:D :D Past Review
By Eleanor E (Public Policy Analysis., University of Chicago) - abroad from 08/06/2012 to 12/21/2012 with
AMIDEAST: Ifrane - Direct Enrollment at Al-Akhawayn University
Doing this program was probably the best decision I ever made. I didn't have the experience I expected; I thought I would only spend time with Moroccans, and I actually spent most of my time with exchange students and with my best friend, who is African, and who I still talk to at least twice a week. I learned a lot, and was exposed to situations I never could have imagined beforehand. I am more certain of what I want to do after graduation; while in Morocco, I got to volunteer with African refugees, and I am now volunteering as an ESL tutor for Ethiopian immigrants in Chicago. I hope to eventually work with an NGO that serves refugees and immigrants. I also hope I can go back to Morocco some day...there are quite a few people I would love to see again :)
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses at AUI were mostly quite good. There were some mediocre professors, but there were also some phenomenal ones. Exchange students can also enroll in graduate courses, which are not too difficult, especially if English is your first language. One of my professors from AUI is actually helping me with my senior thesis now that I am back at my own university. If you are careful in choosing courses that really interest you and have good reviews, you will learn a lot and hear a lot of interesting opinions from other students. |
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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? |
The dorms are pretty nice, and you get a bathroom that you only share with one other person. There isn't much dorm life - most of them don't have lounges or common spaces, so I didn't know anyone in my dorm other than my roommate. Everyone has a double. |
| * Food: |
The food is catered by sodexo and has little variety. It is not a good representation of how delicious Moroccan food actually is! However, it is extremely cheap. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This really depends on your experience. The disadvantage of the AUI program is that you are living in a secluded area and have little regular interaction with strangers, unlike if you were living in a city. This makes it difficult to practice language and experience the more mainstream culture. However, at AUI, you have courses with Moroccan students and can become involved in clubs and sports; I definitely learned a lot about what it is like to grow up in Morocco, and heard a lot of new opinions. The great thing about the AMIDEAST program is that you get to live with a family in Rabat for three weeks before moving to Ifrane, which is much more of the typical Morocco experience. It made me much more comfortable about traveling later on, and I felt like I knew a lot more about Moroccan culture from the pre-session. Living in Ifrane is a great experience, but it is important to realize that most of Morocco is quite different from the AUI campus. A lot of the greatest experiences I had were actually with the AUI Christian community, and I would definitely recommend that future exchange students find a way to be involved in that community, even if they are not Christian. The pastor is an amazing woman who knows so much about Morocco. The community is diverse, and exposed me to a lot of new cultures. My best friend at AUI was from sub-Saharan Africa, and probably someone I would never have met if it hadn't been for the AUI church services. Overall, I think it is possible to feel very integrated into life in Morocco while at AUI, but it requires a lot of effort, and you might be surprised about what experiences will teach you the most. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Ifrane is very safe. It is a small town, and many people who live there are part of the university. |
| 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) |
Food and personal expenses are very cheap. Traveling can be a bit more expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
You don't really have to speak any Arabic (or French) for this program. I found that I actually had more opportunity to practice French because my best friend was willing to help me. However, I did like my Arabic teacher. |
| 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? | Beginning 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? | Don't be afraid to speak to people! Every taxi ride is an opportunity to practice! You won't get any better if you let Moroccan friends speak for you. |
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? |
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? | Nothing |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
