Past Review
By Eleanor v (Political Science: International Relations and African Studies, Tulane University) for
CIEE: Legon - Arts + Sciences
My study abroad experience was very trying and difficult. The basic human needs, food, water, etc were few and far between. I'm glad I had that experience however maybe not for so long.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
| The term and year this program took place: | Full-Year 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academics were not challenging at all. Most of the classes had hundreds of students in the classrooms, and the lecturers spent the time dictating vague sentences which the students dutifully copied down. Not a fulfilling academic experience at all. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site faculty have been invaluable. They have helped provide basic needs that we as students had. They are effective and try their best to get everything needed done. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was a combination of American, local, international and West African students. The mix of people was interesting and educational but the actual facilities were atrocious. The facilities were frequently without water, and electricity for days on end. We would have an entire week go by, without having any access to water. The man in charge of keeping the hostel "safe" frequently stole things, or asked to take your things. People in our program both semesters had very valuable things stolen out of their rooms and were never able to get them back. |
| * Food: |
The food was unvarying and unaccommodating to dietary restrictions. Sundays it is nearly impossible to get food anywhere, even driving to four or five different places near the campus, I tended to go many days without being able to find food. It is not something I would wish on anyone. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed some of the people that I met but on a whole, most of the foreign and local people were obnoxious and rude. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The faculty did their best to keep people healthy and safe, and it was encouraging to see. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $120, at least. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Although the economy of Ghana is not strong, and things here are cheap, people must take into account that as a foreigner you are required to pay bribes, as well as inflated prices which are sometimes exorbitantly high. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Courses were in English. |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
My language skills have if anything gotten worse. My English language, my primary and only language, skills have become stilted and simple, in trying unsuccessfully to explain anything to Ghanaians whose first language is supposedly English as well. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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