Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A time full of travel, language learning and a new culture. Past Review

By (Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean, Wheaton College, MA) - abroad from 01/30/2019 to 05/14/2019 with

SIT Study Abroad: Tunisia & Italy - Politics & Religious Integration in the Mediterranean

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned more Arabic and got to experience Tunisian culture, which has aspects of Arab culture and French culture combined. This was very worthwhile and I don't regret my decision.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed my educational experience very much. Program staff/Professors were all very friendly and always made themselves available outside of the classroom.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

My academic director and homestay coordinator were very kind and resourceful during the semester.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed with a woman (my host-mother) and her son, his wife, and two children who lived above. My host-mother didn't speak English which made communication quite difficult, but this forced me to practice my Arabic at home and my language skills improved as a result. Also, despite the limited communication, my host-mother was very sweet and cared for me as if I were her own child.

* Food:

Tunisian food is delicious. They eat a lot of carbohydrates (bread, potatoes/fries, couscous) and meat/fish which I like, personally.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was very immersed. In my spare time, I went to a lot of cafes, restaurants, bars, and also got a gym membership in order to meet locals and have conversations. This was important because learning doesn't only take place in class but also outside. One can do a lot of research on a country, but meeting people and having a local perspective is a different experience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I developed a stomach bug towards the end of my program but was able to see a doctor. The academic director, Mounir Khelifa, called a the doctor who visited me, asked questions, checked my temperature, pulse, etc. and then prescribed me the medicine I needed. I received the appropriate care that was needed and Mounir looked after me as if I were his own child which was very generous.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe or in danger while abroad. However, I got a lot of attention from people as someone who obviously was foreign. Quite a few times, I was approached by strangers and asked where I was from/what am I doing in Tunisia. Everyone I met was being friendly, but I felt uncomfortable at first since I wasn't used to being approached by strangers and I was cautious about being taken advantage of or mugged. But this never happened, and I realized they were being friendly and that this was part of Tunisian culture.

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

I would do it again. I personally wish I had spent more time in public spaces and trying to socialize.

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)

Coming from the United States, I felt that living on a student budget was very manageable. In addition, students were a given a stipend for expenses (food, transportation, etc.).

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Less than $15 a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be as frugal as possible. Think twice before spending (e.g. don't buy snacks or a sandwich that you'll throw away or not eat). Also, with the stipend, take a close look at the calendar and decide how much money you can spend each day so you won't run out before the stipend period is up.

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

Our program had a basic introduction to Tunisian Arabic (Tunsi) at the start, but afterwards I was learning Modern Standard Arabic.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? ARBC-200
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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?
  • Being in Tunisia, and then quickly flying over to Sicily as we studied migration in the context of Africa and the Mediterranean.
* What could be improved?
  • I wish SIT had granted the freedom to travel more freely.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had read more about social/cultural norms. However, there is something to be said about jumping in and being surprised as well.

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!