Boy, do I love water Past Review
By Chelsea E (Creative Writing., Knox College) - abroad from 12/08/2013 to 12/22/2013 with
ThisWorldMusic: Traveling - Study in Ghana: Music, Arts, Culture
Traveling on this program was a total change in perspective. I had no idea what to expect, so I was excited and stimulated with everything that we did. I have traveled abroad before, but my experience this time around was like nothing else. The itinerary was perfect. I feel that I know the culture; I actively participated in it. The people that we interacted with have changed the way I think about the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This was total immersion. I feel like I learned something everyday, and I appreciated the break from the textbooks. Being exposed to a different part of the world and participating in a new culture is definitely the best way to learn about people. |
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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? |
It's all about expectations. When someone says "third world," an average Westerner will imagine mud huts with dirt floors. Our lodging at the hotels was absolutely excellent, complete with private bathrooms, heated water, and air conditioning. Lodging at Dagbe was also much greater than expected. Although we didn't have the commodities we did in the hotels, we still had everything we needed. |
| * Food: |
As a self-identified picky eater, I was pretty satisfied with the food I was able to eat. I tried some new things and also had the option of some familiar favorites. The only problem was how spicy the food can be, which is understandably a cultural thing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We were required to be vaccinated for Yellow Fever before entering the country, and our program adviser required us to be on anti-malaria medication as well. He was very good about reminding us to take our medication and drink lots of water. |
| * Safety: |
I did not expect to feel as safe as I did. In Europe, it's common to witness pickpocketing, especially in touristy areas. No one on our trip experienced this and I didn't see it happening anywhere. Seeing how safe it was to interact with people in large cities and in rural areas made me feel comfortable leaving my belongings in our lodgings. |
| 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) |
The exchange between cedis and dollars was definitely on our side. Feeding myself was definitely not a financial concern. Even though we had to buy bottled water frequently, the cost was minimal. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | around $125 for food and souvenirs |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avoid ordering fancy beverages with meals. It's a really easy way to save money every time you eat, and drinking water will ensure that you don't get dehydrated. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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? | I wish I had packed more clothing. Everything that I brought felt so gross by the end of the trip. I had planned on wearing things multiple times and washing them (something I practice when I travel to Europe), but washing them by hand only did so much. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
