pre-departure orientation summer in ghana may 8, 2018eap.ucop.edu/documents/_forms/1819/ghana/ghana...
TRANSCRIPT
Pre-Departure OrientationSummer in Ghana
May 8, 2018
Welcome to the Orientation
This presentation covers highlights that apply to everyone. Details concerning questions, problems, or situations you may have while abroad are at the links below. Bookmark them!
Participants Portal (guides, calendars, insurance, petitions, more…)
UCEAP Guide to Study Abroad (includes detailed academic policies)
Ghana Program Guide (details about Ghana program)
Your signed Student Agreement confirms that you have read and understand the policies and information in these guides. You can always contact us with any questions.
UCEAP – Systemwide Office
Program Specialist: Amy [email protected]
Academic Specialist: Eva [email protected]
Academic Coordinator: Jessica [email protected]
Program Advisor: Cheryl [email protected]
Student Finance Accountant: Ben [email protected]
UCEAP – Ghana Study Center
Dr. Rose Walls, Resident Director
Ms. Sharon Okantey, Program Coordinator
Ms. Dorcas Oware, Program Assistant
Mr. Solomon Mensah, Driver
Be prepared!
GETTING READY & ARRIVAL
Before You Go
You should have a tourist visa by now.
Review the program calendar on your Participants page and make travel arrangements to arrive before the official start date.
Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for health information.
Register with U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Pack light! You can buy almost everything you need in Ghana.
Hand carry the arrival instructions from your PDC.
Print your UCEAP insurance card, read both sides, and place it in your wallet.
Arrival
June 21, 2018Arrive in Accra!
Kotoka International Airport (ACC) Immigration
Disembarkation Card Yellow Fever Card
Customs Baggage Claim Airport pickup
Be careful of scams. Schedule: June 21–July 1: Orientation/Core Course July 2-6: Global Health & Global Food Course July 9-13: Accra Field Work July 16-27: Village Practicum July 30: Final Presentations July 31: Departure
On-Site Orientation
UCEAP Orientation (approx. 10 days)
Lectures Community Service Practical Skills Training (cooking, washing &
transportation) Campus/City Tours Introduction to Language (Asante Twi) Introduction to African Dance & Drumming Group exercises Student Assistant Mentorship Films
Staying in Touch
As a UCEAP participant, you are obligated to: Contact a family member to notify them of your safe arrival Keep in touch and provide up-to-date contact details in MyEAP Check your UC email address regularly Provide a local cell phone number after arrival
Send an email, text, and/or complete the Travel Signout form to notify UCEAP that you will travel out of town.
“Have a way to notify your family when you arrive, be it through Facebook, Skype, a messaging app etc. until you get a phone number.”
– UCEAP Student
LIVING ABROAD
Make It Count!
While abroad, you will be a representative of not only the University of California, but also the state of California and the United States of America.
Think about what this means and how it will affect your behavior while abroad.
This is an amazing opportunity to meet people from other societies, make friends from other countries, and to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
“Before I went to Ghana, I knew very little about the country. I read a lot before I went but, nothing quite compares to personally living in and experiencing Ghana. The media tends to generalize Africa but, you will find that no two countries are alike. Ghana served as a great introduction into Africa and I would be more than happy to do it all over again. I have learned more during my semester abroad than I have learned in all of my other undergraduate years combined.”
– UCEAP Ghana Returnee
What to Pack
MEDICAL Band aids Neosporin Ointment for mosquito & bug bites Pepto-Bismol Imodium/Milk of Magnesia Headache relief (ex: Ibprofen) Benadryl for allergies Mosquito repellent
OTHER Beach Towel Swim suit Sunscreen (SPF 50+) 1 or 2 dressy outfits for evening activities Lightweight jacket for rainy days & cool
nights Flip flops Portable coffee maker & coffee Any item you can’t live without for six weeks
REQUESTIf you have room, we could use small gifts for focus group work that is hard to find here in Ghana or very expensive. Rose will reimburse who ever can bring: Small sewing kits Pencils, pens, markers T-shirts Simple dollar store items for youth and teens
See Packing Tips under the Travel Planning Section of your Program Guide.
Housing
International Student Hostel (ISH) in Accra (UG Campus)
THINGS YOU MAY NEED TO BRING:
DORM Twin bed sheets Bath and face towel Heavy plastic cup, bowl, spoon & fork
FIELD Water bottle Work gloves Hat or baseball cap Sun screen (SPF 50 and above) Enclosed shoes Flashlight Bug repellent
Poly Tank & Laundry
Money & Banking
Currency Exchange US $1 dollar = 4.2 cedis (varies)
Cash/ATM Ghana is a cash based society ATMs are the easiest way to get cash, but there
are ATM fees. Most students use the ATM for cash, just like in the US.
Notify your bank
Credit Cards Accepted at larger establishments
Barclay’s Bank Account (Bank of America)
Charles Schwab or Capitol 1 debit card
Communication
Cell Phones Bring an unlocked phone or buy
a phone (~$50) after arrival Purchase SIM card and reload Many students use Skype, Vibe,
or Tango to communicate with family & friends in the U.S.
What’sApp
Internet Access (intermittent)
Wireless Internet at Study Center (free)
Computer Labs at IPO (free) Internet Cafes (~$5/month) Dorms (free)
Fun fact: In 1994, Ghana was the first West African nation to be connected to the Internet.
