I think I spent everyday since I knew I was part of the Media in Ghana program thinking about this summer. June 21st came around before I knew it and by the 22nd, I was already stepping out of the plane, realizing the stories of extreme humidity were accurate. I was overwhelmed by the thick air and immediately regretted my choice of attire, which included a long black skirt and a knit sweater. We arrived at our house in East Legon, near the University of Ghana, and it became real this would be my home for the next month and a half. It’s been almost 3 weeks in Ghana and we have packed so much into our schedule I can’t believe it’s only been 3 weeks.
On my first tro-tro ride to work, a woman sitting near me named Gladys could tell I was worried about getting lost because I kept asking here where “circle” was. Circle was my stop and I had no idea what to look for and was worried I would miss it. I was already creating horror stories in my head. When we got off at our stop, she offered to share a quick taxi ride with me, as her destination was close to my work. She told the driver “take my sister to Joy FM.” This is something I don’t think I will ever forget for the rest of my life. This might sound dramatic but it really stuck with me and I smile just thinking about it. This woman hadn’t known me more than 20 minutes yet she ensured I got to work okay and called me her sister. She even gave me her number in case I needed anything. This type of hospitality was not something I was used to and meant more than she knew.
After being here a few weeks, I have experienced how vibrant and lively Ghanaian culture can be. There seems to be a strong sense of community and family, even among strangers. I am reminded of this when strangers call me sister. People seem to take pride in what they do, whatever it may be. We have visited a couple craft markets in various parts of the city and I noticed this pride in all the artists I met. I spoke with people who spent days on end carving detailed wooden items and was amazed at their full shops that showcased their dedication and love of their craft. Each craft was hand-made, unique, and beautiful.
Ghana has surprised me in many ways. I am constantly impressed by the sense of family I feel almost everywhere I go. Even when locals call me “Obruni,” something that bothered me at first, I know it’s friendly and only out of curiosity. Strangers are constantly asking me where I come from and often times reply with “so, what do you think of Ghana?” This simple question speaks volumes to the pride Ghanaians take in their country. They welcome newcomers with open arms and want to make sure we are enjoying our stay. When I speak Twi (the few phrases I actually remember) they laugh with approval … and probably because of my bad accent … and I feel closer to them somehow. I have no doubt that if I were to get lost or need help, I wouldn’t have to look far to find a sister to help. This is something any foreigner hopes for in a country they are visiting, and it is often rare.
This is not to say I’m visiting a utopian society where an unfriendly person does not exist. I have already experienced the misfortune of pick pocketing when my California driver license, around 30 cede, and camera were all stolen on our night out in Osu. Being a tourist made me an easy target and reminded me that although the majority of people I meet mean no harm, I should not let my guard down. This type of incident happens in every country in the world, especially one where your appearance makes it clear you are a visitor. This fortunately did not change my view of Ghana.
Traveling abroad is an overwhelming yet rewarding experience. When I was feeling homesick and emotionally exhausted, Julianne explained to me the stages of studying abroad and informed me what I was feeling was normal. She studied in Spain so she knew what to expect. These were just signs of the “honeymoon stage” ending she told me. Ghana wasn’t brand new anymore and I was beginning to worry about how much time I had left on the trip. She reassured me that it would get better, and it did. I find I am constantly learning. Each day is different than the one before and each day gets a little easier. I am finally feeling confident about public transportation, even though my tro-tro ride yesterday took three hours, and I sat in the back row on the verge of getting sick the entire time. Leslie, or “Mama Leslie” as we call her, always reminds us that this is all part of the experience and this somehow makes me feel better about it.
I hope being here will change even one person’s perspective of Americans. I want my coworkers to know that contrary to popular belief, not all Americans have infinite money, and this is why I take the tro-tro instead of a taxi everyday to work. I also want Ghanaians to know that many Americans are genuinely interested in exploring other parts of the world, including Africa, and we come with open minds and true interest, disregarding negative stereotypes of Africa.
I am here for less than a month longer and I am excited for what’s to come. I hope my adventures continue and I can take what I learn back home with me. I know I will probably have another dreadful tro-tro ride like yesterday, most likely unknowingly buy a souvenir at an Obruni price, and possibly get the traveler’s sickness that struck our whole group that I somehow avoided… but this is all part of the experience. I hope I can contribute to my work and bring something unique to JoyNews. I can’t wait to go back to the US and tell my friends and family about all my experiences here and I hope one day I can come back to Ghana and feel nostalgic about my time here.