Visiting an Under-Noticed Country: Jordan Past Review
By Jamie R (Anthropology., Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for
Yarmouk University: Irbid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Many aspects contributed to the impact my trip had on me. I made several very close friends from different countries, which has caused me to make fewer assumptions when meeting new people and even when talking to my American friends. I have a little bit of Arabic, now, which opens up my ability to interact in a whole new circle. I am also able to consider more options when it comes to my future.
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. |
I really enjoyed most of the professors. American professors are not always cold and antisocial, but the professors I had at Yarmouk seemed more ready to be friendly and open their office doors to anyone at anytime. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Not much as far as organized programs, get-togethers, site-seeing. I felt mostly disconnected from any beneficial guidance. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The difficult part about housing was that we did not have air-conditioning and very little heat during the colder months. Again, this is probably just a reflection of the condition of the country. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
n/a |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I suffered much anxiety due to culture shock and homesickness - the care I got was in an emergency room (because nothing else was available). I don't think the care here at home would have been much more helpful! |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | four semesters of Arabic |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people did not speak English. I had 2 friends (one Syrian, one Korean) who spoke English well enough for us to converse. Most friends/faculty spoke Arabic, so I was surrounded. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't expect to live a high-maintenance lifestyle :) |
