Nahid Koohkanrizi
Year: Junior
Destination: Ghana and France
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
Major: Political science and international studies with a minor in French
When Nahid Koohkanrizi came to VCU in fall 2005, she had not chosen a major. During her freshman year, she attended VCU’s annual Study Abroad Fall Fair and talked to her cousin, who had studied abroad in Barbados through a VCU summer study abroad program led by Bernard Moitt, Ph.D., chair of the VCU Department of History.
Nahid’s cousin suggested that she talk to an Education Abroad adviser to discuss travel opportunities. After the meeting and completing her own research, she decided to spend a semester at the University of Ghana through the International Student Exchange Program in spring 2007. Nahid was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for her semester in Ghana.
She stayed in university student housing and met students from Nigeria, Kenya and several other countries. She called the experience “awesome.”
“Always keep an open mind.”
Adventures and challenges
One challenge Nahid faced in the classroom was trying to understand the accents of her professors, but it did not take long to get used to them. She also noticed a difference in the educational system.
“There were no textbooks used in class and we only had one test at the end of the semester,” she said.
Nahid’s classes included sociology, women studies, African studies and Twi, a language spoken by about 15 million people in Ghana.
Memories
One of Nahid’s favorite parts of her experience in Ghana was the food.
“The food in Ghana was great,” she said. “My favorite was plantain, fish and rice.”
Her most memorable experiences include traveling to Benin, Cote D’Ivore, Togo and Burkina Faso. She was able to see the wide range of cultural diversity, even though the locations were in such close proximity to one another.
From Ghana to France
In 2008, Nahid participated in a second summer study abroad program. She spent six weeks enrolled in an intensive French language program and took classes five days a week for four hours.
“I felt how American I was,” she said of her impression of the French.
Nahid emphasized that it’s important to keep an open mind while abroad to make the experience worthwhile. Her study abroad experience was a very important part of her college career since she discovered her passion: she declared her major in political science and international studies after her return. Nahid hopes to volunteer for the Peace Corps after graduation.
