Cansu Öztürk

 1. Water İs Everything. Do not trust the water from the tap. Always drink bottled water. Don’t waste it — water is very important here. Sometimes there is no running water, only a tank. Check your tank often or you will stay thirsty. 2. Don’t Fight The Sun, Make Peace With İt. The Ghanıan sun kisses you in the morning and burns you at noon. Use a hat, sun cream, and drink water all day. The sun rises around 5:30 and sets around 5:30. Respect it — it is strong and always there. 3. Time İs Flexible Here. “Meeting starts at 10” means “maybe 11.” In the office, things can start late. But for outside meetings, be on time. Always watch and learn how people around you do it. 4. Insects Are Your Friends. Yes, there are many insects. You will see big grasshoppers flying — I was shocked at first! Buy insect spray on your first day. Don’t kill spiders, they eat flies for you. But ants… you must fight them! Use a mosquito net or you will sleep with bugs. 5. Dance! Don’t be shy. Everyone here ...

Hello Everyone It’s been three weeks since I arrived in Ghana — and it still feels a little unreal. When I first decided to come here, everyone in my life said the same thing: “Are you crazy?” Maybe I am a little. But that’s how every great story begins, right? 🌍 My assignment period is quite short — just three months — but that doesn’t matter. Here I am, living this new chapter in Tamale, Ghana. On my first day, my volunteer friends Louis and Oceane picked me up from the airport. After a short tour around Tamale, we grabbed something to eat and went to the volunteer house. Since I arrived on a Friday, I had three free days at the beginning to settle in. The first day was all about resting. Louis and Oceane also took me grocery shopping. The second day, I was just waiting for my soul to catch up with me. Whenever I take a long trip (especially by plane), I always feel like I travel too fast and leave my soul behind. When I arrive at my destination, I wait a little until my soul arrive...