Intensive Dance and Drumming in Rural Ghana Past Review

By (Knox College) - abroad from 12/08/2015 to 12/20/2015 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Can be made as intense or as laid-back as you'd like, depending on how many extra classes you take. However, the dancing is very physically intensive.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Jeremy was always on top of everything.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Very good!

* Food:

Really wonderful, lots of vegetarian options, and if you like curries, Ghanaian food is a real treat!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It's hard to feel as if you really have a strong grasp of the culture when you are traveling with a group of foreign students in a country for two weeks, but having the chance to interact with local villagers in Dagbe was great!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Make sure to get your yellow fever vaccine before coming!

* Safety:

I felt safe during the program. I would encourage students not to go out on their own, as it can be dangerous, but during daylight hours in a group it's no problem!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

It was a fantastic opportunity. Even though I have not kept up with dancing over the years, it was a great engaging experience and I loved interacting with the culture and community.

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)

I was able to live very easily on a cheap budget, because food is inexpensive and so are most things you buy. Depending on how much you buy, then the costs begin to add up...

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50, maybe.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Think about what you're buying before you purchase it. Make sure it's of a relative good quality and can be used by you or someone else in the future.

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
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?
  • dancing
  • people
  • places
* What could be improved?
  • pre-program preparation
  • staying hydrated and in-contact with the group
  • please pay attention to Jeremy! He knows what he's talking about!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Make sure to interact with local community members as much as you can. They are a wonderful group of people!