<p>I have narrowed down my study abroad options to the following:</p>
<p>Fudan University - Shanghai, China
American University of Cairo - Cairo, Egypt</p>
<p>My parents really enjoy the idea of Shanghai, but I would rather learn Arabic. But, they believe that Egypt is still extremely dangerous now. Advice?</p>
<p>First two questions: Why have you chosen Fudan? Why do you want to learn Arabic?</p>
<p>BTW, I agree that Egypt is not a safe place right now.</p>
<p>Are your parents’ objections to your studying abroad at all, or merely because they fear for your safety in a particular location? Frankly, I wouldn’t want my kid in Egypt right now either. Can you research another location to study Arabic?</p>
<p>When is this for? This semester, this spring, some vague time in the future?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be sending my kid to Egypt now, either.</p>
<p>Consider programs in Amman, Jordan.</p>
<p>Your parents are correct in that Egypt is still very dangerous right now. If you value your safety, choose another study abroad option. </p>
<p>Isn’t there another Arabic-speaking country you could study in instead of Egypt?</p>
<p>Egypt is not safe. I work with AUC and they will even tell you that. Your parents are correct.</p>
<p>You can read the State Department travel warnings if you want to better understand the dangers. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the Egypt choice for this year, either.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want my kids to go to the middle-east right now…just too unpredictable. My other concern is that young people often take more risks and might wander into a very hostile situation/area.</p>
<p>However, if your school offers a faculty-led study abroad program where students have far less freedom and things may be more secure, then…maybe.</p>
<p>My son is set to study in Jordan this fall - we are pretty concerned that the situation in Syria doesn’t spill over the borders. I wouldn’t got to Egypt either. If you’ve already studied Arabic I’d look to other programs in the Middle East. If you haven’t I suppose China makes as much sense as any, but I really believe you are best off going to a country where you already have had at least a year of college level study of the language (or three years of high school level.) My son hasn’t heard good things about the seriousness of the students who end up in the AU study abroad programs.</p>
<p>My D considered Egypt for this fall–I told her I thought it was a bad idea. Never one to take my advice blindly, she did her own research and decided on her own that it was not worth the risk. </p>
<p>I think she felt the changing situation and the country itself would be great, but she was worried she’d get sent home mid-semester and not get her credits…I think her biggest fear (being young and fearless) was that she’d get sent home!</p>
<p>I advise you to listen to your parents. Then–do your own research, and make a wise decision!</p>
<p>Another place she considered, briefly, was Morocco–that looked pretty nice, can you look at that as an option, if you are fixed on studying Arabic?
(My D knows French (a little) and has a double-major with one major being Latin–there’s a language that’s not a lot of help on study abroad! She’s going to South Africa)</p>
<p>During the Egyptian “Arab Spring”, my D’s school had to send everyone studying in Egypt home. Even if they are placing students there, I would be reluctant to have my kid go. Partly due to safety, and partly due to the risk that their semester could be disrupted again. If the semester is too far along and something happens where you have to leave, you can end up with no credits and out a semester’s tuition.</p>
<p>My son thought Morrocco looked safe, but felt too much English and French would probably be spoken as well as a less useful form of colloquial Arabic.</p>
<p>Agree with the other posters on Egypt. If it’s Arabic you want to learn , choose a more stable country or learn it here in US
Our friend’s daughter was planning on spending a semester at AU in Cairo , before the first conflict…they thought it was a bad idea and she was insistant. She’s a stubborn , spoiled girl and I was glad they won the battle with her</p>
<p>Agree with others about Egypt. It’s not safe right now. I would also suggest Morocco, perhaps look into Tunisia too. </p>
<p>Fudan is a good choice for Chinese, btw. I used to live in Shanghai - it’s a wonderful, vibrant, exciting city with so much to offer.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t let people study abroad in Egypt cos its not safe.</p>
<p>Add me to the list of those who consider study abroad in Egypt out of the question for now.</p>
<p>But I second mathmom’s observations about Morocco. Studying abroad in Morocco could be an enriching, life-altering experience, but I don’t think it would have a lot of value as a place to learn or improve one’s Arabic.</p>
<p>I am an undergrad student at Sciences Po Paris in France, so I speak French. I am worried that Moroccan Arabic will be too mixed with French, therefore not allowing me to practice well. I can read and write Arabic - I learned on my own. Thank you for all of your advice, I guess I was just too hung up on my “invincibility”, but I understand now. </p>
<p>I will focus more on Asia - Hong Kong in particular. Best x</p>
<p>If you want to learn Mandarin, don’t go to Hong Kong. The lingua franca in Hong Kong is Cantonese. People there often do speak Mandarin as well, but the default is Cantonese. Lots of English spoken there too. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, HK is a great city. Just not for learning Mandarin! </p>
<p>If you want to go somewhere a bit different and still learn Mandarin, look into Dalian. It’s a relatively small city by Chinese standards, about 6 million people I think, in north-east China. Standard Mandarin is widely spoken. Not too many Western tourists (but plenty of Chinese tourists). It’s a beautiful city with a fascinating history - it was leased by Russia then Japan, and the architecture still retains a strong Russian influence.</p>