Dear God,
Once again thank you for allowing me to see another birthday and another year through, especially when so many don't. Again I ask that you give me the patience to wait for the things I want in life to come at the right time.
Through your son Jesus Christ, Amen.
33..... I'm well in there now - eek!!
Thursday 30 December 2010
Thursday 23 December 2010
"In Ghana Here..."
Dear Anyone,
Tomorrow will be two weeks since I came to Ghana, and it has been really good to just do feck all. Absolutely nothing I don't want to do, all day long. In hot weather. Especially as I am seeing and reading reports of the horrible snow in london, and the disruption it's causing. I can't even imagine it right now. I know it sounds like I'm gloating, but that's because I am... Haha. I'm currently writing to you from the makeshift office I've set up outside. My family think I'm crazy, and I think they don't realise what my weather alternative is!
I said I was coming to Ghana to see what potential work opportunities there may be over here, and I have done some enquiring . It seems that if I was coming to just do an office job I'd have no problems findng work, but because I want to work in Media/Journalism, it may not be so simple. It is very 'who you know' over here, and those I know aren't in the media industry, but those I've asked all say they know someone somewhere who did this or knows that person, so will ask. Plus a lot of suggestions have been that I should work with the TV stations, but I don't actually know what I would do. It's funny though, because whenever you mention 'Journalism' to Ghanaians, they automatically think you want to work on television, reading the news. Me on camera? You're 'avin a laugh son.
I've decided to change my focus slightly though, and instead do research into an idea for a business that SP and I had a while ago. I won't say what it is yet, but I think there's definitely a gap in the market for it. So many people my age and younger are thinking about businesses to set up over here, because Ghana is growing so quickly, and I think the secret is to think just slightly outside the box.
To be honest, I haven't really decided if I could live here yet, and I don't want to find any job just because it's in Ghana, because that isn't my plan. My plan is to get some career-relevant experience if possible, maybe for a couple of months. Granted, if we were to start a business here, we'd obviously have to operate predominantly from here, but that would be okay because it would be something I'd have an interest in.
As for the opposite sex here; so far the potential is saying nada to me. We've been out to a couple clubs and parties, and the guys here are stuck on trying to look like they have money. The whole dated 'popping bottles' thing is still very much rife here. When I told people I was coming here, almost everyone said things along the lines of: "you might meet your future husband". Truthfully, that hasn't been high on my agenda for Ghana. I'm far too fussy when it comes to the type of Ghanaian guy I'd like, I won't lie. As bad as it might sound, the accent doesn't do it for me, and it's made worse by those who put on fake American or Jamaican accents! Ugh. So I've always responded with the idea that if I do meet someone here, I'd really really like him to be a British Ghanaian like myself. You also have to look out for the opportunists who lie about themselves, thinking it would get them money or a ticket overseas. Good luck with getting those from me!
But I am enjoying just chilling out here, because God knows that won't be the case when I return to London. I receive my last pay today, so the serious work search starts now!
Tomorrow will be two weeks since I came to Ghana, and it has been really good to just do feck all. Absolutely nothing I don't want to do, all day long. In hot weather. Especially as I am seeing and reading reports of the horrible snow in london, and the disruption it's causing. I can't even imagine it right now. I know it sounds like I'm gloating, but that's because I am... Haha. I'm currently writing to you from the makeshift office I've set up outside. My family think I'm crazy, and I think they don't realise what my weather alternative is!
I said I was coming to Ghana to see what potential work opportunities there may be over here, and I have done some enquiring . It seems that if I was coming to just do an office job I'd have no problems findng work, but because I want to work in Media/Journalism, it may not be so simple. It is very 'who you know' over here, and those I know aren't in the media industry, but those I've asked all say they know someone somewhere who did this or knows that person, so will ask. Plus a lot of suggestions have been that I should work with the TV stations, but I don't actually know what I would do. It's funny though, because whenever you mention 'Journalism' to Ghanaians, they automatically think you want to work on television, reading the news. Me on camera? You're 'avin a laugh son.
I've decided to change my focus slightly though, and instead do research into an idea for a business that SP and I had a while ago. I won't say what it is yet, but I think there's definitely a gap in the market for it. So many people my age and younger are thinking about businesses to set up over here, because Ghana is growing so quickly, and I think the secret is to think just slightly outside the box.
To be honest, I haven't really decided if I could live here yet, and I don't want to find any job just because it's in Ghana, because that isn't my plan. My plan is to get some career-relevant experience if possible, maybe for a couple of months. Granted, if we were to start a business here, we'd obviously have to operate predominantly from here, but that would be okay because it would be something I'd have an interest in.
As for the opposite sex here; so far the potential is saying nada to me. We've been out to a couple clubs and parties, and the guys here are stuck on trying to look like they have money. The whole dated 'popping bottles' thing is still very much rife here. When I told people I was coming here, almost everyone said things along the lines of: "you might meet your future husband". Truthfully, that hasn't been high on my agenda for Ghana. I'm far too fussy when it comes to the type of Ghanaian guy I'd like, I won't lie. As bad as it might sound, the accent doesn't do it for me, and it's made worse by those who put on fake American or Jamaican accents! Ugh. So I've always responded with the idea that if I do meet someone here, I'd really really like him to be a British Ghanaian like myself. You also have to look out for the opportunists who lie about themselves, thinking it would get them money or a ticket overseas. Good luck with getting those from me!
But I am enjoying just chilling out here, because God knows that won't be the case when I return to London. I receive my last pay today, so the serious work search starts now!
Friday 3 December 2010
See Ya! No Longer Gonna Be Ya!
Dear Anyone,
Today was my last day at work, and because it's a Friday I don't think the reality of not having to return will kick in until Monday, or maybe even Sunday night.
My close colleagues have been so sweet though, and they are really going to miss me - their words, not mine! Yesterday they presented me with my leaving gifts: a t-shirt with pics of all of us, on which they'd all written messages, and a lovely silver charm bracelet. I'd arranged for us to go out for drinks after work, but I didn't want it to be a big thing, so it was just my immediate team and a couple of the clients I got on with. We went for drinks at Thai Silk, where I was forced to down five shots (one called a 'Brain Haemorrhage' that tasted lovely but felt really wird in my mouth) and two cocktails. I should be drunk, but I don't feel it. Tomorrow morning will tell. I'm definitely going to miss my colleagues, but I'm not sad because I know for a fact I'll see them again soon. I've already been told I'm still welcome to attend the post Christmas team dinner in January, so if my team go, I'll go.
One of the security guards gave me a speech when I went to bid him farewell. "You take that baton, that beacon, that light, and go out there, and show the world what you are made of! Do us proud!" That just made me think "Wow...". I've been told numerous times how brave I am, and maybe I am, but the scary part is that people seem so sure that I'm capable achieving things that I myself am not sure I can do! The usual me would more than likely chicken out and think of all the reasons why it won't work, but it's too late for that, so that won't be an option.
Now begins the real hustle, where I have to find work of some sort to stay afloat. I'm off to Ghana on Monday to do some resting, thinking and planning, and to even network and see what opportunities they may have. Short-term though, I'm not ready to live there full time. It's all very scary and exciting! My main aim is to not go back to that situation where your whole aura goes downhill the closer you get to your place of work. We spend too many hours in a day working for us to hate what we're doing. When I return to London I want to be able to attend media events and just put myself out there as much as possible.
So please raise your glasses to new beginnings! They don't always have to start on January 1st! *Cheeeeers!!!*
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