Amazing academic and cultural experience! Past Review
By Lara Cazemajou (Connecticut College) - abroad from 08/20/2019 to 12/14/2020 with
IES Abroad: Rabat - Study in Rabat
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about the region that I don't believe I could have achieved at my home institution. As a government major, it was an incredible opportunity to study under Moroccan political scientists that understand the inner working of the different governments across North Africa and who have lived through and witnessed some of the major developments in the region's political history.
Review Photos
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? |
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| * Food: |
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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
There are a number of programs that do study away in Morocco, but IES Abroad was a great fit for me. I appreciated the freedom they gave us to explore the city and travel across the country, and I learned so much from the cultural events and trips they planned throughout the semester! |
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? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan/book trips and large expenses early, such as weekend travel, and then decide how much money you want to spend throughout the rest of the semester! |
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 experience with Arabic prior to departure. |
| 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? | Take it seriously, and push yourself to speak with locals! Ordering food at restaurants, giving taxi directions and grocery shopping are easy ways to get in that practice. |
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? | I wish I had received more information about my host family prior to my arrival. Although I was given some information on my family, I didn't know aside from their names and ages, but that was also part of the fun when I finally met them! |
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.' |
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