me to sleep in. They took me on a family vacation to an area of Morocco I wouldn't have been able to see otherwise. I really couldn't have been happier with this part of my study abroad experience. |
| * Food: |
My homestay went above and beyond in this category. They fed me more times a day than I could actually stomach. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was a huge culture shock to be in Morocco, but that was exactly what I was looking for. I was constantly thrown out of my comfort zone, but I still felt that everything was manageable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
I spent much less money studying in Morocco than I would have in a European program. I was very pleased by how much easier it was to budget my spending over there. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 5 dollars. Unless I was traveling, in which case I had to pay my own airfare and hotel accomodations. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | intermediate arabic, part 1 |
| 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 frequently, they are the people who will be the most patient with you while you are abroad. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I knew how much more relaxed everything was in Morocco so I wouldn't have been as nervous to go. |
