Amazing!!! Past Review
By Amanda W (University of Massachusetts Amherst) - abroad from 07/27/2010 to 07/13/2012 with
ThisWorldMusic: Traveling - Study in Ghana: Music, Arts, Culture
Memories that will last a lifetime, and music and cultural experiences to share with my students.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Westminster Choir College, University of New Orleans, Carnegie Mellon University, Slippery Rock University |
| 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. |
The academic rigor was very great, as well as the resources to learn. Besides the drumming and dancing, there was something for everyone to study. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The instructor from UMass and the instructors in the village were very helpful, organized, and efficient. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The food was great! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in the village was a complete cultural immersion, one that I had not really had during other trips to study abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was fortunate enough to not get sick while in Ghana, but the needs of those who did get sick were treatetd with high priority by the instructor. |
| * Safety: |
I felt completely safe in the village and dorm. |
| 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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| * 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? | $50 max |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
All courses were taught in English, but we did learn short phrases in the Ewe language. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | That most ATM machines in Ghana do not take master card debit cards. |
