My first time coming to the US took me from a girl who mostly traveled between two regions in my country to spending two days on airplanes between countries and cities, including the Netherlands. My first point of contact in the US was Providence, Rhode Island. At first, I marveled at how different I was from where I grew up in Ghana: the Spanish signs, the downtown skyline, and the coffee shops. I liked the novelty and mystery of living in a new place and made a mental bookmark labeling Providence as my favorite city. Moving into Ithaca for the fall was a whole new adventure in and of itself. The waterfalls, the hills, and the trees were something that made me awestruck. As winter break rolled by, I longed to be in a sunny area again as I was not acclimatized to the extremely cold weather of Upstate New York.
Enter Houston: my home for the winter break. I arrived in the evening, and the weather was perfect. As I was being driven through the streets, I couldn't help but notice how difficult it would be to walk from the suburbs to the part of the city with most department stores. Another thing that was very apparent through my ride was the abundance of medical service and medical research centers.
As the days went by, I couldn't help but notice how diverse the demographic of people in the city was. There was a kaleidoscope of all colors, shapes, and cultures, from Indians to Syrians to Nigerians to Mexicans. It was indeed a breath of fresh air when compared to other cities I’ve visited. As a way of immersing myself in this diversity, I set out on a mission to discover other cultures which led me to falling in love with all Indian Biryani and Mango Lassi.
During my free time, I loved to go Museum hopping. From the modern Menil Collection to the Natural Science Museum, I delved deeper into the art, history, and scientific milestones of Houston and several parts of the world.
Through my journey from Ghana to the United States, from Providence to Ithaca, and finally to Houston, each city has left an indelible mark on my heart. From the diverse cultural tapestry to the culinary delights and the wealth of educational and artistic experiences, Houston has emerged as my favorite city.