Quarantine: My First Introduction to Ghana
Studying abroad during a pandemic was a risky choice. But I decided it would be better to go now under these circumstances than never. I found myself constantly doubting my decision these past couple of days. The government of Accra, Ghana requires all travelers to quarantine for 5 days upon arrival, with quarantine ending after a negative COVID-19 test result. Africa has been both praised and met with skepticism as a result of the continent’s extraordinarily low COVID-19 numbers. This aided highly in my decision to move forward with my plans to study abroad here. So, in no way am I criticizing Ghana’s approach to mitigating the spread. They’re obviously doing a lot right. This is just how it has affected me.
America has been in a sort of quarantine for almost a year now, so when I was told I would have to quarantine upon arrival to Ghana, I felt it was no big deal. 5 days is nothing! I could deal with it. But, I don’t think I really took into account what being in quarantine might mean for someone in a totally different country. Moving to a new country is a culture shock and a big transition in and of itself, and it can be very hard to feel comfortable, welcomed, or even happy in such a new and sometimes jarring space. I had experienced this before when I studied abroad in India during JanPlan, but I immediately got over this feeling as we instantly got to know the local people, explore the town, and become familiar with the social scene. Approaching day 5 of my quarantine, I am just now starting to feel comfortable in Ghana.
For the first four and a half days in Accra, I was alone in my room, only leaving to eat meals. There are other students on the trip, but we were encouraged to quarantine by ourselves and not visit each other until after the quarantine was over. Living near a busy street, I often heard the bustle and chatter of people outside my window, and felt like I was missing out. This may all sound very depressing, but I decided to write my first blog post on this topic because through this experience, I have come to understand the importance of patience in anew place. Although Accra is a metropolitan area, the lifestyle is way more relaxed and chill than any city I have visited in the states. I had to realize that the outside wasn’t going anywhere and the same people I heard laughing outside of my window yesterday will probably pass by again tomorrow. Quarantining is just one of the many ways that I can play a part in keeping myself and my new community safe, and the Accra I experienced in quarantine is not representative of what my experience will be moving forward.
My test result comes back tomorrow, so let’s hope it is negative so I can finally be released!
- my first meal in Accra: spicy baked chicken, jollof rice, and salad