C’est la vie in Ghana.

Happy (late) Valentine’s Day!  I was surprised how many Ghanaians asked me what my plans were for the day…They were even more surprised though, when I told them we were having an “I hate Valentine’s Day” party…  A few of the girls and I “celebrated” with bad chocolate (there’s no good chocolate in Ghana 😦 ) and a movie we couldn’t hear on my laptop (so instead we made did the voices for the characters)…  Oh and a TON of laughs of course (:  Definitely wasn’t our plan, but as I’m starting to notice, nothing ever goes according to plan here… I find myself saying…. C’est la vie in Ghana… on a regular basis.  It’s definitely a great lesson in patience, acceptance, and in entering situations without expectations. And regardless, I’d say that’s pretty perfect for the theme of the party…

 

 

I also FINALLY made it to the farm both Thursday and Friday last week!  Which was such a relief.  Most of Ghana is always lively; full of energy and volume.  You can always hear some kind of upbeat song playing, whether it be a taxi driver passing by or a church.  Even as I’m writing this blog at 11:00 at night, I can hear a familiar hiplife song playing off in the distance.  And I am positive there are Ghanaians dancing nearby.  Did I mention that EVERYONE can dance here?  Even the little kids, which is probably why they are so good when they get older… Anyways, my point here before I began rambling (surprise, surprise), is that while I love the energy Ghana has, it’s wonderful to escape to the farm sometimes.  It is so peaceful out there and you can actually hear the breeze moving through the trees and smell the rich soil and be a part of something so much greater than yourself; something so wise and nurturing.  It was a break from the craziness, and was very much needed in my life this week.

 

The farm has completed a great deal of work since we last visited.  They have the first fish pond completely dug out and water has begun to fill it.  I can’t remember if I mentioned this before, but they simply allow the water to come up from the ground (along with what little rain there is right now), instead of spending money to fill it, which obviously is much more sensible and practical.  They also had several sections with rows of cocoa seeds planted in small black bags.  We helped continue filling bags and weeding etc.  We also continued hauling out brush from the main area which is the future site of more fish ponds, once the money is available.

 

We found out on Thursday that we get to add on an extra exciting project!  Every Thursday from now on, Jordan and I will teach short lessons at the local school about the importance of agriculture.  I think I mentioned earlier in one of my blogs that there is a negative stigma here about farm work.  It is seen as punishment, as it is used as such when children are young and misbehave.  We want to help them to understand, especially at a young age, that this is a valuable livelihood they are turning away from.  We envision taking some children as volunteers and helping them to enjoy the work.  Now, I have NO clue how we are going to command the attention of a TON of kids, or even how to get them to stop cheering Obroni at us (the word for foreigner here)… But I suppose these are lessons to be learned…Tomorrow will be the trial run (:

 

 

University has definitely been what I call “a cultural experience” here… The education system is definitely very different here.. I have had some very interesting lectures, especially in my African Cultures class.  We often get on the topic of Ghanaian vs American, since there are 5 Americans in the class. We have compared different aspects of each culture, such as values, myths, taboos, customs, traditions etc.  I have made some awesome friends in my classes and I love sitting next to them; they always want to know how things are done in America, and we exchange stories and comparisons of our cultures.  It definitely makes for some interesting class debates…

I think the hardest part about the education system here is the method of teaching.  Frequently, the professor reads off definitions or concepts word for word to the students and they copy it, word for word… Although we are often asked “what comes to mind” or what we think, critical thinking is not really encouraged here, nor is it a part of the curriculum.  I was also told that usually, exams are a repetition of the professor’s words on paper.  After attending AppState, where critical thinking is not only encouraged, but expected, its difficult to switch over to an entirely different method.  But it’s definitely been interesting to see where others stand and how they view the world outside of their country.

 

 

Life has its daily challenges here…Things don’t always, or often, go as planned.  But it’s all part of the process, and I’m doing my absolute best to treat all challenges with positivity and acceptance.  I’m trying every day to better understand the culture I am a part of, to see why things are the way they are, and to learn as much as I can about life here, as well as about my own…  Time is flying here…but I’m trying to embrace every moment to the absolute fullest.  If there’s one thing my momma taught me it’s to do just that. To never waste a minute…and to always, always, always follow your heart.

