Moroccan Adventures Past Review

By (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/31/2015 to 12/12/2015 with

SIT Study Abroad: Morocco - Migration and Transnational Identity

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely worthwhile. I gained a much more critical perspective on the US and on Americans (and I already had a critical perspective). I learned too much to even begin to pull together in this box.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

A lot of reading and a lot of class time in total -- the education style is different from the US one, so be prepared for that. It is much more lecture, less teacher-student contact, and contradicting teachers makes problems for everybody. That is just not how class is done there, which is fine if you are prepared for it.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The leaders of the program were available if we needed them, and the administrative assistant was absolutely wonderful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was nice, but I was never alone -- I dealt with it okay because I knew I couldn't get out of it, but it was stressful and constantly exhausting.

* Food:

Amazing!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Having the host family helped with integration but we obviously stuck out as foreigners and that really impeded integration, especially during the ISP time when I lived with others away from our host families.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

You need to take care of yourself -- street harassment is real, and while the program does a good job of taking care of you within its premises, it cannot control the street.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $10
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go somewhere where the exchange rate is favorable. Barring that, be cheap and look for deals.

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

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? 202
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? Total immersion -- if it is a program that promises to teach you Arabic but is not immersion, you will not learn Arabic.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Food
  • Host family
* What could be improved?
  • Safety training
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Budgeting beforehand is a great way to avoid stress while there.

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 Linguist
You 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!