I joined Unilever Ghana Limited in 2000, and moved from the Quality assurance department to the Foods department in January 2005 as a Production manager. It was 18th April 2005 and I had returned to the office after three days on a course. I opened my yahoo email and saw an email with the title “Scholarship reference Number 5869”; I thought it was spam. I opened it any way, and almost fainted! After six years of trying, I had finally been offered a scholarship for my Masters! I later recounted to my wife that, had I not been in the office, I could have wept! I wonder how my staff would have taken it! Such a wonderful feeling. The University of Nottingham had offered me a Development Solutions Joint Chevening Scholarship to study for an MSc in Chemical Engineering for 2005/2006.
From then on, I had to apply my production scheduling skills to plan my travel! And I did a lot of reading on what to expect in the UK, what to bring from home, what not to bring, culture changes, et cetera. I must indicate that the discussion forum on Chevening online gave me valuable advice as a new scholar, in my preparations. And, also, I had to handover at work, travel to Zambia and Zimbabwe for quality assurance audits, move house and do thousand more tasks! Though very stressful and tasking, it was interesting as well. Being so busy with all of that, indeed, didn’t allow me time to really think about the enormity of the move from an African culture to a European one.
I left Ghana for the UK on 17th September 2005, arriving the next day, a Sunday, at Heathrow. My first experience? I couldn’t find my friend Albert, who was to meet me at the airport! I went looking for a phone booth to call him and found out that I needed coins to make the call! In Ghana, coins are almost insignificant. Fifty cedis, for instance, may buy you only a needle! After walking up and down the arrival hall for almost 20 minutes, I saw a guy who looked Ghanaian! I was right, and he graciously allowed me the use of his mobile phone to call Albert.
Being a Christian, I didn’t want to miss church. Albert said it was okay to go in my jeans, but no! I would never dream of doing that in Ghana! So, I duly changed to a more ‘presentable’ pair of trousers for church.
On 20th September, I caught a bus organised by Nottingham University for new international students, and slept all the way to Nottingham! That week was for welcoming international students and it was so helpful. However, the free food served, especially for lunch and dinner, was another experience. Back home, any palatable food should have some ‘redness’, either the tomato stew, soup or palaver sauce. In the dining halls, food served was pale! My goodness, but it was all part of the adjustment.
Adjusting to studies six years after obtaining my first degree was difficult at first. I had to re-learn most of the elementary stuff, including the beloved integration and differentiation. And the pace of studies was fast! My only enemy has been time, but the paradox is that with time, I am settling in well and synchronising my pace with that of my studies. And I have learnt so much so far, many new technologies; I am really drinking deep from the fountain of knowledge University of Nottingham offers.
And my class! An international class in every respect, as we have no British in our class! I have not had the time and space to sample the cultural delights that this nation offers aplenty, except for a trip to York to see the famous cathedral and experiencing the Goose fair and Guy Fawkes day. My day will come! In my first few months, I was invited to share my experience as a Christian manager in Ghana during a Graduate Christian fellowship meeting and that was really cool. One interesting observation: almost everyone says “Cheers mate!”, especially the bus drivers!
With the Christmas break around the corner, I guess I can’t wait to exhale! And I look forward to more exciting times, which you can be sure I will share with you!
I will be eternally grateful to the University of Nottingham, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British Council for this opportunity – I am really loving it!
Cheers mates!
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