By: Liz Sgro
A LOT has happened since the last time I checked in. Yes, the people in the group are still wonderful and continue to surprise me every day but now our bonding isn’t just through hanging around on a bus or in a living room. We’ve experienced so much more together and it’s only bringing us closer as a group. The growing bond and experiences here have also been bringing me closer to the community and life in Ghana.
A big part of this has been work. Work has played a significant role in broadening my understanding of life and routines in this new culture. That’s right, I started work this week! It’s my first professional experience and I’ve been learning so much. Two weeks ago, if you told me to read and review an audit or film and edit a commercial, I would’ve just stared at you and awkwardly giggled in fear. I didn’t even really know what an audit was nor how to edit on iMovie let alone PremierePro. I also just haven’t taken the classes at UO yet to teach me these things but nonetheless, I pulled up my extensive J350 Principles of PR notes, texted my new journalism GE friends from the group to send me brief tips, and worked with what I knew. So on top of figuring this all out, I’ve had to already give a full presentation debrief to the CEO and suggest strategies to enhance their media presence. After the presentation was done, I felt like I was making an impact with my perspectives at my company already so the group and I celebrated a successful first week over the weekend. Apparently, the boss man really liked what I had to say too so instead of just shadowing someone for the next three weeks, I’m back in the office working on piecing together research to create a full advertising campaign for the greater Accra region; billboards and all. I also was just put in charge of updating all literature and outdated content on their very formal and structured website. It’s crazy. Little by little and a day at a time, I’ll get through it I know, but nonetheless, still crazy. I feel like I’m getting a sneak peek at my future and no other experience will ever be as valuable.
My favorite part of this whole thing though has been coming back at the end of the day and hearing about how everyone else is succeeding and doing other really cool things. Jake is already published in his newspaper, Sam is putting together an entire social media strategy plan for her job, Michael isn’t even home until midnight because he’s basically out producing every major ad campaign in the country of Ghana, Stephen came home with probably 100 pounds worth of printed research material and interview forms for his project he’s taken on at his job, Khalil was filmed for a TV highlight and interviewed on the radio already, Brady’s been to Parliament to listen and write about the election going on right now, I could go on! Everyone is experiencing a different form of professionalism in each of our ranging internships and it’s so fascinating to learn about. What’s even cooler is how we all are comparing it to life in the states and how structured, rigid, strict, and formal life really is back home. Here, people don’t care what you do, what you wear, where you go, who you talk to, or what time you come and go as long as you get your work done. It’s freeing really. It’s giving me a new sense of responsibility and self-discipline. Overall, whether it be here in Accra or somewhere else, I can’t wait to explore more journalistic professions in other parts of the world to further grow my awareness of global issues from an international journalist perspective.
