Hey everyone!
So I have officially been here in Ghana for 2 weeks now! I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions, starting from when I got on the plane. I must have cried for at least 2 hours on the ride to Ghana, but I had to stop thinking about what I was leaving behind and start thinking about the experience I was coming to. I am very grateful for the endless words of encouragement and support that have been coming from my friends and family members, so thank you! I had a conversation with my grandmother the other night, and when I shared my homesickness with her, she said, "Baby, ain't nothing changed in Columbia," and honestly that made me feel so much better. My whole life I have been very comfortable with familiarity, so this adjustment has been very hard for me. However, some days are better than others. So I have learned to take it one day at a time. I have two cousins who have done this study abroad trip before as well as a girl from my school who did it last semester, and they have been such a huge help. I am very grateful for them! Right now, I'm still used to being at home and everything about where you are is new. There are gonna be nights where you cry yourself to sleep, but at the end of the day, the people I'm are with are going through it with me! I've also made some pretty good friends and I'm glad we can share this experience together - the highs and the lows.
The first week was very busy. We had an early morning everyday :( But the time was worth it! We met our program directors, Auntie Abigail and Auntie Claudia, & got to know our buddies (student ambassadors) pretty well. the IPO (International Programmes Office or International House) is so beautiful. It has a courtyard in the middle of it like many of the buildings around campus do.
We took a tour of the campus, and went to the Balme Library which is the biggest library in West Africa! saw some pretty dope statues that really commemorated not only university history but African history. Also found the African studies department which is named after THE Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The next day we went to part one of our Orientation where we heard from the dean, a lot of professors and other school administrators. At the end of the week, we took a trip to the national Kwame Nkrumah memorial, the W.E.B Dubois house, as well as Independence Square.
We started classes this week on Monday! The whole registration process has been a little stressful just because of how different it is from what I am used to. At home, we register for classes about a month and a half before the next semester starts and at the University of Ghana (UG) we do it the week before. We have to select a bunch of classes to register for, then go to the departments for the respective courses to get the time tables which show when the classes meet. If there is a conflict, then we have to adjust our schedules accordingly. I have had to adjust and readjust my schedule this week to make sure my classes match up and will transfer back to my home university. These credits are important!
I am taking Twi Conversation and Culture I (Twi is the dialect spoken in Ghana) and Family, Society and Development in Ghana/Africa with USAC, the program provider, and Traditional Dance, Cognitive Psychology and Africa in the International Setting in the 20th Century (a History class) with the University. The UG classes are honestly a little terrifying, from the accent barrier with the professors and students to UG being the top university in the country of Ghana. Even after the first week, I am still a bit shaken up (especially since the finals are 70% of the final grade!) but I'm also excited for the different teachings styles.
As for right now, I am just enjoying everyday as it comes! Ready for more new experiences (:
Be sure to follow my instagram: @themindofmichaela to see more pictures!
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