Learning from Moroccans Past Review

By Elizabeth P (International Relations and PR, Tufts University) for

SIT Study Abroad: Morocco - Migration and Transnational Identity

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was worthwhile. I wanted to do something completely different and be challenged on my abroad experience, and that is what I got. I gained a broader world perspective and greatly increased my appreciation for being born American.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place:	Spring 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Most classes, aside from Arabic, were taught by guest lecturers and they could range from very engaging and insightful to near-crazy.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	I loved my academic advisors and I got to really learn a lot about Morocco as a whole. I learned much more through living daily life with Moroccans than I did during lectures. It was hard to get things done because there was no good work space and I had no personal space of my own at my homestay, but dealing with that was an important part of my Moroccan experience.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I stayed with a family in the old medina of Rabat. I shared a room with my 14 year-old host sister which also doubled as the living room during the day. It was completely different from what I was used to, and at times it was VERY difficult, but overall rewarding. <br /><br /> There is no nightlife in Rabat. If you're a young woman at least. It was not comfortable by American standards, but it was good to get a sense of how the typical Moroccan lives.
* Food:	Good. But your host mom will make it her mission to overfeed you and for the first few weeks everything I ate made me sick
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The kids were weird, but it was cool to be so immersed in Moroccan culture
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I didn't have as many freedoms as I do in the US, but I never truly felt like i was in danger.
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?	You don't have to spend money really. It's all optional. Most things are cheap. The most expensive things you eat might be McDonalds.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Bring money for antibiotics and it's probably a good idea to distrust Moroccan banks.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
Language acquisition improvement?	My Arabic improved greatly, but I am much better in the local dialect than in Modern Standard Arabic. My French got worse because I did not have people to correct me if I made mistakes when speaking.