Ghana is not just a place, it is a feeling!!!!
In the
spring of 2014, I decided to do a semester abroad with my university through
the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP). While many of my
classmates were submitting applications to study abroad in London, Madrid and
Paris, I decided to pursue the road less taken. In my heart, I knew I was
destined for Africa. But as vast as it is, I had no idea where exactly to
start. At the time, EAP provided programs in Botswana, Ghana and Egypt. By the
time I decided I wanted to study abroad, I’d already missed the deadline to
apply for the Botswana program and the Egypt program was limited to certain
majors. So, Ghana it was! A few weeks later, I received my acceptance letter to
study at the University of Ghana, Legon and I was overwhelmed with joy and
excitement. But as the pre-departure process began I would soon be filled with
doubt from external sources. As I informed family members and friends of my
study/travel plans, those feelings of excitement quickly turned into nausea.
For many,
the continent of Africa is a mystery, making it easy to create generalizations.
When people think of Africa, they picture the emaciated poster child often
times used by Save the Children campaigns, conjuring images of war, famine and
disease. And although this may be the case for a small number of African
countries, it is not the same for the vast majority. Africa is extremely
diverse – possessing 47 countries (55 if you include the islands off the
coast), over 1,500 official spoken languages and dialects and many various religions.
These are just some of the factors that influence culture, philosophy,
governance, economics, societal values and art in all of these countries.
Entrance
to the women’s dormitory where I lived for a semester
The city
of Accra (Ghana’s capital), itself, is bustling with activity day and night.
The earth is a beautiful redbrick color, the skies are always blue and the
people always in high spirits. Ghanaians are some of the most peaceful people I
have ever met and the level of hospitality is heartwarming. At the same time,
Ghanaians are also extremely hardworking. Many service jobs require long
overnight 12-hour shifts. And most clerical jobs often involve waking up at
4:00am daily in order to avoid rush hour or take public transportation.
Ghanaians are not afraid to perform backbreaking labor. Simultaneously, Ghana
possesses some of the most innovative businesses in West Africa.
I don’t
blame anyone for having a misconstrued image of Africa. It is difficult to
understand a place you have never been to. My hope is that I can change at
least one person’s misconceptions about Africa – easing fears and concerns
about safety and encouraging travel to lesser-acknowledged destinations. I have
put together a list of recommendations and travel advice – including a few
things I wish I’d known prior to my departure (for peace of mind). I hope that
I can shine some light on the otherwise mysterious cloud that shrouds the
continent of Africa.
Yes,
malaria is common. However,
- Anti-malaria
medicine is extremely easy to find over-the-counter (and affordable) and
you don’t necessarily need it pre-departure (which can be very pricey if
you don’t have insurance that will cover it)
- If
you happen to contract malaria, it is extremely easy (and affordable) to
find treatment over-the-counter. Recovery time is usually 2-3 days (about
the same amount of time it takes to recover from a cold or the flu)
In the
spring of 2014, I decided to do a semester abroad with my university through
the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP). While many of my
classmates were submitting applications to study abroad in London, Madrid and
Paris, I decided to pursue the road less taken. In my heart, I knew I was
destined for Africa. But as vast as it is, I had no idea where exactly to
start. At the time, EAP provided programs in Botswana, Ghana and Egypt. By the
time I decided I wanted to study abroad, I’d already missed the deadline to
apply for the Botswana program and the Egypt program was limited to certain
majors. So, Ghana it was! A few weeks later, I received my acceptance letter to
study at the University of Ghana, Legon and I was overwhelmed with joy and
excitement. But as the pre-departure process began I would soon be filled with
doubt from external sources. As I informed family members and friends of my
study/travel plans, those feelings of excitement quickly turned into nausea.For many, the continent of Africa is a mystery, making it easy to create generalizations. When people think of Africa, they picture the emaciated poster child often times used by Save the Children campaigns, conjuring images of war, famine and disease. And although this may be the case for a small number of African countries, it is not the same for the vast majority. Africa is extremely diverse – possessing 47 countries (55 if you include the islands off the coast), over 1,500 official spoken languages and dialects and many various religions. These are just some of the factors that influence culture, philosophy, governance, economics, societal values and art in all of these countries.
Entrance to the women’s dormitory where I lived for a semester
The city
of Accra (Ghana’s capital), itself, is bustling with activity day and night.
The earth is a beautiful redbrick color, the skies are always blue and the
people always in high spirits. Ghanaians are some of the most peaceful people I
have ever met and the level of hospitality is heartwarming. At the same time,
Ghanaians are also extremely hardworking. Many service jobs require long
overnight 12-hour shifts. And most clerical jobs often involve waking up at
4:00am daily in order to avoid rush hour or take public transportation.
Ghanaians are not afraid to perform backbreaking labor. Simultaneously, Ghana
possesses some of the most innovative businesses in West Africa.
I don’t
blame anyone for having a misconstrued image of Africa. It is difficult to
understand a place you have never been to. My hope is that I can change at
least one person’s misconceptions about Africa – easing fears and concerns
about safety and encouraging travel to lesser-acknowledged destinations. I have
put together a list of recommendations and travel advice – including a few
things I wish I’d known prior to my departure (for peace of mind). I hope that
I can shine some light on the otherwise mysterious cloud that shrouds the
continent of Africa.
Yes,
malaria is common. However,
- Anti-malaria medicine is extremely easy to find over-the-counter (and affordable) and you don’t necessarily need it pre-departure (which can be very pricey if you don’t have insurance that will cover it)
- If you happen to contract malaria, it is extremely easy (and affordable) to find treatment over-the-counter. Recovery time is usually 2-3 days (about the same amount of time it takes to recover from a cold or the flu)
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