Can I go back yet? Past Review
By Nicholas J (CUNY - John Jay College of Criminal Justice) - abroad from 06/14/2014 to 07/12/2014 with
AMIDEAST: Rabat - Summer Intensive Arabic
The experience really opened my eyes to how other countries view America. It's interesting to see how Moroccans in general do not have a problem with American people but with our foreign policy. They essentially believe we just need to mind our own business. This was something that made me happy because American media depicts other countries in such a negative light but the same does not happen to us.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses were rigorous and fast paced. Students should definitely come prepared to learn because slacking won't cut it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Excellent administration of the program. The entire Amideast staff was excellent. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was excellent and took extreme care to respect our privacy. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Its pretty simple to get by in Morocco with the exchange rate as high as it is. As long as your weren't overly picky you could find food for cheap every day. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $150 including weekend trips with stays in hotels and excursions. |
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? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had no prior experience in 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? | Talk to your host family. This will really help you understand the language and be able to understand it when spoken. |
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? | To really learn the language I should have stayed for the double session because I feel like I was about to really get a grasp but then I had to leave. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
