More than a month has passed since my first day here and I can now say that the initial culture shock has slowly faded away.
First, I somehow sorted out the transportation issue, or let’s say I got used. At the beginning, I was so determined to learn how to ride motorbike and get one for myself. The idea of not being able to move around independently, always relying on others or an unstructured taxi system, really bothered me. In the end, I figured out how to make the daily commute work. Every morning, I hail at some yellow yellow (a tricycle taxi) for part of the way to the office and enjoy walking the rest. For longer trips I call my go-to yellow yellow driver, and sometimes I‘m lucky enough to get a lift from either my colleagues or friends. Plus, I realized that even though riding a motorbike is not that difficult, I’ll only be here for a short time, and navigating this chaotic traffic with a vehicle I’ve just broken in might not be the wisest choice.
Speaking of friends, I found a group of expats to hang out with and enjoy my free time. We have just spent together the weekend at Mole National park, my first holiday trip outside Tamale. I also started play tennis here. Lessons are much more affordable than in my hometown, so I’m playing twice a week and already feel like I’m improving quickly. These lessons are honestly the highlights of my week. Being able to continue an activity I used to do back home has really helped me settle in.
On a more professional note, the first few at the office were slow, which was frustrating for someone like me who thrives when busy. But lately, things are picked up. I took the initiative and kicked off my microfinance project. That said, I’ve learned that some days are busier than others, and it’s important to find the balance and not get discouraged when feeling lonely and bored, something always comes up eventually. This experience is teaching me to approach thing with a “slow and steady” mindset.
When it comes to food, I’ve been trying to taste as much local cuisine as possible, even though my spice tolerance is still low (and honestly, I’m not sure it will ever improve). Some dishes are still hard for me to enjoy, but I’ve found my go-to restaurant in the city, my safe place, where I can also get spice-free option. I’ve managed to stick to my vegetarian diet without any slip-ups, though it’s been tricky to find protein sources beyond beans and eggs, which I’ve had to reintegrate in my meals.
All in all, I’ve built my daily routine that keeps me grounded; coming to the office every day helps me stayed focused and push through even in the toughest days. So, I’m happy to check in with this blog with more positive update. While being alone both at the office and at home isn’t ideal, another volunteer should arrive soon. Hopefully, I’ll have even better news to share in my next post.
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