The following article from the Athens News was seen at http://www.athensnews.com/issue/article.php3?story_id=25162 (link from a Google alert)... DZO
Group of students heading to Ghana for Arts-in-Africa program 2006-06-08 By Ashley Luther Athens NEWS Campus Reporter Study-abroad opportunities are a great way to "see the world" while getting some of those extra electives out of the way. While London, Spain, Italy and Amsterdam are a few Ohio University student favorites, this summer 13 Bobcats will embark on an intensive, three-week study of "African culture through the arts" in Ghana. "While in Ghana, we are going to visit a former slave castle and walk on the canopy of the rainforest," said Seth Goldstein, a participant of the program. "All of this puts me completely out of my comfort zone, and I am excited to see another part of the world." According to the Office of Education Abroad, the trip intends to immerse students into the various aspects of African culture (music, theater, dance and art) through a hands-on atmosphere. Students take classes from native professionals in these subjects, and then are encouraged to create and critique their own performances and artwork. Goldstein said he attended the study-abroad fair and noticed that the Ghana program was the only one that emphasized music. "I am hoping to incorporate what I learn from African music into my own music someday," he said. The study-abroad fair also sparked the interest of Sarah Schaaf, a music production major. "I was attracted to the set-up that the Ghana program had because they were playing videos, had drums out, and everything just looked really fun," she said. Schaaf said that she is most excited to learn African drumming. "Music is a huge part of my life, and I'm always looking for a chance to pick up a new instrument," she said. In addition to being instructed by the National Dance Company of Ghana, attending various dance and music festivals, and touring the terrain, students will stay with Ghanian host families on the weekends in hopes of exposing themselves to the local way of life and brushing up on the African language, Ewe. "When someone thinks of Africa," Schaaf added, "they think of the Sahara with all of the animals, or they think of terrible conditions like the things we see on TV, but I know that there is more to it than just these things. I just want to be in a place that is unlike any other I've been to before." The program's director, Paschal Younge, is an associate professor of multi-cultural music education at Ohio University. He is also artistic co-director of the university's African ensemble. Both Goldstein and Schaaf have never studied abroad in a country like Ghana before, and neither is sure of the magnitude of culture shock he or she may experience when arriving or leaving Ghana. "I am sure that my view of the world and of life will be changed by this trip," said Goldstein. Shaaf put it best: "I figure that during college is a great time to travel because I don't have to worry about leaving anything behind -- like a real job." ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Protect your PC from spy ware with award winning anti spy technology. It's free. http://us.click.yahoo.com/97bhrC/LGxNAA/yQLSAA/TpIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
