Morocco: Kingdom of Hospitality and Mint Tea Past Review
By Jennifer P (International Relations, French, Eastern Illinois University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Meknes, Morocco
My french skills improved drastically, thanks to my Advanced French class, Moroccan friends, and speaking it with my host family. I have a much greater appreciation for Islam and this program allowed me to understand the difference between true Islam and what our stereotypes and prejudices against fundamentalism are. This program only added to my academic and future plans. In the field of International Relations, traveling and study abroad are very important. Most students go to Europe or South America, but having experience in a Muslim, Islamic state like Morocco really stands out. If someone is interested in the Middle East or Arabic language, but worried about the stability in some of these countries, Morocco is a great alternative, or "starter." But Morocco is incredibly unique as its own country, with an interesting mix of cultures and a strong history that I have grown to love and miss very much!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Because this program was only 6 weeks long, the academics were more rigorous than I expected. The classes were longer than what I was used to at my university, and there was a lot of work to be done outside the classroom. However, I loved both of my classes and the professors! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My expectations were exceeded with the ISA Morocco staff. They were friendly and open, and would guide us while giving us a lot of freedom. This particular program was relatively small, which I loved. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was amazing. I shared a bedroom with one other American student, and the third American student had a room next to ours. The three of us were all girls, and we all shared a bathroom. My host family consisted of a mom, dad, older brother, 10 year-old brother, and a live-in cook/maid. I arranged this housing through ISA. The neighborhood was safe, except we always made sure to walk with others at night - but that is the standard for anywhere in the city. We only had to buy towels and toilet paper. We had 3 meals a day cooked for us and we didn't have to do much cleaning. My host family was very hospitable and made us feel like their home was truly our home. |
| * Food: |
Quality and quantity of food is superb. One can dine anywhere and this will most likely be the experience. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We had many great excursions. My most memorable were to Volubilis, the Sahara Desert, and Asilah. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I needed the Hepatitis A vaccine and the Typhoid vaccine. As for safety, it is just important to be aware of your surroundings. I would recommend, especially to girls going to Morocco, to always have at least 1 or 2 other people to walk with at night. One time I tried to walk to school without knowing exactly where I was going, got lost in a poorer neighborhood, and felt unsafe. But I easily found a taxi and it took me right where I needed to be! |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Yes, I took an Advanced French course and a Beginning Arabic course. In Morocco, most people speak both of these languages. I would practice mainly French when with my host family since it is the language I know best. While they also spoke Arabic, I practiced this much less, and only used small phrases in class and with the taxi drivers. The only time I spoke English was with the other American students. I made a Moroccan friend who would practice my french with me. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student with a very open mind is necessary for this program. It is not going to be like a European vacation, but it will be amazing. Just be open to language barriers, adjusting to a new culture, and meeting some of the most kind and generous people! A lot of the students I met on this program, including myself, have academic and career goals focused towards International Relations or specific language interests such as Arabic and French. |
