Difficult but good learning experience Past Review
By A student (Near Eastern Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, George Washington University) - abroad from 09/01/2013 to 12/22/2013 with
American University of Beirut: Beirut - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned how to quickly adapt and solve problems. It made me more resilient.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Watch out for e-coli. Try to cook for yourself most of the time or find some Lebanese friends or neighbors who will cook for you because almost all the restaurants are overpriced, unclean, and the food is sub-optimal (despite their reputations). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made no Lebanese friends except my neighbor who had recently returned to Lebanon after working in Saudi Arabia for 30 years. It is difficult to "integrate" in Beirut, but you may find good experiences to meet locals and establish relationships in other cities you travel to while studying there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
If you are a female student: you may see Lebanese women dressing and acting provocatively, but that doesn't mean its okay for you. Be mindful of harassment. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $400-$600/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Consider living on campus. If you decide to live off campus, be very careful in choosing your landlord, and make sure you have a little extra money for unexpected expenses that you may end up getting stuck with. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I would have known that I wasn't going to learn hardly any Arabic because everyone speaks English in Beirut. I should have taken Lebanese colloquial Arabic instead of MSA. |
