Incredible experiences and amazing location! Can't wait to go back! Past Review
By KC S (International Business., Appalachian State University) - abroad from 01/14/2012 to 05/06/2012 with
AMIDEAST: Cairo - Area & Arabic Language Studies in Egypt
I gained A great deal of Arabic knowledge and even some Egyptology knowledge. Being integrated into an extremely foreign culture was exhilarating but also felt like home really quickly. I will not forget my experiences or the people I met in Egypt and with AMIDEAST.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Definitely some tough courses and the Arabic classes were in Arabic. The Arabic teachers are amazing! I cannot stress that enough! I was also in the Egyptology program. It was an interesting program and I did learn how to read some hieroglyphics along with fascinating field trips. However, the Egyptology teachers are a little...eccentric. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Program Director, Matthew Kuehl, is wonderful, helpful, and nice. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Some people had issues with the apartment because of some critters/ants but I loved it! The apartments they set you up with are extremely nice and are in a great neighborhood! |
| * Food: |
Food in Egypt is great. You can eat any food you want from Egyptian to Chinese to American they have it all! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Best part about AMIDEAST is that they locate you within the city not on some isolated campus. You live and go to class in your neighborhood of Dokki and really get to know and become friends with the Egyptian people. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I was in Egypt with AMIDEAST during the Egyptian revolution and I couldn't have felt or been any safer. |
| 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) |
Its pretty easy to live on a student's budget in Egypt I just may have gone a bit overboard with going out to eat and baking a lot... |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to local markets! |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | Nothing |
