A.S.M students may choose from the housing options detailed below: an apartment or house
a Homestay with a Moroccan family
a hotel
Hotels
A.S.M students may receive discounted rates at select hotels in Rabat/ Temara. We have taken into consideration all this.
Homestay
A unique feature of A.S.M ’s programs is our Moroccan homestay service. Homestays with Moroccan families entail room and board for a fixed fee and provide the student with a window into family life in Morocco where immersion is valued.
When desiring homestays, students with specific preferences, such as allergies, dietary restrictions, or their family's distance from A.S.M , should indicate these on their application forms.
Apartments
We can arrange apartments for all who desire them. Inform us before your arrival and we’llbe glad to assist you. You’ll be satisfied at 100%.
Visas
procedures vary according to nationality. Most students obtain a three-month tourist visa while entering Morocco. Students who enroll full-time can obtain a one-year residency visa. One residency condition is a bank statement with convertible dirham of at least 20,000 Dh or you are able to have this amount wired to you after your arrival. Also, consult our local coordinator who will be glad to assist you while you are here.
General Notes on the Homestay Experience
The homestay is perhaps the most intensive aspect of this program; both linguistically and academically. It offers a rare and potentially rewarding experience, that few people will ever be able to share. Much of the program will be spent in the company of each participant’s “family;” the learning experiences this “space sharing” affords are considerable.
The following comments are offered towards giving you a basic means of optimizing this experience.
Moroccans, in general are a warm and hospitable people. A.S.M, our Center, asked for volunteer families that would be willing to provide room and board and a culturally nurturing environment for a group of American students. The families you will be spending much of your time with are thus your hosts, and you are a guest in their homes. The program has allocated a weekly monetary allotment to cover the basic expenses but this sum seldom equals the total outlay made by the family during your stay with them. This is important to keep in mind, for you are NOT a “paying guest” with special rights or privileges NOR is the homestay residence a hotel. It is thus expected that you will be “one of the family” and partake in the general ambiance and harmonize with the ways of the household.
As mentioned above, Moroccans are a warm and hospitable people. Moroccans in general like people, and live in a people-centered world. Moroccan concepts of personal space and time may differ from our own. You may therefore at times wonder why you are being treated like “the center of attraction,” this is in fact a form of what is considered polite behavior for Moroccans. It is a way of showing interest in their guest and their readiness to serve your needs. This kind of social etiquette and learning to interact within the climate of a “people centered culture” will be central to your homestay learning experience. The language classes will concentrate from the beginning on social skills and the basic adab (social etiquette) of greeting, showing appreciation and thanking people. The concept of adab is founded on mutual respect. Adab can often be key to “weathering” any uncomfortable social situations.
