While I was earning my undergraduate degree, I studied abroad during winter intersession in Greece, and it proved to be the most memorable part of my college experience.  I learned during my 1L year that Widener Commonwealth allowed students to study abroad with other law schools and I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.  As I finished my 3L year with only one semester to go, time was running out on my chance to study abroad.  I learned of a program offered by Fordham University that was taking place over the summer which offered a course on International Human Rights in Ghana and realized this was the perfect opportunity to not only study abroad but to travel to Africa, a continent I had never visited.  Luckily, a classmate of mine, Keri Nace, was also attending the program and we partnered as travel companions, roommates, and looked after each other. 

            The course was taught by Professor Galizzi, who is originally from Italy, and was attended by students from all over the United States.  It was exciting to meet students from other schools and share stories about our law school experiences.  The course itself was also very interesting.  International law is not an area that is widely taught, and we learned a lot about the different treaties that shape international relations and the effects those treaties have on the lives of everyday people.  We also met with local government officials and nonprofit leaders who gave firsthand accounts of the importance international human rights laws have on the people living not only in Ghana, but the entire African continent. 

The people in Ghana were so friendly and welcoming.  We stayed in Accra, which is the capital of Ghana and although it is very different from the life we know in the United States, it was mostly modernized, although the internet connection could be unreliable.  I was nervous to travel so far from home, but Ghanaians have a reputation for their warm hospitality, and everyone we met was accommodating and gracious.  Although there are many languages spoken in Ghana, the official language is English and it was helpful that there was not a language barrier when communicating with locals.  This was especially beneficial when traveling around the city of Accra because despite their kind demeanors, Ghanaians are ruthlessly aggressive when driving and the roads are very crowded.  There are also vendors walking between cars selling all different types of goods from homemade treats to windshield wipers from baskets perched atop their heads.  Their lifestyle is very different from ours, and although it made me grateful for the opportunities afforded me as an American, I admired the deep community connection Ghanaians value.    

Aside from exploring Accra, we also took a field trip to Cape Coast where we stayed at a resort for one evening and toured the Elmina Castle which was used as part of the slave trade.  We also visited the Assin Manso Slave River Site where slaves took their last baths before being forced from their homeland.  It was a very somber experience and really enforced the importance international human rights laws have in preventing future atrocities in human exploitation.  It was also a chance to reflect on how lucky we are to experience the independence to do things like go to law school, study abroad, and enjoy all of the freedoms that we so often take for granted.  The field trip ended on a high note as we were able to visit the Kakum Canopy Walk where we made our way across suspended rope bridges 130 feet off the ground.  Although we were told there were elephants living in the jungle, we did not see any during our visit, but it was still an enjoyable part of the trip.

I would highly recommend studying abroad during law school, especially if you can convince a classmate to join you for the adventure.  It provides you with a chance to learn about law from a different perspective and to meet students and people from other parts of the world.  Not only will you learn about other cultures and ways of life, but you may also learn something about yourself in the process.