Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I couldn't have asked for a better study abroad experience. Past Review

By (Bates College) - 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?
This program was very worthwhile. It was a wonderful cross-cultural experience that gave me a new perspective on the world. The people that I met (both Americans and Moroccans) were amazing and taught me so much about the world. I also learned a lot about myself, especially regarding what makes me happy and what is important to me.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed having a mixtures of lectures, fieldwork, and presentations. I didn't find the academic work to be too rigorous or intense, although this program has a lot of class time. Classes were mostly lecture based and I would have enjoyed more group discussions.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration for this program were absolutely amazing! They truly cared about each and every student and made the program run smoothly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a great host family that I'm still in contact with. They were very welcoming, nice, and supportive and provided me with everything I needed.

* Food:

As a vegetarian, my food options were limited. My host family and the CCCL were very understanding of my dietary needs and always made sure I had something to eat. However, I found the food to be a little bland and more variety would be nice.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated into the local culture through my host family and Moroccan friends. Moroccans are very hospitable which made it easy to interact and get to know locals. I was pleasantly surprised by how east it was to make friends outside the program. The program encourages social and culture integration but it is up to the student to truly make themselves integrated into the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was easily accessible and the program assisted me with everything I needed.

* Safety:

Street harassment is very common, but as a woman, I never felt unsafe.

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)

I found it very easy to live on a student budget. The dollar is very strong in Morocco, so food and items were very cheap.

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

This program included intense language classes (4 hours everyday). However, we mostly learned modern standard Arabic while most Moroccans speak a dialect of Arabic.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • homestay
  • group excursions
  • ISP
* What could be improved?
  • class structure (less class time)
  • language instruction
  • group reflection
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Before going into the program, I hated not knowing what to expect and was very nervous about not knowing what to expect of the program or Morocco. Morocco is a place where you never know what to expect- each day is exciting and brings new adventures. Not knowing what to expect is what ended up making my time in Morocco so exciting and rewarding.

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!