The process of cultural assimilation can vary in each individual. Ghana is a pretty special country when it comes to their traditions and ceremonies, but most of all it can be a bit overwhelming adjusting to a new way of life. Here’s a comprehensive guide to adapting to Ghanaian lifestyle.
How to adapt to the Ghanaian lifestyle
Each new country you live in, will influence you inside and out. Some people will take longer than others to adapt to a new country, a new culture and a new way of life. It can change little things like certain expressions, the way you use your accent and even the choices you make, but moving to Ghana will affect the way you see and approach life.
Start using the local lingo
Communication is key and sooner or later you can expect a cultural shock as you encounter completely new and different slang words and expressions such as “im coming”, “small small” and the most popular one, “chale”.
The more time you spend with Ghanaians, the faster these kinds of expressions will start integrating into your vocabulary. In no time, you will find yourself speaking like this in Ghana and even when you go back home replying to your friend with a, “yes/no, please”.
Have your clothes tailor made
Soon, you’ll realize that you can have the experience of having clothes made and tailored to your shape (even at a much cheaper price!), and now you even prefer to get clothes made rather than buying clothes from clothing stores. Batik, Kente, and African print fabrics will be your new best friends!
If you usually wear plain coloured clothes or prefer darker colors, a great way to immerse yourself in the ghanaian lifestyle is using a wider variety of colors, even brighter colors you never imagined you would wear! Not only that, but you have started to integrate patterns and bolder designs!
Shop from your car seat
We have already seen that Ghana has a few phenomena that you would only witness here and shopping from your car whilst stuck in traffic is one of them. (Yes, traffic in Accra can be very heavy and hectic). When you get used to it, you might even save a couple of trips to Maxmart or Shoprite.
It has even gotten to the point that you have been hoping to find a specific product whilst being on the road just to avoid that trip to the supermarket!
Introduce yourself with your week name
When meeting a Ghanaian, you can introduce yourself with your day name rather than your real name. Even when you meet someone new, you know their day’s name based on what day of the week they were born on.
Pepper in your dishes
Jollof rice
The first time you arrived in Ghana and realized how spicy the majority of their food is, you either loved it or hated it. For those of you who loved it, now the pepper is almost like a must even in your dishes back home. For those of you who hated it, you are starting to love it or not mind it. You may have even started to ask for that extra side of shito.
Introduce fufu and jollof in your diet
You go back home for holidays and after a couple of days find yourself craving for some typical Ghanaian dishes. Your idea of a snack has switched from a packet of crisps or biscuits to banana with peanuts or some Ghanaian vegetarian dishes. You would even pick a local ghanaian joint over an international restaurant or a when in Accra
Start using local Ghanaian beauty products
You used to follow a 10-step skincare routine, using some fairly expensive products from multinational skincare brands. Since you discovered shea butter, coconut oil, African black soap and a couple of other health & beauty products, your skincare routine has changed and you have started to show more appreciation towards more natural remedies and products.
You have even started to search for more natural remedies to treat mosquito bites.
Learn to survive harmattan season
Before landing in the African continent, harmattan was a foreign word. Now you are aware of when harmattan season happens, you know what it is, how to prepare for it and how to survive it.
Support the local economy
When buying conventional products such as chocolate, fruits or peanut butter, you will prefer to go for local chocolate brands (made in Ghana) rather than a kit kat chocolate bar for example. You would buy fruits or peanut butter from the local road seller. You would buy your kids a Fan Milk ice cream from the man who comes around the neighborhood on his bike rather than an ice cream from the mall.
Buying your daily dose of fresh coconut water from the local roadside seller is now also part of your daily routine. You have also started to support local artisans by ordering handmade furniture pieces from them rather than buying them from home decor shops.
Learn to adapt to hot weather
Living in eternal summer has become the norm. Once the temperature drops a few degrees below 30, you grab your jacket and go for jeans rather than a summer dress or some shorts.
Come to terms with “Ghana time”
When a Ghanaian tells you “I will be there in 5 minutes” you know that is at least another 30 minutes. You have come to accept and understand the concept of Ghana time and no longer get angry at people making you wait. You rather know how to calculate your arrival time in Ghana now!
Learn all about Ghana and the Ghanaian lifestyle following the latest trends, news and information about Accra and Ghana. We’re Green Views Residential, a stunning property in the heart of the Airport Residential Area, featuring 28 luxury apartments for short or long term stays.
