Loved it. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I took "Conflict Resolution" and "Making Sense of the Middle East by Cinema." The teacher were experts in the material in their classes. The long classes and the heat took some getting used to but the teachers made it easy.Classes were in English and assignment were not too difficult. Presentations were emphasized more since they knew we had excursions on the weekend and would be busy. Since classes and exams at the university before we arrived, there were less students to interact with. We did manage to make friends with some students who were waiting for their exam results. They were from Meknes and could show us around. With less students, we got to know socialize with the professors.

On-site administration of your program

I loved the country, program,and coordinators. There was culture shock but we all felt it and found support in the other members and the coordinators. If you kept the coordinators informed if you were going on the excursion or opting out,they would be better able to help you.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I got along with most of my roommate. The apartment building had a doorman and he would keep suspicious people away. We did not have to buy any cookware since everything was provided. The building and apartment had stone floors that kept the air cool most of the time. There was a bug problem but that was taken care of quickly. There program employed women who would cook and clean after us, which was great. There were lots of cafes nearby but mostly men there. If you got past the catcalls, the pastries and ice cream were great. there was also a gas station across the street that had cold drinks and candy. They could also break large bill, since smaller currency was easier for taking taxi and bartering at the medina.

Couscous fridays were the best. The lunch was provided and made by the women provided by ISA. There was always fresh bread, nutella, cheese, orange juice, coffee,tea and milk for breakfast. Dinner was made and we just had to heat it up. We did have to buy water but if you wanna save money by drinking tap water, start soon so you wont be sick for too long. We had to buy our own food on the weekend but was ok since we on excursions and would not be home. There were pizzerias that i preferred to the chains like McDonalds and Pizza hut but if you get homesick they're not too far. We always had leftovers in the fridge to eat if we were too tired to go out.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There trip to the Sahara was wonderful and something I'll remember forever. We rode camels to a camp site. after dancing all night we slept under the stars. This was not part of the program but was made available by an coordinator. Asilah was great because it was at the end, and were wise enough to wander around alone.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Always felt safe. Crossing the street can tricky though, just commit when you start walking. Hesitation will cause accidents. The catcalls were annoying but harmless. Avoiding eye contact and looking like you know where you're going is essential to not being hassled. Sunglasses help out. Going out at night by yourself is unwise if you're a girl.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I did not take any language but i took classes in Arabic at my university. My high school french helped out since some locals were more inclined to speak French or their Moroccan dialect than Modern Standard Arabic. Some speak English but do not expect it. Spanish is spoken in Marrakesh and Tangier but not so much in Meknes. Bartering in the medina, helped too.

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• Americans