 

 

“Surrender and not knowing is a way to release our struggle.  Remember to trust that life has a flow and that everything that is happening, where it is positive or negative, is in fact completely for our highest good.  Sometimes, the not knowing is in our highest.  Take what you can from your life experiences and learn from them.  Whatever is left over that perplexes you, let it go to the Universe or your Higher Self to work through. Feel the freedom and the liberation that occurs as a result.”

Did She Rather, Find Herself.

I am not a morning person…

 

You can go and ask my momma and she will tell you, her baby is NOT an early riser… She will probably also tell you of teenage school mornings, dragging me out of bed after the 5th wake-up call and the 8th press of my beloved snooze button…

You can imagine my excitement at having a 6:30-8:30 am class…the first of three on Wednesdays…

 

So yesterday, I awoke with the darkness…I reached up for the snooze button on my travel alarm clock, in disbelief it could actually already be 5 a.m. Wasn’t I just falling asleep to the sounds of preaching and gospel from the church next to my home?  The roosters answered my thoughts, putting my question to rest.  I rolled out of bed and began preparing for a day of lectures.  Getting ready here doesn’t take so long, I should add…When in Ghana, one seems to lose any sense of…what should I wear today? Does this look better on the hanger than on me? Oh shit, my hair is a mess… Don’t get me wrong..Ghanaians are very conscious about looking nice and clean.  But the facts are: a. You’re going to be sweating in 0.5 seconds anyways and b. You’re going to stand out anyways, simply because your skin color glows in the freakin sun…You don’t walk, talk, act or obviously look like a Ghanaian… (So word to the wise, if you’re trying to blend in, don’t come to Ghana (: )

I always feel guilty for having someone else prepare my meals, especially my breakfast so early…But of course, my wonderful homestay mother and sister were up already getting ready for the day.  One of the changes that’s been weird to get used to in Ghana is essentially living in a home again, especially when you have lived on your own for four years.  Even more so, getting used to being treated like a guest has been hard for me… As anyone who knows me is already aware of, I’m a pretty independent person..I’m SO grateful for everything my family does, I only wish they would let me help them out!  They take such good care of me though, and I couldn’t have asked for a better placement..

 

I left my homestay for the taxi station with the rising sun, which I couldn’t actually see due to the clouds in the morning…

But then something happened.

As I walked down my usual path, I realized how comfortable and cool the temperature was, as the night’s sweet chill hadn’t been quite scared away by the African heat yet… The birds sang sweet songs to me as they fluttered from tree to tree.  The baby goats that live next door to my house lounged around, probably sleepy from a night of running around my house screaming BAAAA (that’s totally their plot, I know it…).  But there was a quiet calm that is rare in Ghana…the whole world was just waking up, just getting ready for the day… I said Good Morning to all my usual characters on my road.. And as I turned onto the main road, I couldn’t help but smile…  The familiar scene came to life before my eyes-a scene of color, movement, energy…people catching taxis to work, walking their children to school, vendors on the sidewalk setting up their stands for the day, people everywhere as always…but with a different energy. A new energy. An energy that only comes with the peacefully sweet and mercifully cool night…
Sometimes, when you are living somewhere for awhile, you forget just where you are. And when you stop to think… “I’m in Africa…That place on the map I’ve always stared at? I’m there…” your mind opens up and you cannot help but be grateful for this rare and precious opportunity.

Every night I close my eyes and raise my hands together in gratitude for this incredible life I’ve been given… It truly is a gift.

“The soul still sings in the darkness, telling of the beauty she found there; and daring us not to think that because she passed through such tortures of anguish, doubt, dread and horror, as has been said, she ran any the more danger of being lost in the night. Nay, in the darkness did she, rather, find herself…”

Not all those who wander are lost

“The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page.”

