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Published: September 25th 2009
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Now this blog isn’t about what I did in Ghana. I could describe, the Stilt village, the four hour hike to Wli Falls, being chased by groups of ecstatic children in an orphanage, shopping in a Togolese Voodoo market or dancing through the streets of Accra in a downpour, to shouts of “Silly Obroni’s.”
But if you wanted to know that, then surely a knock on the door would have given you everything. How’s that saying go? “A picture says a thousand words?” Well I have them, but I don’t see the point being wrapped in self absorption, too busy to speak, too busy to share experiences.
No, this blog, isn’t for anybody but me. A chance to think and type, but if there is something in here that you enjoy or reflect on, then good. Because that’s the whole point of writing, isn’t it?
My arrival in Ghana seems like a distant memory, being ushered into a taxi dodging a stream of people and traffic, hastily looking around at the sea of colour, and deafening noise. Noise that became music, music that I miss so much.
Nobody can prepare you for the
cultural difference, the constant noise, heat and the sheer amount of attention your colour brings. It is fair to say that Ghana is a very hard place to live, it isn’t a holiday nor is it a chance to relax. If I was told the trip would become two months of mental endurance, I doubt id have got on the plane, but it has certainly been the biggest experience of my life.
A life changing experience often comes in many different ways, no matter what your experience may be, it is certain that it becomes the making of you, and for myself it has made me realise what is actually important. No longer can I afford to be worried about meaningless tasks, or get my self down with the “what if’s.” Whoever said “Travel is the best form of education.” Is bang on, it truly is. My trip wasn’t as simple as going to see beautiful scenery, world famous buildings, or a chance to relax on a beach. If I am honest I thought Ghana would be more of a holiday rather than a lifestyle. My time in Ghana didn’t seem like a vacation, but life, the chance
to throw my self into the unknown, and every day was a totally new adventure.
No matter how hard times had been looking back, I achieved so much and didn’t realise this until I arrived home. As departure time drew closer, people often gave me some solid advice. Mostly about the cultural differences I may have to persevere with, but the most valuable wasn’t advice but a warning, and a piece that holds the truth. That warning has become hard to understand. Many people spoke of the climate difference, religious difference etc, but going into a country like Ghana is entering a whole new world, a world without the home comforts that we are all used to. However it wasn’t adapting to life I have found the hardest, but to come back and adapt or more importantly accept my own life and surroundings.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have always been a person that enjoys life, enjoys his friends and needs his family, so those reading this may become somewhat surprised, a reaction that to me isn’t a shock at all. Leaving for Ghana was a chance to see the world, something we all know
I have wanted to do, but alongside that it was a chance for me to get away, get away from the constant worthlessness I felt myself going down. Before my trip for many reasons and to be honest for many people, I needed that chance to get my confidence back, confidence that left me because of events, people and more importantly myself allowing it. Confidence grows in different ways, many a time it will be down to something a simple as a compliment, acceptance or having something or someone to make all those things worthwhile. In my experience it was the feeling of being able to do it. That is exactly what I did, leaving all your home comforts behind, but at the same time leaving all your worries, emotions and difficulties, and doing it not for anybody but yourself.
Since coming back home, it has been a struggle, I was told it would be and didn’t anticipate how hard it would become. Many people say “I know, I hate coming back from holiday.” But without being disrespectful that feeling is worlds apart. Yes you do miss the place and the people, but it’s the acceptance of your old life that is the difficulty and acceptance of people’s attitudes, attitudes that just three months ago I understood and agreed with, a total contrast to how I feel now. Having to listen to people complain on how hard they had it, how exhausting things were or are, how they don’t like such a thing, or such a one etc. Matters that at one time used to send me into uproar. I am not saying I now don’t feel those things, but now after a few moments of contemplation and admittedly a little worry and thought, something inside now pops up and helps me question, “Does it actually matter?” Will worrying or hanging on help? Something that we all either have done, doing or will do.
There is always something or someone in life that knocks you, that thing, at times might be the greatest feeling, a feeling that you believe will never leave you, in my case I didn’t want it to, but although it hasn’t gone, my experience has taught me that life isn’t worth worrying over, it is for making the best out of a situation. In my situation, it is slowly leaving, not because I want it to, but it has to, a thought that at one time, I wouldn’t and couldn’t accept. But the truth is, if it doesn’t make you happy, or it doesn’t show the want to, then is it that important?
I didn’t think it was possible to be able to change the way you think in such a short space of time, and although I haven’t changed, I am still the same Callum, I now can see what is important, I have seen sights that made me realise. In my life and many others I'm sure, you spend all your time, wanting the best, because you believe that will make you happy. But I experienced a life with nothing, I lived with people who had nothing, but that didn’t matter, because the times I spent with nothing, was the times that I was at my happiest.
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