Meals
What’s Included? Meals are provided during orientation Hotel stays include breakfast Brown bag lunch provided by local staff during
fieldwork (outside of Accra) Be prepared to pay for your own meals all other
times
Dining Options Campus canteens Street vendors Dorm Dining Halls Restaurants Bottled water Vegetarian/vegan options
I would highly advise bringing protein bars to supplement your diet as Ghanaians, especially in rural areas, have a diet high in carbs, and low in protein and vegetables. (I brought 25 protein bars and 3 cans of beans, and it lasted me for 6 weeks). Eat veggies as often as possible (raw or cooked) from respectable sources if you are travelling ! ~ Ghana summer participant
Transportation
Bus STC/VIP Metro Bus
(orange) Taxi Tro Tro UCEAP Van
Rural Visits & Community Education
Accra—West African Aids Foundation (WAAF) Work with HIV/AIDS ACTIVISTS Create video documentary Community education for young and pregnant women
Kokrobity Institute Work with staff in local schools Learn traditional methods of cleanliness and sustainability Educate others on making gardens and waste bins from
recycled materials
Volta Region—Gbleme Education on Family planning Health care and child nutrition Crop and food project planning
Volta Region -The Village of Gbleme
Students helping to build a toilet
Cultural Adjustment Make it count! This is an amazing opportunity to meet people from other
societies, make friends from other countries, and to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
Stress abroad is not unique or uncommon. There may be times when you feel UCEAP just isn’t working for you. It’s normal to feel homesick, isolated, have family or breakup issues, or academic or money concerns. You may experience emotional ups and downs, and even depression, or illness.
You may also experience “culture shock.” Follow the lead of the locals. Exercise, journal/blog, do activities that you enjoy at home, try new activities, laugh at mistakes, make friends and get involved in the community. Learn about your new culture and try to fit in. Reach out to others.
You might even consider withdrawing, but be sure to seek advice to explore all other solutions before reaching this important decision. Consult with UCEAP and, if necessary, an onsite counselor before filing paperwork to leave. There can be academic and financial consequences.
Health
Review your UCEAP Travel Insurance Plan so you understand your health coverage and how to use it.
Research any required medication to find out if you can obtain it in Ghana, or if it is even legal! Remember, all medication must be carried in their original, labeled containers.
Purchase your anti-malarials 14 days before the program (not sooner) so it’s covered. You will need to pay and submit a claim.
If you become ill while abroad (including mental health issues):
1. Notify the Ghana Study Center for an escorted health visit which means you are driven and accompanied by staff when desired.
2. Use the medical referral list and choose a facility that accepts our insurance-pay first then submit claim for reimbursement.
Safety
Traffic Exercise special caution when crossing streets
Scams You will stick out as a foreigner, and thus a mark for scams
Theft Be aware of pick-pockets, especially in tourist areas, airports, public transportation
Nightlife Alcohol consumption impairs our judgment and increases risky behavior, which increases the risk
for crime Maximum capacity laws not enforced and emergency exits are not always accessible
Drugs Trafficking, manufacturing, importing and exporting of drugs can result in the death penalty Marijuana is illegal in Ghana
ACADEMICS
University of Ghana
Established in 1948
Close to 30,000 students during the year
Professors from around the world
Lecture style; lots of self-study
UC partner since 1968 {wow!}
UCEAP Academics
The courses on your MyEAP study list will be on your official UC transcript with course titles, subject areas, numbers, units and grades which will be calculated into your cumulative UC GPA. Do not enter anything until you receive instructions.
UC students are required to enroll in 2 courses:
Ghanaian Society and Culture (4 quarter/2.7 semester UC units)
Global Health and Global Food (6 quarter/4 semester UC units)
Letter grade required for both courses
Keep all course material and assignments – you will need them to petition for major, minor, GE credit when you return to campus.
Grades from Univ. of Ghana are usually available in August. You will receive an email when grades are sent from UCEAP to your UC campus registrar. Grades can take awhile to post to your UC transcript.
Departmental Pre-Approval to Extend - No
Petition to Extend – not enough time. Do a DPA.
Departmental Pre-Approval to Extend (DPA) - Yes (campus form)
Request for Final Approval to Extend
Program Extension
Returning Home
Pay all outstanding fees to UG and to UCEAP. Program costs, housing charges, library fines, or more will delay the release of your grades and may block on UC registration.
Bring home course materials to assist you in petitioning for course approval to satisfy major requirements – especially syllabi and any returned graded work, but also any other assignments that will demonstrate what you did.
Check your airline’s luggage restrictions.
Read about reverse culture shock and be aware of common reactions to returning home.
Upon your return, please complete surveys or questionnaires sent to you by UCEAP! Your feedback helps us maintain the quality of the programs, and improve them for future students.
Join our UCEAP Alumni Network!
Questions? Ask Away!“When considering where to study abroad I decided to take ‘the road less travelled’. It is quite a frightening experience to leave your comfort zone and throw oneself into a completely unknown territory. However, I feel that leaving my comfort zone has been one of the greatest decisions of my life and I have become a more confident person because of my decision.
Ghana is a beautiful country filled with some of the kindest people I have ever met. Even though there were days when things became a little difficult, I found that keeping an open mind and a positive attitude were important to making my time in Ghana enjoyable. Try and make the most of every day because before you know it, it will be time to head back home.” -UCEAP Ghana Student
Program Specialist: Amy Frohlich [email protected]
Academic Specialist: Eva [email protected]
Academic Coordinator: Jessica [email protected]
Program Advisor: Cheryl [email protected]
Finance Accountant: Ben [email protected]