A great chance to push boundaries. Past Review

By (Case Western Reserve University) - abroad from 08/24/2018 to 12/23/2019 with

AMIDEAST: Ifrane - Direct Enrollment at Al-Akhawayn University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned Arabic and non verbal communication skills and how to figure things out based off of contextualization. I also learned a lot about other cultures. It was worthwhile.

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.

The courses at AMIDEAST were of good value however those taught at Al Akhawayn were lacking.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living on an English speaking campus with so many other exchange students (many of whom were American) made integration with Moroccans a challenge.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would prefer to go somewhere with a little more academic rigor as I know feel behind at my home institution. Additionally, I might choose to go somewhere in Latin America as I am proficient in Spanish.

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)

Had I not traveled so much it would have been quite easy to live on a very low budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent near a hundred dollars a week on travel expenses and meals off campus.

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? None
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? I had never completed any language courses in either Arabic or French.
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Making new friends
  • learning Moroccan History
  • Eating with local families
* What could be improved?
  • Better overall class structure
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I just wish that I made more of an effort to learn the language prior to going. Additionally, I also wish I knew that people would always treat me as a tourist.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.