Go to Morocco! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Attendance is required (you have a small allowance of unexcused absences before your course grade begins to drop), but other than that, most instructors are lax about homework and grade assigments generously. If you are self-motivated, the program can be more rigorous and the instructors are happy to give you their time in and out of class. Basically, the academic rigor is as tough as you make it.

On-site administration of your program

The administration was responsive to student wants. Schedules were kept-to.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a family who were lovely hosts. I believe real immersion is made possible by living with a host family. Everything me and my roommate wanted was taken care of. If you are willing to put up with small inconveniences (perhaps spotty wifi, no air conditioning, small bed), there can be no complaint about host family generosity. Amideast will work with you if you need to change host families for some reason. Some other students in the program chose to do this.

Maybe I lucked out, but every meal my host mother made was gourmet. All meals provided.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I met amazing Moroccans, celebrated Eid Al-Adha with my family, and learned some Darija. A couple weeks after I left Morocco I noticed that I adopted a weird Moroccan cultural idiosyncracy. When people offer me something, I say no and expect them to keep offering, and consider it rude if they don't. Overall, I wish I'd integrated more, but I felt homesick and latched onto the company of other Americans.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got stomach sick toward the beginning of the program and wanted to tough it out, but my concerned host parents called the program coordinator, who talked to me and then arranged a home visit by a doctor. The home visit (2 doctors) plus about 4 medications cost me about the equivalent of $45. Then the insurance covered all of it. Healthcare is good and inexpensive. Use it if you need it.

Disclaimer: I am a heterosexual white male. I felt very safe in Rabat. If you are openly gay, be aware that it is "illegal to be gay" in Morocco. Talk to a gay person who has been to Morocco before you go. If you are brown, you will probably be harrassed. My black friend was called "Obama" repeatedly and my Indian-American friends were called "Hind". Moroccans don't consider this to be harrassment. Americans do. If you are female, you will almost certainlly be cat-called. Little boys might try to touch you on the street. All that said, if you make a scene, other Moroccans will jump to your rescue, and though there is verbal harrassment, I think physical assault is much more rare in Rabat than it is in most American cities.

I would have chosen a more immersive and intense program. If you want to learn about Morocco and learn some Arabic and have a great time, choose this program. If you want to be proficient in Arabic, choose another program.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

$16/week if you buy lunch and tram tickets to get to and from school. A weekend travelling within Morocco is approximately $60. Everything is super cheap.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The Arabic teachers insisted we use Arabic (at least in the upper-level classes). Administrative staff were happy to chat in English.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Americans

• My Arabic teacher
• My host mother
• the natural beauty of Morocco

• Academic rigor
• Amideast-home institution coordination on course availability
• refining the excursions