 

 

I need to start writing more often…So much happens so quickly and I end up exhausted by the end of the day…But the good thing is, the true core of this “problem” is merely that I am out there enjoying every second of it; and I’m pretty sure that’s the best kind of problem to have… So brace yourself: this is a long one but hopefully it will be interesting!

I haven’t been to the farm in about a week and I have been missing it terribly.  For those interested, I wanted to share a bit more about what we will be doing.  There are three separate sites for the farm.  The first is a small organic plot with several different kinds of local foods growing.  Here, there is also machinery for processing the cassava into Gari.  We will get to learn how to do this later in the season and I’m really excited!  The cassava is peeled, washed, grated/milled and then cooked/fried to produce the Gari.  There is also extracting palm fruit and palm kernel oil from the oil palm fruit.  We met some of the women extracting palm oil during our trips around the farm and they were super sweet.  The oil had such an earthy smell to it, unlike anything I have experienced though.  The whole process is interesting and I’m excited to learn.  We also saw cocoa drying not far from here.  I will take a picture soon to share!  It smells like fermentation but when you break open the seed and eat the inside, it tastes like super dark chocolate (soo good!).

 

The second farm site is the one we will be focusing our attention on.  They recently burned down everything in the site, so we worked on our first farm day to clear out all of the trees, branches, debris etc.  Jordan and I were so ridiculously filthy from the dirt and char, you couldn’t even see the tattoo on my arm…it was the best (:  Our main project will be the cocoa nursery at this site.  The NGO we are working with starts these cocoa trees growing (which take something like 3 years before they are profitable), and provides some to local communities and community gardens.  The amazing part is we will get to experience the very beginning of this process, but also work with the end result (although obviously it won’t be the same cocoa trees).  A week ago, we began filling small bags with soil for our cocoa seeds.  The Reverend (our project manager) said he wants several thousand bags with seeds our tent.  Since they had not gotten the specific bags yet, we were using water sachets (small plastic water pouches), so Jordan and I have started a campaign to save them.  Many people simple throw them on the ground here…Trash management here is another project I’d love to work on someday…it’s crazy.  But anyways…this site will also soon have a fishpond to begin a fishery.  They said they would be digging it out all this past week.  He said all they had to do was dig down into the earth and the water would fill up, due to the location.  The Reverend also envisions a bee keeping project and piggery for this site in the near future.  He mentioned he would like it to be visitor friendly, so people can come to see the farm in action.  He has a great mind for business, in the best possible way, and is always thinking of new possibilities and opportunities.  His vision is a beautiful one I am happy to work towards.

 

The final farm site is more of open fields with cassava and cocoa trees.  During the off-season, they don’t keep it “brushed”, and instead let it grow wild.  Then, when harvesting season comes, they brush through everything.  I can’t wait to go explore this area; it is so intensely green and beautiful.  Not all of Ghana is very hilly but this area definitely is, and this section of the farm extends much farther than the eye can see.

 

The Reverend mentioned us potentially making presentations for communities as part of our work with the NGO.  At first, Jordan and I both were not sure what we could share, as we know next to nothing about how agriculture works here, or even how much of anything works here yet.  But as we chatted while working, we learned more about the stigma farming has about it here.  For example, for many when they were children, if they misbehaved, they were sent to do farm work.  People associate farming with such negative emotions as these, as well as other stereotypes and preconceived notions.  People are failing to see the benefits of farming, especially in such a resource rich region, as Ghana.  As I mulled over the industrial food system and how corporations have taken hold of the majority of our food supply, I thought about the way other countries perceive the US.  Many people consider our situation superior to theirs, and yet, Ghanaians have the potential to have a true local food system, especially given the amount of natural resources here.  So, I’ve decided I want to discuss our food system and the systems of power associated with it, with the community here.  I want to help them to understand the opportunity they have in front of them with farming as a valid source of income, and a method of keeping families healthy, while connecting people to the land.  This would be in alternative, of course, to following the course we have taken in the US.

