Ghana and Me: In competition with the Sun... I WIN! Past Review
By Janelle H (Special Education and Teaching., SUNY - College at Geneseo) for
SUNY Geneseo: Traveling - Student Teaching in Ghana
I have become a better person after experiencing another culture. I have learned to be accommodating, accepting, flexible, patient, and to be more appreciative. All these experiences have molded me into a better educator, and I will take these experiences, and implement them into my classroom, so I may further educated our culture.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was fine, grading system was fine, however implementing American strategies into a Ghanaian classroom was difficult. The students of Ghana are used to a specific system and for our group to come in and change that system, the students did not respond very well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not feel prepared for the program when I left America. Luckily, everything was fine, and the group of girls that were on the trip with us were flexibly and accommodating to change. However towards the end of our trip, the girls were concerned with the money being spent on the program. It was frustrating and annoying to the point where I was eager to come back home. Overall I thought the program was well planned, and very educational for my teaching career. I believe I have changed to a better person because of this experience. To improve for next year, have an orientation that provides all the information we would need BEFORE we leave America, Having a smaller number of people is better, (we had 9 girls, and at times that was to much)and the group of students need to have full respect and trust in the in the college representative who is going as the Faculty leader. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living situations were PERFECT! I wouldn't have it any other way. In Kumasi, we lived in the college dorms. We met so many wonderful people, and experienced a better cultural atmosphere. In Keta, we lived in a Lodge, that was not ideal living, but it was good. The rooms were fine, the management of the lodge was poor. The last week of our trip was spent in hotels. The hotels were excellent. Almost too good to be true. |
| * Food: |
Eating in another Foreign Country is always going to be an experience. I recommend each person on the trip tries a local dish, from anywhere in the country, because it is all good! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Going to Mole park, going to the markets, visiting cape coast, and living in Keta. Each experience was unforgettable and memorable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Preparing for the health and safety issues before leaving the country were both addressed, and understood. The cost of health for this trip was unreasonable high, however necessary. the safety on this trip was good. Not one of us felt our lives was threatened or in danger. |
| 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? | food was dirt cheap. We were provided with 15 CDs a day for the cost of food. Which was more than enough. Personal expenses cost about 50 CDs a week. I brought 500 dollars to spend in the country which was a good amount to spend. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wish for the program to give an outline of the money spent on the trip, so that the students who are on the trip, do not have to feel left in the dark on program expenses. Most of the students were concerned with program costs, and their complaining was intolerable. To avoid confrontation between students, please provide a rundown of cost of trips, food provided, and traveling expenses. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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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? | Anyone who wants to become an educator MUST go to Ghana! |
