You Should Definitely Go Abroad July 18, 2022
By Joshua K (HSSP, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/06/2022 to 05/21/2022 with
SIT Study Abroad: Jordan - Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action
I learned so much about the refugee issue happening in Jordan and Turkey (as this is where our excursion went to) and also learned a lot from my host family as they have had their own slew of issues. However, becoming close with them and taking part in cultural events and celebrations really enriches the experience. Not only that, but most of the people on the program became quite close as we experienced these things together.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes do assign a large portion of reading to fully understand the circumstances for the issues discussed in class, but through many field visits and engaging classes, you do learn quite a lot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family a lot, I really enjoyed my stay with them and being with them significantly helped with integrating into the culture and learning so much more about it. |
| * Food: |
The food is incredible, I almost never had a bad meal in this country. From falafel to shawerma to musakhan, all of it was fantastic. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated in to the culture by learning to speak more colloquially through my host family and through the internship I worked at during my last month of program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall the city is quite safe, I and many others on the program didn't have a specific event that put them in harms way but like going to any country, you do need to just be cautious and careful. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The amount of things I learned and the experiences I have are irreplaceable to me and I will always view them as such. I learned so much from my time there and I really grew significantly as a person when I went abroad. This was an incredible program and I could not recommend it highly enough. |
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) |
Budget can be largely influenced on the distance from the events you go to are. If you live farther away from where SIT classes take place, do keep in mind that it will cost more and take slightly more time to reach places. However, the cost for everything in the country is still relatively cheap and the program gives you a weekly stipend. Staying within the stipend for the most part is definitely possible and many people in the program were able to do that. |
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 |
The program encouraged us to learn the program through our Arabic classes but you learn so much through staying with a host family and just listening to people. Even people who had never learned Arabic prior to program picked up quite a bit by the end of program. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | This is slightly difficult because learning Arabic in the United States is significantly different than the way it is spoken in Arab countries; however, you can pass by having a wide breadth of vocabulary on your side. When you are in the country is when you will really learn how to speak and the country specific differences in the language. |
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? | I actually chose to not know so much going into the program, and honestly I think it did me quite well. Going in without a personal expectation or bias as to what will happen I think gives you a blank canvas for you to paint your own idea of what the country is like. I suggest coming into the country with an open mind and it will very much surprise you. |
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.' |
