We were traveling from Ghana to Cape Town for the last 6 days. Our
very last day at sea (Thursday) was a rough one. Our journey after Cape
Town will be rough because we will be crossing where the Indian and
Atlantic Ocean meet. So, we got to experience just a little of life at
sea will be like after Cape Town.
The sea swells on Thursday were between 7 and 10 feet. That is by
far the largest sea swells we have had to date! When the ship is rocking
this much it is inevitable that things will start to move and shift. So
it is no surprise that chairs will tip over and tables and make shift
walls will move.
Hannah, Emily, Meagan, Josh, and I were in the Piano bar ( a spot
to hang out and do homework on the ship) playing cards. A big wave came
and the ship rocked significantly and we all started leaning, well I had
nothing to stop me and I almost fell over! Luckily Hannah and Meagan
were there to stop me. So everyone in the piano bar laughed and we all
went back to doing whatever it was that we were doing.
I swear no more than 5 minutes later another wave came and we all
started leaning again only this time no one was able to help stop
me!!!!!! OMG I literally flew on the floor ( with my chair) and got
thrown almost all the way across the hallway ( a little wider than an
average hallway). I had nothing else to do but scream this weird 50's
scary movie scream the whole way down. When the ship finally settled
everyone looked to make sure I was ok, and then started laughing at me.
Don't worry I was laughing too. I could not believe I fell out of my
chair! How embarrassing! Hannah has a picture of me sitting on the floor
laughing. I will try to post it later!
The rest of the night people kept coming up to me saying " Oh I
heard about you, you're the girl that fell out of her chair". One person
even told me that she thought I was the first person to fall over due to
a wave. Great.....lol
It's Okay it happened a lot more after that, the waves got a lot
bigger and they will stay big through our next stretch at sea so I know
I won't be the last!
Friday, February 24, 2012
OMG funny story!
Ghana Days 4 & 5
On the 4th day in Ghana I went to Cape Coast to the Castles and Slave Dungeons. The car ride was very long to get there. It was 3 hours one way! We left at like 7 in the morning…gross! Once we got there though, it was something I could never forget.
We visited Almena Castle and Cape Coast Castle. These castles are huge cinder block and brick buildings that held thousands of slaves in the 1500’s. Here we were given a tour of the two castles. We were shown cells that had no windows; where the prisoners were given no food, water, or clean air. It was heart wrenching to be inside these places knowing that so many people died in these places.
One really cool thing that I remember was at Cape Coast Castle. There was a door called the door of no return which is where the slaves would go out to be sold onto ships to be taken to the U.S., Europe, or South America. They called the door this because no one ever came back through the door alive. Well, although I am unsure about the exact time and date, a very cool moment occurred that still gives me chills. Once the slave trades were ending and the castles had closed two people who had been enslaved in Cape Coast Castle had survived. These two people came back to Cape Coast to walk back through the door of no return to “return” to Cap Coast Castle. The door is symbolically named now the door of return.
Although this was a long day I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed learning about the history of Ghana. It was of great heart ache to witness this place where so many horrible things happened. This again was one of those moments when I was not really sure what I feel after seeing it all. I think that when I come back to Ghana I would really like to go again and maybe then I could better understand everything that I felt and saw.
On the last day in Ghana I went to a drumming and dancing workshop! It was so fun. I was able to sleep in for a little bit (which was nice) and then got up and ready for a day of traditional drumming. I went to the University of Ghana for this program. Here we met a man named Fred Tay and he showed us how to play Kpanlogo drums. I got to learn a few different types of hits, and two different rhythms to play. These two rhythms were so hard to grasp. Alone they were not bad to learn, but when you put them together it made it very hard to play! UGH I think I will leave it to the professionals. J
On this trip I also learned how a Kpanlogo dance. This was so fun, but again I should leave it to the professionals. The whole trip was just about two and a half hours, but it was plenty of time. I really enjoyed learning yet another dance from a different country. These are definitely things I will keep forever. Oh, fun fact I bought a handmade professional Ghanaian Kpanlogo drum! So excited to bring it back to America. I’m not sure what I will do with it, but I will cross that bridge when I get there! Lol
In all, I think that Ghana is my favorite country. I fell in love. I honestly did not want to leave at all. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunities I have had here in Ghana. I cannot wait to go back and experience more. I also, though, cannot wait to see what South Africa brings. So until then!
Bon Voyage J
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Ghana day 3
Today I went on a field trip to a school. We went to a school called Morning Star. This was a service visit organized through SAS. We left around 9 and traveled about a half hour to the school. This school is one of the best private schools in the country. When we got there we were greeted right away by the director of the school. She was a very nice woman who told us how the school was started. The school was actually started by her mother and now herself and her two siblings run the school. She said it was something that her mother was so passionate about and that passion was passed down to the three children.
