Isolation in the Desert that Became Home... After 2 Difficult Months Past Review
By A student (International Relations and Affairs., University of the Pacific) - abroad from 09/15/2013 to 12/24/2013 with
ISEP Exchange: Sharjah - Exchange Program at American University of Sharjah
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to do my research before I pick an institution. In the future, I would call the university and ask for honesty about the true rigor of courses and the real motivation level of students here.
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. |
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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? |
No
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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? | 800 AED; about $250 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop in bulk at the co op. It's not worth getting food poisoning at the cafeteria and Starbucks is overpriced. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Intermediate Arabic |
| 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? | Go to Arab souqs and try and practice the language there. Students don't like speaking Arabic on campus and the professors teach Arabic while speaking English as well; a system that makes no sense at all. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 knew how difficult it would be to integrate with the locals and how beneficial having a car would be. Also, curfew here is strict for all girls, but not boys, which makes it difficult to go to Dubai on the weekends, as traffic makes it difficult to make it back before curfew. The night-life is worth seeing in Dubai, and curfew gets in the way. Also, ordering food is difficult as everyone on the other end of the line thinks they know English, but it's very broken and often confusing. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
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