Egypt: A Place I Truly Dislike, but and Experience I Will Forever Value and Appreciate Past Review
By Esra Y (International Relations - Political Science, Wellesley College) for
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Alexandria
I learned quite a bit about myself and Egyptian culture on this program. I have a much better understanding of what it means to be a foreign woman in the Middle East, and that, to me, was an unparalled experience. I also had the priviledge to actually talk to Egyptians in their native language. I got to know Egyptians in a way that most foreigners can't because of language and cultural barriers.
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 |
I believe the program generally worked well, though the residential director, Lizz Huntley did not do enough to address the needs of students on the program. Some people's issues and concerns were blatantly ignored to the point where students literally didn't know who to turn to. The program was a good size with just over 30 students. The staff had an amazing knowledge of the host country which was an invaluable resource, and they gave us three day weekends to enjoy the country and travel. |
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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? |
We went on three different field trips. I traveled often on the weekends. We went to the Sinai Peninsula, Marsa Matrouh, and the Siwa Oasis. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Egypt was safe when I was there, but has since become unsafe due to the bombing in front of the Coptic Church in Alexandria. I would advise students to use common sense regarding safety. The healthcare system in Egypt is not anywhere close to what we are used to in the US. Though it is accesible, you might find that diagnoses aren't necessarily professional. I didn't need any vaccines, and the only health issues I can think of were diarrhea and food poisioning. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Food - $40-50/week Expenses - $20/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I didn't realize I would have to spend so much on food because the dining hall food made me pretty sick. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Arabic 202 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I signed a language pledge after my first week in Egypt. From that point on I was required to speak Arabic at all time regardless of whom I was interacting with. I used Arabic all day everyday. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | There is nothing else like the Middlebury in Alexandria program. If you're looking for a non-traditional study abroad experience, then this is the place for you. The student that takes on this challenge must be driven and open to leaving their pre-conceived notions behind to learn the most from this place. |
