Ghana, I wish I could go back...! Past Review
By Jesse G (Environmental Studies and History, Tufts University) for
Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in Ghana
it was awesome.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
the reason the stars are all off is because the actual academics were a joke. however, that's not why you go abroad (unless you're at oxford or LSE). the experience as a whole was fantastic. I learned so much, explored the entire country, felt like i really got the full immersion experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
don't go to learn more about physics or bio-chem. go to learn how to drum, how to survive 110 degree heat, how to be comfortable with no internet access, yourself, and your surroundings. an absolutely fantastic way to study abroad. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
you can shop when you get there... just bring sun screen, it's expensive in ghana. |
| * Food: |
the girls gain 10 pounds, the guys lose 10 pounds. don't ask me why, it just happens. foods great, not that much variability, but very cheap and accessable |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
everything... fantastic program. good amount of organized travel but more than enough time to do your own travels |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
actually fairly safe considering Medford... hah. no, but really. it's like travelling anywhere. just don't be dumb. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | stipend covered everything |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | none. i didn't spend a dime. (beyond tufts tuition... which is, arguably, ridiculously high for a program that costs $500 a semester for tuition...!) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
everyone speaks english. we studied Twi with the most famous teacher of Twi in the country. It was the one required class, and the only one that didn't have foreigners (it was just the Tufts kids, trying to learn Twi) |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | be laid back, take it as it comes, and enjoy it for what it is. |
