Amazing Time, wish I'd stayed longer! Past Review

By (University of Denver) - abroad from 09/09/2018 to 12/16/2018 with

SIT Study Abroad: Jordan - Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a better understanding of the culture and lifestyle in Amman as well as multiple archaeology contacts for when I return

Review Photos

SIT Study Abroad: Jordan - Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration was amazing and fun to hang out with after class hours

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was the best, and I love all of them. I still talk to them all. Other host families that weren't mine were also amazing and were so kind to students

* Food:

Ya'll, food is CHEAP and AMAZING

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Addressed very well, host family especially was so kind and helpful in assisting me and getting me to the hospital (don't freak out, there's just no little doctors, it's just hospitals).

* Safety:

No safety incidents, program advisers were vigilant in ensuring that students wouldn't have an incident and actually assisted in my travel accommodations for making a trip out of Amman

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved every moment of the program. Even as a non IR student, I was welcomed and encouraged in my independent research project to do something in my major (archaeology). People were kind, my host family was amazing, and every Friday I went on a trip to visit somewhere new in Jordan

Finances

* 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)

Definitely bring spare cash

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? The program actually provided a weekly stipend for food and travel
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save stipend cash, get good at bartering

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Was encouraged to use it every day, and the arabic class had multiple exercises that had us out and in the city using arabic

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 2/3rds of Second year 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? If your host family has kids, be grateful. They're insanely helpful. Also use it in taxis and in general as much as possible. People will be kind and understanding of your efforts to learn the language, trust me.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Good Food
  • Amazingly kind and supportive people
  • Every day was an adventure
* What could be improved?
  • Longer time to stay at Petra
  • Longer ISP/Internship time
  • I actually would've loved a longer program time overall
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE WINTER. BRING A WARM JACKET