NYU AccraFall 2013 Pre-departure Orientation

NYU Accra NYU Accra is one of NYU’s 13 academic centers 30-45 students attend for one semester or full academic

year NYU Upperclassmen (soph –senior) from ALL schools +

Visiting students from universities across the U.S. Courses are taught in NYU’s own academic facilities by

locally hired faculty who speak English. Classroom learning is supplemented by field trips,

excursions, internships and community service (most students do an internship or community service!).

Option to enroll at the local university, Univ. of Ghana Legon

Housing provided and mandatory A full-time staff provides high quality student support

services

NYU Accra Staff

Akosua AnyidohoDirector

Marian Ansa-OtuStudent Life Coordinator

Chris AmissahAsst. Facilities Manager/ Library Asst.

Christa SandersAssociate Director

Victor Yeboah – Community Service/Internship Coordinator

Kingsley Lims Nyarko- Special Programs Coordinator/Ta Film Class

Abigail Osei – CRA –Solomon’s Lodge

Nana Ama Ampah- CRA- Solomon’s Lodge

Patricia TwumFinance & Facilities Manager

Delali Kudu- Nurse

Program DatesAugust 18 Arrival in Accra

August 19-24 Orientation

August 26 First Day of Classes

October 14-18 Fall Break

December 9-13 Final Exams

December 14 Student Departure

All students must arrive by arrival day Orientation is MANDATORY Housing is only available for dates of the program!

August 18 – December 14, 2013 If you arrive earlier or depart later than program dates you must find your own

accommodations. No exceptions!

Academics Courses are designed to enable you to engage,

learn, experience and personalize your time in Accra

You must take 12-18 credits while abroad. No language requirement, but consider taking Twi!

(Languages cannot be pass/fail) Consider studying at the local university:

Ghana Legon: based on Oxbridge model, the country’s flagship public university offering hundreds of courses; about 30-40 minutes from Academic Center (transportation provided). Please note that class size at Legon is much bigger

than you are used to – often several hundreds of students. Students are encouraged to be patient and flexible when taking courses at Legon. Students from past semesters report that performing arts classes – like drumming and African dance – are often the most enjoyable.

Internships & Community Service

Nearly 90% of NYU in Accra students participate in some form of community service or internship experience

Great chance to discover the “real” life of the city and its inhabitants, make new contacts, and improve your local language skills

Each semester, NYU Accra takes part in a major volunteer event. Past projects include organizing an HIV/AIDS benefit concert for an audience of 20,000 and a cultural performance to raise funds for a special needs school

Volunteer Opportunities and Internship Placements will be covered during Orientation in Accra

Bring a resume!

Tuition & Ebills

E-bills ONLY, sent to NYU email address Must be registered for at least 12 credits Fall 2013 bills generated in July You can authorize a parent or other individual

to have access to your e-Bill Payment made directly to Bursar Housing Charge will be posted on e-Bill and

must be paid in full prior to arrival Questions? visit NYU Bursar Web-site for

details

Arrival and First Week

Housing & Meals NYU Housing is mandatory! Non-smoking facilities Housing assignments based on information

submitted in an online form; will be sent to your NYU email account about 2 weeks before check-in.

NYU Accra housing facility: Private bathrooms for each room and

common spaces including kitchen and laundry room access. Basic kitchen utensils, linens, blankets, and pillows will be provided. Bring towels!

Internet is available (don’t forget it will not be as fast / reliable as you are accustomed to in the United States).

Guarded with 24 hour security and have safes in all rooms (make sure you use them!)

Housing: Church Crescent Rooms

Doubles or Triples within duplex units Houses 7 students Private bathroom Full kitchen with everything you need to cook and eat

Amenities Duplexes face a common courtyard Living room with TV/DVD player Telephone for local calls Hot water Air conditioning Safes and closet doors that lock 24-hour security Free washers and dryers in each house

What students say about Church: The houses are big! Large courtyard where everyone gathers. Very communal Balconies off of every room There are some issues with electricity and water shortages

Housing: Solomon’s Lodge Rooms

Singles and doubles Communal kitchen with everything you need to cook and eat Private bathrooms

Amenities Large Communal areas (Study Lounge, Kitchen, Dining) Living room with TV/DVD player Telephone for local calls Hot water Air conditioning Safes and closet doors that lock 24-hour security Free washers and dryers in each house

What students say about Solomon’s: More traditional dorm-style. One large kitchen on the ground floor. Two

very large flat screen TVs. Seemed to have fewer issues with electricity, water, A/C. A bit more private

Student Life Activities The site arranges a variety of activities for all students,

including a Welcome Reception during orientation.

