Great program for the self driven Past Review
By A student (Stanford University) - abroad from 09/07/2019 to 12/20/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: Jordan - Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action
I learned a lot about a different culture, how to communicate effectively in the parameters of that culture, about regional politics and views, how to plan out a research project
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
As rigorous as you make it |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was extremely responsive to student concerns, as long as we communicated with them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host family was amazing. I was in a building with other program participants, but had my own host family. The perfect set up. |
| * Food: |
Eating out was expensive, but street food options were incredible. Definitely more meat and rice heavy than I was used to. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
If you go out and put minimal effort into meeting people, it was super easy. Arab hospitality is not to be rivaled! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Better health care than I have in the US. |
| * Safety: |
I felt totally safe on the streets, though I am used to walking on deserted streets at all hours of the day. I was rarely cat-called. |
| 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) |
if you avoid western restaurants and happy hours, extremely reasonable stipend. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 75 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | request housing close to the center to save on transportation. Avoid western restaurants and pregame if you are going to go out. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | three years arabic study |
| 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? | ask your host family to speak in Arabic |
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? | It's cold at night! Start your ISP early and reach out to Jordanian professors. |
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! |
