Chloe’s Experience in Morocco

Chloe Bellwoar

Chloe studied in Morocco on the IES Rabat, Study in Rabat Program during the Fall of 2015.

If you could give only one reason, why would you suggest other students study abroad?

Study abroad gives you the opportunity to live in a completely new culture, to meet new kinds of people, and to find yourself through new experiences!

If you could go abroad again, what would you do differently?

I would be more adventurous during my first few weeks. It can be a little intimidating to be in an entirely new country, and it’s easy to feel out of place! I definitely felt a little hesitant doing things on my own – I always wondered if I was doing something wrong or if I looked like an obnoxious tourist. What you learn, however, is that living in a new place is all about putting yourself out there! You can’t learn without doing, and creating new and exciting experiences for yourself is a big part of that. I definitely felt out of my comfort zone at first, but once I began to embrace it, I learned so much about the country and enjoyed myself! I just wish I did it a little sooner!

What specific factors influenced your decision to go abroad?

My family has always encouraged me to spend time abroad during college, which makes me lucky. It can be hard to make the decision to go abroad without a little encouragement, and for me, that came from my family. I try now to encourage everyone I talk to to go abroad and help to encourage others!

Chloe Bellwoar spotlight 2What concerns/fears did you have about studying abroad, and how did you overcome them?

Studying abroad anywhere, let alone a country as different as Morocco, can be intimidating. I knew that I would be away from my family and from the familiarity of life in the United States. I was nervous about the possibility of not liking my experience, the difference between American culture and the more conservative Moroccan Muslim culture, and many other things! What helps to overcome these concerns is to remember that the program you are a part of is there to help you. It is likely that any problem you could come to encounter has happened to them before and the staff knows how to handle it. They want you to enjoy your time, and they will do what they can to make everything as seamless and comfortable as possible!

What was it about your program specifically that fit your personal goals over other programs?

I love to travel, and I know that in my life I want to live outside of the United States and to explore places off the beaten path. Studying abroad and living in Morocco for 4 months let me experience being in an entirely new culture away from my friends and family. I gained a significant amount of confidence in traveling to places I would not have originally thought about, and I know that that will serve me in my future.

What experiences did you have while studying abroad that you feel you could not have had if you had stayed at Penn State?

I met and formed relationships with so many people from varying walks of life! Not only were the American students in my program from different places and different backgrounds, but the Moroccans that I became close to were from a completely different culture! I learned things about a new culture from the words and actions of people that I came to call friends and family. I lived with a Muslim family and observed certain Muslim customs. I got to attend the very traditional Moroccan wedding of my host sister. I had conversations about the bombings that happened in Paris while being a world away from my home, but still sharing in the world’s shock. You can’t experience people like that when you stay in the same culture that you’ve been in your whole life.

What advice would you give to outbound study abroad students to help them make the most out of their study abroad experiences?

Force yourself to be active and adventurous! Some of the best advice that I got before going abroad was that there will be two kinds of people on your program: the students who make plans for themselves and search out experiences, and those who spend their free time in their bed at home wasting time. It can be difficult to force yourself into so many unfamiliar and new experiences, but the energy put forth is well-worth the results! Be that person who suggests plans, who goes on adventures, and who puts themselves out of their comfort zone. The memories that you create during study abroad will stay with you forever if you do!

Share an experience where you interacted with someone in your host culture in a way that taught you something.

One of the biggest surprises that I had while being abroad was talking to Moroccans about languages. I met so many people and formed relationship with so many new friends that showed me how much of an emphasis Morocco (and most of the world, honestly) puts on learning multiple languages. In comparison, the United States is way behind the curve. I made friends who know 2, 3, or maybe even 4 languages! They helped me to see the doors that new languages can open for you.

Chloe Bellwoar spotlight 1

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