Coming to Liberia was my first time out of the US; therefore, I had never experienced real culture shock before. Holly and I made preparations and took all of the advice we could get before coming to Liberia in August. We were warned that “reverse culture shock” would probably be more challenging for us to cope with when we returned to the US. Little did I know that I was going to experience it long before I was supposed to.
About four weeks ago Holly and I had the opportunity to go to Ghana with Ottolee for a week. Although the main reason for our trip was to see a doctor, we were both very excited about getting to spend time in another part of Africa. We arrived Monday evening and spent all day Tuesday at the hospital. Yes, you read that correctly… we were at this hospital just about all day long. This was just the starting point of our frustration. When the day was over it was confirmed that Holly had malaria and I needed to fly back to the US for further medical diagnosis. To put it mildly, it was a day from hell.
Despite some of our frustrations with the hotel staff, it was nice staying in rooms with air conditioning and internet access. The internet access came in handy because Holly and I did not have a working phone in Ghana. I spent the majority of the next few days talking with family on the computer and trying to work out travel arrangements. Unfortunately, booking flights and making travel plans from Africa is not very easy. This was a very tedious process, which fortunately worked out fine. Holly was not feeling very well for the rest of the week, but still journeyed out into the city with us. We both agreed that the week would have been much more fun if it were not for our medical situations. We did however get to go shopping, eat at some neat restaurants, and we even saw a movie at the movie theater in the mall. Yes, there was a MALL and a MOVIE THEATER. Part of our experience in Ghana felt like being back in the US. There were paved roads, traffic lights, tall business buildings, electricity, etc. Ghana is developing country with improving infrastructure, but the poverty is still very noticeable. I like to think that my time in Ghana helped minimize the culture shock some, which may or may not be true.
When we left for Ghana I was trying to be very optimistic. I told myself that everything was going to check out fine with the doctor and I was not going to have to go home. I had prepared myself for good news. The news from the doctor was not bad, but definitely added shake to my optimism. The doctor recommended that I return to the US for further diagnosis. Needless to say, my family was in full agreement. So, I boarded a plane from Ghana that took me to New York City and then on to Orlando.
The culture shock began the moment I got into the car. With air conditioning blowing in my face, country music on the radio, and my dad and brother in the seats next to me, I began to notice the things that I have been missing for the last 6 months. We were driving down a three lane paved road, with traffic lights and signs. There were buildings lining the street with electricity. When I got home that evening I watched TV on a large screen, drank clean water, and went to sleep in a large comfortable bed with air conditioning blowing down on me. In the blink of an eye things were different. I was surrounded by all of these familiar luxuries, but all I could think about was coming back to Liberia.
Yes, there were parts about being home that I really enjoyed… a hot shower, familiar food, hugging friends and family. The problem was, I was not supposed to be home. All of those things will be celebrated in June, when it is time. Although, I still anticipate the culture shock then too. It will be all of the feelings and emotions that I felt a few weeks ago, only I wont have the comfort of turning around and getting on a plane back to Liberia. Not time to think about that yet… we still have 3 more amazing months!!
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