Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cats, Tea, and Kayloolas! ("nap" in Darija) July 29, 2025

By (College of Letters, Wesleyan University) - abroad from 01/26/2025 to 05/16/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Rabat, Morocco

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I improved so much in my Arabic skills! I also found out what it was like to be abroad for the first time and when I solo-traveled to Tarifa in order to renew my visa, I felt a sense of independence that I hadn't before (lit's much different from going to the airport alone)

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Professors very responsive to my questions at any time. I received a lot of support from my professors and was able to ask cultural questions at any time. My professors encouraged me to do so. I also loved the location of the program (within Mohamed 5 University) which allowed me to speak to a multitude of Moroccan students there which further improved my speaking skills.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very supportive and responsive to my complaints if there were any and were always available for cultural consultation if I had any questoins

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I adored the location of my host family as well as the proximity to public transportation and the fact that I had my own room and bathroom.

* Food:

I adored eating Moroccan food such as couscous and being exposed to a variety of it due to living with a host family that cooked for me every day!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt so welcomed when I first arrived at Rabat -- in the last week, the security guard assigned to my street was wishing me goodbye and my Moroccan friends had had our last meetup together in a cafe, and I went to the zoo in Temara with a dear friend who I still keep in contact with (who I also met on the Mohamed 5 University campus)

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to undergo an endoscopy and the resident director of my program stayed with me the entire time. I also was allowed to be excused early if my health issues were exacerbated.

* Safety:

I felt very safe as a POC (Asian American) woman. At times there were people who said things that showed cultural ignorance, but I never felt unsafe as I have been in some areas of the United States.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved the people I met and the location was amazing. I would go through an endoscopy again and undergo anesthesia ever just to do that again.

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 did not have to pay for food. My personal expenses were mainly toiletries that I bought once every two months. Tea is $3 at a cafe at the very most (if it's a fancy cafe, otherwise it's around 2-3$ for a small pot that yields 2-3 cups). I overspent because I loved travelling and going to cafes.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 10
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go shopping and if you do in the souqs, make sure you bargain!! If you travel, stay in hostels (unless the reviews are bad - but even then, splitting the cost of AirBnBs is also not very expensive)

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 all our materials were in Arabic and rarely had English translations! If our professors noticed us struggling, they'd take time to explain in very simple Arabic terms or just use Google Translate to show us the definition to not break the language pledge.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced Arabic
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? Study a lot of vocabulary! That's the most important thing! Also speak to everyone -- taxi drivers, cashiers, waiters, people on the tram!!

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?
  • Meeting Moroccans and other Students
  • Academics
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • Time with Language Partners
  • More information about project weeks and multicultural day prior
  • n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I know now what food intolerances I have and what I should avoid next time! I also know how to navigate socializing and going to cafes during Ramadan.

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 Linguist
You 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!