Amazing Cultural Immersion Past Review

By (Theatre, Knox College) - abroad from 12/08/0013 to 12/21/2013 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I wanted to experience music and dance as a unseparated entity. In modern times, Western choreographers have found movement for the sake of movement. Consequentially, dances often take place in complete silence or with periods of silence. I wanted to see and experience the opposite end of the spectrum where dance is hand in hand with music. Movement is brought on by the rhythms and melody of the song. They were created together and one cannot exist without the other. I hoped that knowing how both of these experiences felt in my body would aid me as a performing artist. Frankly things did turned out exactly as expected. It was an intense experience and required a lot of focus and motivation. But with the aid of the teachers I think all of us really learned something and had fun doing it. I also feel a lot more adept at hearing layers within music and being able to adjust my body and mindset to fit those rhythms. I learned that to choreography to music, (i.e. to bring music and movement together and have choreography determined by the rhythms and/or melodic structure of a song) one must start with both from the very beginning.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go crazy in the markets and be savvy about bartering.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Food
  • Clothes
* What could be improved?
  • More time with the locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How much I love drumming!