[By Nishat Parvez]
After a long and hectic journey, I finally arrived in Ghana. The moment I stepped off the plane, I couldn’t help but start comparing this new country to my home, Bangladesh. There are a lot of similarities between the two places, and these became even more apparent as I spent more time here. Upon landing, I went through the usual airport procedures, which were quite straightforward, though I though it might be complex as I heard different stories from previous cohorts.
After clearing customs, I collected my luggage and headed towards the exit, where I was greeted by a driver and a guide sent by Professor Leslie Steeves. The drive to the accommodation was an interesting experience. The scenery outside the window was a mix of the familiar and the new. The bustling streets, the vibrant markets, and the friendly faces reminded me so much of home. It felt comforting to see these similarities, making the transition a bit easier. My roommate had not arrived by then, but I knew my roommate before as she was a fellow Ph.D. student at the SOJC.
Our cohort here is quite diverse, with students from various parts of the world. This diversity is exciting as it provides an opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives. In the very first day, we gather in the common room to share stories about our home, watch something on TV, discuss our studies, and sometimes even cook together. It’s a wonderful melting pot of cultures and ideas.
The next day, as I was having breakfast, I got a delightful surprise. Among the spread was a platter of mangoes, and their taste immediately transported me back to Bangladesh. The flavor was almost identical to the mangoes I grew up with. This simple connection through food made me feel a bit more at home. It was a comforting reminder that despite being in a new and unfamiliar place, there are still pieces of home to be found, even in the most unexpected ways.
Accra, the capital of Ghana, is surrounded by lush greenery that reminded me of the countryside in Bangladesh. The vibrant green landscape, with its tropical plants and trees, felt very familiar and comforting. My love for plants and nature made this an especially heartwarming experience. I’ve always been passionate about gardening and spending time in nature and seeing similar flora here in Ghana quickly helped ease my transition.
One of the first things I did after settling in was to explore the local plant life. I visited a nearby botanical garden and the University of Ghana with my cohort and was thrilled to see a variety of tropical plants and flowers that I recognized from back home. This familiarity with the environment made me feel more connected to this new place.
On my first day, I decided to explore the local shops to get some groceries and have lunch. As I walked through the market, I noticed people staring at us, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable initially. Some of them greeted us with “Wassup,” a friendly and informal way to say hello. It took me a moment to realize that this was their way of making new friends and welcoming strangers.
Later, I needed to get a SIM card, so a friend from our group and I walked to a nearby mall. As we strolled through the bustling area, people kept greeting us with smiles, waving, and even touching us gently on the arm. It was a bit startling at first, but then I understood that this touchy-feely behavior was a part of Ghanaian culture. It’s their way of showing warmth and friendliness, which is quite different from what I’m used to.
In Bangladesh, greetings tend to be more reserved. A typical greeting might involve a salam or a handshake, depending on the formality of the situation. Physical touch beyond a handshake is generally reserved for close friends and family. Public displays of warmth, such as touching someone on the arm, are less common and usually only happen between people who know each other well.
Experiencing the Ghanaian way of greeting was eye-opening and a bit out of my comfort zone at first. The casual touches and the immediate friendliness felt very different from the more restrained greetings I’m used to back home. However, it also made me appreciate the open-hearted nature of the people here. Their way of showing kindness and acceptance is through these small gestures, and it quickly made me feel welcomed and included.
Medasse,
Afia (My Ghanian Name)