Student life activities include Subsidized Excursions and day trips, including a

Homestay weekend in a rural village. Cultural events such as Film Screenings and Musical

Events Workshops on Cross-Cultural Issues and Personal

Adjustment C.R.A. Programming – dinners, museum visits, day-

trips, West African cooking lessons, professional football games, theater events, and more!

Cultural Immersion opportunities Take courses at the local universities Community Service Internships Through your CRAs Home stay weekend Ghanaians are friendly – strike up a conversation!

Ghanaian culture

Once called the Gold Coast, Ghana was the first Sub-Saharan colony to gain its independence March 6, 1957.

Stable, prosperous and democratic Greetings are very important Religion plays a significant role in the society Sense of time is different (i.e, slower) More conservative society (e.g., dress code, formality

with elders) LGBTQ community not generally socially accepted Society is not individualistic but communal (extended

family concept) The importance of weddings and funerals

Left hand is not used (culturally offensive) Western concepts of beauty not necessarily valued

Food

For dinners during the week, there is a meal plan that is split between two restaurants: Sunshine Cafe (Tuesday and Thursday nights)

International cuisine Sandwiches and large, delicious salads.

Tante Marie (Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights) Traditional Ghanaian and West African food Safe and delicious way to sample Ghanaian cuisine

There are many other options for lunch or other meals.

Former students recommend: Didipa: Traditional Ghanaian food 5-10 minute walk from Church Crescent and Academic

Center. Portions are huge so good to split between two people. Frequented by locals. Melting Moments: 10 minute walk from academic center. Creature comforts! Air conditioned.

Has copies of magazines you can browse. The closest thing to a “cafe.” Frequented by expats and upper-income Ghanaians. Good smoothies, sandwiches, pastries, mac & cheese, etc.

Food stalls (everywhere): Egg sandwiches--a way of life in Ghana--and fresh cut pineapple are great cheap eats.

Red red – bean stew. Yum!

Language English is the official language of Ghana There are a number of local languages Twi is the most prevalent. Learn some useful phrases ahead!:

Akwaaba! (ahk-WAH-bah)                           Welcome!

Mepa wo kyεw (meh-pah-CHOW)               Please

Ma da se [pa]! (me-DAH-se [pah])              Thank you [very much]

εte sεn? (eh-te-SEN)                                      How are you?

εyε (eh-YEH)                                                   I’m good

Na wo nso e? (na WO-nso-eh)                       And you?

Yebeshia! (yeh-beh-SHYA)                           See you later!

Obroni (oh-BREW-nee)                                  white person/stranger

Obibini (oh-bee-BEE-nee)                             African

Ah-hey? (ah-HEY)                                           How much is this?

Te-so! (teh-SO)                                               Reduce the price!

Wodadame! (wo-dah-DAH-me)                  You are lying to me!

Transportation

Money & Budgeting Bring a Visa debit card! Mastercard and American Express are not

accepted widely/ at all. We recommend you take money out of ATMs. There is one located right next to the academic center.

Traveler’s checks are difficult to exchange, and the exchange rate is bad

Estimated Costs: Textbooks : $150 (some readings are photocopied or available in

NYU-Accra’s library; budget some money to make copies) Local travel : $150-200, maybe more depending on what you use) Groceries : $350

Weekend away : $110 ($20 for travel, $40 for food, $50 for lodging)

Average Spring Break : $450* ($40 for travel, $160 for food, $180 for lodging, $70 for miscellaneous expenses like visas) *More expensive if travelling outside of Ghana and neighboring countries

One night out : $35 ($15 for travel, $15 for drinks or dinner) Misc : $300. 

