One of the most common questions I get from local Uber drivers here in Accra is, “What is your favorite thing about Ghana?”

 

The first few times I had to think and scramble for answers – the mangos, the laid-back culture etc.  After a few weeks, however, it dawned on me – without question my favorite thing about Ghana is the kindness.  People here are kind at a level I’ve rarely seen in America or, for that matter, anywhere else in the world.

 

Examples of this abound, but one stands out – last Friday I was talking with a coworker here at the Guide and one of her friends, Peter, from TV3 while we waited for an event to start.  I was saying how I hadn’t been to a soccer match yet and hoped to have the chance to attend one – or any other sporting events – while here.  Peter, who I barely know, immediately – and with great excitement – told me there was a boxing match the next day.  He insisted that I should come with him – he had two tickets already.

 

I decided it was too good of an opportunity to pass up and met him at the TV3 office the following evening.  Peter refused to let me pay for a cab or Uber, or even the ticket he was giving to me.  It ended up being a great time – Peter loves boxing.  He was literally bouncing with excitement before the big fight.  He explained the ins-and-outs of Ghanaian boxing, boxers and history as well as gave me the rundown on all the important faces in the crowd.  I got to watch a WBO Road to Vegas fight in Ghana between a widely-loved Ghanaian boxer – Isaac Dogboe – and an Argentinian challenger and experience the celebration when Dogboe won and moved on to Vegas.

 

This all came because of an off-handed conversation with someone I had barely known and turned into a fantastic experience that I am lucky to have had.

 

When do things like this happen at home?  When I ask people for directions here they don’t blow me off or spit out a few instructions rapid-fire in my direction, they walk me to where I’m going – or a place where it’s easy to navigate from and chat with me the whole way.  My Uber drivers are genuinely excited to talk to me about my experience here.  My coworkers love to chat with me about the food I should try, the places I should visit and the restaurants and bars I absolutely must visit.

 

Kindness here abounds and it is a welcome change from home.  Without doubt it will be the one thing I miss most when returning to the States.