I realize that I didn’t finish up my blog, and a lot of
people have been asking me to write up something to bring it to a close. I
actually had some stuff written up that I had journalled in the last few days in
Ghana as well as on the plane.
It has been a little over a week since I’ve been back and it
hasn’t completely sunk in yet. This week has been insane. My plane landed last
Sunday, I moved on Monday, and started work on Tuesday. Since then it has been
a whirlwind of working fulltime, starting two online courses for school this
summer, and seeing as many people as I could since being back.
I am going to start with the things that I love about Africa
because these are the things that I immediately missed as soon as I was back in
Canada.
-the weather and its ability to make me a VERY brown girl!
-the laid back lifestyle...always late, no schedules
-the children: they are adorable and loving and the PERFECT
people to learn Twi from
-the people: they have such big hearts and are SO helpful
-there are goats everywhere. The best is when they are on a
leash with a small child taking them for a walk. They wander the town and they
all know where they belong and return home at night.
-the market. You can get ANYTHING there and the busy and
friendly atmosphere is one I wouldn’t miss for the world.
-FanMilk: frozen chocolate milk in a bag? YUM! We may have
eaten too many, but hey, we had to get our calcium from somewhere!
-Music. It is always playing everywhere, and LOUD. In
English, in Twi. Azonto. Sokode. They like to switch it up, but it is always
there. Doesn’t matter if the shop next door is also playing their music, and
it’s very different...crank it up anyway...
-the colours. They are everywhere and they are bright.
Shops, houses, vehicles and clothing. Colours and patterns are a must.
-Fabric. They have beautiful fabric here with amazing
patterns and colours. Going to church is the best because every man and women
is all decked out in their finest fabrics. Beautiful.
-the lack of inhibition. They pick their noses in public,
whip their boobs out in public, the crazy man wears no PANTS in public, they will
tell you they love you and ask to be your second husband when you say that you
already have one.
-they all want to come to Canada with you. Except they think
Canada is above them and in Europe...
-there sense of fashion. Or lack there of. Mixing patterns?
No problem. Wear what you want because it doesn’t matter. They think you look
nice no matter what.
-the self-esteem boost. Because you are white, they
automatically think you are beautiful. That’s right, you can drip with sweat,
have gigantic frizzy hair from the heat, smell like crap as if 2 showers a day
isn’t enough, have huge boils on your face, and wear absolutely no makeup in
town with your least favourite and unflattering outfit and you are STILL the
obruni in town and all the guys want a piece. Ya baby.
-cooking dinner outside
-being able to buy anything you want on the road from the
car because people walk around selling it from their heads
-people selling things from their heads. Talent right there.
I’ve seen huge planks of wood, buckets of water, 50lb suitcases, oversized
bowls of 150 pawpaw, sewing machines, packs of firewood, a long and giant branch
of bamboo extending 7 ft on either side of their head, purses, school books,
cases of coke for 2 thirsty Canadians, and more. I’ve seen it all.
-trotros. I love that they are dangerous, I love that there
are so many of them, I love that they go fast, I love that they pile the people
into them until literally no one else will fit, I love that you can meet so
many people from so many different lifestyles on them, I love that these
vehicles were never intended to carry people, and I love that you can travel 3
hours for 3 dollars.
-nature: lizards, mountains, palm trees, cassava trees,
cocoa beans, rivers, the ocean, beautiful waterfalls
-thunderstorms: when it rains, it pours. African
thunderstorms are the best.
-rising with the sun: refreshing, not something I will
continue when I am home, but nice to do for 3 ½ months.
-teaching: being able to be a leader and a role model and
getting to share something with these women has been wonderful
-being a student: these women have taught me just as much as
I have taught them. About patience, about being a strong woman, about being a
woman of the Lord, about being confident, and about striving to achieve all of
my goals.
-the women: they are amazing and beautiful and loving. They have
taught me so much and I miss them more than any of you can imagine. I have already
gotten phone calls from a few of them and I wish I could be there to smile and
laugh and share with them every day. They are truly a blessing.
-Petra of course: she has been my sidekick through all of
this and we now know WAY too much about the other, but it has been great and
lots of fun. Thanks, Pet!
-Auntie Joe and Akua and the Biney’s and Awu and Yaa and
Kujo and Uncle Ernest and Auntie Julie and Smart and Belinda. They have all
done their part to make us feel welcome and at home and for that I will always
be appreciative. I am glad to say that I have a pretty large family in Africa.
Leaving Asamankese was not easy. Auntie Joe was having a
hard day and seeing her cry when she said goodbye to us made it impossible to
keep my tears inside. Waiting around that morning to leave made my stomach hurt
and I didn’t feel like I was going home; I felt like I was leaving my home.
Driving with Belinda and Isaac from Asamankese to Accra that morning, it was
all that I could do to just soak it all in. I have never stared harder out the
window when I was driving. I didn’t want to forget the trees, the mountains,
the people, the shops, the children. I didn’t want to forget anything and I
didn’t want to leave it behind.
As I look back, I know that Auntie Joe was right; I went to
Ghana with a purpose and for a time. I know that I did all that I could to make
the most of my time in Asamankese and I loved every minute of it. It was an
amazing experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I would do it again
in a second. A piece of my heart will always be in Ghana and I will never
forget those wonderful people. I hope that although I am gone, they will
remember me too and that even though new interns will come and go, none of us
is replaceable and we all went there to do something different. We all make our
own relationships and we all form our own bonds.
Thank you to everyone who has shared in this experience with
me; either by looking at my pictures, reading my blogs, sending me encouraging
mail and emails, or just by praying for me. I am thankful to be blessed by so
much love and support and I hope that you were able to catch, if but a small
glimpse of my love: Asamankese, Ghana.