Health All students are enrolled in HTH, an international health

coverage plan Free of charge for students No advance out-of-pocket payment for students to see a

doctor or counselor Credentialed, western trained, English-speaking health

professionals posted on the HTH website and available to students

REMEMBER to register with HTH when you receive the email from them.

Students should consult with NYU site staff if they need help making a doctor’s appointment. We make your appointments for you

DO NOT cancel your domestic health insurance while you are abroad!!!!!!

On-site nurse Crisis Response available

Vaccinations Vaccination and proper medication is your

responsibility! Make an appointment with a travel doctor or your physician immediately to go over the required and suggested health precautions.

Required: Yellow Fever (Ghanaian law) Typhoid (NYU) Meningitis (if planning to attend trip to Northern

Ghana) Students must also take anti-malaria medication

Suggested: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B Tetanus-Diphtheria Measles Polio Rabies

Consultations available at NYU Allergy, Immunology & Travel Medicine (212) 443-1188

Security NYU’s center and dorms are monitored by security

guards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is ALWAYS an NYU staff member on duty. You will be given a phone number to call in

emergencies during on-site Orientation. To call for a local emergency number (911)

Public Safety- 001-212 998-2222 Christa Sanders’ Number - 0243-101214

Help us keep you safe. Follow all staff recommendations: Don’t invite strangers into the residence. Your

guests should always be in your company. Always lock your doors Don’t ever hitchhike Don’t leave your street smarts in NYC!

Staying in touch Set-up Skype/ a video chat account (and one for your parents!)

Be prepared that wireless will be slower Wireless is fastest in the Academic center

Purchase a local cell phone Pay as you go - Refill minutes can be purchased nearly

everywhere and cheaply. You scratch off the code and send the refill as a text.

During orientation, representatives from a wireless carrier will come to the center. 40 cedis (approx $25) will get you a phone, sim card, and few minutes.

Or unlock your smart phone and purchase new sim card on site for a few cedis

Create a communication plan Are you going to talk daily, weekly, or say see you next

semester? Remember time differences! Ghana is on GMT – New York

plus 5 hours

Travel

Guests

Tourist Visas are required for entry, as well as Yellow Fever vaccination

No overnight guests are allowed in the dorms except immediate family, that is parents and siblings can stay in the dorm provided room mate (s) agree and sign a form to that effect

Contact nyu.in.ghana@nyu.edu for hotel advice

Spring break may be a good time for visits You cannot miss class because you have

family or friends in town, so plan accordingly!

Packing tipsPack as light as you can! You are going to need space for

all your souvenirs and gifts.

Suggested items Book bag for weekend trips and groceries

Use as a carry on with extra clothes, medication and important documents in case checked luggage arrives late

Adapters (to change the shape of the plug) Any medication you need for entire trip (and

copies of the prescription written in the generic term)

Toiletries you love – the brands are different abroad and some things can be expensive

Check list of tips from previous studentsLeave it home

Linens Kitchen utensils Electronics like electric razors, toothbrushes,

hairdryers. They will blow the fuse!

Contact your airline before you pack to find out luggage restrictions.

Checklist

Confirm your spot in the program ASAP Read all What’s Next Posts Read and answer all questions from OGS

(Office of Global Services) regarding Immigration requirements

Apply for additional funding Register for courses Get your vaccinations Submit all required forms by June 30th Book your flight & submit flight details to

NYU Traveler by June 30th Register with the Moses Center (if

applicable) Get a visa debit card!

Transition TipsYou might find yourself getting a bit anxious as you get closer to the date of your departure. It’s natural to be nervous before moving to new surroundings.

Some steps you can take to prepare can be found at www.nyu.edu/global/culturaladjustment

View the “What is Culture” Webinar

Plan how you will reflect on the experience before arrival, during, and after you return

Research the culture you will experience by logging into GlobeSmart.

Remember: • Study away is a process, not an event.• Trust your experience• Call on tools that have worked• Stay curious • You are not alone!

Good luck and nante yiye!