Some pictures from the last week in GHANA

Rita, the BEAUTIFUL GIRL in the night market that I buy from everyday.

 Miss Anita, my roommate and I :)

Beautiful smile...and eye lashes.

 I love them.

 My hair braided again.

 Living the dream at Moses'

 Isn't Anita beautiful!

 In a hallow tree.

 Biking...in Ghana.

Journey to the Other Side

Sunday May 27 I boarded the plane to the DC airport at 9:30pm.  Anxious to get the flight over with...but knowing ANY FLIGHT IS WAY MORE COMFORTABLE THAN A TRO-TRO RIDE.

The plane got delayed...we did not take off until 12...yes I spent 2:30 hours WAITING on a plane...before departing.

The flight home was HORRIBLE.  Needless to say I spent the majority of the time in the bathroom.  Gaining dirty looking from the flight attendants throughout the process.  The poor person sitting next to me was a bit annoyed...but hey you can't control your digestive system.  I thought it was either all the emotions and feeling building up...or some sort of Malaria or bacteria infection.  I was not able to eat anything on the flight back.  Too sick.

I got into DC on Monday May 28...happy Memorial day...and I was hit instantly.  The smell of fresh air, cleanness, WHITE PEOPLE, and professionalism with security.  I was indeed in America.  With the Accra plane leaving late...I only had a minimal time in DC to get to my gate...so time was rushed...SOMETHING I WAS NOT USED to in the last 4.5 months.  At security they TOOK MY BOW.  I brought a bow and arrows (the arrows were checked) for my brother Graduation present...he Graduated high school the past week (CONGRATS CHUCK) and I thought I could make it up to him by bringing that back.  Nope...they took it...even though I was going to gate check it.

I made it just in time to board my plane to Denver.  Oddly enough one of the passengers was a flight attendant from Accra...and she thought it was pretty neat we were on the same plane...CRAZY.  I fight for the next three hours wanting to just be there....I was in the window seat so I had to go out several times to relieve myself.

We landed in Denver around 10am and I was light headed.  Wilder (another ISEP kiddo that studied abroad) and I got some food because both of us were hungry at that point.  I then arrive passed the security and was reunited with my parentals!!!!!!

It was great to see them again.  I noticed how they have changed...little bits and pieces...just like each semester at college...and now they could see the big changes in me studying in Ghana.

I starred at the Rocky Mountains the ENTIRE WAY BACK.  It was glorious to see them snow capped and all.  This is why I love Colorado.  No matter where I go in the world I know I will be welcomed back by the mountains (like a loyal dog greeting you at the door, but it never dies).

I arrive home and am bombarded by choices.  I have more than one option for lunch...WHAT? WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?  I present gifts to my parents and brother.  I then go to my room and sleep for a couple of hours.

When I wake up I find a dinner of steak and baked potato waiting for me.  It was indeed HEAVEN.  There are things that bother me...materialism...materialism haunts me back in the states...but the food is oh so good.

The next day...

I drag myself out of bed and go to work...for LCYCC.  The day did not demand too much and when I get home I pass out after eating some food.  I end up waking up in the night sitting on the toilet...just like the flight home...except worse.

I needed to get some help.  The next morning I go to the doctors and find out I have had a bacteria infection for quiet some time...and I got A BUNCH OF PILLS TO TREAT IT...so no more work for the week...and bed bound.

The clinic was professional, clean, full of obrunis, and so many technological resources.  It was scary, but refreshing to know I was in good hands.

Thursday May 31 I find myself in bed...eating cereal and watching my favorite television show (Make it or Break it) in a room to myself.  Resting, recovering, and reorienting myself back to America.

The last couple of days in Ghana

Wednesday May 23...Emma Schmitt flies off leaving me with all the boys in ISEP to hang with...not a bad thing...but it is hard to see others leave before you do.  What was I going to do for the next four days?

I found myself hanging with my roommate and celebrating the spontaneous lifestyle that Ghana beholds.

I decided to get my hair braided one more time.  I loved walking around for my last week getting called 'Mama Africa'....hehehehehe.

My roommate connection:

My roommate and I went out to eat together.  We treated ourselves to Gelato, smoothies, and fufu in OSU.  It was wonderful to devote the time to hang with her.  Anita is an absolutely AMAZING PERSON.  I wrote her a letter when I departed thanking her for taking care of me and being a great support system...but honestly no thank you is enough to TRULY THANK HER!

We went to Abrui and biked through the Botanical Gardens.  This was my third time there...but honestly the most calmest time.  I didn't have little kids to worry about or entertain.  Granted I would LOVE TO HANG WITH THE KIDS AT MOP AT ANY TIME...but it was nice to bike around calmly and hang with Anita.

