Leaving home after 30 years
On Tuesday, 9th September 2025, I boarded a plane out of Ghana for the first time in 30 years. It was such a mix of emotions; excitement for the new chapter ahead, but also sadness at leaving behind my husband, my two little boys, my parents, my friends and work colleagues. This wasn’t just a trip; it was a bold step toward learning, growth and a new future.
The train ride to Cambridge
Landing at Gatwick felt surreal. My brother was waiting for me, and together we hopped on the train to Cambridge. I couldn’t take my eyes off the view; rows of quaint houses, stretches of green, little towns flashing by. I just sat by the window, soaking it all in. We grabbed some fresh croissants at the station (first meal in the UK-check) before being picked up by our friend, Papa Kojo, who kindly drove us to Wolfson College.
A city of bicycles
The first thing that struck me about Cambridge? The bicycles. Everywhere! Parents cycling with little ones in carriers in front of bikes; it was like something out of a film, and yet it was so normal here.
First impressions of Wolfson
Arriving at Wolfson, I finally saw in person the place I had only admired in pictures. The porter greeted me with kindness and even allowed me to check in early. With bags dropped, we headed straight out for errands, B&M and ASDA were our first stops. The shops were massive (much larger than I expected), and by the end of it I had already exceeded my walking target for the day.
Exploring the city centre
After a quick drop-off at Wolfson, we went into the city centre. That’s when Cambridge began to unfold its magic. We walked over a bridge and watched people rowing boats across the river, it was as charming as a scene straight out of a postcard. Lunch was at Five Guys (juicy burgers after all that walking, no regrets!), then we wandered through the historic city streets.
A rainy surprise
Just as we were heading back, the skies opened up and rain poured down, welcome to the UK! We ducked into a café for hot chocolate, laughed about the weather and made a mental note: buy an umbrella, ASAP.
Ending the day
By the time we made it back to Wolfson, we were exhausted but happy. My first day had been full of adventure, laughter and so many new sights. As I lay down that night, I couldn’t help but think: this is just the beginning. Tomorrow, registration day awaited.