Challenges of living abroad

It can be wise to be prepared for the possibility of becoming more quickly fatigued when living in a country and culture that is so different from what one is accustomed to.

When you're out, there are an incredible number of impressions and exciting things to see and experience.

For some, all the impressions can make one much more tired than one is used to after having been out for a walk.

Even though it's "just" a trip to the store, it usually takes much more time and energy in Ghana than back home in Norway. So remember that you might need a bit more rest than usual and allow yourself that!

In addition to all the impressions taking a lot of energy, it is much warmer and more humid outside than we are used to at home. This can also lead to feeling tired and needing more rest. Therefore, it is important to remember to drink enough water and eat plenty of food so that it doesn't become yet another factor that causes one to deplete energy faster.

When living in Ghana, it's almost impossible to avoid a bit of stomach trouble during your stay.

Almost everyone feels the same, so you're not alone if it happens! For some, it may help to take supplements such as Idoform daily, so check with your pharmacy or doctor about this and possibly bring enough for your entire stay.

It may also be wise to bring medications such as Imodium and Dulcolax. If you're on an excursion, it might be a good idea to carry some toilet paper in case they don't have it where you are.

Some of the students have experienced a reduced appetite after living in Ghana for a few weeks. The food we are served is very good, but it tends to be quite repetitive.

Heat can also be a factor that reduces one's appetite. A tip here could be to bring some crispbread or Toro packets from home so that you have something simple that you know you like for the meals you have to prepare yourself.

We have our own kitchen at Jackies (the hostel we're staying at) which is equipped with everything one needs, so there's no problem in preparing these dishes!

As foreigners, we become very visible among the locals and we are always noticed when we go out.

Many of the people we meet often want to greet us and have a chat, which is very nice! Since we attract some attention when we go out, it can sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable to go out alone, and one might feel the need to have someone accompany them when going out.

In the evenings, it is not recommended that we, as young European students, go out alone. This advice is especially pertinent for girls. Therefore, one must always be in a group when going out in the dark.

This is very different from what we who have studied in Vietnam are used to, where everything was more accessible and one could walk outside alone to a much greater extent.

Even though it's not always easy to live in a completely foreign country with a different culture than we're used to, I would never want to be without all the experiences and knowledge gained!

One becomes better acquainted with oneself, and gains a deeper understanding of other cultures and ways of living, which is incredibly valuable.