Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Expect the Unexpected: Growing, Bonding, and More Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 05/08/2012 to 06/07/2012 with

Berea College: Accra - Traveling to Ghana: African Music and Literature

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about West African culture and how everything is not necessarily how it appears in American media. This trip was very worthwhile because I feel that I learned a lot about my culture and why society is the way that it is now.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

I give the food 4 stars because we had 3 full meals everyday. However, the food was often the same items and almost always required an acquired taste. One thing is for sure, you will not starve.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The administrators were very attentive!

* 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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? none
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you have a lot of people to bring gifts back for, save your money. However, you can get a lot of things for a little bit of money. Just be sure to bring your bargaining powers with you.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning about the culture of Ghanians and how their culture ties in with the African-American experience.
* What could be improved?
  • Organization. There were times when things would be cancelled or we suddenly we're doing other activities. However, it is only to be expected as we were in another country with a total of 27 of us.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The power of bargaining.