WHAT I’LL MISS by Kendra Rettig

We have been in Accra for exactly a month now, and the time is flying by. Many of us have come to the consensus that the days feel long, but each week goes by faster than the one before. There are a lot of mixed feelings about going back to the states, some are homesick, and others want to stay in Ghana longer, but most of us are just really looking forward to a big plate of Mexican food when we get home; more rice and beans I suppose. As for myself, I am feeling indifferent about the home acclamation process. While I am excited to see my family, take a hot shower, and eat an In N Out burger, there are a few things I will miss about Ghana.

1. Ghanaian Culture
   1. The city life here is not like one I have ever experienced before. The constant hustle and bustle on the streets is deceptive because no Ghanaian is on time to anything, ever. While I will not miss that aspect of the culture, the energy of the people and the city is hard to replicate anywhere else. Everyone in Ghana is proud to be Ghanaian, which I think is a commonality with many Americans, but how that pride is perceived here compared to the states is very different. In Ghana, pride is deep rooted in years of culture, food, God, and family, and if you interact with any Ghanaian at least one of those topics will come up in the conversation. There is a lot of innocence and wholesomeness that is intended to come out of these conversations, which is a sobering feeling. They love educating foreigners about their love for Ghana, but be careful because that 30 second interaction could turn into a 30 minute conversation; maybe that’s why they are always late.
2. Night Life
   1. While we have not spent too many nights going out, our restaurant and bar experiences have been good ones. The night life in Ghana usually involves vibrant clothes, a band/DJ, bright smiles, and a lot of dancing. The music is generally a mix between high life and U.S top charts, but Ghanaians get unexpectedly excited when they see Obroni’s attempt to dance.
3. My Work
   1. Working at StratComm for the past four weeks has been a rewarding opportunity. I have learned a lot from my collogues and the tasks they have given me. It has been interesting to get a little peak into the future of what I might be doing once I graduate, and in all honesty, I am not sure if I have the will power to sit at a desk and stare at a screen for the rest of my life. Nonetheless, my internship has educated me immensely about how the media functions in Ghana, and I will be forever grateful to have this experience.
4. The House
   1. Ever since we started taking our one credit class spring term, a common thing we’ve been told is “it takes a certain type of person to self-select this program,” and I think there is a lot of truth to that statement. Our house is full of determined, confident, intelligent, brave, and open-minded individuals, and you can easily see everyone’s passion for learning and drive for new experiences. Living in a different country with 14 people you don’t really know can be daunting, but our commonalities made it easier. I think on some level we all possess those characteristics, but along with them comes individuality. I have gotten to know all of my classmates on some level, and everyone has a unique personality, but we all came here with similar goals. So I guess when it comes down to it, I won’t miss the house as much as I’ll miss spending time with the people living in it.
5. Bofrots (Ghanaian Donuts)
   1. This one is pretty self-explanatory.