A Lot of Arabic. A lot of Feelings. Overall, I'm grateful! Past Review

By Catherine Cartier (Davidson College) - abroad from 01/27/2018 to 05/17/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Amman

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned a TON of Arabic and a lot about myself. I learned about what I need to be happy in a place, and what to look for what I study abroad again or move abroad in the future. I also learned many new research skills.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Overall, I was very challenged by the courses I took. Doing everything in Arabic meant that I was constantly learning. I felt that the expectations were high yet fair. There was always help available and the teachers I had were really wonderful. I definitely worked hard this semester in class.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The administration was accessible and set the bar high. They were there to support me when I asked for help. I think they could be more proactive about encouraging students because the program can be difficult (mainly because of the language pledge). In one on one settings, they were all wonderful listeners and worked hard to solve issues that arose. They also give you great insight into life in Amman through a weekly digest. Overall, I admire the administration's efforts to make my experience successful.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Everyone lives with host families. I had an overall good experience, with occasional but natural bumps along the way. I was always safe and comfortable in my home. There were a range of experiences.
* Food:	Food was not always available in my home stay but food on the street near the university can be fairly inexpensive. Levantine food is delicious and Amman has restaurants of all kinds.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I made many local friends through the university and my host family. I wish I had been able to direct enroll with students at the university, because I think that would have helped. The students are generally really friendly and I met many kind people who were willing to help me practice Arabic. I sometimes felt isolated because many of my friends from the university could not go out late at night (because of their studies/families/financial constraints). I was also super busy so I didn't have as much time as I would have like to build relationships.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had a few simple health issues, we all had difference experiences with health care here.
* Safety:	I felt safe moving around the city and the country on my own. Riding the bus was more comfortable for me here because the men and women sit in separate sections and I never received unwanted attention on public transport. That being said, I didn't walk alone at night in most areas, and often took an Uber or a Careem instead of a taxi. There are also certain areas where mainly young men hang out and I wouldn't feel safe being there on my own. It wasn't a huge issue but it was on my mind throughout the semester, particularly when I used cabs although I never had an incident.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I would choose this program again even though I spent much of the semester feeling quite stressed out by academics, my research (outside of the program) and an internship. I felt like I didn't have time to breathe or enjoy, and I did not deal with the stress as I would have liked to or am usually able to. That being said, I learned an incredible amount of Arabic and met some very inspiring and wonderful people! This program transformed Arabic from a language I study to one that I breathe/laugh/cry/learn/research/etc in. I'm not 100% fluent, sometimes I still get confused when people speak to me, and I make mistakes, but I'm so grateful for the progress I made!

Finances

* 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)	I spent around $100/week. For me this was a bit of a strain. The taxis to school and around the city add up really quickly. It can be hard to budget and be social.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$100 ish
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Write down everything you spend for the first couple weeks at least to give you a sense of where your money goes.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	We had a language pledge and we weren't supposed to speak anything other than Arabic.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	Arabic 300 (Syrian Television Drama)
How many hours per day did you use the language?	10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Try to stick to the language pledge from the start and prioritize meeting people early in the semester when you still have energy and time to make those new relationships. Get to know the language mentors, because they are amazing. The language pledge sets a high bar, and I found myself slipping at the end of the program, but I am glad I had a strong basis from the beginning.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Language learning University of Jordan setting Host family
* What could be improved?	There was a lot of pressure to an unproductive level
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I had known that the language pledge is hard. I studied in Jordan before, lived abroad extensively, and felt comfortable speaking Arabic. Even so, I found myself exhausted. I wish I had known that it was normal and I wasn't alone in feeling this way. I also wish I had committed to a few fewer extracurricular activities. I wanted it all in terms of research, internship, local friends, and host family relationships, and I wish I had not put that all on myself because at some point it felt insurmountable. I made it through the program, but I know it didn't have to be as hard as I made it!

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 Blazer Craving 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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Refugee and Migration Studies
Course Department:
Instructor:	Peter Stravos
Instruction Language:	Arabic
Comments:	This was an amazing course! We were assessed through exams, homework, participation in class, journals from our field visits, and a Capstone scenario. It was amazing and so important to learn about the issues facing refugees in Jordan and around the world.
Credit Transfer Issues: