By: Liz Sgro
The first week is over and let me tell you, time is FLYING. Coming into this program as a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshman, I was always eager to go to class each week during spring term for our prep class. Yet, to listen, learn, and talk with older and much more experienced J-students about this journey we were about to embark on together was still sometimes a daunting task as I had a self-inflicting sense that I had something to prove as the youngest member of the group. That I subtly had to prove that I deserved to be going on this trip with these other amazing individuals. This underlying fear definitely made packing and traveling a stressful process. But this first week here has changed everything.
The second I stepped foot outside of the Kotoka airport and saw two of my peers, who once intimidated me, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and comfort from their welcome. The instant hugs, smiles, laughs, and care eased all of my lingering reservations and hesitations regarding this experience. When I sat on the bus to go to the apartments, I finally fully was able to convince myself that I was going to make the most of every minute of this trip. So far, I have succeeded.
As more people arrived, I got more and more excited about our little family that I felt was forming. Despite us being timid in class during the past 3 months, seeing familiar faces in an unfamiliar environment connected us immediately. I haven’t laughed harder or experienced more within a seven-day span with any other people in my life. From the good mornings at breakfast to teasing each other on the bus, crying from laughter at lunch, bargaining with each other at markets, and dancing with kids at a local school, I can only imagine what the rest of the four weeks have in store for us.
It’s only the first week and I already feel a very strange yet close attachment to these people and I can’t wait to deepen these relationships and grow our circle with locals from the community and colleagues from work. I just have to keep reminding myself to make the most of every day and as long as I have these people around me, I won’t have a problem with that.
Until next week!