She took me to her house.  Her mother created a school some years ago.  It started out by her just taking care of a few kids...years later it turned into a private school.  This school gives free education for those that can't afford the tuition.  Yet another remarkable person...along with Renee and Kwame.  Her house was REALLY NICE.  It was a modest place...but FILLED WITH LOVE.  I could honestly understand why Anita is such a kind and understanding individual.


Along with fabulous roommate bonding I spent some quality time with a friend I acquired...Moses.  He is a man of energy.  We got connected with him through some ISEPers that were abroad for an ENTIRE year.  He invited us to his house and we got to shove our faces FULL OF FOOD.  Dancing, wine, onion rings, cookies, stir fry...PURE HEAVEN...and with some peace corps volunteers...WHICH MAKES ME THINK OF HEATHER NEWELL LOVE YOU...and ISEPers that were left.  I learned that no matter where I end up in this world...the act of making friends is possible.  I can indeed make a support system and get shown how to live life to the fullest.

On my last day....

Sunday May 27 I set off on a journey...a journey I thought I would never end up doing...BECAUSE 4 MONTHS IS TOO LONG TO WORRY ABOUT.

On this day I avoided acknowledging leaving people until it was last minute.  I walked around Madina market and soaked up ALL OF GHANA THAT I COULD.

I’m fine.

How do you say goodbye to 55 kids that how have learned to love over four and a half months?  How do you tell them you may never see them again, but that you love them?  How do you stop yourself from crying in front of them? How do you stop yourself from crying when they start crying?  Why do we have good-byes?  Is there a culture I could go to where I could run away and never acknowledge the existence that I am truly leaving.

Today I did probably one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I said good-bye to all of the kids, teachers, and volunteers at Mawuvio’s Outreach Program (MOP).  This school was the heart and soul of my experiences in Ghana.  Every moment where I thought I was going to blow up and crash and burn from the cultural problems in Ghana, I could always turn to teaching and know that there is always tomorrow (yes an Annie reference…I know…I know ridiculous). 

I started the day thinking I will be able to say good-bye to them tomorrow since today is a Thursday and there will be school tomorrow right.  In my mind I treated today like any other day…not thinking it was my last precious hours with them.  Then, half way through the day I was informed it was…YET ANOTHER GHANAIAN HOLIDAY TOMORROW.  It is United Africa day…okay a pretty dang cool holiday…but on the last school day I could have with them. 

My outlook turned drastically south.  I found myself hiding at the toilet crying.  These were my last precious moments with the kids.  How do I use them?  How do I swallow the fact that my days are ended?  Four months ago the days seemed ENDLESS.  I was never worried about saying good-bye because I simply thought it would be too far away to worry about…until that very moment.

I spent the afternoon teaching Primary 1…the class I taught the entire semester…about washing hands and families.  Before I knew it…the time was running out…so I managed to fit in a couple rounds of “Around the World” with division…and then BAM…I was done.  We gave our last hugs.  Some cried, some smiled (like what I would have done…not really thinking on the reality of the situation when I was a kid), and some dashed away not really bothering with the truth.  When I asked them how they were, they responded with, “I’m fine.”  This seems to be the only response a Ghanaian can give.  Even if they are sad, mad, hungry, or extremely excited they all respond with “I’m fine.”

I gave kisses on cheeks and promised to call (skype) and write to them…WHICH I INTEND TO DO…and maybe…one day I will be reunited with MOP.

I sit in my almost fully packed room listening to sappy music…wondering…what’s next?  What will I feel throughout the next couple of months?  Going back to the US, going back to school…and beyond.

Thank you everyone for the support through everything and even reading/skimming the blog.  I plan on writing some when I get back…to let you know how reverse culture shock goes…and who knows maybe I will start up another blog (running blog maybe?)…or another through the Peace Corps one day?

Well…unless I have access to a computer again before I fly off…these are my last words from Africa. 

Nearing the End

How do I articulate what I am feeling?  Four more days in this beautiful country.  Alas I cannot, maybe words will arise before I leave.

Worms and Taxis

The last two days have been very eventful.  In the past month I have found it hard to find things to blog about.  I have been really focusing on my final thoughts and what I think will happen when I get back into the USA…but Ghana seems to have something else in mind for this blog.

On Saturday I woke up with a stomachache, but dismissed it because that happens very often in Ghana.  I was going to the Eastern region with Kwame and Renee to see the school being built for Mawuvio’s Outreach Program.  On the way there I suddenly realized my decision for going was completely WRONG!  When we got to the sight I had had to relieve myself 8 times in the bush, wish I brought more toilet paper.  Then we had to go to a town further into the region to pick up some beads for fundraising.  On the way there I vomited all the liquids out of my system.  Something was clearly wrong.  I was DONE WITH BEING SICK.  I felt I had done my time and I did not understand why it was happening again.

