Morocco Past Review

By (Emory University) - abroad from 01/31/2016 to 05/14/2016 with

SIT Study Abroad: Morocco - Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
During the time span of this program, I learned a wealth of knowledge about Morocco's history, culture, religion, and language. I was extremely surprised with how hospitable the people were, and how many good friends I made outside of the program.

Review Photos

SIT Study Abroad: Morocco - Multiculturalism and Human Rights Photo

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Center for Cross-Cultural Learning

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

More variety would have been nice, but it was still good nonetheless.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very much, but mostly because I went out of my way to get to know others outside of my program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was not necessarily easily accessible. Often it was difficult to communicate, and the wait time was very long.

* Safety:

Often I did not feel safe in the streets, even as a boy. I was continually harassed for my gender and sexuality.

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

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)

Pretty easily because everything was cheap.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Drinking alcohol is very expensive.

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? I completed a lower intermediate course before departure.
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? Use it in your homestay as much as possible. And in general just use it as much as possible to gain confidence.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The homestay
  • The language courses
  • The time to foster individualism during my ressearch
* What could be improved?
  • More information on communicating with the homestay
  • More information on dealing with street harassment
  • More time for the research project
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I know much more about the complexities and intricacies of Moroccan culture and society. I learned that things are very different than they are depicted in the media.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.