Learning to live deliberately, musically and gratefully! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Both drumming and dance classes were intense, but I never felt overwhelmed or lost. I was given opportunities to challenge myself every day, in areas I didn't ever anticipate! As one of my co-participants so eloquently said "I learned more about myself, music and people that I could have ever expected on this trip."

On-site administration of your program

Everything was so organized, both in preparation for the trip and once we were in Ghana. Every day was well thought out and planned. Also, we were always well informed by the staff as what to expect in certain cultural events that we might not be prepared for (i.e. dress, social norms, etc)

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was rustic (at Dagbe no indoor plumbing, rainwater showers/toilets, limited electricity), but luxury for Ghanaian standards. I thought heat was going to be a huge issue, but I was comfortable every night and never had a problem getting even close to overheated . The hotels were very nice, even by Western standards and had A.C. and "hot" water.

Take a cooking class if you get the chance! The kelewele and red red were my favorite!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We have opportunities to interact with all kinds of people from Kopeyia on a daily basis, not just staff members. I loved playing games and singing songs with the village's children, as well as getting to meet family members of some of the Dagbe staff. We had amazing opportunities to attend social functions like funerals, market days and festivals. At these events we were not passive observers, but completely integrated into the experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I fell very sick my first day at Dagbe and the program leader/assistant did an incredible job of checking on me and taking care of me. A couple other participants got sick while on the trip, but in terms of severity the illnesses we experienced were par for the course when travelling through underdeveloped countries with lower sanitation standards (i.e. stomach bugs, digestion issues.) I had several vaccines before coming to Ghana (yellow fever, mmr, hep a and b, etc) and serious illness was never an issue.

We were able to leave our rooms unlocked at Dagbe with no reservations about safety. While in Accra, I would act like a visitor to any major city. People were very friendly and vendors were a little pushy, but I never felt unsafe or that I was in danger of getting pickpocketed or robbed. I felt more safe in Accra than I have in certain US cities.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Outside of buying food/water in Accra and Cape Coast, spending was really dependent on your own tastes. Some people spent lots of money on souvenirs, clothing and lessons but most people kept their spending in moderation in all areas. I took 1-2 extra lessons a day and bought gifts for my family, but I didn't end up even using all the cash I brought ($450.)

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• Dorm
• Hotel

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• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• The classes and private lessons
• The time to think and reflect
• Talking and hanging out with our group and locales.

• It was all great!

The Avid Adventurer