Did that really just happen? Past Review
By Brendan O (Truman State University) - abroad from 01/20/2012 to 05/26/2012 with
University of Ghana: Legon - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
If I could put it into words, it wouldn't be worthwhile. I gained an appreciation for people from all walks of life and realized that attitude toward visitors says a lot about a person and country. I learned to rely on those around me and trust the tacit knowledge of the people who know the systems in place. For things not to my liking, I had to stop and think about whether it's actually an issue or just something I wasn't used to. I got outside my comfort zone.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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) |
|
| * 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? | $30-$50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy souvenirs all at once and buy lots of small things for others and maybe a few big things for yourself. Eat what the locals eat, use the transport the locals use! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Spanish courses but nothing in the language I learned in Ghana |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Learn the language to master it. Start with origins, alphabet, rules, hearing it spoken, and then go back and break things down. This is how it was taught to us and it worked! |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Something I learned while there, everything would seem to be inefficient, confusing, and go horribly wrong and it would become one of the greatest experiences of my life because I allowed it to be. |
Featured Program Providers
