Deserts. Mosques. Tajines. Linguistic hodgepodge. Life-changing. Past Review
By Kathryn M (International/Global Studies., Dickinson College) - abroad from 08/24/2009 to 05/21/2010 with
AMIDEAST Rabat - Area & Arabic Language Studies
I would go back to Morocco in a heartbeat. Every program has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall, you can't do better than AMIDEAST. If you really want to immerse yourself and learn, it is absolutely a good environment.
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. |
The classes were uneven - Moroccan Arabic with Doha and Media Arabic with Naima were phenomenal, but Amazigh Studies and Societies and Cultures of North Africa were scattered and not in-depth. Islamic World and the West was useful, but a bit Orientalist.Classes were not as rigorous as an academic semester in the U.S., but the leeway gave me room to spend more time exploring Moroccan culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Doha and Joe are phenomenal resources and are always ready to talk and help out with a problem. The program does tend to coddle you a bit, which can be frustrating, but still leaves you enough room to experience Morocco on your own. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host parents were amazing - the warmest, sweetest, most supportive host parents and brothers I could ask for. It's been three years since I was in Morocco, and we still keep in touch. We weren't in a posh neighborhood like Agdal or Souissi, which was nice, so I got more of an authentic experience. |
| * Food: |
Moroccan food is AMAZING. Learning to cook with my host family and sampling different tajines around Moroccan was a phenomenal experience. If you're a strict vegan or have severe food allergies, however, expect difficulties. You have to be flexible if at all possible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I spoke Moroccan Arabic 99% of the time, which helped tremendously, and my host family and neighbors really took me under their wing and helped me integrate. I always stood out physically and attracted unwanted street harassment, which was frustrating, but my experiences were still mostly positive. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Fortunately, I did not become sick at all throughout the program, and never had to visit the Clinic Agdal. Other friends said that the doctors spoke decent English and were pleasant and helpful. |
| * Safety: |
Sexual harassment of women is the major issue. Even if we took precautions such as walking in groups in broad daylight, catcalls, being followed, and physical intimidation and groping were common. Everyone deals with it differently. Traffic is also a big concern. |
| 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) |
Morocco is very cheap, as long as you don't expect to stay in 5-star hotels. You can get along very easily. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Check with your bank about the ATM transaction policies. Get a credit union or something that won't charge you penalties for withdrawing money. |
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 |
Everyone had different goals. It was difficult to be around Americans all day and speak Arabic during class. However, on the street and at home, I used Arabic exclusively. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Arabic 102 |
| 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? | Having a base in Modern Standard Arabic is useful because it will help you to pick up the Moroccan dialect better. If you only speak French, you can use that, but your experience and interactions will be very different. Learn Moroccan Arabic. |
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? | Your experience will be nothing like you expected, so embrace that. Be prepared to be frustrated, homesick, physically sick, and challenged in ways you didn't think were possible. It will be amazing. |
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.' |
