IES Abroad - Study Abroad in Morocco

My study abroad in Rabat, Morocco was unlike any academic or cultural experience I'd ever had before. In a city rich with religion, language, and life, the history and culture of Morocco were embedded into every corner, every view and every interaction I had. Along with taking relevant courses on North African politics, North African cultural identities, and media in the Middle East, all taught by Moroccan professors, my study abroad experience was enhanced through my experience living with a host family, and the relationship I cultivated with them throughout my four months in Rabat. IES Abroad Rabat also did a fantastic job of hosting weekly cultural events and organized numerous group trips to different cities and regions across Morocco; some of my favorites included Chefchaouen and the Sahara Desert! This experience not only allowed me to further explore academic interests in North African post-colonial politics but also develop personal ties in the exploration of potential career paths that could take me back to Morocco.

While I knew I wanted to go to Morocco to study abroad, I was stuck choosing between two extremely prominent, strong programs, with IES being one of them. I had all but settled on the other option when I found IES, and began to explore the website. From its online presence alone, IES stood out as a transparent, direct program that provided students with the aid and information needed to successfully study abroad; ultimately, this was what swayed me to choose IES. The communication and willingness to help students by IES only got better when I arrived in Rabat. Although I had wanted a bit more pre-departure information regarding class schedules, etc. it became clear once I arrived that some information was inherently difficult to provide, especially with housing in the medina (Rabat’s old city). However, we were taken care of every step of the way. The professors, regardless of their subjects, were always willing to help us understand different topics (even if they weren’t a part of their class!) and were so great about giving travel tips, study tips, or even just to talk about course material more conversationally. They were so eager to help and really, genuinely cared about our learning experiences. This goes beyond the professors, though, to the staff as well. Our coordinator worked (literally) day and night to make sure we were always doing okay, from having check-in meetings, to homstay inspections, to always responding to our WhatsApp messages, to even just having an open door policy where students felt comfortable walking into her office to talk. Our experiences in Morocco were improved a thousand times over because of her hard work, which often went hand in hand with the director’s work. Although he was always really busy, he always found a moment to help us out, even with figuring out travel plans. The faculty and staff at IES Rabat played a huge role in helping us feel comfortable during our time in Morocco. Beyond school though, Morocco could not have been more beautiful, or more inviting, if it had tried. Although the bustle from the walk to and from school was overwhelming at first, it soon became comforting to hear shop owners calling out their prices as food sizzled on grills in the background. We laughed with taxi drivers, bargained with shop owners, and bantered with the waiters at our regular cafe in a way that I never could have expected. I’m still so grateful for the way Morocco welcomed us, and for how its people, and especially my host family, extended their hospitality through food, sarcastic (but loving) jokes, and joy at our immersion in the culture. The people enriched every single experience, from camel rides through the Sahara to driving tours in the peninsula of Dakhla. When I think of the times I miss in Morocco, I find that what I miss most is the people that were there, and how they made each memory so much better. I don’t think I’ll ever know how to fully show my appreciation for my time in Morocco, but I do know that I’ve been home for over a month, and I still think about its beauty every day. I can’t recommend this program, or this country, enough as one of the most rewarding places to study abroad and learn about so many different topics that are rarely discussed in the Western world. I can never thank IES enough, and I know that someday I’ll be back in Morocco to adventure (and eat so much tagine) again.

Rabat, Morocco was not the first place I thought I'd be when studying abroad in Spring. But it was the place that brought forth everything I was looking for in a study abroad experience. 1) I wanted a cultural encompassment. I wanted to learn from a perspective outside of the Western scenario I’d grown up in all my life. How does a little difference highlight the gems of human life? How does it question our unquestioned habits? In Morocco I learned that difference is the warmest reason for people to reach out and connect to each other. A little willingness to speak Darija, the local dialect, and every Moroccan I met wanted to have a conversation. My host family was my real family, with astounding hospitality I could never have expected. The religion I most often heard about in news allegations at home became a cultural foundation rich in history, art, science, and morality. 2) I wanted a vibrant experience. To see lots of color, pleasing architecture, and varied nature surroundings. To taste delicious food as the true foodie I am. To surround myself in beautiful difference as loud as my senses could experience. In Rabat, I met the land of color. Where every wall, floor, and pillow can be a different pattern and official buildings were never bland. If you love food, you will LOVE Rabat. My host mom prepared every meal for her family and encouraged me to try new things. My walk home was a path of temptation from bakeries, sandwich shops, smoothie stands, fresh fruit carts. The U.S. dollar was worth about 9 Moroccan Dirhams, adding to how inexpensive it was to eat. I could enjoy a restaurant meal and dessert for less than 10 USD. 3) Coming from a wintery U.S. university, I wanted to be warm by the beach! Welcome to Rabat, where a jacket will do from January to April, and May was finally warm enough spend a day at by the water. Being so close to the ocean was amazing! If you study here, be sure to take advantage of the view, the sunscapes, soccer on the beach, and more. 4) I wanted travel opportunities and the chance for all kinds of cities and nature. Who knew Morocco is a gradient of desert, mountain, and forest terrains. Rabat’s location was excellent for reaching well known Moroccan cities for under $40 both ways. The ONCF train system made it very easy to travel. There was a train station only about a 15 minute walk from the IES center. Once in a city, I could stay in a hostel for $10 a night or split an Airbnb with friends. 5) Probably my BIGGEST reason for studying abroad was language-related. I wanted to continue learning French with native speakers. Living in Morocco meant I could start learning standard Arabic, another language goal of mine. Here I could see what it was like to live in a society where most people speak about three languages. The language dynamics and feeling on multilingualism was amazing. Moroccans were so encouraging to non-native speakers who tried to communicate. Morocco is rewarding place to learn a new language if you’re nervous about practicing. For learning standard Arabic with no prior experience, this program was a gift. I had one of the best professors who was patient, determined, and informative of the language. I communicated in French with my host family, took three classes in French (1 was at the local university), and sometimes used French to talk to barter or order food. Overall, I began to feel like Darija was the language of choice for the Moroccans I encountered. My host family spoke with each other in Darija, and not every Moroccan spoke French, which was often treated as a more academic or prestigious language. I was surrounded by both French and Arabic writing. I wouldn’t say Morocco is the best place to learn French if you want to really engage with the people there. It was a good place to practice using the French I already knew with confidence. In this way, I know I improved in my pragmatic French skills. I would still like to live somewhere where I had no choice but to speak French with locals all the time. ~~~And that is why I give a grateful shout-out to the Everything that Morocco brought me. Before ending, another subject I can touch on is my academic experience. I took 3 courses including the double-credit Arabic course, I audited 1 course, and I attended a university course in French that began later in the semester. The workload was manageable enough to travel or explore most weekends, but I did feel busy studying every week day. There was not as much work as I expected in similar subjects at my home university, but the subject material always seemed to permeate my day to day life, and time to learn outside of the classroom was much needed. If you’re heart is set on taking a university course with local students, just keep in mind that the University schedule doesn’t always work out with the IES course schedule. The limited options and university timing changes meant that not all students were able to do so.