Morocco is a dream come true - if you really step out of your comfort zone. Past Review
By A student (Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania) - abroad from 09/05/2011 to 05/11/2012 with
AMIDEAST Rabat - Area & Arabic Language Studies
My Arabic improved tremendously, as did my French. It was absolutely worthwhile academically and socially. I gained a level of personal maturity that I could never have achieved on an American University campus.
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. |
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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? |
It was great - the host family was the perfect way to study Arabic. Naturally, there are some issues with food (Moroccans eat at meal times that are irregular for American students) that almost everyone faces, but the many many benefits outweigh any difficulties. Plus, the difficulties are part of the experience of being abroad. |
| * Food: |
Moroccan food is great, but there is so much bread and so much sugar. It's easy to get unhealthy quickly. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Amideast is a location for American study abroad students, and they do an amazing job facilitating interaction with Moroccans, but most American students don't take advantage of those opportunities. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Rabat is generally safe, but like any city, it's important for students to take the necessary precautions so that they don't put themselves in unnecessary danger. If two girls walk home alone at 2 AM, they are going to be at risk. Being safe takes a level of personal awareness, and in Rabat, if you are willing to be a little cautious (especially women and especially at night), everything will be fine. It's much much safer than any city like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, etc. |
| 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) |
Because of the irregular eating schedule and the content of Moroccan meals, a lot of students had to eat out quite often. Also, transportation costs add up since most students do not live within easy walking distance of Amideast. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 180 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of the student rate light-rail pass if you live anywhere close to the line, it's incredibly convenient. You have to jump through a few bureaucratic loops to make it happen, but once you get it you can renew it very easily. Also, eat with your host family whenever possible. Stay in cheap hotels when you travel - a hotel that is slightly more expensive will rarely be any better. To get what would be a decent western hotel in Morocco costs quite a bit. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced 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? | Spend more time with locals and less with your study-abroad peers. Most people think they will do this when they go in - but it's hard to put into practice once you're actually there. |
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? | The best experiences are off the beaten path. Go out and explore the Amazigh (indigenous Moroccan) culture. Go climb Mt. Toubkal and hike around the rural areas. You'll improve your language skills and have an amazing time. |
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! |
