By Skylar DeBose

This week marked the start of our internships. Waking up at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 7, felt like the first day of school. I experienced the same nerves, excitement, and eagerness that I’ve felt every year since kindergarten. Yet this time, something was different. Instead of going to school, where I would be in a classroom with several students experiencing the same feelings, I would be starting my first internship at The New Finder, part of the parent company Zed Multimedia. 

After cheesing big for my first day of internship photos, Rachel, Sonny, and I hopped into an Uber. I was relieved to hear that Rachel would be dropped off first because I needed more time to let the nerves settle. Although I’ve quickly learned to love my five-minute drive from home to work, on the first day, I wished to be on the bus with strangers who had become family in one short week. 

I arrived at Zed Multimedia House of Zion shortly after 9 a.m. I was quickly taken to a conference room with blasting AC, where I patiently waited for the next two hours. After reading two issues of the New Finder and catching up on some reality TV, I finally felt ready to get my internship journey started. 

I first met the general manager, who, impressed by my background, said they were lucky to have me as a part of the team. She then introduced me to Praisewell, who would become a mentor I looked up to. Praisewell brought me to a newsroom where I met the news staff. She kicked the sports writer, Jonathan, out of his chair to accommodate a desk space for me. Before I could open my mouth to insist on finding another desk, Jonathan was already moving his things. Feeling awkward and a bit flattered, I began deep-diving into the news to find today’s top stories. I created a Google Document that has already amounted to nine pages of news stories and ideas. 

Around 1 p.m., my stomach began to growl. Forgetting to pack a lunch, I convinced myself that I would survive on Mott’s fruit snacks, Wheat Thins, and seaweed until being dismissed at 5 p.m. When Praisewell noticed me snacking on Wheat Thins, she offered to take me to lunch. Feeling instant relief, I immediately, probably too eagerly, accepted her invitation. Little did I know that this would become a part of our daily routine. Each day, Praisewell has taken me to a local stand where I buy $2 Ghanaian meals. So far, I have tried Kenkey, Nkatenkwan, and Fufu. Each dish involves using your hands to dip Banku—a cooked dough mixture of maize, cassava, and occasionally plantain—into a flavorful stew. Each day, my coworkers laugh at my eating habits that make me stand out as an American. The teases, paired with great eagerness and excitement for me to be introduced to their favorite dishes, are something I will remember for the rest of my life.

Over the past five days, I have checked so much off my Ghana bucket list. From being published to airing on the radio, to scarfing down Fufu, I can’t wait for what’s more to come over my next four weeks at Zed Multimedia.