Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I enjoyed my stay in Jordan February 17, 2023

By (humanitarian crisis, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) - abroad from 09/06/2022 to 12/19/2022 with

SIT Study Abroad: Jordan - Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Attending the SIT Jordan program was worthwhile. my experience abroad has broadened my perspectives about refugees and humanitarian crisis. I also learned more about Arab culture. Moreover, I gained hands-on experience about supporting the most vulnerable communities in Jordan by interning at the Jordanian NGO that works in HIV/AIDS field.

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.

The courses that I took in Jordan were not demanding. I didn't have a lot of homework. I would say that my study abroad program is not very academically rigorous. I like all of my professors but Dr. Latefa. She hardly replied to students' emails and did not explain all assignments clearly.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program director and assistants were very supportive and responsive.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was nice except that they did not want to cook a lot of meat for me.

* Food:

The food cooked by my host mom was not bad, but it could be nicer. I am not very picky about food. I like to go to some affordable local restaurants to eat children and rice. I love Jordanian local food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The place where we went to class is located in a rich area, and most of host families also live in rich area. I did not have a lot of opportunties to see and experience very local life.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not get sick during my stay in Jordan, so I cannot make comments on local healthcare system.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Amman. Local people who I met were very friendly.

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

I would choose the same program because I really like the field visits to the refugee camp and numerous humanitarian local NGOs. Those field visits allowed me to learn a lot about humanitarian aid field. I would choose the program again also because it enabled me to do one-month internship at a local NGO. I did my first professional internship at an Amman-based NGO that works in the HIV/AIDS field. It was a wonderful experience.

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 got weekly stipend which is 50 Jordanian Dinars. I did not need to spend my own money most of time.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around 50-60 Jordanian Dinars.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do not socialize with other students a lot. if you often go to restaurants and cafes with a lot of people, it could be very costly unless you really like to hang out with them.

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

My Arabic instructor was very sweet. She always encouraged me to talk with her in Arabic.

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? ARABIC204
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? Don't be shy. you can practice your spoken Arabic with staff and your instructors at SIT office. They are very willing to help you improve your Arabic. You can also try to speak a lot of Arabic with your host family.

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • field visits
  • internship
  • excersion to Turkey
* What could be improved?
  • courses
  • host family
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I did not know that there is a sereve water crisis in Jordan. I could not take shower every day. It is not a big deal though.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.