Amazing Opportunity January 24, 2024
By A student (Science, Technology and Society, Wesleyan University) - abroad from 08/28/2023 to 12/15/2023 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Amman
My experience in Jordan was challenging, but incredibly meaningful and rewarding. I am especially grateful for the program's amazing staff and professors.
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. |
This program was academically rigorous, but it paid off. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was amazing and really cared about our success. This was a highlight of the program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really liked my host family, although it could be a long trip to the university with rush hour traffic. |
| * Food: |
Delicious food but not a ton of produce. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The War on Gaza and public attitudes towards the West understandably and deservedly impacted social and cultural "integration." |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safe, but given the political climate in the region, the atmosphere was very tense. |
| 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) |
The cost of taxis added up and public transportation wasn't always accessible, especially from the location of my homestay. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try out different public transportation options early in 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 |
I really appreciated the language pledge and found it to be particularly helpful for improving my Colloquial Jordanian Arabic. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | 300-level Modern Standard Arabic |
| 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? | Take advantage of the Colloquial Arabic module posted on the School in Jordan's website. |
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? | Go into your time abroad with as few expectations and assumptions as possible, start an Anki deck with new vocab and review it everyday, prioritize sleep |