 

As I mentioned, I haven’t been at the farm much this past week.  But I have been with the University of Cape Coast, doing orientation and excursions.  There are in total about 20 study abroad kids, including our ProWorld participants.  They are from all over the world, which was really cool to meet people from so many countries.  On Thursday, we went to Kakum National Park on the canopy walk.  It was seriously incredible!  The scenery was so beautiful, and I was truly grateful to be in the forest.  There are a total of 9 bridges through the canopy.  It was amazing to be right at the tops of these trees; they are so different and beautiful here, and many of them are massive.  This excursion was definitely my favorite so far.

 

 

Our second half of the day was a tour through Elmina Castle, which is one of the original places for slave trade.  Talk about a complete turn around for the day after the morning in Kakum.  The instant we walked in, Jordan and I turned to one another and shared a look of shock.  The energy in the castle was so intense (and terrible), it felt like someone punched you in the stomach.  The whole time, we both felt like we were going to be sick, and like we couldn’t breathe.  As we progressed through the tour, they took us to the male and female dungeons and all around where people were dragged through, beaten, raped and murdered.  It was unbelievable.  At the “door of no return”, after prisoners had been held in dungeons for 3 months, and right before they departed to be sold as slaves, our tour guide had us all sing Amazing Grace.  I could barely choke the words out through tears.  I’m not naïve in thinking places like this do not exist, but I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere quite so terrible.  The place in its entirety has a heartbreaking energy about it; you can feel the pain and suffering associated with the place.  I heard someone commenting (not in my direction, but generally), that there was no reason to be depressed over it, considering it was in the past.  I suppose I understand the logic behind their words, but the fact that humanity has ever been at a point where it was acceptable to treat other living beings so inhumanely tears my heart in two.  For me, it is impossible to process the justifications those involved placed behind their actions.  The atrocities committed at this site are far too great to simply be placed behind us and labeled as past.  No, we should not dwell on what has happened, but we should treat these areas with the upmost respect and remember in grievance where humanity has been and what humans are capable of.  What’s more, we should remember what still goes on today.  Human slavery and trafficking are far from over; the reality is all too real in this day and age.

 

 

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, this Saturday, I got to attend a Ghanaian wedding (thank you Sarah), which was we decided 75% church, 25% wedding.  But it was a really fun experience and it was great to see how other cultures celebrate such events.  Then, in the evening, we had a birthday party for my brother, which was a lot of fun.  I tried palm wine for the first time, which was really good.  They cut down one of the palm fruit trees here, and tilt it at an angle to allow the palm wine to run out of the tree and into the container.  Its pretty sweet and tastes really good with (get ready for it)…. Guinness.  Who knew?  We had a really good time though: lots of laughs, new friends, good food, and beach time.  I’ve been to the beach quite a few times since I’ve gotten here and every trip has been a blast.  I’m not right next to the ocean but I’m so much closer than I’ve ever been.  I love being able to catch a cab whenever to the ocean; I definitely think wherever I live next needs to be on the ocean!

 

As you can see from this INCREDIBLY long blog,  I have already had so many amazing adventures.  On Saturday, I really started to feel myself find a more comfortable place here.  I think I am starting to adjust better to all of the changes-the heat, the sun, the food, etc.  I’ve been doing pretty well, but I felt a little weird for awhile and was worried about my anti-malaria meds.  But I think it was just the overwhelming nature of moving to Africa..hah.  No matter how prepared you are, there’s always an adjusting period.  I’m starting to feel more settled here though, and find my way around.  It’s insane to me to think I will be here for the next four months.  But I’m loving every minute of it, and am sure I will continue to do so.  I’ve made some wonderful friends already here and look forward to how the rest of my time here will go. It’s nice to have time to really settle in to a place.

 

Of course, I miss all of my family and friends a whole lot.  I hope you all know how much I love you and I’m so grateful you are all a part of my life.  I know leaving in four months will be ridiculously hard, but I am glad I will have all of you to come home to.  Thank you for your constant support in all of my adventures.  And thank you for all the messages and love I’ve been getting.  It absolutely fills my heart to get messages from everyone.  Sending so much love your way!!

