Program Reviews

Studying abroad in Jordan was a great experience. It was amazing to be immersed in a culture that felt so different at first, but gradually became familiar. My host family played a huge part in my experience and really made me feel at home. Through my travels, my studies, and the everyday interactions I had with people, I really felt like I got a sense of the country and gained a perspective that would have been impossible to attain anywhere else. I would definitely recommend the program overall.

Going Morocco with AMIDEAST is an amazing option for anyone looking to learn French outside of Europe. My courses were challenging and interesting, and we went on many field trips to French NGO's. Not only that, but my French speaking host family was a wonderful group of people and I'm still in contact with them. I was worried at first about not speaking Arabic, but in Rabat, French is spoken by everyone, and I was quickly put at ease. Plus, since many of American the students on the program do speak Arabic, my friends could help me out. The amazing help and support I received from AMIDEAST staff was crucial as well! If my language skills were ever put to the test (for planning trips, bartering, etc.), the staff was immediately eager to help. Doha, who runs the abroad program in Rabat, will meet you anywhere at any time. She will pick up her phone 24/7 just to chat, or in case you have an emergency, she'll come to help you whether it's 4pm or 2am. Same goes for the rest of the staff. It really put me at ease to know I had that kind of support. Plus my French skills greatly improved and I made amazing friends for life.

Going to Rabat for a semester was life changing. Not only did my French improve with AMIDEAST, but I was given the opportunity to learn Darija and Arabic as well. Whenever I needed to travel AMIDEAST helped to arranged it, and their staff always had my back. The students who chose to travel with AMIDEAST were amazing as well, leading to interesting and diverse class discussions. AMIDEAST worked hard to give us each accommodating homestays and to tailor their program to what the students were looking for. Their excursions were also extremely well-organized and very unique! I loved going to the Atlas Mountains and would not have had that opportunity without such an amazing program! I highly recommend AMIDEAST to any student who's looking to learn French or Arabic, meet amazing people, and get immersed in the culture.

My favortite thing about going abroad with AMIDEAST is that I got to stay with a host family. My host family was different than most when my roommate and I learned who our host family was we were told by the AMIDEAST staff that we were going to eat a lot. We did end up eating a lot everyday because we stayed with a family that was three women all around the age of 80 and our host father, so it was like we were living with three grandmothers and we were spoiled like no other. I loved living with them because I had the opportunity to spend time with my host family which mostly comprised of playing chess with my host mother, and watching soap operas after I finished my homework. These were the moments that I cherish the most when I think about my time abroad. I still sometimes talk to them to see how they are doing and they are one of the main reasons why I recommend my friends to study abroad and for them to live with a host family, if given the opportunity.

My time abroad with AMIDEAST in Rabat was life-changing. The program was the perfect mix of structured activities and free time - and when my friends and I wanted to do something on our own, AMIDEAST's in-country staff were always willing to help us set it up. AMIDEAST bills itself as a serious academic program, and my Arabic definitely improved, but the highlight of my time in Morocco was definitely the excursions AMIDEAST organized. Our trip to the remote region of Zawyat Ahansal was incredible - if you go, you won't be disappointed! AMIDEAST's program in Rabat is small enough that the staff can tailor each semester to meet the needs of the students - it was clear they listened to us as the semester went on and made adjustments to match our feedback. Overall? A great program.

The Middle East/North Africa region is certainly not for everybody, but for Arabic students and those interested seeing a society entirely unlike their own, there is no replacement for Morocco. The country itself is beautiful, the language (while indeed quite difficult) can be learned through hard work, and the people of Morocco as a whole are hospitable in ways I never expected. Additionally, AMIDEAST itself, through its support network, academics, and cultural expertise, was as helpful as an organization could be in helping me with my personal abroad goals. For an Arabic learner interested in both learning the language and seeing the Middle East itself, there simply is no substitute.