<p>I am a junior in college studying abroad in the upcoming spring and have had a great deal of trouble choosing a location. My main two choices are both through SIT: Morocco and South Africa. Both programs are amazing and seem to offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities (the last month is composed of an independent studies research project/thesis paper where you do your own first-hand research), but each would also require a different sacrifice.
The program I like in South Africa focuses on Public Health (HIV treatment, socioeconomic barriers, etc.) and I have always wanted to work in the global public health/development realm. On the other hand, I have been taking Arabic for the past three semesters and only the Morocco program would allow me to keep taking it as well as greatly enhance my acquisition. (Otherwise I would have to stop taking Arabic because I would be off a semester) However, I am not sure I would be as interested in any thesis project I could conduct there...</p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice in this situation? Which program will be more beneficial for my future? Is one sacrifice a lot smaller than the other and I just cannot see that? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Personally, I'd choose the one where you can improve your language skills, especially a language as important as arabic. You can vastly improve your language skills which is probably a once in a lifetime experience for you (think about it this way... not only is it easier to learn a language the younger you are, but you will never really get the chance again to spend almost half a year in another country just absorbing the language unless you go out of your way. on the other hand, you can always go and learn about issues in south africa) but also for job searching (they would love to see arabic on there...)</p>
<p>Look at these stats (courtsey of nvtc.gov)
"Roughly 10,000 American college students are studying Arabic, but only 300 (or 3 percent) reach advanced level in Arabic each year. Of the 1,000 people who work at the US Embassy in Baghdad, only 33 speak Arabic, and only six of them speak it fluently."</p>
<p>Obviously you have to weigh your options. For me, of course, the chance to become fluent or at least very proficient in a language as important as arabic is awesome. On the other hand, you give importance to the opportunities to research things. You said "However, I am not sure I would be as interested in any thesis project I could conduct there..." For me, I view it this way. Going to S.Africa, you pretty much KNOW you will only speak english and not pick up any other languages (for the fact you haven't been studying any other language they speak there so it would be very hard to pick up such a hard language in a couple months and that combined with the fact that most people speak english if I'm correct). But in Moracco, you are "fairly sure" you won't be interested in whats there to conduct research on, but you can be pretty sure you will learn a lot of arabic (pending the fact that you are in a non americanized zone and not everyone speaks english... I know nothing about moracco). I am sure there are SOME interesting things there.</p>
<p>I hope you make a decision that you feel confident about, but I'm sure whichever decision you make will be awesome and the important part is that you study abroad regardless.</p>
<p>I believe the Arabic spoken in Morocco is a dialect & would be very different
from what you have learned . (My family spent a few days in Fez last year).
I'd would certainly speak to grads of both programs if you have not done so already. "Love in the Driest Season" by Neely Tucker an American journalist about his experiences in Zimbabwe is a must read if you are interested in
Africa and health care.</p>
<p>Checking on the dialect of Arabic used in the program would be essential. Perhaps it might be a more standard dialect than what is spoken by the locals? Concrete language skills are one of the best things to get out of an exchange, and as noted above, Arabic is very much needed in this country. Aside from your other considerations, people tend to become easily enamored of Morocco-a great place for an exchange, regardless.</p>
<p>I'd think that you might be able to find some other international public health experience, with paid volunteer work and the like. Read the book Mountains beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder, if you haven't already, for an interesting take on international public health.</p>