Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Beautiful Journey Past Review

By (Visual and Performing Arts, Saint Mary's College of California) - abroad from 12/31/2015 to 01/10/2016 with

ThisWorldMusic: Traveling - Study in Ghana: Music, Arts, Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new perspective and a broader sense of the world. I met some of the happiest and most talented and well adjusted people whose happiness exists without the same resources available in the United States. The Ghanaian dancing and drumming which we learned at times felt so far out of my comfort zone; which was a beautiful place to be, an incredible place to grow and learn and exactly where I should have been.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Delicious and healthy food as well as fresh water readily available.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Vaccines were needed, I did not have any firsthand experience with healthcare. However, our program advisor sufficiently prepared us for any health concerns we may have experienced.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I learned so much in such a short amount of time. The warmth and generosity of the teachers and staff opened up a new world of music and dance in a very relevant manner.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Less than $100 a week.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning to dance
  • Learning to drum
  • The local culture and people
* What could be improved?
  • Perhaps more vegetarian dishes for those who did not eat meat
  • I would have loved some extra cultural lectures from our program advisor/trip leader/professor.. however our time was so short and so full so there would not have been time for this.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That this was a life-changing experience and one for which I will always be grateful.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.