An incredibly beautiful and eye-opening experience Past Review
By A student (CUNY - Queens College) - abroad from 07/06/2016 to 07/28/2016 with
ThisWorldMusic: Traveling - Study in Ghana: Music, Arts, Culture
Learned new musical resources to apply to my classroom, found a love of African dancing that I will continue for the rest of my life, learned a variety of cultural arts, gained perspective about the world and culture, developed strong bonds with new friends from America as well as locals. Worthwhile does not capture how meaningful this trip was for me.
Review Photos
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. |
EXCELLENT immersive learning experience. High musical and academic rigor, which made for a very steep and exciting learning curve. Freedom to create a personal academic experience and learn various skills based on skill level and interest. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Leah and Kate, leaders of the ThisWorldMusic trip were well-organized, helpful, and kind. All teachers at Dagbe were passionate about their craft and sharing their culture with others- they had high expectations of performance while also showing great patience in the learning process. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Hotels were beautiful and very comfortable. At Dagbe, I found the living arrangements to be more than adequate, especially for the circumstance. Beds were somewhat comfortable and had bug nets, which were very helpful, however it was hot and the few fans that did not work very well, so it is recommended to bring a small fan for your bed. |
| * Food: |
Food was very good- bean stew, rice, plaintains, fried/boiled yams, chicken, groundnut soup. Sometimes was repetitive and did not have many vegetables, but very good to regain energy for dancing/drumming! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Loved visiting the Kopeyia school, Denu market, Denu beach, and the funeral ceremony. The one thing I might have enjoyed is to visit one of the evening ceremonies that seemed to be occurring on most nights, such as the Brekete. For the most part, however, the local culture seemed to come to us! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Some students experienced stomach illness and were attended to diligently by the leaders. |
| * Safety: |
Did not feel unsafe once on the trip. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Program was completely immersive, thorough, well organized and planned. Excellent leadership, community, and rapport with locals |
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? | $75 |
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? | Packing list would be slightly different- more workout clothes, less of everything else, two towels, more deet, more snacks, etc. |
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 NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
