Office of Study Abroad

Profile: Salma Ahmed '22

Major: Neuroscience with a minor in French and Francophone Studies

Semester abroad: Summer 2021

Study Abroad Program: SIT/Ghana: Summer Traditional Medicine And Health Care Systems

Reason you chose this program: I chose SIT because I wanted an opportunity to learn about medicine and health care accessibility outside of the United States and I wanted an experience outside of the classroom. This program gave me all of that and more. My time abroad gave me a new appreciation for how affordable and effective traditional medicine can be, which ultimately contributes to rural health care access in Ghana.

Favorite class: Social and Political Dimensions of Health because the course gave me the opportunity to understand Ghanaian cultural assumptions and practices as they relate to health care.

Housing situation: I was supposed to be in a homestay but unfortunately, due to COVID, SIT placed my cohort in a hostel. It was not the ideal situation because living with a host family would have given me the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture and perfect my Twi (the local language spoken in Accra); however, I made the most of my experience and enjoyed my time regardless.

What were some parts of your identity that you thought about while considering study abroad that other students may want to talk to you about? It was important for me to take my chronic medical condition into consideration before studying abroad. I didn't want it to hinder my ability to go to Ghana, so I just made sure to take the proper precautions before going. I consulted my health care team and they all helped to make sure I was ready to safely go abroad.

Favorite memory: Some of my favorite memories were made on the days we took trips around Ghana. I loved the Kakum Canopy Walk where we were able to hike and see the wildlife as well as some bird-watching. I also deeply appreciated all of our beach trips where we could spend the entire day if we wanted. Ghana has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. We spent time at Mole National Park, too, where we went on a safari in which we saw elephants, leopards and rare birds. While we were there, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets that I could never forget.

Greatest challenge: Understanding the pre-departure process to Ghana was very challenging for multiple reasons. I was the first student at Brandeis to go abroad since COVID, so I had no clue how the pandemic would change my experience. Secondly, I did not know what my program would look like in Ghana because I was originally supposed to go to Madagascar. I felt like I went into the experience blind, but I was able to quickly adjust and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.

Scholarships you applied to and how they impacted your time abroad : I received the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) Scholarship and the Brandeis Sachar Scholarships for Study Abroad, both of which were pivotal in funding and contributing to my experience abroad.

What you know now that you didn't’t know before: At the markets in Ghana, there are no fixed prices for anything. If you look foreign, they will try to overcharge you, so it's important that you bargain for everything. I learned that I am very good at bargaining and reducing the prices for items I wanted to purchase.

Fact about your host country that you think people would be surprised to learn: I was surprised to find out that Ghana is the world's second-largest producer of cocoa beans and I didn't find that out until I visited the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm which is the first farm created for cultivating cocoa in Ghana.