'Greetings from Abroad' - Aqweci

It’s been a long time since I did some public speaking, it’s been donkey years since my fingertips touched a keyboard, it’s been a while since my thoughts filled a canvas to connect with you, dear reader.

It’s been three months since I migrated from Ghana to the United Kingdom. In a usual Ghanaian fashion, I have to brief you about how I’m faring.

Well, I can’t give a perfect answer if anyone should ask me how I find my new home and how well I’m fitting. I guess it’s due to the fact that I killed all expectations before embarking on my journey. It’s as though I came with a blank sheet, waiting to fill it with ink of words that explicate the experience. In a nutshell, I’m doing well; adapting to the new environment, and life learning never stops.

Frankly, I’ve been having a lot of thoughts lately. The prime thought has to do with why people travel overseas. I mean, people are born into a country where they’re raised and spend a good part of their lives there, so why would one risk everything to walk a path that may cost an arm and a leg? There must be something missing. What is limited to abroad only, that majority of Ghanaians chase? Ask everyone, and the modal answer you’d have is, for the search of a better life. This statement is too broad and unspecific, hence I’d be breaking it down later in the article.

Sometimes I wonder who wrote the brainwashing curriculum of abroad being a better place than my homeland. The person did a great job, as we’re fed with this idea from infancy. As kids, we keep clothes gifted to us by relatives from overseas for special days. We’re convinced that anything abroad is better than what we have in Ghana. Realists know that this concept isn’t entirely true.

To make it easily understandable, I’ll base my discussion on Abraham Maslow’s theory of needs. The American psychologist proposed a theory that there are some needs that leads to fulfillment of mankind. In a hierarchy, he explained these involve physiological, safety and security, social belonging, self-esteem and self-actualization needs. These needs encompass whatever reason one would put all hopes in making it elsewhere from home.

A better life may be anything at all. It may be greener pastures, avoidance of life pressures, or even entertainment. So what do people actually mean when they claim they seek a better life?

Physiological Needs: These needs comprise of the basic things man needs for survival, i.e. food, water, sleep/rest, good health and sex. I thought this wouldn’t count as a reason why someone would travel abroad, considering Ghana been an agricultural state, till I asked a full grown adult why he thinks UK is better than Ghana, and he legit said in UK, with just 2 pounds, one can purchase enough food to fill the belly. Some Ghanaian immigrants cherish McDonald’s, Nando’s and the like over the nutritious food we have in Ghana. The fact on the ground though is African foods cost quite much in UK than the British pop foods.

I haven’t experienced much of the health system here, but I know basic healthcare scheme is referred to as General Practice (GP). Each inhabitant is registered, and a team of health professionals (doctor and nurses) are committed to the inhabitant. Once you fall in ill-health you can book an appointment with the GP and seek health assistance, hence less queues. On the other hand, depending on the bookings list, one may have to wait for a long time, say a week to get a fixed appointment.

Safety and Security Needs: This involves personal, emotional and financial forms of security, and safety against accidents, illnesses, etc. Amongst these, the most outstanding and arguably the major reason why people travel is to seek for financial security. In Ghana, there are less jobs, and the average salary is not enough for most. It can sort out one’s basic daily needs, but leaves little for attaining higher heights in life. Unemployment rate of UK is 3.8%, and the national minimum wage is currently £8.21 per hour for workers who are 25 years and over. This means if you’re a working individual you don’t get paid less than this amount in an hourly fashion. There’s definitely better hope for Ghanaian immigrants to save up enough to afford things they seek.

Depending on one’s personality, some immigrants trade this for their emotional security ¾ feeling vulnerable or inferior, threatening one’s ego. This is because we’ve been conditioned to think the white man is a better person.

Social Belonging: Abraham Maslow believes that humans need a sense of belonging or acceptance among social groups, e.g. religious groups, fun clubs, associations, workplace, etc. The reality is most immigrants suppress this need as it’s hard to find. In Ghana, I could walk to a neighbour’s house and have a conversation. In UK, you’d be lucky to find time to do that, and even luckier if the person you aim to visit is not at work and ready to accept you. The mentality is they came to work, and life becomes all about work. Don’t get me wrong, people makes friends, actually a lot, but the social belonging culture in Ghana is way better than what you find abroad. In Ghana, we live in lovely communities, we’re all friends, and each person knows everyone. Here, everybody is too busy for that, as immigrants become paper chasers, and everything else matters less.

Self-Esteem: As humans grow, we get concerned about getting recognition, status, importance and respect. The opposite of this is inferiority complex. Ghanaian immigrants don’t care about self-esteem, it seems as an unattainable desire for them. They don’t even push themselves to their full potential, due to fear they build within. They do well to mingle with white co-workers, party with whites and even engage in sexual relationships with them, but still have a dint of inferiority. An average Ghanaian immigrant sets boundaries of not going toe-to-toe with white giants, in terms of business, positions and what have you.

Self-Actualization: This is the realization of a person’s full potential. There are many Ghanaians who leave Ghana with this mentality ¾ on a quest to reach self-actualization. In reality, it’s only easy to think it. Basically, people get paid (as in job salary) for solving problems. The more complex the solution is, the more salary you get. In UK, almost every occupation requires a form of accepted academic qualification. Many Ghanaian immigrants lack these qualifications, hence they’re left with the jobs which don’t need such requirements, and mostly involve physical activity. Once a person is able to secure a job, no matter how low it will place him/her on the social radar, many get addicted to the salary and stick, abandoning their self-actualization dreams. People don’t mind doing a job they hate for the good part of their lives.

In summary, both UK and Ghana are good places to live. If you’re doing well in Ghana, that is if you earn enough income and you’re comfortable with the system, I don’t think it’s so important to travel and live abroad. If you convince yourself of a tangible reason to embark this journey, that’s fine.

Generally, there are some things that are better in Ghana than abroad, and vice versa. When I remember how we were made to think that the weather abroad is better, I despair. I wish we could export Ghana’s weather to UK. How we live as a family in Ghana, and our fear of God is better. Our food is more nutritious and safer health wise. We have better emotional security ¾ less depression and suicide, as Ghanaians take boiling issues lightly and reserve space for humour always. Rent and housing is more affordable in Ghana; rent in UK takes about 40% of an average person’s monthly salary. We have better social belonging culture in Ghana, and it’s easier to attain self-esteem in Ghana.

On the flipside, UK has a working system ¾ you don’t need to pay bribes to get things done, things are quite transparent. Their time culture is better, and food is cheaper. They have good benefits that cater for childcare, widowhood and even job seeking.

This will definitely not be the last time you’d hear from me. I’m still the same person, just a better version of me. Remind me in your prayers as we all embark on this journey called life. Until the next time, shalom!