Music and Dance Cultural Immersion in Ghana Past Review
By cory b (Art and Music, Hampshire College) - abroad from 01/01/2014 to 01/12/2014 with
ThisWorldMusic: Traveling - Study in Ghana: Music, Arts, Culture
I learned that music doesn't have to be a single complicated pattern. It can be many simple repeating patterns that vary per instrument and create a polyrhythmic piece of music. I gained a perspective of what it means to work and to support a community or village. I noticed how closely music and dance are tied into the West African culture and how music is what moves people through their lives from what I saw. The experience was well worth the time travelled and the struggles of grasping a new idea or song or dance.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Travelling with This World Music was one of the best two weeks of my life. I learned a lot about West African music and rhythmic patterns which is the reason I embarked on the trip. The traditional dance classes were equally as intricate but very achievable. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The culture was incredibly integrated into the program. We all were welcomed everywhere we went. Everyone there was very interesting to talk to and it was amazing hear about their own experiences with music, dances, funerals, and other aspects of how they live life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We were always reminded to take our malarial medications. And I felt comforted when I experienced a minor sickness. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
It is possible to live on a student's budget during this trip, but it is important to remember that meals and bottled water are purchased quite a few times during the day when staying in the Capital city. I ended up spending more that I had planned on food. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~$200 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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 |
There was encouragement to speak the Ewe language during greetings and farewells. Also there were many opportunities to learn and sing the language, but like speaking any language it requires discipline and practice. |
| 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? | Beginner |
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 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? | The gender imbalance or normativity of gender in West African culture. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
