We’re here!

Actually officially we arrived 12 days ago, but the first week was a bit of blur with settling in, attending an orientation with hubster for his work (this is mostly a “how to stay safe and healthy in Ghana course”), running around trying to figure what you need for your apartment and where the stores are and is it better to take an Uber (yes, they have Uber here, more on that later), a taxi or get a private driver.

We were told by several people who have been here before that the “trailing spouse” (that’s me, although I beg to think of a better term for us) should always have a plan for Monday morning.   So yesterday morning, Monday, being the good student I am, I had a plan ­­­­− work on my blog and run over to the mall and get my local phone set up. Great plan. Well it seemed great until 3 AM. Without giving too much detail let’s just say there was a lot of time in the bathroom, alternating with trying to sleep and then my first date with Cipro. So, I slept 20 hours yesterday and did nothing.   Apparently I was not paying attention in class about how to stay safe and healthy.

So, today I will for sure get over to the mall to get my phone set up – I tried this a few days ago but forgot my passport. Well, really I didn’t forget it I just didn’t think I would need it to get a phone. I do have a Ghanaian ID card, which looks super official and all, but the woman at the store told me I wasn’t in the system and she could not identify me. I don’t even know what that means except that I could not get my phone that day.

In the first 12 days we have taken several Ubers and taxis and had our first (but likely not the last) Uber ride where the car broke down on a busy highway. We were able to safely get out of the car and make it across the highway – luckily for us there was a Mosque across the street and a crosswalk and then we successfully flagged down a taxi to get us home.   The next day we took an Uber over to the mall to get my phone set up (unsuccessful) and buy some groceries (successful). Again, we take an Uber home. As soon as we get in the driver says what sounds like, “I need food.”   We look through our bags wondering what we can give him, I offer up some eggs. He looks at me like I am a little crazy. He says, “No, I need FUEL.” Ah, fuel. Yes, I see that his gas gauge is below empty. Hubster wants to bail and get another car, but really, this guy needs some fuel, so we will give him a cash “dash” or tip.   Of note here is that a ride from our apartment to the mall or visa versa is 5 cedis (GH¢) which is equivalent to one dollar US. So, we end up giving him a dash of 5 cedis. The eggs were actually more expensive.

We have eaten out quite a bit – could explain my date with Cipro, and so far our two favorite restaurants are a local Chinese restaurant and a Lebanese-French restaurant where we went for the hubster’s birthday. In both places our food came quickly; was hot and delicious. Everywhere else the normal time between when you order food and it is delivered to your table seems to be about 55 minutes – no matter how many people are in the restaurant at the time and no matter how hard or easy the dish seems to be to prepare.   Note to self or anyone visiting here, never go out to eat when you are starving or at least bring a snack to have on the way.

Life here is not all about learning patience and slowing down a bit for us Type A Americans. The people here are beautiful, wonderful, uncomplaining and kind.   The climate is tropical and reminds me very much of Hawaii. We have beautiful sunsets off our balcony every night (see photo taken from our balcony above). We even had a laugh with our taxi driver – the guy who picked us up after our failed Uber, when we told him where we lived and said he didn’t know the street. This is common in taxis here so I would not advise taking one unless you know the way yourself. We told him our apartment was near Koala Airport, which is the market close to us, and his eyes get wide and he says, “Oh you must live in that tall apartment building across the street.” I know exactly the place he is talking about – it is probably one of the fanciest places around and, no, it is not where we live. I laugh and say, “No, not there, but I wish!” He responds, “Me too, but you white people can live anywhere in the city.”   He laughs, a big hearty laugh.  We give him a good dash.