Once the introduction was finished we got to split up into groups and tour the school. We got to talk to the teachers and students. It was so interesting to see how passionate all the children were about their education. Almost all the children we spoke to knew how precious education was and told us all about what they were going to go to college for. While touring the school I had the opportunity to meet a girl named Hilda. She is in the 5th grade and is hearing impaired. I was able to sign with her some and really talk about life in Ghana and at the school as a student who has impaired hearing. It was an awesome experience; I even learned a few new signs!
Another cool place we got to go was the cooking lab. Here I got to help make a dish made of rice, corn starch, and water. It was a very sticky mess that I helped dish into balls for the students to take home to their families. I also stopped in a 3rd grade class and they took a picture with my stuffed bear for my vicarious voyage project. It was interesting to see how similar yet how different their curriculum was for 3rd grade compared to America. After touring the school we got to play soccer with the kids! It was so fun. I mean, our team lost by 1 point, but the school’s team was really good. They play soccer almost every day for gym. Yes, they have gym every day!
Speaking of differences between American schools and this school; there many of them. First, they have gym every day. Second, every student learns an instrument. Third, every student learns at least 2 languages. They all speak one language and then are taught English and one of the choice. Finally, the school makes them participate in at least one after school program. I could not believe all of these differences. It is so strange to me that this is what Ghanaian schools are emphasizing while American schools are cutting them out.
Once we played soccer we ate lunch, and then unfortunately had to leave. It was a great experience. I really got to talk to a lot of students and see better what life is like in Ghana for a school aged person. Our day was not yet over though.
Our tour guide took us to a public school to see the difference. Wow was there a difference. This school did not have nearly as many supplies or teachers or anything. The kids were so fun though. We had the opportunity to visit a few classrooms and speak with some of the students. It was interesting to hear the difference of their future compared to that of Morning Star school. We only spent about a half hour at the school because our tour guide had one more school to show us.
This school is called UniPra and wow. This school was started by a man who noticed that students in his village were not being educated. The school is honestly one room much smaller than a standard classroom, divided in half by make shift walls. The students had almost no school supplies and the teachers were volunteers. This school broke my heart. I could not believe that these students were being educated with so little. It made me think about what the rest of their lives would be like. Many of the students here told us how they wanted to be doctors and teachers, but in our heads we ( the SAS students) were thinking how true could that really be? It was just very sad. SAS did collect some things for them during our time in Ghana and the tour guide took it back to the school on our last day there. I’m not sure what happened but I’m sure the kids loved all the new crayons and books they received. I just know that there has to be something more to do for them. I got the contact information for the school and the tour guide who showed it to us, and I know when I get back to America I really want to do something for this school.
After that I went back to the ship, but just for a brief moment. I had yet again another amazing opportunity. I actually got to go back to Aworesu and Refuge Chapel to worship with them! It was amazing. When I first arrived I went back into the village and met a few members who were not there the first day because they were at work. Joe told me that when they found out I had been there they were quite upset that they had not been there to meet me! I couldn’t help but laugh a little at that thought. Here I am just a girl from a small town and all of these villagers want to meet me! J The village looked so different at night. While I couldn’t see anything, the village was full of life. There were people everywhere, fires, the smell of people cooking; it was such an awesome experience to see the village in two different times of the day. Once I met some other members Joe took me up to the church where we were greeted by his wife and the wife of the pastor. While the guys went to figure out why the generator wasn’t turning on the ladies tried to teach me some African drumming and dancing, and I should definitely leave the dancing to the professionals! I mean they were laughing out of good fun because I was laughing at myself, but it was just hilarious.
Before I knew it the service was ready to start. I sat up with Joe so that he could translate what we talked about in this bible study. There was singing, a small sermon on the word of God, an offering, and a closing song or two. It lasted about an hour and a half and it was one of the coolest things I have ever had the pleasure of participating in. At the end of it everyone came up and embraced me thanking me for coming back. I was able to speak with the villagers on a broader basis with the help of Joe. When it was about time for us to go I took a picture with the whole congregation that I had worshiped with, and then one with the pastors of the church. As I got in the cab people were still coming up and saying goodbye for the second and third time. It was so difficult to leave; I just wanted to stay longer. As the taxi pulled away I could see the faint motion of everyone waving goodbye to me. It was such a surreal moment. I could not believe that I had just had this experience.
