Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee Community College (TCC) students went on a trip of a life-time to Ghana, West Africa during the Spring Break of 2019. On March 15, the group flew from Tallahassee (via Atlanta--Amsterdam) and arrived in Accra, Ghana on March 16. This is the second year that Professor Forster Agama, the group's leader, has successfully coordinated the Study Abroad Trip to Ghana. On March 17, the group had a guided tour of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and the Independence Square, where they learned about the history of Gold Coast and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the 1st Ghanaian to be elected President of the Republic of Ghana. They later visited the University of Ghana and then continued on to Ho, the capital city of the Volta Region. "This trip was everything I needed rolled into the span of ten days. I discovered parts of myself and a certain kind of peace I never knew existed," said first-year TCC student Yasmine Ameli, of Tallahassee, FL. "We tend to forget what life is about in the midst of school, work and our personal lives. This not only refreshed my mental, but gave me more insight to what my life's purpose is. I am forever grateful for what this opportunity provided. Africa is where it's at." While in the Volta Region, the group had the opportunity to visit the Tafi Atome Sacred Grove. This community was inhabited by the Sacred True Mona Monkeys, who were believed to have lived there prior to the arrival of the ancestors of the local community. The group learned about the community, their traditions, and then later went on a hiking tour to Wli Falls, which is the highest waterfall in Ghana. "Wli - Allowed me to Flow," said TCC student Giovanni King. "I enjoyed visiting the Wli waterfalls; it was definitely worth the hike and I would do it again if given the chance." "The only way to describe the trip to Ghana is absolutely incredible. It was a big culture shock for me since I knew nothing about Ghana except that it was in Africa prior to this trip," said TCC sophomore Jazmine Hawkins, of Jacksonville, FL. "Seeing how people live differently in a whole other continent was just incredible. I loved everything about it and hope to go back someday." The group continued on to the Ashanti Kings Palace in Kumasi, which was used by the Ashanti kings until 1974. They explored this historic site, visited the museum and stopped at the Kente clothing weaving village, Adanwomase in the Ashanti Region, to learn about the creation and the tradition of Kente clothes. At the Adinkra village, the students were introduced to the traditional meaning of the Adinkra symbols of the Ashantis. They also participated in a workshop and designed their own print clothes. "Growing up in a similar culture to the one in Ghana, this trip was nostalgic. I always knew what was presented in media about Africa was not always depicted honestly," said first-year TCC student Zamia Taleghani, of Tallahassee, FL. "I am now equipped with the experience this trip offered to combat the negative stereotypes and ideas presented in our everyday society. It was such a breath of fresh air, literally and metaphorically. The expedition to the Assin Manso Slave River was breathtaking to those in attendance. This was where the captured Africans from the Northern part of Ghana and other parts of Africa had their last bath. The group continued on to Cape Coast Castle (dungeons and the door of no return) which was used to hold the captured before they were loaded onto ships and sold in the Americas, especially the Caribbean as slaves. "Overall this was a great trip. I enjoyed learning about the Ghanaian culture. It was quite an experience to be able to walkthrough and see special places contained in history," said TCC student Jasmine Morris, of Monticello, FL. "Being able to travel to a land in which my ancestors lived was especially emotional and exciting. All of the tours were great learning experiences and I learned a lot of information." As the trip advanced to its final days, the group visited a typical Ghanaian village close to Cape Coast and were welcomed by the elders of the village during an official greeting ceremony. The group toured the primary school being built by the community; made monetary and material donations to the school; and held a school lesson for the children. After having lunch in the village, the students were treated to a typical cultural performance by the women and children of the village. "What I enjoyed during the trip was going to the village and visiting the school and the church. The home cooked meal that they made for us was delicious. I honestly wish I could have spent more time with them," said TCC sophomore Muraiye Pierre, of Tallahassee, FL. "The fact that they were so grateful and excited for the little that we brought and donated filled my heart with joy. Two of the kids from the village gifted me with drawings that they made that is now placed beautifully on my wall in my room. I will remember them forever." Finally, the group stopped at the Kakum National Park, an undisturbed virgin rainforest and one of the most frequently visited national parks in Ghana. They enjoyed the view from the Canopy Walkway over seven bridges and tall tree tops. "Traveling is a huge component of a study abroad experience," said TCC student Mary Wilson, of Tallahassee, FL. "I was grateful for the opportunity to visit historical sites such as the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Memorial Park, W.E.B. DuBois Centre, and the Assin Manso Slave River. I will treasure these memories forever." "Visiting Ghana was by far the most amazing and humbling experience I've ever experienced," said final-year student Torrence Harrell, of Tallahassee, FL. "I'm eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to visit such a beautiful country, full of beautiful people of all shades of color." "My overall experience in this program, and in Ghana, was very life changing," said TCC student Hillary Eaton, of Tallahassee, FL. I feel very blessed to have been able to return to my roots and learn about a culture that was once lost to me and so many people." For more information about this or future trips to Ghana, contact Forster Agama at (850) 201-8058 or agamaf@tcc.fl.edu

A group of nine Tallahassee Community College students spent a week far from the heat and humidity of north Florida recently when they visited Iceland as part of a TCC study abroad program.

During spring break in March, eight Tallahassee Community College students took the journey of a lifetime to Dubai and Ghana on a study abroad adventure led by TCC faculty member Forster Agama.