We quickly learned that time operates on a different scale
than we are used to in the US. They call it “circular time,” meaning things
happen as they fall into place, there’s no penalty for something a few hours
late, or even tomorrow. Ghanaian people tend to hold more loosely to scheduled
appointments and activities, so we found ourselves with more free time than in
a typical nursing school rotation. As a bunch of type-A nursing students
trained to list-make and prioritize every minute of our days, sitting down and
relaxing could only last so long.
Our daily clinical hours lasted from about 8 A.M. to 1 P.M.
each day. After returning to our motel for some lunch and soaking up a few
minutes of air conditioning in our bedrooms, were able to spend the rest of the
afternoon on our own as we wished. This was an opportunity for us to exercise
creativity, as leisure activities for students studying abroad in a rural
African village are different than in many other cultures. It took a few days
to get the hang of it, but we quickly gained enough confidence and
resourcefulness to embrace village life and set out to have fun.
Most adventures began with an ever-necessary layer of
sunscreen, and another of bug spray before we would begin our walk outside the
motel gate into the busy village streets bustling with goats, cattle, fruit
vendors, and children. We enjoyed walking through the streets of the village
every day because we were able to see and experience what everyday life is like
for the people of Bolgatanga. Along most roads, you will find people selling
water in plastic bags, plastic cards with codes for cell phone minutes, and
various food items. The items in the kiosks seemed to repeat themselves
frequently, but every vendor had the “best” product for the “best” price, and
all were friendly to greet us visitors.
It took a bit of courage to venture into the local markets
because of how busy they are and how much we stood out, but one of the first
places we visited was a strip of fruit vendors across the street from the motel
we stayed in. Mangoes, oranges, bananas, and avocados became staple
ingredients in our diets and we returned to this little market area almost
daily.
One of our most frequent and necessary destinations included
a tiny grocery-type store that sold a variety of packaged food and household
items, mostly imported from Holland. We were always thrilled to restock on
comforts of home, like crackers, peanut butter, candy, and soda. It did not
take long for the shop workers to recognize us as their close companions, as we
returned to their business several times a week.
On days when we did not need to replenish cracker supplies,
we would walk outside the motel to hail some taxis and travel to row of craft
shops that was not within walking distance. There, we would barter for handmade
goods such as baskets, purses, jewelry, and other gifts to bring home for
family and friends. At first, many vendors would try to charge us exponentially
high prices, but as our bargaining skills improved, the sellers became our
friends and would insist on giving us “good prices.”
These few weeks in Ghana helped us to truly experience and
enjoy the slower pace of life in the village, rather than the minute-by-minute
schedules we create for ourselves at home. Though our activities and adventures
were simple in nature, it was fun for us to embrace Ghanaian culture by
participating in the same activities as people who live there.
By Gabrielle Moeller and Megan Marks
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This U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program introduces students to the core concepts of community health nursing and provides students with an opportunity to experience nursing in a developing country by working together with nurses and doctors in a hospital and in clinics, where they will connect with local people and experience their cultures and traditions firsthand.
This U of A Faculty-Led: Community Health Nursing program introduces students to the core concepts of community health nursing and provides students with an opportunity to experience nursing in a developing country by working together with nurses and doctors in a hospital and in clinics, where they will connect with local people and experience their cultures and traditions firsthand.
