Schedule and Daily Life

Program Schedule

Summer Preparation

Academic requirements begin during the summer with assigned readings, response papers, and journal entries. The director schedules telephone consultations with each participant to further clarify their personal, artistic, and academic goals for the semester abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to begin developing their French or Malinke language skills.

On-site orientation

The first few days in the Republic of Guinea are designed as a transition to the sites, sounds, climate, geography, languages, and people of the city of Kankan. Participants map our home base neighborhood, acquaint themselves with public transit and taxi travel, familiarize themselves with important landmarks, and begin intensive language training in Malinke and French. Group discussions are held on topics such as cultural adaptation, Mande customs, health issues, and living conditions.

Sample Itinerary

September 5th: Depart from the U.S.
September 6th: Arrive in Kankan

Week 1-3: Orientation; Classes in Languages, Traditional and Modern Perspectives and Aesthetic Traditions
Weeks 4-6: Apprenticeship/Homestay/Classes
Weeks 7-8: Travel within Mande region/Classes
Weeks 9-12: Apprenticeship/Homestay/Classes
Week 13: Independent Project presentations; preparation for departure

December 4th: Depart from Kankan
December 5th: Arrive in the U.S.

Sample Daily Schedules

Weeks 1-3: Stage 1
Weeks 4-6: Stage 2
Weeks 7-8: Stage 3
Weeks 9-12: Stage 4
Week 13: Stage 5

Stage 1: Orientation/Group Residency

8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast/free time
9:00-12:00 AM: Language classes
12:00-2:00 PM: Lunch/free time
2:00-6:00 PM: Lecture(s)/field trip
6:00-6:30 PM: Free time
6:30-7:30 PM: Dinner
7:30-9:00PM: Free time/evening concert/art exhibit. Students generally prepare for the next day’s classes in the evenings.

Students are divided into their appropriate groups for language classes. Introductory seminars focus on historical material, including the Sunjata epic, Islam, the colonial period, and the independence era. Guest speakers present lectures and demonstrations on various artistic traditions and contemporary issues.

Stages 2 and 4: Homestay

Homestay schedules depend on the mentor/apprentice relationship. Typically, the student will spend most of her/his time with the mentor, receiving two hours of focused learning/lesson time per day, as well as observing the mentor, practicing, and socializing with family members at home and/or with colleagues at work.

One-hour private language tutorials occur 2-3 times/week, either at home or at work. Meals are eaten either at home or at the work place. During stage four, daytime and/or evening rehearsals are scheduled in preparation for the final show.

 

 

Stage 3: Study trip within Mande Region

During our 10-day study trip to visit historical sites in the Mande region, our daily schedule varies quite a bit. Lectures are presented during the day or in the evening. Students generally tend to read assigned materials in the evenings, in preparation for the following day’s activities.

Basically, we rise early, have a simple breakfast, and visit a historical site or attend a workshop. We lunch either in the same town/village or on the road. Following lunch we either travel to a new location or remain for more site visits and/or workshops. Dinner is either at our hotel or students are free to choose a local restaurant. There may be an organized activity/concert, but more often evenings are free.

Stage 5: Homestays/Final Show/Re-entry orientation

8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast/free time
9:00-12:00 AM: Work on final show
12:00-2:00 PM: Lunch/free time
2:00-6:00 PM: Work on final show
6:00-6:30 PM: Free time
6:30-7:30 PM: Dinner
7:30-9:00 PM: Free time/evening concert/art exhibit/more work on final show!

• Remember that we remain flexible in order to accommodate unforeseen changes – meal times vary, travel schedules change, activities may be switched or canceled or added at the last minute.