USAC Ghana: Best Experience Ever! Past Review
By Jensen P (Global Studies, University of California - Santa Barbara) for
USAC Ghana: Accra - African Studies, International Development Studies, and courses offered directly by the University of Ghana
I had the time of my life!
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Though the academics at the University of Ghana were not the most challenging, I learned so much through my experience as a whole. For me I was happy I did not have extremely challengin courses, so I had more time to immerse myself in the culture of Ghana. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Given the cultural norm in Ghana of everything being laid back, the administrators did a great job of balancing Ghanaian cultural tradition and getting everything done that the USAC attendees needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in an international hostel, which was for all practical purpoese a dorm. It was awesome...on campus, but about a 15-30 minute walk to classes; situated right next to a market where everything from food to mosquito nets could be purchased; a great place for meeting other international students; slightly difficult to interact with other Ghanaians as much as the Ghanaian dorms because it was primarily an international hostal. But overall it was great. |
| * Food: |
Such unique, exotic, awesome food...as long as you were willing to dig in and immerse yourself! Fou Fou and Red Red were some of the best! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I met amazing friends of all sorts: international, american, ghanaian... some of which I am still in touch with two years later. My friend Abigail is Ghanaian and i just spoke with her today online. She is hoping to visit the states next year and I have promised to go back to Ghana for her wedding when ever that is! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Ghana overall...yes you have to be careful, but it is just like any other place in that manner. If you are smart and have your wits about you, all will be fine. In general peopel in Ghana are more likely to help and protect you then harm you. And yes, there are tropical diesease, like Malaria, which people do get, but it is easily treated for the most part. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Twi is the language spoken in Ghana, and we had classes once a week just with our fellow USAC students to work on our Twi skills. It was just hard to practice Twi at the university because everyone speaks English, but if you are committed it is possible. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It will be challenging, but so rewarding! Take African Dance classes, eat the local food, engange with Ghanaians, TRAVEL while you are there ( around Ghana and its neighboring countries too)! |
