Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Interning in the Middle East January 29, 2025

By (International Relations, University of Massachusetts / UMass - Boston) - abroad from 06/16/2025 to 08/07/2025 with

SIT Study Abroad: Jordan - Counseling & Humanitarian Action Internship

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to navigate an intercultural work environment, the history of the Levant region in the context of refugee crises, and the various services provided to vulnerable persons/families in Jordan and the impacts they make.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I found it to be an invaluable experience that I can carry over to both my academic and professional endeavors. It also reinforced my values of inclusivity and compassion, encouraging me to explore more into humanitarian action.

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)

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Multiple excursions exploring many parts of the country.
  • Our academic director, Dr. Ashraf Alqudah, was an amazing mentor
* What could be improved?
  • It would have been very helpful to have a translator on site during our internships since most of the staff spoke only Arabic. This made it hard to fully absorb client sessions.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that I could switch host families if the one I was originally placed with was not compatible with me, or at least I wish it was easier for me to do so.