Unforgettable Past Review
By A student (Arabic, University of Notre Dame) - abroad from 06/15/2012 to 07/13/2012 with
AMIDEAST: Amman - Intensive Arabic, Summer
I learned how to be more self-sufficient. I'm a better prepared traveler. I've learned to take setbacks in stride and I am confident I can deal with any problems that come my way. I would most certainly do it again. It was definitely worthwhile, I wish I could've stayed longer.
Review Photos
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. |
There was a great deal of homework assignments every day. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators were very helpful and efficient. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really liked my host family, but there was usually not enough food at meals. Also, we did not interact much. When I was home, they would sit around and watch TV for hours. I would have liked to go out with them and have them show me the city. |
| * Food: |
At my host family's house, the food was, at times, not prepared very well. I can usually eat anything in front of me when I'm hungry, but a few times I couldn't stomach the food. More often, the meals hardly made a dent in my hunger. I realized that lost a significant amount of weight when I had a check-up upon my return to the US. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Even though people could usually tell I was not Middle Eastern, I was once mistaken for Afghani, and once as Jewish. After a while of learning the colloquial Arabic, I was able to have relaxed conversations with people in shops, taxi drivers and other locals. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had run out of my prescription medication before I arrived. Someone from the program helped locate an appropriate doctor and accompanied me to an appointment, got me my prescription and brought me to a pharmacy. It was extremely helpful. I did have some trouble for the first week or so when I developed a persistent dry cough because of the dry air that I was not used to. My host mom insisted on tea and select foods. Incidentally, the foods she recommended were foods that she had prepared for dinner that I would have liked to pass over. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Amman. The most dangerous thing I did was probably try crossing the street. Although my host brother admonished me when I stayed late (past 10pm) in the city center, in East Amman. That area is the poorer section of Amman and is usually more conservative and Muslim. While shopping there I met an American Muslim who had gone through AMIDEAST's program, then dropped out and went to a madrassa. We talked for a while and I had the suspicion that he was trying to convert me to (possibly radical) Islam. Nevertheless, I did not feel threatened while I was with him, but I stayed vigilant. |
| 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 was able to get by, but it was a real drain on my own, and my parents, finances. Jordan is a very expensive country. The taxis, which I took every day to and from class, were cheap but they added up quickly. Food wasn't a real concern unless my host family made a ridiculously small meal. If that was the case then I would buy my own meal (usually at Popeyes Chicken). I had to pay for an excursion to Wadi Rum and Petra, even though I was under the impression that it was included in the cost of the program. I traveled to Israel and Morocco after my study in Amman ended and my budget was stretched to its limit. I had applied for a specific amount of money from Notre Dame based on my proposed budget, but I was awarded a significant amount less, which became problematic for me and my family near the end of the program. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try and get an international bank card, or see if your bank has some way to eliminate foreign withdrawals/exchange fees. ATM fees can add up very, very quickly. I must have incurred $200 or more just on taking out money from machines. Make a list of specific souvenir ideas for family and friends and try to stick to it. Research average prices for things on the list. Always, ALWAYS bargain, and bargain hard. The guy in the shop can be friendly, but he is not your friend. First and foremost he wants to make a profit. Balance this attitude with the idea that its probable that he is quite poor relative to you, so don't let bargaining become ridiculous. (i.e. haggling over 2 or 3 USD) Research local travel agents to get the local travel price. US based travel agents will have rates astronomically higher than local agents. |
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 |
Classes were nearly all in Arabic unless there was a specific question that someone could only ask in English. On the street, especially in taxis, all the students used Arabic the majority of the time. |
| 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? | Four semesters of Arabic |
| 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? | Force yourself to use it. If in a taxi, talk to the driver. Stick to things you know so you can get used to conversing. Try to incorporate new vocabulary words you learned. Tell your host family to only speak in Arabic. Be embarrassed, get flustered but don't take the shortcut by giving up and speaking English. Restaurants, taxis, hostels, museums etc. You can use English in these places. But why would you want to? You will make mistakes, you will think you sound silly, or feel afraid to mispronounce stuff. It happened to me countless times, but you need to have determination. Practicing every chance you get will make your speaking skills improve incredibly fast. Immersion works, so value every second you have while abroad. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had learned better bargaining skills before arriving. |
