Changed my life completely

by Felicia Boakye (Ghana)

I didn't expect to find Ghana

Growing up as a little girl, all I have wanted to do was to travel the world. I love adventure and exploring new places to the max. All I wanted to do in the future was to travel and explore, if only if it was a real job. Most people might say they were just born that way, and others say they have to find their inner adventurer. Me, I came out of the womb holding a trail map of the whole world. Whenever I had to choose between my favorite candy and vacation as a little girl, I had always preferred going on vacation. There is no way to explain my strong interest in traveling and adventure, then, that is just who I am. My desire to travel outside my country become very strong beyond imagination. I started to research online for opportunities to travel the planet. Fortunately, in 2017, I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in a business summit organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity in UAE, Dubai. I was extremely delighted to be selected as one of the attendees to represent my country. "Oh my goodness ", I said to myself. Finally, my dream of traveling to another province has been actualized. I started my Visa application three-day after receiving my invitation letter. I processed all the necessary documents and booked my ticket. My traveling experience started right from the airport. At the airport, I encountered a lot of people traveling for several purposes, both the young and old. I couldn't take my eyes off the stuff at the customs office and immigration law enforcement office. They all greeted me with smiles on their faces. On the plane, I met a young woman who sat next to me on my right, she taught me basic instructions on how to use the facilities on the plane. She told me she was a regular traveler that's how come she could use everything on the plane. Upon reaching my destination, I was welcomed by an escort from the event. He took me to my hotel, at the hotel, I was welcomed with an Arabian dish. I took my bath and proceeded to the program. I met a lot of people from different parts of the world in the program. I made a connection with most people, we exchanged contacts and took pictures together. The program lasted for three days with all sorts of food and panel discussions. After three days, I had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Dubai. I visited numerous tourist attractions including the Buji Khalifa, the third tallest building and one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. From there, my escort took me to a very interesting place, the Buji Al Arab, an indoor ski Center amidst the Arabian desert, and world-class shopping mall destinations such as the Dubai Mall and Mall of Emirates. The next day, I went on several adventures such as mountain climbing and deep-sea diving. These adventures kept my adrenaline on the right track. A day before my departure, my escort took me to his grandmother to have dinner. Over there, they taught me the history of Dubai and also about the Arabian culture which depicts their style of living, their worship, and their beliefs. I was so enlightened by their way of life and that made me more appreciative of other cultures. In conclusion, I haven't traveled that much, however, that amount I had, I had used it in a way to explore everything in sight. After that pleasant trip, I returned home with a different outlook, new zeal, and a better determination. My experience changed my life completely. It helped me to identify my personality in a way that is possible only when one travels outside the country. THE END