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A Ghana Man’s Experience of Living in South Korea | The First Time I Spoke & Smoke Came Out of My Mouth

South Korea
South Korea

As I sat down reminiscing about the early days of my life abroad, I smiled to myself and feeling grateful and proud of how far we have come. Later I will tell you why I used we and not I.

I remember back in the days, a fresh young Legon (UG) graduate after leaving school some few months decided to seek greener pastures and further education elsewhere apart from UG mainly because of the worry of burdening my parents and also trying to avoid certain lecturers who have grown to be monarchs in some of our departments.

I went through all my options and finally settled with what I will term “The Asia adventure”. I had two reasons for my choice, one was because the fees were very reasonable (almost same fees as Legon) and the latter being that instead of me waiting for my “burger” parents to file documents and wait in line for embassies to scrutinize, investigate and torture me mentally for years to get the so called heaven ticket (visa), I had an option of starting a new life elsewhere (out of sight…).

I went through all the process of getting my visa and set off on this adventure to a place I literally had no idea of. Most of my family and friends typically of Ghanaians started saying so many things—its hell, terrible food, over populated, useless and needless journey.

I remember I was told to be ready to eat vultures, mouse….very funny if I think about it today. I think I wouldn’t blame Ghanaians for such thoughts, its just that most of us have less contact with the Asian continent as a whole.It is really important for people to really learn about other cultures.

The first time I arrived in South Korea, unfortunately for me it was winter, by then the only country I had been to was South Africa (even there it was summer). I hilariously remember running back into the airport as the cold was something I had never witnessed before. I told my friends later on that; I talked and saw smoke coming from my mouth—natural cigarette. You shouldn’t blame me, it was minus 15 degrees that day.

For a freshman coming all the way from Africa (Ojakrom) you could understand my frustration. Apart from the cold, I was like dumbfounded. Everything looked practically beautiful and weird. I didn’t see English anywhere it was all a foreign language like ‘drawing’.

The airport was super big and I was so confused as to what to do. I tried to talk to the workers at the airport for assistance but nobody could understand my scholastic Ghanaian english. That was the first time I felt like I was really in someone else’s country (obi mayin so).

I was so lucky to find another African who has been living here to help me find my way out. My first 3 days was like Alice in wonderland. In my city and university to be precise we were only 3 Africans (black people). I can recall people will stop and watch you sometimes very uncomfortable on the street.I remember during my first week I went to the bank, then this old Korean man walked to me, touched my face, skin and hair and asked whether it was real?

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The Success Story Of A Small Fishing Town In China Within The Span Of 30 Years | What African Countries Can Learn From This…

Small China Town15
Qingdao

 

How a city transformed within 30 years… they had no natural resources, all they had was the sea, through hard work and visionary leadership, it’s currently one of the tourism hubs in Asia.

The sacrifice by its citizens and the selfless attitude by its leadership brought about the huge changes and gains, today the citizens enjoy a good standard of living…

If African citizens stop blaming leadership, stop waiting for its governments to build their societies, it could see a transformation… Also if leaders could be less selfish and corrupt and citizens would vote and choose change and not political parties, then we could also be heading there.

Small China Town2
Qingdao

 

The citizens of this small city had the mindset of sacrificing for change. I was told in the early days when they decided to build this city collectively with their leaders, they made huge sacrifices, the citizens were ready to put less money in their pockets and their homes weren’t that much comfort.

They believed that once the society was getting better with social amenities and infrastructure and their environment looking beautiful and friendly their livelihoods will as well see some changes.

Today they may not even be part of the top 10 cities in China but their living standards and the place they call their hometown is worth the sacrifice. A foreign friend of mine visited 3 countries in West Africa and I wanted to know his thoughts or assertions about his trip. He asked me a question, which I couldn’t answer even up till now.

Small China Town3
Qingdao

 

He wanted to know how we voted for our leaders in Africa? On what issues do people vote? His assertion was that our homes or most indoors were beautiful and clean but the roads leading to these homes is nothing to write home about.

He wasn’t only going to blame the government but also the citizens. His point was with how rich most individuals were, if every family at least fixed the road or contributes with their neighbours to at least fix the road or street in front of their homes, it could have been a starting point for a bigger change and a way to encourage the town council or city councils to do likewise.

And the name of the small town is: Qingdao.

Check below for the photos…

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