Final Blog: I'm Ghana Miss You.

A Final Goodbye

These past four weeks in Ghana have been nothing less than life-changing. During my stay in Ghana, I shadowed in a hospital, hiked the highest mountain in Ghana, and visited the Castle where the slave trade began. I can also proudly say that I lived the Ghanaian lifestyle by visiting families in a local community, enjoying Ghanaian dishes such as Jollof rice and stew, and

learning a bit of the native language. In addition to these things, I've learned innumerable life lessons about study abroad and about myself.

A Few Takeaways

One of the main lessons that I learned is to be open-minded and flexible while studying abroad program because things might not always go as planned. For instance, I expected to start my hospital rotations in the first week. Instead, I visited a local clinic and the Cape Coast Social Welfare department. It wasn't until I began the hospital rotations that I realized the benefit of the change. Another lesson I learned is to be intentional about meeting personal studying abroad goals. I had two objectives: immerse myself in the culture and learn about the Ghanaian healthcare system. After a month abroad, I have not only eaten the local food, learned the local language, and shadowed at various clinics, but learned more about myself as well. For example, after weeks of shadowing, I learned I dislike the sight of blood and needles, but I enjoy home visits in the community. I learned that I can't handle the busyness of the emergency room but, enjoying shadowing in pediatrics.

Ghana's Richness

Besides my observations in the hospital, I learned a plethora of things from my interactions with the local people. According to western standards, most people are not rich because they lack materialistic goods. However, according to human standards, the Ghanaian people are rich in their spirit and culture. I'm convinced there are things the western world can learn from Ghana.

The nurses and doctors whom I befriended and have sought to know who I am in the brief time I was shadowing. There are few genuine people in the US but many in Ghana. In the marketplace, I met vendors who spent their days trading and selling homemade goods and items. Even

though there is high competition, I noticed that the same vendors sold daily for the 4 weeks I was in Cape Coast. These two instances taught me to make the most of every opportunity to connect with people and to work diligently in whatever I do because I'm working to better my life.

Ghana: A Transforming Experience

At the end of my experience. I may not have saved a life. I may not have conducted a surgery or took vital signs. I may not have done these things and more, but I know, without a doubt that I was changed by experience in Ghana and placed a smile on the face of the people I met. I don't know where I will end up in life but I am certain that Ghana was a crucial part of transforming my character and shaping my future.

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are my own.