Summer in Ghana Past Review
By Bethany W (International Relations And Global Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 06/12/2013 to 07/24/2013 with
CIEE: Legon - Summer Ghanaian Studies
I learned and experienced a few new things about the culture, history, and politics there, however most of the study abroad was a waste. Except for the CIEE led trips, I feel I did not learn much about the culture because everything we did was with the other American students and the classes were useless.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Teachers were poorly selected. The material were interesting and relevant, but we were unable to cover even half because of the pace at which the teachers were going. Classes were virtually rephrasing what the readings said, but never elaborating. Homework was either non-existent or busy work with no real purpose. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was wonderful, sweet, and helpful. |
| * Food: |
Food was sufficient, back lacking basic nutrition. Maybe provide host families with the means to create more well rounded meals. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My greatest disappointment about the trip was that everything we seemed to do was with the other American students, and our interactions with locals was only ever on a surface level. They also approached everything from a "tourist" point of view, thinking this is what we wanted, and preventing true integration. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got serious food poisoning once during the trip, and both my host family and CIEE administration addressed it in a quick and helpful manner. |
| * Safety: |
As safe as Africa gets. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
I was eating very poorly and bought very few items. If I had been able to budget $200 a week, my stay would have been far more enjoyable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Overestimate expenses. Focus on activities rather than gifts or food. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How similar Ghana is to Uganda (a country I had spent 8 months in prior to my SA), which left me relatively bored with the experience as it did not feel new. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
