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The interactions that we experienced as a group during our two week study travel tour to Ghana have contributed vastly to our outlook on life and the significance of personal relationships. The personal and communal interactions we had with Ghanaians are like none other that we have encountered thus far. Their use of language in greetings and overall presence in which Ghanaians interact has touched us in a way we will never forget. Although most Ghanaians are naturally warm-hearted people, our identity in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, status and biological make-up have each played a key role in our interactions and self-reflections with the people of Ghana. The interactions we encountered in the fishing village at Cape Coast, the Africa Cup in Accra, the school children in Ho, the kente cloth village at Kumasi, the service learning in Accra, the children in a rural village, and the local people in Kumasi have helped us develop a clear understanding in the significance of symbolic interactions.
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Image courtesy of the CIA World Fact Book. |
Rich: "I think that I found myself trying to interact with people on a one on one basis throughout the trip. When you converse with people one on one like that you learn something about each other. It could be how old you are, what you like to do for fun or any other number of topics. The point is that the exchange of information is important to get a better understanding of different cultures, and different people."
Easton:"For me personally the interactions felt like an awakening of my senses of being home where everyone looked like me in terms of race and ethnicity and acceptance as a family. Imagine a country where everyone is somehow your family."
 Darius: "This trip for me has solidified my belief to break norms cross-culturally which helped me relate to people of a culture different from my own. Although we are from two different cultures, Ghanaians have shown me that both Americans and Ghanaians have simular goals and desires."
 Andrea:“On this trip, I learned that I by myself can not tear down the social structures that create hardships and difficult situations in the world. However, as a global citizen I can do my part bit by bit to improve things. I believe everyone is different and has the ability to change the world in different ways.”
 Linda:"This trip has been an eye opener for me, bringing to light social issues I had not been able to see before. I came back to the U.S. much more aware of myself and the global burden of social responsibility."
 Felicia: "These interactions have opened my eyes to the life of a different culture, which I will cherish forever. This travel has helped me to break cultural barriers, rid stereotypes, and focus on the individual rather than the social space set by society."
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