Again, I’m still processing and figuring out what I’m feeling so I apologize if this part seems a little distant. This was just something very personal to me and I want to keep some of it that way while other parts I want to save for when I return. If I tell you everything now I will have nothing to tell you when I get back! Lol Honestly, I don’t think that I will ever be able to find the words to express how this experience made me feel. I can say that it changed my life (which it did) and I can say it was awesome (which it was) but none of these feelings really portray what I am feeling on the inside. I just hope that when I get back I will be able to better articulate how I felt in this situation. For now all I can say is that I have made many lifelong friends in Ghana and I cannot wait until I can return. I want to stay an active part of this community that I have fallen in love with. I left a piece of myself there and I look forward to the day that I get to go and get it back.
Ghana Day 2
The second day I was in Ghana it was Valentine’s Day! So HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!!!! I got to spend the day with my awesome roommate Hannah. Well, first we decided to sleep in. We were in no rush. We just wanted to spend the day together with no agenda or schedule really. When we finally decided to leave we actually met up with two of our other friends who had the same idea we did, Kadian and Cole. So, the four of us got to spend a girl day together!!!!
We first had to negotiate down our taxi ride into Accra. When we finally agreed on a price we took the almost hour car ride, due to traffic, to Mahkola Market in Accra. This is a local market that is for both tourist and locals. It was so strange to see tourist items like masks and beads right next to fresh fish and pig hooves. It was so interesting! This was definitely a culture shock to many of us. Many of the people were very pushy; constantly placing items in your hand and expecting you to pay for them. After we spent some serious time looking around we decided to head out of the market and go to the National Theatre.
One thing that we all noticed in Ghana was that there are almost no street signs! This made it very difficult to look at our map to figure out where we were going. Not having street signs also made us have to stop more frequently to ask for directions which made us a walking target for people to try to sell us things. I found myself thinking goodness I just want to get where I’m going. Life in America is so fast paced that when I arrive in a country that moves at a more relaxed pace I find myself getting inpatient. This is something that I really worked on in Ghana. I just had to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds that I was experiencing. I mean when will I get to come back? Well, after many wrong directions we ran into another family from the ship who was going to the same place and they actually knew where they were going! So we all joined together and arrived at the national theatre! Wow, this place was beautiful!
The theatre architecture was influenced by Chinese design, however, the inside was an artwork gallery of the history of Ghana. A very nice man named Charlie gave us a tour and even showed us the inside of the auditorium. Wow, this auditorium holds 1,500 people. Imagine Memorial Hall, but twice as large. One person on stage looked like an ant. We got to spend over an hour in the theatre looking at all the artwork and asking questions about the theatre and Ghana. When we finally could not think of any more questions to ask we thank Charlie and began our journey outside again in search of the Cultural Center.
After we finished playing Frogger with the traffic we finally managed to make it to the Cultural Center. Right outside the Cultural Center we met this wonderful vendor. This lady was so kind and her artwork was so beautiful!!!! She was so nice and we really got to speak with her and how she makes her artwork. We spent almost 20 minutes with her and when it was time to go she stood at her vendor spot and waived goodbye to us as we walked into the Cultural Center.
The Cultural Center was insane! The vendors there were over bearing. They all called us “my sister” we were “family” until we didn’t want to buy anything from them and then we were just “another tourist”. It made it difficult to really talk to anyone. The few things that I purchased there were absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to get home to show people. Some of the stories I heard about the artwork was really cool too. I enjoyed hearing what each sign meant and where, if I were to buy something, I would put it in my home to get the most out of what each sign meant and such. The Cultural Center was almost like a fort. It was a 3 and ½ sided building (really like a fort). It was an off white building. It was so strange because it looks like a tourist attraction, but there were many locals there also. After a good amount of time at the Cultural Center we decided we wanted to check out the mall.
Now, before you think I’m crazy my friend Cole needed to go for her Economics class. We thought it would be cool to see how a mall in Ghana was different from those in America. They had a lot of similar stores, but everything was more expensive. One store that I saw was a teacher store. It was so interesting to see how similar the items in the store were compared to that of a store like this in America. The prices were way more though. It was still very interesting to see. Another interesting store in the mall was a grocery store. Imagine putting a smaller version of Wal-Mart in the Dayton Mall; that’s kind of what it was like. I was able to get some chocolate made from Ghanaian coco. It was delicious!
