The journey begins....Ghana 2011

It’s funny how ordinary this first day of my ‘new life’ feels. This isn’t a bad thing, actually it’s quite positive…normalising. As I sat on the plane casting tired eyes towards my notebook, a gift from my leaving party, filled with words of kindness and support from friends and family I couldn’t bring myself to read it. I didn’t want to open that emotional faucet on a virgin flight to Accra. Besides, it would have been rude and disruptive for the gentleman sitting next to me.

I came to Ghana because I had too. No, no one was forcing me into it…I am too grown for the old ‘you are going on holiday to Ghana’ and then you remain in country while your passport leaves with your parents!!! Ever since I had left Ghana in 2003 having lived in Ghana for a year and a half I had wanted to return…it only took 8ish years.
So this new journey I am on is literally a life changer. This social sector chick is embarking into the world of business, starting my own enterprise and excited and overwhelmed by the prospect all at the same time. Admittedly the excitement is the stronger emotion!!!

So back to my first day, it ended with an invite to a birthday Bar BQ where I bumped into many returnees. As I moved around the room and spoke to people who had moved to Ghana 1 year ago, 2 years ago and so on, all almost recognisable by a look of combined resolution and determined focus; I was feeling increased feelings of ‘rightness’. As I met one new friend and told her I had moved to Ghana that morning she said a statement that I had been hearing a lot, both from those in the UK prophesising about my future and those in Ghana who I had shared my plans with, ‘you have made the best decision of your life’.

I feel nervous, I feel sad as thoughts of my friends and family in the UK pass through my mind and yet, I know this is where I am supposed to be and this is what I am supposed to be doing. So let the games begin, may the journey be anything but boring and at the end I know I will look back and know whatever happens this is the best decision I have made to date…stay tuned!