By Megan Gignac
Aw man, I’ve been dreading this blog post since the day we arrived, because if you’re reading this, it means I am back home in America and my journey in Ghana has ended. Before arriving in Ghana, I didn’t have many expectations. Full transparency, I decided to go on the trip on a whim because, at the time, I was about to graduate from college and didn’t have very set plans for what came after graduation. It was an impulse decision more than anything. I was feeling lost and was craving some type of adventure, and this program piqued my interest for that very reason. I was so incredibly nervous to go on this trip. At the airport in Portland just six weeks ago, waiting to board my flight to Accra, I thought I was going to throw up from anxiety. I thought to myself, “What the hell am I doing…Africa?!?! You’ve never even been out of the United States, Megan.” Let’s just say, I felt very out of my depth. Let me tell you what I have learned since then: boarding that plane to Accra was the best decision I have ever made, and I am so proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone.
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My time in Ghana has fundamentally changed me as a person. And trust me, I’m aware of the stereotype: “she studied abroad and now it’s her whole personality.” But, if I can be honest with you… I kind of get it now. The experiences I had, things I learned, and friends I met along the way are priceless, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if I could. Here are some of the most important things I learned in my six weeks in Ghana:
1. Try everything
I would call myself semi-adventurous when it comes to trying new food, but I have never tried new food in a new country before. At my internship at Innova DDB, we were served lunch every day (and thank god for that), and each week we would fill out a form to pick out our lunches for the week. I was constantly asking my coworkers what the lunch options were because I didn’t recognize any of the food items, and essentially, they would tell me what to try. I ate so many new foods in Ghana, some I didn’t love, others I will search high and low for to eat again in America. You know what they say, “When in Rome…” right?
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2. Just because you’re not familiar with the culture, does not mean it is ‘wrong’
I have been asked a lot what the “culture shock” was like. At first, I didn’t really know how to answer this question. I found myself asking, “Did I feel culture shock?” Obviously, I did, being a white American in West Africa, but I came to realize that the culture shock wasn’t much of a shock, but more of an awe and appreciation. I found the cultural differences so exciting and educational. I wanted to learn everything, try everything, and be a part of everything. Why travel halfway across the globe if I wasn’t going to fully embrace Ghana and everything the country and its people have to offer? I bought African clothing, got drinks and dinner with strangers on the street, danced salsa at Afrikiko, explored craft markets, ate Ghanaian food, practiced my Twi, rode trotros, explored museums, got cross cultural professional experience at my internship, went to church with my colleagues, and made lifelong friendships with Ghanaians that I had the pleasure to connect with. I noticed a lot of different cultural norms between Ghanaians and Americans, such as Ghanaians’ closeness to each other, their religious beliefs, their dining culture, dating norms, familial norms, the way they respect their elders, their government, and how they control their land. I found myself utterly fascinated pretty much all of the time. I loved it, even if I didn’t agree with some of it, or wouldn’t practice it in America; I welcomed the opportunity to fully embrace a new culture, and I learned so much from it.
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3. Just say ‘yes.’
One of the last weekends we were out in Accra, we were dancing at a bar, and a woman came up to me and my friend Kenzee and asked us if we wanted to model her crochet outfits she makes for her brand. No one has everrrrrrrr asked me to model for their brand before– let alone a complete stranger. At first, I thought she was joking, but she followed up the next day, asking if we were still interested. We were a little hesitant at first, weighing the pros and cons, but ultimately we said yes and made plans to go to a beach club in the coming days to do the photoshoot. We met the woman at the beach club, and clicked immediately. We got food, drinks, and chatted for hours. We learned all about each other and had an absolute blast. We left with new, handwoven crochet sets, a million pictures to show our friends and family, and a new friend! I remember thinking on the ride home, “See what happens when you just say yes?” Obviously, there are times when saying yes is not a good idea. If you have a bad gut feeling about something, or you are uncomfortable, you should say no; however, when new and exciting opportunities present themselves to you, consider just saying yes!! You never know what doors it can open for you.
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In conclusion, my time in Ghana has been transformative in terms of who I am as a person. It has opened Pandora’s box for my itch to travel, shaped my global perspective, introduced me to lifelong friends, and encouraged me to embrace new opportunities. I will forever look back at my time in Ghana with a smile on my face, reminiscing on one of the most incredible, challenging, eye-opening, and exciting adventures I have ever embarked on.
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