After we did some shopping we were pooped. It was almost 6pm by this point. The group of us came back to the ship and grabbed some dinner, took showers (it is so muggy here you are literally sweating from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed!) and watched a movie. I know it doesn’t sound very exciting, but after a day of being addressed by vendors we were exhausted.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ghana Day 1
**I just want to say before you all start reading this that while I love sharing my experiences with you there are some things that are personal or some things that are so difficult to comprehend that I cannot express all of my thoughts and feelings with you. This is one of those times. This experience has changed my life and I’m still processing. **
On my first day in Ghana I got to experience an opportunity of a lifetime. In Greenville First United Methodist Church, my home church, has a sponsorship with a village in Ghana. This village is called Aworesu. In this village our church actually helped build a church. So, while in Ghana I decided to visit this village and see what exactly my church has done.
I was able to get in contact with a pastor of the church, whose brother lives in Ohio, to take me to Aworesu and visit. On that first morning, I met Joe, my contact, at the port and together we traveled over an hour to Aworesu. While on the way I was staring out the window just soaking in everything around me. I could not believe all the people and buildings around me. Now, when I say buildings I really mean more like shacks. These shacks were 3 sides made of various scraps of wood found anywhere from the trash to random pieces from other structures that had been torn down. There were many people who were selling things on the street. I was in awe of the women and even some of the men who could carry things on their head. They were carrying jugs of water, trays of sunglasses, baskets of fruit, and anything else you could think of. It was so strange. I mean you read about it in books, but it is something totally different to see it in person. One part of the trek was very strange. There were many toll roads, however, the places where the toll roads were was where the roads seemed to be in the worst condition. In fact, there was a stretch of about 10 miles or so where the road, the barriers, and the sidewalks were all this strange orange-stardust color from the dirt. I actually didn’t even realize that was in fact what it was until almost the very end when I asked if the stone was something native to Ghana and Joe said no it was all man made. Then I began to see and then I thought oh duh!!!!! There was a thick layer of smog and dust in the air.
In general I had so many thoughts going through my head. Even now I have a difficult time comprehending all of the sites that I saw. I cannot even begin to explain the heart ache, pain, and helplessness that I felt. Not necessarily helplessness for myself but the helplessness that I want to help them but have no way and no understanding of how to help.
Once I arrived at the church I was immediately overjoyed by what I saw. Oh my goodness, it was beautiful! I mean this was no Sistine Chapel, but this church was beautiful. I think that much of the beauty came from the feeling of God that you could immediately feel as we got out of the car. I could definitely feel the Holy Spirit everywhere. I got to take pictures of the church, the sign, and everything around it. I could not believe that this was really happening to me. I almost felt like I was in a dream world. The church was made with cinder blocks, has a dirt floor, tin roof, and glassless windows. There were about 8 pews or so, an old desk and chair, and a vibrantly painted poster of Passover hung on the wall. That was it, and that was all it needed. You could feel God working in this church, and you could feel that God’s work was being done here and in the surrounding area. The church is only about 200 feet off the road. It has a dirt path cleared from the road, and the rest of it was surrounded by bushes. I now understand why this village is said to be “in the bush”. It was incredible to see the vision on Joe and Pastor Eric’s faces as they described the next steps in this project. I think one of the most incredible points I understood was that the Refuge chapel is an under construction working chapel. I love how the church members don’t mind the fact that it is not finished. All they want is a place to worship the Lord and now they have it!
Once we saw the church, Joe asked if I wanted to go into the village to meet some of the church members. Of course I said yes! We started walking down the dirt road and turned into a little area with just one or two houses. Joe introduced me to the Village Chief who watched over the whole village. I had to ask permission to enter the village. Once Joe explained to the Chief who I was and what I was doing he embraced me in a hug and opened his arms wide welcoming me to the village. We then continued our journey into the village. As we walked into the village I tried to take it all in. The village was surrounded by coconut trees, bushes, and other various trees. I could see some tips of homes through breaks in the trees. Walking in I could hear the sound of children laughing. I could vaguely see children running around at what I thought was a school.
I was able to meet about 20 or so members of the church and other village members. Everyone was so nice and welcoming to me. I was able to tour almost the whole village. While touring around one of the members offered me fresh coconut water. It was delicious. Although I have never been a big coconut fan I LOVED this coconut! While I was eating the coconut I was able to play with the children. I think one of the funniest things was when I was trying to speak with the children. The children just started laughing at me because they thought I could not speak at all simply because I couldn’t understand or speak Ewe.
I then went to another village to meet Joe’s family. It was incredible! It was so nice to see and meet the people who have shaped his life. It was a great pleasure to meet them and hear a little bit about life in another village.
After that I went back to the ship and thanked Joe for the opportunity he had given me in seeing this village. This was one of the best experiences of my life. I was really impacted by what I saw and experienced. I’m still processing all of the feelings that I experienced. I do know though that when I return to America this is something I will definitely want to talk about with First Church.