When I tell people that I’m studying abroad, one of the first questions I get is about which university I attend. My answer usually requires a long and awkward explanation, so I hope writing it down will not only share helpful information with prospective students but also help me practice giving a clearer explanation. While it may seem unconventional, the Meknes, Morocco program through International Studies Abroad (ISA) has been an incredible experience. I knew it would be different from my friends’ programs, but I didn’t quite know how. So, I’d like to provide the description I wish I had before I came.
The biggest difference is that we don’t study at a university, but rather a private study center that offers transferable college credits. The curriculum focuses on Moroccan culture and Islamic studies, with the most intensive component being the Arabic course. This course crams a year’s worth of material into one semester. There’s also an optional crash course in Darija, the Moroccan Arabic dialect, which I found extremely helpful for navigating day-to-day life. Darija is known for being the dialect with the least in common with Modern Standard Arabic, so learning it is a huge advantage here. Since it’s only us Americans in class with Moroccan professors, we get a lot of individualized attention, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. Especially with our tiny class sizes, which brings me to my next point.
There are just eleven of us in the entire program. Yes—only myself and ten other people! Numbers vary from year to year, but the staff has confirmed that the size usually stays around that range. When I found this out, I felt both excited and nervous. Excited because I’d automatically have a small group of friends, but nervous for the same reason—what if I didn’t click with them? Thankfully, after just the first week, we’d already built a close-knit community. Moving in and starting classes together only strengthened that bond. Now, we live, hang out, travel, and study as a unit. It might have felt like a “forced group of friends” at first, but now I’m grateful to say that I’ve met some of my favorite people ever. My time in Morocco wouldn’t be the same without them, and every day I’m thankful for this group I “got stuck with.”
Traveling has been another incredible part of the experience. I’ve only spent one weekend in Meknes since arriving nearly two months ago. Most of my time has been spent exploring other cities in Morocco, helped in large part by the number of excursions included in the ISA program. Compared to other programs I looked at on DU Passport, ISA Meknes includes excursions to Casablanca, Marrakech, Ouzoud Waterfalls, Beni Mellal, Ifrane, Azrou, Volubilis, Fes, Rabat, and Tanger. Outside of the program, I’ve also traveled independently with my friends to places like Chefchaouen, Lisbon, Madrid, and camping in the Atlas Mountains. And there are more trips to come!
Now, for my absolute favorite part: the housing situation. The program offers two options: a homestay or living in an apartment. I live in an apartment with the other three girls in the program, and it has been a blast. Initially, apartment living seemed less appealing because we’d have to cook for ourselves while the students in the homestay enjoyed homemade Moroccan meals every day. But then we met Mona, our housekeeper. Mona cooks us delicious Moroccan lunches and dinners Monday through Saturday and keeps our apartment clean and tidy. She’s incredibly sweet, pays close attention to what we like and don’t like to eat. She knows that I like coffee while my roommates don’t, so she makes me a cup everyday with lunch. I asked her for coffee only once, which adds greatly to the sentiment. No matter what, she goes above and beyond what’s asked of her.
For example, when my roommates and I were leaving for a trip to Portugal, Mona had the day off because we’d be gone by lunchtime. But that morning, I woke up to hear her in the kitchen. My stomach dropped—I thought I’d have to tell her, in my broken Darija, that we wouldn’t be eating and she’d have to throw the food away. But when I walked in, I found her making wraps for us to take on the train. I genuinely almost cried at the thoughtfulness of that gesture. Our home isn’t home without her.
The apartments themselves are also incredible. There are two double bedrooms, three bathrooms, two showers, a kitchen, and one massive dining/living room. It’s this huge living room that allows us to spend so much time together, lounging on the couches while tackling homework or just hanging out. Plus, the guys’ apartment is right above ours, making it easy to host Arabic study parties. We often gather in one apartment or the other for fun activities like karaoke, movie nights, playing Just Dance, or carving pumpkins on Halloween.
Although unconventional, I’m very pleased with my decision to come here. Studying in Meknes has turned out to be an experience beyond my expectations. From the small, close-knit group of students to the incredible friendships we’ve forged, I’ve found a sense of community that has made this journey truly special. The travel opportunities have been amazing, allowing us to explore the rich culture and beauty of Morocco together. Living in our apartment has been a blast, especially with Mona’s delicious meals and her thoughtfulness that makes us feel at home. Every day brings new adventures, and I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything.
