Morocco Will Rock You (Yes I went there) Past Review
By Catherine L (International Studies, American University) for
AMIDEAST Rabat - Area & Arabic Language Studies
I was originally supposed to study at AUC in Cairo for spring 2011. I ended up being evacuated and accepted into AMIDEAST's program 3 weeks after it had already started. I landed in a country where I knew NOTHING about it, and I flourished. I saw more than I remember and definitely remember more than I've seen. It makes you stronger, it makes you want to take chances and do something BOLD with your life. Morocco will change you in ways you cannot possibly know, but it is all worth it.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
By and large the professors were amazing, truly knowing all about their topics, which for my classes included political systems in Morocco, Islam and women's studies, and Islamic relations with the Western world, not to mention the fantastic Arabic professors. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators in Morocco were beyond fantastic. Any problem that the students had, we could talk to them and they would immediately begin to help us figure out a solution. They answered any questions, made sure they made time for us, and definitely had an "open door" policy. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was lucky that I lived in Agdal with my host family, only a few minutes away from the AMIDEAST facility. Everyone is paired up with another roommate, so my friend and I got to stay together. My family was great, incredibly friendly, always willing to help out, and while I'd say they treated me more like a guest than a family member, I never felt so uncomfortable that I could not enjoy where I was. Moroccan decorating style is a bit odd (read: gaudy), and since water is scarce, you won't be able to take a shower as often as you do in the US, but even the obstacles were all a part of the experience. |
| * Food: |
Best food. Ever. Your host family will always tell you, "Kooli, kooli!" Which means eat more and you need to reply, "Safi," at some point, which means enough, otherwise you will explode from all the food! In Rabat, I would not really recommend eating at restaurants that serve Moroccan food, because it'll never be as good as what you have at home (couscous Fridays are the best). But there are multiple sushi restaurants in Agdal worth trying out, everyone goes to Sahbi on Ave Fransa for smoothies and paninis, and brochettes (kabobs) and sandwiches are everywhere. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Traveling in Morocco is easy, and AMIDEAST provided excursions to Fes, Tangier/Chefchaouen and Marrakech. On your own you can absolutely get around and my roommate and I backpacked through Morocco for two weeks after the program completed. AMIDEAST also arranges for all sorts of fun cultural stuff, such as dialogues with Moroccan students, language partners, a mock-Moroccan wedding, cooking lessons, and other fun day trips just within Rabat. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
First, just remember to BE SMART. You'll be cautious at first about everything, but over time you get used to living in Morocco and know how to act in most situations. Expect to get a stomach bug at some point. It's awful, but usually you're host family will take you to a clinic (mine did!), and since you're under insurance with AMIDEAST everything is covered. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The best tip for picking up Arabic while in Morocco: Use it! Don't be afraid you'll sound like a fool, because everyone does, but no Moroccan will stop speaking with you because you've tried and messed up - they'll absolutely try to help you and encourage you. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | If you are at all interested in the Middle East or North Africa, and want to be in a cultural unlike anywhere else in the region, come to Morocco. It's a mix of African, Arab, and European cultures creating this fantastic mash-up of ideas and actions and food and people. Study with AMIDEAST if you want an intimate program that provides you with lots of support and opportunities to explore your own interests. |
