Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life-changing Past Review

By (University of Massachusetts Amherst) - abroad from 07/29/2010 to 08/20/2010 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It totally changed my perspective on the world, on charitable causes, on study abroad programs, and on Africa in general. It was totally worthwhile, and I'm very glad I went on this trip!

Review Photos

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

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:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

We had to buy our own meals for the last week of the program, and it did get fairly expensive, since our only choice was the restaurants in the hotels.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $400

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Being immersed in a cultural center in a small rural village and being taught by local and very talented teachers.
* What could be improved?
  • The food was monotonous but was probably the best they could do. Also, if we had known about the housing arrangements we could have brought extra sheets and towels to leave there.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There was no way to explain ahead of time the poverty and deprivation of the village we were in. But I wish I had brought much more clothing, school supplies, bedding, etc. to donate to the villagers.