Three nurses from Ghana working at Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland were overjoyed when they experienced snow for the first time this week. Adwoa Aninkore, Richmond Koomson, and Freda Dowaah, were captured on camera dancing in delight as snowflakes fell on their faces outside the hospital’s new diagnostic and treatment center at the old King’s Hall building.

Aninkore, who recently moved to Belfast and celebrated her 26th birthday this week, said, “I felt like a child. Inside, I had that childlike feeling of joy. I was excited because I have only seen snow on TV, and it was really, really nice to see it and feel it for real. I just wanted to soak the moment in.”

Koomson, who has been in Northern Ireland for 10 months, added, “At home, it is hot all the time, and over here, it is cold most of the time.” Seeing snow for the first time was an amazing feeling. I have seen it in documentaries and stuff, and I have always wanted to see it for real. “Experiencing it firsthand is something that I will never forget in my lifetime.”

The nurses, along with 18 other medical staff from across Africa, were recruited through an international campaign launched by Kingsbridge Private Hospital in 2021. Despite the change in weather and culture, both nurses have expressed their happiness and enjoyment in their new jobs and the friendly nature of the people in Belfast.