Settling in

I honestly feel like it would be possible to publish a whole book about living in Ghana, and the struggles I have to go through because I’m used to such different things. Even now, the internet in my room has decided to stop working, so I had to come down by the reception to write this post, and it took me 15min just to open the wordpress website.

To all of you asking, yes, I am still fine, and still loving it here.

Football on the streets

So what have I been up to? I’m becoming #likealocal, so after my second class got cancelled on Tuesday I decided to take a week off (like locals) and not risk walking 30min in this heat to go to a class that’s going to get cancelled anyway. So instead I’ve been chilling around, meeting new people, cooked my very own tomato sauce and kelewele and just tried to chill before uni really starts.

This is how one of my classrooms looks like, from the lecture that got cancelled

However, I did go to one class on Tuesday, which was *drumroll* cancelled. The worst part is that I arrived 15min early (let me remind you that nobody is early here) because my previous class ended earlier, and then after waiting for 30min a guy finally barged into the classroom, looked at me, then looked at his phone. After like a minute or so he asked me what my name was, and whether I was there for the Discourse Analysis class. He then went on to call the lecturer with ‘Please, Sir, we were supposed to have a class and we’re two students…. oh okay… oh okay’ (this is me trying to make you guys see how Ghanaians talk) and then told me that the class was cancelled and I should come back next week.

After that incident (and also hearing from other international students that their classes are continuously cancelled) I just decided to take a day off (which turned into a week off) and just enjoy Ghana. So on Wednesday, after my morning gym sesh, I decided to chill by the pool. It was amazing. Though I also managed to burn my skin, of course. Because I forgot to reapply my sunscreen, so parts of my body were reaaallly burned, while other parts were just tan. Which is nice. I don’t look like a total snowflake now.

Chilling by the pool with Brenda on Wednesday. They make us wear these ridiculous swimming caps though. 

We also decided to go out on Wednesday, first had some drinks at a pub called Republic (where toilets were way nicer than I’d ever have expected) and then went onwards to an actual club. Where toilets were super nice, the club was super cold (thank you A/C) and I felt super out of place with my sandals on. Note to self: don’t wear sandals to a club next time.

Gotta stay hydrated you know – obsessed with coconut water

One thing about Ghanaians is that they are very fashionable. Honestly, the clothes they wear here are all so pretty, and most of the people I’ve seen on campus are so so stylish. Like I’m obsessed, their flowy skirts, and colourful tops, and don’t even get me started on their tailored dresses and shirts. Though the one thing I still haven’t understood – how do they wear jeans in this heat. HOW?

Then, Friday came around. And Friday means party. We started at a place called The Library Pub, though how do you call something a pub which is just chairs at a parking lot. No joke, the place is literally plastic chairs around a parking lot, and then you can go ‘inside’ to a small bunker, and buy beer if you want to. Honestly Ghana, I love you so much. And the evening got even better. Me and 3 other (white) girls took an Uber to the next pub, called Purple Pub or Purple Bar… and it’s not that much different from chairs on a parking lot. Now before getting there though, suddenly we got pulled over by the police. And there were like 5 policemen surrounding our car. I was like ‘oooh damn I have an open bottle of beer in my hand’ and well nobody was wearing a seatbelt anyway – Ghana you know. But then suddenly the policemen just wanted to talk. And what they wanted to talk about was our phone numbers… So I asked if it’s ok if I take their photo, and give them my number as exchange, they said yes. So there you guys go, this is what the police looked like. Yes, creepy.
And that wasn’t even it, 5 min later we got pulled over by another police officer for the exact same reason – to get our phone numbers. Ghana, are you even real or what?

The police officers that got my number in exchange for this picture

 

A pic from last weekend’s beach trip, where on our way back our beloved trotro got stuck

No, I haven’t gotten used to the heat yet. I don’t think I ever will, but it has become more manageable. And the language. I’m still sometimes struggling to understand what the locals are telling me, because Ghanaian English is different. Though I think I’m doing okay. Aaaaand I should reallly get on with learning Twi as well, I need a good teacher.

I’ve decided to join the Debate Society here, and oh boy are they intense. But I guessed it would be  a good way to make friends, plus it’s a cool thing to try out. Though I don’t really know how that’s gonna go. I’ve also joined the gym here, which is tiny. And usually full of people. Honestly, I have never worked out so close to anyone else yet. Meaning I’ll appreciate Europe even more when I come back one day. If I come back. I feel like just staying here forever you know….

 

Entrance to the gym – you can see how tiny it is, and also how full it is. I’ve never worked out so close to everyone else before. 

 

I have to bless you with some food pics once in a while  – jollof with fried plantain, tomato sauce, and fresh salad

Anyway, life is good. Let me know what you guys want to read about the most!

kista.