Life after Ghana

Life after Ghana. Is that even possible? I have learned a lot about myself over the past two months. More importantly, I have learnt what is important in life. I am aware of all the little miracles of life and grateful for all that I have. It is amazing that just 8 weeks can change ones viewpoint so much.

Right now I’m at home sitting on my comfy couch, enjoying super-fast internet, and listening to my playlist on my laptop. I came back to meet Spring weather. I don’t mind at all. I just hope there are no more winter storms in store for the North-East this year.

I’m experiencing very little reverse culture shock but I was only gone for two months. My car which had been parked outside for the entire time had 2 flat tires so I bought a whole new set of wheels. At the station, I almost began to bargain with them! That would have been strange! Imagine:

Attendant: …and that will be $350 for 4 high performance Bridgestone tires.
Me: Oh, why so expensive? Won’t you take $250 instead and throw in a complimentary oil & filter change?
Attendant: (looking at me like I’ve grown horns) Excuse me?

I am relaxed. I hope to continue nurturing this laid-back approach to life but unfortunately I’m starting a month-long rotation in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. That can easily raise my stress levels way high, especially when called to the Emergency Room to evaluate yet another ST elevation myocardial infarction STAT!

I want to be more spontaneous and less rigid but I know that will take some time. I am who I am. Even in Ghana I would anxiously arrive at a 3 pm event an hour late only to find that I was still the first one there. So relax KChie, relax.

It’s okay to talk to strangers. Really! Granted, people in Ghana were so friendly and approachable. Thinking about it, I would never approach strangers on the beach in the US let alone sit down with them for drinks and discussion of social habits and world politics. No. I have been brought up to think that everyone is out to get you, rob you, kill you, rape you, kidnap you, so what do you do? You just keep to yourself and rush to your dungeon of a home for “safety” after work or school. But what kind of life is that?

Ghanaians who live in Ghana but have lived elsewhere in the world say “life is sweet in Ghana”. I can’t disagree. Here’s hoping that it won’t be another 6 years before I see the shores of Ghana again! No matter what, I’m hoping to make life sweet for myself wherever I am.