Real Life

Real life is realizing mango season is over and wishing you had eaten more.
Real life is meeting up with friends at Spikes Bar on a Friday night.
Real life is marking creative art exams with a constant smirk on my face as some of their answers are hilarious.
Real life is countless hours flipping through a guidebook knowing you're in a country where nothing goes as planned.
Real life is being incredibly proud of yourself for bargaining down the price of leggings to 12 cidis, knowing that you're probably still being ripped off.
Real life is panicking as the last 5 minutes of time at the internet cafe ticks down.
Real life is sending a text to my roomate "You home yet?".
Real life is seeing the young kids run to greet me with their never-ending enthusiasm.
Real life is seeing a student in town and being greeted as Madam Sarah.
Real life is sleepovers at Timoskay, laughing at the stupidest things.
Real life is getting back to my pink house and being grateful for my host-sister's delicious cooking.
Real life is a taxi ride through town, with the music blaring.
Real life is a walk though market circle, which seemed so overwhelming at first, but is now normal.
Real life is picking out colourful fabrics and getting a dress sewn for you.
Real life is the laughter of a Ghanaian at my limited Fante, but always in good humour as they appreciate the effort.
Real life is occasionally going to bed at 7:30 just because the powers out and there's nothing to do.
Real life is sitting on a stone wall by the beach with a friend on either side, toes dipping into the ocean.
Real life is enjoying a FanChoco on a hot afternoon.
Real life is full of small challenges, all getting dealt with one by one.
Real life is the smile of a stranger, the wave and hello of a little kid.
Even though I'm in Africa, it's still real life.