How did you plan/prepare for your trip?

I didn’t plan at all, mainly because I didn’t know whether I’d be able to go until 54 days prior to the flight. I also knew I wouldn’t need much money because I would be staying with family. I did however prepare to have several outfits locally tailored and made from local wax fabrics.

What were some of your experiences?

Before this trip, I never really understood what people meant when they said they were tuned into their authentic voice. Throughout my stay, my mind was at ease and not distracted by the overload of images and information I am generally bombarded with in the West. I spent a lot of time writing and my vision got clearer. I felt rooted. I traveled between Accra and Kumasi, but felt most at home in Konongo where my Dad grew up. Because it is a small town, everyone seems to know each other and nobody is treated like a stranger. It felt like everyone was family.

The biggest difference I noticed between Kumasi and Accra was that the latter is extremely crowded and the pace of life is a little faster than in Kumasi. Because Accra is the capital city, there are several big companies located there. You can also feel it in the way people treat you. Most see you as a tourist and a source of income, so people can be quite aggressive and borderline rude in Accra. There is absolutely no way I could walk around the streets in Accra and feel like the people were my family.