"MI WOGE!" We Did It & It was AWESOME Past Review
By A student (African Drumming & Dance, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire) - abroad from 07/01/2015 to 07/23/2015 with
ThisWorldMusic: Traveling - Study in Ghana: Music, Arts, Culture
I gained a deeper sense of what it means to be a community - both from the people of Kopeyia and our own group of participants. It was incredible to be surrounded by people who were new to you, but 100% "there" for you. I learned many drum ensemble pieces and dances I can incorporate into my elementary music classroom. I was put back into the position of a student learning something completely new to me, and I was reminded of the uncomfortable feelings many of my own students go through when learning new things. I gained a better understanding of how I can help them stay positive and be successful throughout the learning process. It was ABSOLUTELY worthwhile. True learning is classified by "a change in belief or behavior" - and I have most definitely experienced true learning from this experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This course was appropriately challenging, but not overwhelming. The teachers/staff at the Cultural Center do a WONDERFUL job helping you through the curriculum. They will break things down for you and you can take private lessons. They are great about repeating sections of the dancing or drumming that you need help with. I learned a great deal. I would highly recommend this course! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program leaders were extremely prepared, knowledgable, and caring. I always felt safe and comfortable throughout the entire trip. Whenever any of the participants needed assistance, with ANYTHING, (and I mean anything) they were there for you. The Ghanaian staff members were very welcoming. I felt a very present sense of community from the moment we arrived at Dagbe. They really cared about you and about your success. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It's a bit like camping. I give it 5 stars because the accommodations at Dagbe were as quality and "cushy" as you could possibly ask for given the country and village you are staying in. The accommodations are "nicer" than what people are living with in the surrounding village, but not SO nice that the difference is insulting or awkward. The Afia Hotel we stayed in was nice. The Anamabo Beach Resort was AWESOME. |
| * Food: |
I began the trip loving all of the Ghanaian food, but then just became tired of a lot of repetitive dishes. Ghanaian food culture is comprised of a lot of rice and starches. Breakfast is also the same every day while at Dagbe. Again, not bad, just a lot of the same. It was recommended to bring snacks and instant noodles, etc. as meal substitutes. I brought some cliff bars as breakfast substitutes but I wish I would have brought some instant noodles for dinner/lunch substitutes - maybe 5 packages would've been sufficient. Hotel food was great and there were a lot of choices, including more "Western" options. Burgers, pasta, etc. I never got physically sick from food. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I don't think you can beat staying right in the middle of a rural African village! Amazing! I felt part of the village community upon being welcomed by a drum ensemble & given an enthusiastic tour of the centre & and the village. There were always kids around to play with and many adults from the village to hang out with and talk to. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Our program leaders were prepared with literally an entire suitcase full of medical supplies and medicine. We knew we could come to them with anything, even if it was "gross" and they would help us handle it. They made everyone feel very safe and comfortable. They were extremely prepared and had a set plan for every type of medical situation that might have occurred. (No serious issues occurred on my trip.) |
| * Safety: |
I felt extremely safe. The program leaders will always review safety information when necessary. When out in the public market we went in groups with a Dagbe staff member to accompany us. We all had Ghanian cell phones provided for us by the program so we could call one another or the program leaders if we needed anything. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
Most meals were included in the tuition price. There are just a few days (when you're at the hotels) that you pay for your own food. The exchange rate is also favorable for the US Dollar. (Between 3:1 & 4:1) If you take a lot of extra lessons and do a lot of the extra events, then you'll end up spending more, but you don't have to do any of that if you really don't want to. I took maybe 10-12 lessons including special events and things... so I spent around $120 USD on that. If you go to the markets, that can be as cheap or expensive as you make it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $225, but I bought a LOT of fabric and souvenirs. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Start saving early so you can really enjoy your time. Many of you may not get another chance to go back, so you want to be able to buy all of the fabric & souvenirs you want, and take all of the lessons you want to take. If you're really on a tight budget though, this trip is definitely a doable study abroad program. You will still have a GREAT experience, even if you can't take many lessons. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring school supplies & books for the students/kids in Kopeyia! I really wish I would've brought along donations from my students. There are always kids around and many of them asked me if I had any books to read with them/to them. I really wish I had! If you're worried about showing favoritism to certain kids, you can just give them directly to one of the staff members to distribute to teachers at the school. They also need books for older kids as well. |
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! |
