good times in a modern but traditional Arab city Past Review
By Ricky P (Villanova University) - abroad from 01/17/2014 to 05/16/2014 with
AMIDEAST: Muscat - Area & Arabic Language Studies
In addition to learning more Arabic, I learned a lot about the Gulf, which is not something I really knew much about before. I learned about a million little cultural nuances you can only learn on location. It was definitely a worthwhile experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
First and foremost, I went to learn Arabic. And in that priority, my Arabic soared. We had a combination of good classroom instruction and great tutors outside of the classroom, nearby our own classroom. Area studies were great too, we learned a lot of history that is not commonly studied, especially of maritime history in the Indian Ocean. We even had a field trip. The Omani dialect class wasn't at the same high standard as the rest and could use some work, but I believe the staff are aware of that already. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff were very welcoming and directly responsive to any issues we encountered during the semester. Orientation was longer than it needed to be, but since it was a pilot program I don't blame them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We basically stayed in a hotel-apartment. It was very spacious and located in a remote but extensive souk of the city. |
| * Food: |
Food is great! Not always the healthiest, and dates are death by sugar, but there are enough options to keep you happy. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Sometimes it seemed like our group of students was a little microcosm of America in the middle of Oman, and we did most things together. Still, we lived in an area frequented by Omani students. They are happy to meet Americans and invite us places, and meeting one Omani will lead to introductions with many more. The general pace of life is slower, but you get used to it. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare is on par with American standards, and pharmacies are plentiful. Due to the desert climate there isn't a lot of disease, so I never got more than a typical headache. |
| * Safety: |
Oman has to be the safest country I have even been to, and by Middle Eastern standards is a haven. Muscat is a modern city with respectful and welcoming people, and so long as one respects the local culture I can't imagine any incidents occurring. |
| 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) |
Oman isn't as cheap as some other Arabic speaking countries, but it is still less expensive than my campus. Also, Amideast gave us a stipend for some meals. |
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 |
We were basically there for the language, and the staff knew it. |
| 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 2 |
| 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? | If you want to learn the dialect, talk to more Omanis! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | The geography of Oman |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
