Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unbelievable, life-changing, fantastic experience May 30, 2024

By (African American Studies, University of South Alabama) - abroad from 05/13/2024 to 05/24/2024 with

Africa Our Home (AOH): Tracing the road of those enslaved: an epic journey to West Africa

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Far too much to articulate - this was definitely more than worthwhile! Visiting the cultural sites/museums was extraordinary, and interacting with the (thoughtful, kind, intelligent, knowledgeable) AOH staff and hired local guides taught me so much

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Absolutely phenomenal experience overall!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very smoothly organized, and the host program was exceptionally adept with adapting to any needed changes as little hiccups arose along the way and ensuring everything still felt 100% smooth

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Future participants should just be aware that (understandably for the region and not the fault of AOH whatsoever!) the air conditioning can periodically go out due to power shortages/outages

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

For travel to this region, vaccination for yellow fever and typhoid is mandatory. (No health issues arose while abroad other than a couple of students needing cold medicine, which the program readily ensured they could procure.)

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Benin and Ghana were somewhat pricier, but the cost of food and other small expenditures in Togo was extremely reasonable

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100 max
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan ahead regarding how/when/how much money to change into local currency, as you often get better exchange rates in this region if exchanging LARGER BILLS (i.e. a $100 bill gets you more local currency than even 5 $20 bills, and changing a larger amount total gets you a better rate - so organizing with the group to change a large amount at once would result in some minor savings, etc.)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • AOH staff
  • Visit to Benin
* What could be improved?
  • Slightly better communication ahead of time about a few small details (like the likelihood of issues with A/C, and how to handle money)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The colonial history of the 3 countries in question; more about young people's lives in this region today

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!