The Road to Ghana

Three years ago when I started college, the number one piece of advice I received from others was to make sure I traveled abroad at some point. It seemed like most people shared that their number one regret of college was failing to do just that. So as I planned my college career, I knew spending time in another country had to be a priority. This plan hit a bump in the road when I decided to transfer from Winona State to St. Norbert after my freshman year. Coming in from another college landed me behind the game in the education program, and fitting in a semester abroad didn't seem possible.

The moment I found out the education department offered students the chance to do a portion of their student teaching experience abroad, I knew it was something I was going to do. Coming from a strong Irish background and having been an Irish Dancer for eight years, I immediately envisioned myself going to Ireland. It was my first instinct to choose Ireland and I didn't think twice about it. Well, I didn't think twice until it came to committing on paper.

When the time came to write my final choice in ink, something hit me. Since I've always said travel will be a priority throughout my life, I know I will find myself in Europe down the road. But would I ever get on a plane and vacation in Africa? Most likely not. I then decided to use this opportunity to do something crazy, something that I never envisioned myself doing before. As I thought about it more, I couldn't think of a better way to challenge myself as a pre service teacher then to cut myself off of nearly every resource I've become accustomed to using. If I can succeed at teaching my group of five year olds using the limited materials Ghanaians have available, my creativity and confidence will be at an all time high apon my return.

After two months of living in Ghana, I expect to not only evolve as a pre service teacher, but also to grow as a person in general.  I would certainly be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but I am very excited to begin the amazing journey that lies ahead.

Pre-Travel Research

PEOPLE
Total population: 24,652,402 (2.2 million living in the greater Accra region- the nation's Capitol and  my temporary home!)

Main Religions: 69% Christian and 16% Muslim

Life expectancy: 61 years old

Main Languages: English 39%  Asante 15%  Ewe 12% (English is the official language of Ghana, so that is the language used in the schools!)

EDUCATION  
School system:
Primary School - 6 years          
Junior High School - 3 years
Senior High School - 4 years
University Bachelor's Degree - 4 years

Over age 15 who can read and write: Men 73% Women 61%


WEATHER (during my stay)
My stay in Ghana is not during the wet season, so it will be HOT and HUMID (85 and ^ with around 80% humidity...yikes!)

OTHER
Monetary unit- Cedis ($1=1.93 Cedis) *cedis can only be exchanged in the country on Ghana

Ghana currently has an interim president due to the death of President John Atta Mills in July 2012. Vice President John Dramani Mahama is the current head of state until elections in December (while I'm there!)


 [Information gathered from CIA world factbook and the BBC.]