Update on my Academics

            The opportunity to study at the University of Ghana has opened my eyes to a new system of education. As of now, I have completed all the classes required for the first year MPhil students in the Department of Geography and Resource Development. 

Though my background is in the hard sciences, there has also been a significant focus on international development and public health in my studies, mainly in terms of environmental problems. At the University of Ghana, I had the incredible opportunity to take classes on the social issues that have always fascinated me but have always been a side note to natural science. For instance, I now have a solid foundation in Medical Geography, Population Geography, and Rural Development. In applying to the Department of Geography and Resource Development, I thought it would help me learn more about Ghana and the social issues that complicate environmental issues. Turns out I was right. Now, I can shoot off statistics from life expectancies and maternal mortality rates around Africa to the prevalence of AIDS or respiratory diseases in Ghana to the spatial factors to cholera. 

My thesis proposal addresses the issue of air pollution and health in Accra. I plan to analyze differences in people’s environmental health risk perceptions based on place of residence. The characteristics that come with socio-economic status (income, education level, exposure to pollution, and health status) may cause one to have higher or lower perceptions of their own risk. Little is known about this issue in a developing country, especially one with such rapid urbanization as Ghana. The Head of Department has said that I am the first foreign lady to do a Master’s degree in the department. They are allowing me to write my thesis from the US, though that will require a brief trip back to Ghana to collect data. If all works as planned, I will finish the program by June or July. 

Looking at this topic has already helped me make connections with experts in the US who would love to look at the issue in a country with such a vastly different economic and cultural environment. I have also met with key informants in Ghana, such as a director at the EPA. The Head of Department said he was surprised that I stayed here for a full year; most students just come for a semester. He said, “You will be a big woman in Ghana someday.” No doubt, traveling, studying, and living abroad has greatly supplemented my academic background as well as cultural and social experiences.

Blogging

The time delay between now and my last post is not an example of GMT (Ghana Man Time: the time zone of Ghana). 



Quick update: I am in the United States. I am doing well. I am finishing my Master's Degree. 



I found blogging during my last few months in Ghana very difficult for several reasons:

1) It is not enough to post about my daily activities in a journal-like fashion. Every word needs to have a reason, a purpose. As a well-trained liberal arts student, I thrive on thinking critically (I think...) and wish to share new angles of perception with others. Forming themes and arguments takes time, and once formed, articulation takes even more time.

2) I am not short of theses or arguments. Yet, unfortunately these topics tend to be a little controversial. I do not like unnecessary controversy. I also do not want to sound like I'm complaining. I mean, come on, living in a hostel in Ghana can be hard.

3) It was difficult enough for me to start a blog, feeling uncomfortably egotistical and vulnerable; it would be even worse to think my daily goings-on deserve to be immortalized in cyberspace. 

So there we go: I have some cool thoughts; I haven't shared them with you; I will now.


One requirement of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship is a final report to be written and submitted before leaving your host country. The report is sent to District Governors of the host and sponsor districts, as well as clubs and the Scholarship Coordinator at Rotary International. This requirement forced me to articulate many of the ideas that had been swirling madly in my head, while granting me some comfort in knowing that controversy and uncomfortableness is merely a way of showing that the scholarship helped me learn something. From here on, I will be posting sections of my report. Stay tuned...