The End

So my time in Ghana has officially come to an end. Thank you for reading this blog and being interested in my little stories. Feel free to follow my other blog where I write about the latest things I'm working on or discovering. I am also working on my website, so be on the lookout for that!

For now I leave you with this video I edited about my trip, I hope you enjoy it!

The Journey Home

            I left Accra Friday night at 10:40pm. Now, twenty-two hours and one connecting flight through London later, I am sitting in the Miami Airport waiting for the next leg of the journey. Due to a delayed departure from London, quite some time in immigration, and Taca’s inability to let me pre-check in to my flight online, I am now waiting to get on a plane to El Salvador instead of the one going to Managua. In El Salvador I will board the plane for Managua. I am not a frustrated traveler by any means, and although it’s been almost a whole day, I’ve barely had any sleep, and I’m sweaty from running (ok… speed walking) through the Miami Airport, I am just happy that Lord willing, I will be home soon (even if it’s like 4 hours later than previously planned)

            The reason I haven’t slept much is because I was distracted by the British Airlines in-flight entertainment. I opted to watch a total of 6 movies, and a couple of T.V. shows (during two long flights) instead of sleeping. Of course my body did succumb to a couple of naps, but not very long ones. Soon I can sleep it off in the comfort of my bed after an awesome Nicaraguan welcome meal prepared by my grandma!

Update

Esther got her visa! Not that I ever doubted she would. Watch out U.S.A. here comes Esther!! The first Global Mamas to go to the states!

One more night

           I'm laying on the top bunk in one of the rooms in the volunteer house in Accra. I've really missed Cape Coast being here. I just finished editing the video I've been working on about my two months here in Ghana. Although working on the video made me miss everyone in Cape Coast, I have finally come to feel ready to go back home. Not because I don't like it here, but simply because I'm ready for some Nicaragua time before going back to Savannah for a crazy busy Fall quarter.
          I did get a pleasant surprise on this my last night in Ghana. Esther, one of the first Global Mamas and dear new friend of mine from Cape Coast came to spend the night in the house and is staying in my room. She is in Accra to go to the U.S. embassy early tomorrow morning to interview for her visa. She has been invited to a fair trade conference  in Minnesota in September. She has also been invited to be the keynote speaker at this conference. Global Mamas has helped her and inspired her so much that she has started her own NGO as a vocational school to teach people who lack of means certain skills, like sewing, that can help empower them and their families. Among the many documents Esther is taking to her appointment at the embassy, are photographs of her with George W. Bush when he came to Ghana and visited with Global Mamas. A picture of George W. Bush hugging Esther made it to the front page of some local newspapers. Renae was telling me that the ex-president also quoted Esther in one of his speeches. So I'm praying that the Lord will see this work to completion and allow Esther to get her visa so she can visit the U.S. for the first time and attend this conference.

                                                      With Esther and Sophia

Krobo bead market

Krobo is about 2 hours away from Accra so Renae recommended we go check it out today because Wednesdays and Saturdays they have the bead market. So after one taxi and two tro-tros later (and A LOT of sweating as well) we finally made it. The actual time spent in the bead market was about 20 minutes. Then we found a tro to take us back to Accra. The ride back was even hotter, but it was pretty cool to get to see the bead market.

Parting is such Sweet Sorrow

Yesterday I said goodbye to the Global Mamas crew in Cape Coast and all the beautiful people I met and have come to love. Last night, Aba cooked a delicious goodbye meal, no, feast! We all sat down together at the dining table and enjoyed rice and beans, spaghetti with shrimp and lobster, kelewele (ripe plantains), beef stew, and cake and cookies for dessert. This morning they gave me a strip of kente cloth as a parting gift from the family. Then we took pictures (it was very sweet of Aba because she hates photos), I hugged Aba goodbye, and Wallace drove us to the STC bus station. I love that God gives me families wherever I go, but it never gets easier having to say goodbye. So it came to time to say goodbye to Wallace as well, but it is nice to know we will definitely keep in touch and that I also have a mother and father in Ghana. I will be in Accra the rest of the week briefly working on a project as well as doing some last minute exploring.

With the Global Mamas crew

I told them to look sad. Of course they were goofy.

With Wallace and Aba in front of the house

                                          

Top Ten

The following are in no particular order.


Top ten things I will miss about Ghana:


1) The Global Mamas I met and worked with
2) My co-workers
3) Eli, her delicious food, and her wonderful smile
4) The Red-Red lady
5) How safe it is
6) Friendly and helpful people
7) Groundnut soup
8) Saying hello to all my friends in the neighborhood
9) My Ghanaian family and Angelina.
10) The children


Top ten things I won't miss about Ghana:


1) Public Transportation (nothing wrong with it, I just really like driving)
2) Having dirty feet
3) The smell of the open sewers
4) The lack of milk
5) Sweating
6) Men telling me they "love me" and they want to be my "friend" or flat out marriage proposals
7) Cold showers
8) Public toilets
9) Slow internet
10) Being called an Obruni (White person)




Top ten things I'm looking forward to:


1) Driving
2) A hot shower
3) Clean feet
4) Ice
5) Churrasco or Carne Asada
6) Nicaraguan cheese
7) Italian food
8) A washing machine
9) Family and friends
10) High Speed Internet