First Impressions

After months of anticipation and preparation mixed in with some instances of nervousness and stress, I’ve finally arrived in Accra, Ghana. As my first full day comes to a close, I can whole-heartedly say that this city has already won me over. Despite the humidity and pollution, Accra has a very charming atmosphere which is both comforting and inviting. While I haven’t had a ton of interaction with the locals quite yet, I can tell that they are a generally friendly people. I’m excited to immerse myself in their culture and interact with as many people as I can.

I was pleasantly surprised by the size and quality of our home. It easily fits all fourteen of us, and with the exception of hot water has just about all of the things we need to live comfortably. I’ve enjoyed the food that I’ve eaten so far, especially the vegetarian sauce that I ate over rice today at Chez Afrique, a restaurant down the street.

I’m both excited and nervous about what is to come in the next six weeks. While I have been comfortable meandering around our neighborhood with the group and traveling throughout the city by private bus, the thought of braving the city and public transportation alone is intimidating. I know that at some point during this trip I will most likely get lost, run into uncomfortable situations, or become flustered for some other reason. While I’m not exactly looking forward to these moments, I’m sure that it will be times like these that make this experience what it is. My main goal going into this program is to push myself out of my comfort zone in order to grow as a person, and I’m sure that won’t be too hard to accomplish. I’m very excited about our upcoming weekend excursions, the first of which will take us to the Cape Coast. While my internship and general experience in Accra may be stressful at times, these trips seem as though they will be a relaxing escape from this stress.

I’ll be documenting my experience on a regular basis through this blog, so check back often to see how everything is going!

-Monica