These are things that will help you have a great time during The Year of Return if they are utilized in all of your interactions. They are more like frameworks through which you can mindfully experience all that Ghana has to offer.

Ingenuity

Taking a cue from Ghanaians themselves, this tip is about embracing the unexpected. If there’s a challenge or blocked path ahead locals can come up with ingenious re-routes to face it.

I’m not saying every Ghanaian is a savant. At times, when challenged we can be prideful instead of solution- seeking. For instance, you might be tempted to ask a stranger on the street for directions (you should…usually. Especially if you’re looking for an adventure) and a Ghanaian will confidently tell you the completely wrong way to go rather than confess that they don’t know. But I truly believe it’s mainly because they want to help and that they genuinely believe you’ll get there in the end even if you have to ask 3 more people along the new misdirected route.

And yet, we are also a people of makers and movers, no matter what the means (or lack thereof) are. You only need to look out on the road and witness the many sellers hustling any number of baffling wares and produce to know that we work with what we got. When things happen that you hadn’t planned for, it can be frustrating. But it can be equally satisfying to think of new ways to achieve your ends rather than giving into defeat. I must admit that for some of the tips below there is a certain amount of foresight necessary to appear flexible. #itonlylookslikemagic

If you are able-bodied, don’t be afraid to walk plenty when you can. At the more crowded and heavily trafficked December events, you might not get the door-to-door service that your footware requires. If you can, get out and walk. This is especially true in the daytime, so be more cautious at night. Walking is a great way to see, hear, and sometimes smell the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately for those with a physical/mobility disability or whom are visually or hearing impaired accessibility is harder in the city, although not impossible.

The days of Dumsor (large and erratic rolling electricity shortages) are more-or- less behind us, but “Light-Off” is still a common occurrence across the city due to energy conservation, especially in the middle of the day when people are at work or at night when people are sleeping. less likely to happen at a hotel, but if you are at an Air BnB or other type of rental, or even staying with family, be mindful of energy usage. If you get caught in Light-Off and there is no back-up generator, take in the night air and see what non-clubbing nightlife is like. Maybe have a portable flashlight packed and ready to go; or if you’ve got one of those pens with the light on them, take the time to write about how Y.O.R is treating you so far; get a local to teach you how to play ludo; or dig up one of those pre-downloaded meditations/audiobooks I mentioned in Abstract Guidance Part 1.

Be Un-biteable

* like unbeatable, but not…you get it…

If your AC or fan suddenly goes off in the middle of the night (those pesky energy outages) If you need A.C. to sleep...really there’s no judgement here. Slather yourself in some skin-so-soft © or equivalent mosquito repellant, light some citronella candles, and throw open the windows for a cross breeze. Consider packing a portable mosquito net and maybe gifting it to a local afterwards, if you are particularly worried about mosquitos.

If you’re going to be starting your Bourdain-Esque No Reservations street food challenge in Accra, make sure to pack some antidiarrheals. This tip doesn’t seem that ingenious since it's more precautionary than anything, but if you’ve ever eaten something you shouldn’t have, then you know how brilliant this tip actually is. There is so much good food in Ghana, and it’s well prepared too, but that shouldn’t mean you are unprepared. You can still be caught unawares even if only dining at luxury restaurants. Don’t be afraid to buy things like plantain chips and fruit from the road hawkers. Also, just have an extra roll of tp with you at all times. I mean it…

So many of the broken appliances and technology I had growing up would make there way to Ghana not out of waste but because 8 times out of 10 they could be revived, either to restoration quality or given a totally new life. Be on the lookout items that seem out of place by playing your very own live-action version of “Hidden Picture”. Dig deep to your inner MacGyver so that if ever called upon you can have a hairpin in a pinch. Protip: Ghana can be very hot especially if you are zipping from event to event. It sounds luxurious but you’ll likely take more than one bath a day. For me, my emergencies tend to be fashion related, so this usually means I have a random bunch of safety pins, bobby pins, and hair ties at the ready if I want to change up a look before I get a chance to rejuvenate.

So to recap, be patient and practice ingenuity…Part 3, the final abstract tip will post by Saturday night, December 21st.

~Ohemaa Serwaa

Abstract Guidance: Y.O.R Part 2

These are things that will help you have a great time during The Year of Return if they are utilized in all of your interactions. They are more like frameworks through which you can mindfully experience all that Ghana has to offer.

*Ingenuity *

Ingenuity