My Moroccan Adventure Past Review
By Taylor D (Religion, Drake University) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/14/2014 with
ISA Study Abroad in Meknes, Morocco
My experience studying abroad in Morocco has not only allowed me to meet others with similar passions as my own, but has also enabled me to immerse myself in an unknown culture and speak with locals about issues that affect them on a daily basis.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was fully engaged by my professors and felt that they were teaching very pertinent information about Morocco and the Arab World. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My program directors were always there to help facilitate any additional experiences we wished to have both in and outside Morocco. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was extremely welcoming and made us feel as though we were part of the family. They also helped us practice French and Arabic, and we helped them with their English. |
| * Food: |
It takes an adventurous person to try some of the dishes, but I loved exploring new foods and having couscous every Friday afternoon. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Friends were easy to make in Morocco because everyone wants to practice their English. These friends took us to local hangouts and helped us explore surrounding cities. |
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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) |
Morocco is extremely inexpensive and it is easy to stay on a budget. A panini and fries in Meknes costs $1 or less. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less that $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The merchants can tell you are not from Morocco, so it is expected that you haggle for any goods you wish to purchase in the Medina. |
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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Introductory French |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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 would have known just how easy it would be to connect with others. |
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.' |
