May 31 2009 / An Adventure in America
by Maureen Emefa Bansah, Ghana 08-09
hosted in Mckinlyville, CA
Hi I’m Maureen and I’m 16 years old. I come from Ghana in West Africa. I made the choice to be an exchange student since I wanted to get a firsthand experience about a culture different from mine. I’m quite a motivated person who wants to make the most of a situation. For me, I’d always wanted to voice out my views without fear. This experience has opened me up to be bolder and more confident.
It was very difficult integrating into a new place and getting adjusted, but with the help of my host community, things started getting better. In Ghana, there is so much diversity, several languages, and different lifestyles. People are very social and get along very well. Also, it’s not offensive to comment on people’s lives. Well, with our many natural resources, it’s pretty interesting , how we cherish them. Values and traditions are uploaded and also considered to be vital to our lives.
This place is so different compared to my country. I have come to realize how we each see things is a result of our cultural orientation. In fact, this has really made me grow.
Hosting an exchange student, I believe really magnifies the world and brings you closer to it. You get a better view of different cultures and it opens the door of real appreciation.
I’m really privileged to be on this adventure!
