A glance into what I'd like my future to be Past Review
By A student (Government And International Relations, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/19/2014 to 05/15/2014 with
CIEE: Amman - Diplomacy and Policy Studies
Learned where the holes were in my Arabic vocabulary base. Learned what a "developing country" looks like; what "democracy building" really means, how news censorship affects people; how an unstable region affects people like my politically conservative host parents and my friend, a Syrian refugee living in Jordan. To put names and faces and make friendships in the places and cultural, political or economic climate you read about in class or in the news is really just eye-opening, perspective-shifting, and in many ways life-changing. I learned so much about the specific things I'd like to do with my future career through living abroad and specifically through my internship and the relationships I made through it.
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. |
Coming from UT, I was disappointed with the structure of my courses (low expectations, shallow readings and paper prompts). Similarly, I was not nearly as challenged by my Arabic classes abroad as I am at UT. That being said, these class structures allowed me to spend even more time outside of the classroom and learning from my environment, rather than a text book, which is the point of study abroad anyway. While I was somewhat disappointed with the shallow nature of my classes, I was at the same time relieved that they were a good starting point for learning, but allowed and even forced me to seek additional information and experience outside of the class structure and expectations. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The director in charge of all CIEE students at the Jordanian Institute of Diplomacy was absolutely fantastic. Jordanian, she was an excellent source of information on Jordan as a city and as a culture. I was very comfortable seeking help from all CIEE staff, as they were very friendly, accessible, and interested in developing personal relationships with all their students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host family, easily one of the most fulfilling, educational, and relational parts of my study abroad. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Through my internship and home stay I had ample cultural interaction; though I would have preferred studying at the University of Jordan, rather than the smaller and more remote Jordanian Institute of Diplomacy, because that gave us less of a culturally integrated experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
On a political level, I felt completely safe (the Middle East people imagine or see on news stations is much different than the Middle East I saw and experienced). On a daily level, as a women, it was important to be culturally aware and mindful (don't acknowledge the stares, whistles or shouts of young men on the street, dress appropriately, consider having a male with you when out at night; etc.). Of course, most of these things are smart to do also when a women in the United States. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 25-75 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Like in the US, you have to pick and choose where you spend your money (how often you eat out, how often you choose to study at coffee shops, etc.). The dinar is more expensive than the USD, which means that if you're not careful you can end up spending a lot on things like lattes and more American items. At the same time, street food and Jordanian food can be really cheap (you can get a sandwich for less than a dinar). |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | ARA 351K |
| 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? | Get a language program if you dissatisfied with your class or just want more practice; they're very easy to get in Jordan and usually free. Ask lots of questions and make as many Jordanian friends as possible. Live in a homestay--it's the easiest way to broaden your culturally-relevant vocabulary base. Talk with children--you'll be forced to become a much better listener and realize how many simple things you don't actually know how to say yet. |
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? | It's safe to travel to a lot of places you didn't think was safe to travel to (Egypt, Lebanon, parts of Jordan ,etc.) |
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.' |
