The Recap

So I am entering month 4 of living in Ghana. Yep, I semi packed up (will collect the rest of my stuff in January) and headed to the homeland, Ghana! So I arrived and I was glad but sooo unbelievably stressed, it was like as ready as you try to be things always happen to throw you off and boy was I thrown!

Not anything I am going to go into here so maybe unfair to put it out there...ah well! I arrived and got straight to work, in hindsight this perhaps wasn't the best idea as I had no adjustment time. I thought I would be fine as I am forever going back and forth, but this was different.

So I am in a new place, hitting the ground running, issues of my UK life still plaguing me and no sit still and breathe time. I managed to hold it together...barely...I was really lucky a friend who was there for me was just exactly every kind of supportive a person could want or need he was great. So when there was a lull in the madness I snuck back to the UK and was able to sort out my last minute things AND because no one really knew I was around I was able to chill out and breathe.

Wow I didn't know how much I needed it until I got it and then strangely with all things sorted I was able to get excited about moving to Ghana. The way I felt was how I imagined I would feel but didn't when I officially left the first time.

Well this time on touch down in GH I was a different person, energised and excited. I started socialising and meeting people, I did that a lot and Ghana started to open up to me. There is just so much going on and so many interesting people I was hyper excited by it all.

I have met many great people but I realise I have to reign it back now and start concentrating a bit more on...oh I don't know...work...bringing in an income! Even more so as I have moved into my own home hooray...but not cheap! Admittedly glad to be settling, though I really miss staying at my friends place.

Let me just say where I stayed was like the best intro to Ghana life, everyone in the house were super lovely, my friend was super cool and patient. Staying with 'To sir with love' was a definite God send super cool guy! I will endeavour to pay it forward when someone else is making the move...I'll be honest I am NOT as patient as TSWL, but I will try!

Okay so I am in my home, Pink Mango Tree House, I have a house help living with me for two reasons security so I am not there alone and practicality cooking, cleaning etc! I won't lie it is the weirdest feeling having home staff (also have a driver as I can't drive...though even if I could drive I would still keep the driver).

I guess as time goes on I will get used to it, mainly how to manage home staff and the weird dynamic of having someone live with you who works for you. Also, I guess, that weird feeling of am I being all bougie and extra...I know i'm not it is actually necessary but still feels weird! Needs to stop being weird fast otherwise this arrangement won't work out for any of us involved.

The main thing I am learning or getting from adapting to Ghana life is a change in mindset (will blog about these seperately), I said to myself after a few weeks of being here that I wonder who I will be in a year's time because I knew I would be changed.

I guess you can't help but be changed by your environment, the people you meet and the experiences you have. I am a person born to Ghanaian parents in a Ghanaian household in London, UK. The effect is a western socialisation with Ghanaian undertones. The way of thinking and living in Ghana is very different, different morals, ways of being, what is and isn't acceptable, ways of looking at and being in relationships and on it goes.

It is challenging I won't lie and my advice to others is give yourself time to ADJUST because things aren't easy BUT if you give yourself time and accept help and support they are also not that bad!

So here I am adjusting and transitioning and growing up really. So that's the catch up, detail to follow :-)