A challenging but amazing semester! Past Review
By Erin Viola (Tufts University) - abroad from 01/27/2019 to 05/18/2019 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Rabat, Morocco
I gained a lot of experience with Arabic and lovely cross-cultural conversations and experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
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 |
Achraf and Samir were absolutely incredible. They were so responsive, kind, and welcoming and worked so so hard to ensure that we were safe, comfortable, and having a good time! |
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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: |
Street harassment as a woman felt like a constant threat to my safety and comfort. There were a few close calls that were very scary and dangerous in which I was almost physically attacked. |
| 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Rabat is incredibly affordable and my host family provided most meals. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably about 50 dh (about 5$) but more when traveling |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of the public transport in Morocco to see as much of the country as you can! Taking a taxi to the airport or to a nearby city is way more expensive than the train. |
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? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Arabic 121 (4th year) |
| 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? | Change your phone language into Arabic, listen to Arabic music, limit use of English with other students on your program, insist on only speaking Arabic with Moroccans even if they reply to you in English/ French. |
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? | It's hard to be a woman and travel alone. Make sure you make some travel buddies so you can navigate Morocco/ other destinations safely. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
