Meet Marielle Abrahamson
Over J-term, while most Elon students were hitting the books around campus, Marielle Abrahamson took her books on an 11-hour flight to Ghana for three weeks. In Ghana, Marielle had the opportunity to immerse herself in the culture, visiting various villages, connecting with the locals and going on safaris, which she describes as a trip she will never forget.
Name: Marielle Abrahamson
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Why Ghana? “I wanted to go somewhere for three weeks that I normally wouldn’t go. I wanted to go somewhere that was an unknown to me because of all of the misconceptions about the country itself as well as learn more about the history.”
Prior to visiting, what did you know about the country? “Before I went to Ghana, I knew the country, especially the South, was very involved with the slave trade. I think as we get older we don’t talk about it, mostly because we are not taught much about it in our classes. I think it was very important to witness history first-hand and to see the impact the U.S. had on the country throughout history.”
What stuck out to you the most about Ghana? “Definitely just how friendly everyone was. We got off the plane and everyone just wanted to be your friend, they’d wave at you, they’d hug you. It was very shocking especially coming from New York, where no one really will stop to even ask how your day is.”
What was the most eye-opening experience you had? “Just seeing how people lived. All the villages we walked through were so minimalistic but the people in the villages were still extremely happy with what they have and I realized we should all be like that. The entire community looked after each other, like they are one big family.”
What was the most adventurous thing you did? “In one day, we went on three different types of safaris. We did a walking safari, afternoon Jeep safari and a night-time Jeep safari. It was unlike anything I had ever seen or done before. It was surreal to be able to get so close to animals you normally would only get the opportunity to see at the zoo.”
What was your biggest takeaway from the trip? “This trip was overall so amazing and eye opening. It surpassed any expectations I had and I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone. It makes me want to become more of a world traveler and step outside of my comfort zone more.”
So what’s next? “I would love to eventually travel to Tokyo or Antarctica.”