It’s hard to believe that about a month ago I hopped on a plane to come to Ghana- it feels like so much has happened since then, and I’m not even at the half-way point yet. Regardless, it’s a good time for reflecting on my trip so far.
Lesson One: It’s okay to indulge in some familiar comforts…
Adjusting to a living in another country can be difficult enough, and even though it’s good to immerse yourself in new things, there’s nothing wrong with letting yourself have a little taste of home. For example, dairy really isn’t big here, and can be a little pricey, but depriving myself of cheese for 2.5 months, when I love it so much, would probably not accomplish a whole lot. Sure, I would be VERY thankful for cheese when I got home, but it’s possible to be thankful even while still indulging in some cheese here I think.
Lesson Two: …but don’t isolate yourself in a “Western Bubble”
It’s totally possible to only take taxis, frequent only the mall and foreigner hotspots, and avoid Ghanaian food entirely- but if that’s the case, then I sort of wonder what’s the point of coming to Ghana in the first place. In the end, I try to have a balance of the familiar and the new. Plus, you never know what new “favorite things” you’ll find (like plantains with hot pepper sauce!).
Lesson Three: The journey is always better with friends
When I first arrived, the hardest part was not having any travelers with me to share in the experience of adjusting to a new culture. While family was just a phone call away, it’s not the same as having somebody there with you. I’ve been really fortunate to meet a lot of law students, who, like me, are new to the country, and up for having some adventures. We share our frustrations and our thoughts about living here. They are a huge source of comfort and sanity for me here.
Lesson Four: Some things (including office dynamics) don’t really change across cultures
There really are things that can be universal, that no matter where you go, someone in your position is going to experience, whether it’s men trying to get your phone number or the interactions of coworkers trying to meet deadlines, finish lots of projects, etc.
Lesson Five: Be prepared
Okay, I know that’s the Boy Scout motto, but it definitely holds true here. For example, the rains here can get fierce pretty quickly, and after a disastrous walk home, I’ve learned to bring a plastic bag, and an extra bag, and an umbrella with me just in case. Today I wore sneakers to work- with a dress (fashion horror!)- since it was raining and muddy (don’t worry fashionistas, I changed into sandals at work). If you have stuff to do on the internet, be prepared mentally for it taking 4 times longer than it would at home (or even worse!) so that you have the patience to go through 3 emails in half an hour (the internet difficulties partly explain why I haven’t updated this blog more often).
One more note: Saturday is the US v. Ghana soccer game- should be an interesting weekend to be an American in Ghana!
Those horns must be blaring in the streets of Ghana today as the USA was defeated 2-1.
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