Needless to say the rest of the way back involved me going to the bathroom at random gas stations and trying to keep down some water.  And if this was not enough…a storm started to rage as we were approaching Accra. The wind became chaotic and we even witnessed an electricity wire falling down…which COULD LITERALLY KILL SOMEONE.  Trees were falling down left and right. 

When I finally made it back to the International Student Hostel, I was so dehydrated I dizzily made it up to the fourth floor and camped out on the toilet.  Luckily one of the three musketeers was there to take care of me (Emma, Katie, and I are the three musketeers because we have done everything in Ghana together).  And my roommate gave me crackers, juice, and tea to calm me down.  I was trying to decide if I wanted to go to the hospital or rough it out and see if my system would take care of the situation.  I took a four-hour nap and awoke to the rain stopping and no situation of vomiting or wet stools. 

My roommate and one of her best friends got me an anti-worm drug and I took the rest of my antibiotics I got before I left the US.  The next morning…in my stool, which was solid (little successes in Ghana mean a lot), was a long worm.

Well, that is one way of starting my last week in Ghana. This next day I relaxed and tried to study for my two last exams: Poverty and Rural Development and Islam in Ghana.  At the end of the day, to regain some energy, I went to Max Mart with Emma, Collin, and Turner (all ISEP buddies) and the tale that we encountered…was a bit intense.

So, we got a taxi, so I did not have to walk that distance (because I still was pretty weak).  We asked the driver to take us to Max Mart, which is a short drive (only 2-3 CD).  He pulled up to the Pizza Inn/Gas Station, which was half way between the two…expecting us to get out.  We told him…it was MAX MART…NOT PIZZA INN…and he should continue driving.

He seemed really confused so Collin tried to explain what we wanted as blunt as possible because that is what Ghanaians do to us…ALL THE TIME.  We told him he could either drop us off here for one CD or go the entire way for three CDs like we said before.  He was NOT HAVING IT!  He told us four CDs for the entire way or he would DRIVE US BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED for one CD…obviously this man was CRAZY!  We weren’t about to pay him an extra CD or get driven back to campus.  Collin, Turner, and I bolted out of the car as soon as possible…but Emma was stuck in a sticky situation because the driver sped up and she would have been forced to go again on going traffic.  While Turner was jumping out, his leg got stuck…but luckily he maneuvered himself just in time.  Collin and I did a fairly good job and getting out of a moving car.  Turner, Collin, and I realized…Emma was still in the car going in the direction that we just came from.  I called her and asked her to get Turner’s phone (which was left in the car) and checked to make sure she made it out of the crazy taxi driver’s control.

While this taxi driver was swerving and we were trying to exit, he almost smashed into a moto and another car…CRAZY DRIVER!

Thankfully, Emma made it out alive…and didn’t have to pay anything.  She had to walk the entire way and we walked the second half and met her at Max Mart.  We ate a glorious dinner and laughed about it the entire time.  We could have gotten hit by another car…or if it was in another country…SHOT for arguing with the driver.

Well, needless to say…the past two days have been VERY EVENTFUL with worms in my system and almost getting killed by a taxi driver.  I have 7 days until I am back in the United States and although I am going to miss Ghana and MOP, I think getting sick and almost getting killed has showed me that my body needs a bit of a break.

Lemonade Stand

When I was little, one of the things I looked forward to the most was selling lemonade in my neighborhood.  I remember convincing my mom to let me sell lemonade with my brother and sister and loving every second.  Granted, I only lasted an hour out there because it got boring quickly, but the experience with money and selling was important in understanding business and what being an entrepreneur is.  Later, I spent so much time at a neighbor's house--the Oliver's--where we played a store game.  We would round up as many things as we could find and sell them.  Some people sold newspapers and others sold random school supplies.  These days were so much fun because I thoroughly enjoyed making a "fake" profit and competing with others.

In Ghana there are little stores EVERYWHERE...and I mean everywhere, next to the hospital--three stores--next to my dorm--fifteen stores.  This market friendly environment is generally classified as a West African atmosphere.  Everywhere I go now, I can think back to my little entrepreneur experiences and relate to them...a little, but then I have a realization: these are their LIVELIHOODS.  They live off the profit they make daily, which leaves a standing impression on me.

My child's play growing up is the reality for so many Ghanaians and the sad thing is, many of these Ghanaians are children.