 

P.S. I’ll post pictures soon!

 

“We are all wanderers on this earth.  Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams.”

Smiles All Around

I don’t think I’ve ever smiled as much as I have in the past few days since I arrived in Ghana!  Everyone is so incredibly friendly and kind.  It is considered rude if you do not say Good morning or Good afternoon to everyone, which works for me, since I am always smiling and talking to everyone at home anyways… I was a little worried about adjusting to life here, but that worry was entirely unnecessary (as I’m realizing all worries are).  I have always strived to live in the present moment, to be happy with where I am every second; I can finally say for the first time in my life, I am fully experiencing this gift.  Granted, our week has been nonstop on the go new adventures, and I know it’s always incredible when you first get somewhere, but I feel like it’s more than that.  I feel like I’ve finally reached this point, after a lot of hard work, where I appreciate all situations and send out positivity towards them.  Things will be difficult at times here, but it’s more than worth it for the experience you receive and relationships you build, as well as the respect you gain.

ProWorld has been amazing.  They are very supportive and super helpful with anything we need.  Sarah has been absolutely wonderful and I’m so grateful she is here.  Everyone I’ve met here in fact, has been truly wonderful.  All of the staff, the volunteers, and the locals are outgoing and fun to be around.  Everyone has a positive energy about them.  My homestay family is amazing, as well.  They have been so sweet and kind; I feel like I’ve been here a lot longer than a week.  Pa Kofi (he’s 7) and I have played cards or games together most nights this week; he’s really cute, even when he cheats at Uno…(every single time).  My mom is very sweet and an amazing cook-I’m loving Ghanaian food for sure.  She always laughs at me when I say medasse (thank you in Fante).  Ben is my older brother and he’s been great too.  We went out for his birthday on Thursday night, which was a lot of fun.  Mame lives with us too (she’s 15) and she’s very quiet but I’ve been getting her to smile as much as I can (:

Wednesday we went out to the farm with Reverend Dr Samuel.  He showed us all of the different sites for the farm, as well as the offices.  Everything was so indescribably beautiful; I love being so far out in the forest.  The 1.5-hour car ride is more than worth it for the scenery.  The first site is an organic farm with different vegetables growing.  There are machines there as well, for processing the gari into palm oil.  They also raise grass cutters, which look kinda like beavers or groundhogs (look em up, but be warned-you’ll get mostly pictures of them roasting on fires 😦 which makes the vegetarian super sad).  They just burned and cleared out the second site for everything we are about to start there.  I think we will be working there the most at the cocoa nursery.  They also have plans for a bee keeping site and a fishery.  The last site is more rural, but has cocoa and cassava plants growing as far as the eye can see.  It is incredibly beautiful and I hope I get time to wander a bit out there…perfect place for meditating.  Thursday, Jordan and I (now known as Jesus and Mary) worked at the second site moving brush and tree branches in the wonderful company of Reverend John and Aiya.  They were both more than a pleasure to work with; our day was filled with smiles and laughter.  Everyone has such good spirit here, always curious, always smiling and laughing.  Simplicity is bliss.

We went to the beach on Friday, which was of course, incredible.  The ocean has such a beautiful power about it, and I always feel so energized after playing in the waves all day.  Today, we worked at an impact project helping to build a clinic. We mixed cement and made bricks, laying them to dry in the sun.  It was interesting to compare the process of cement making here to that in Haiti.  I hope we get to work on the project more, so I can see more of the construction process.  All of the girls here are awesome..always kickin ass and working hard.  They all have been super sweet and very welcoming and are always there to help with anything; which is amazing, especially when you’re someplace new.

I feel so blessed to be in such a beautiful place, surrounded by so many wonderful people. There’s so much more I could write, but for now this will be enough.  I hope all my family and friends know how much I love and miss them.  And I hope you’re all enjoying the snow!! I think I’ve forgotten what cold feels like already…haha

Peace, love and many blessings.

 
“This above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

Seventeen Days…

Seventeen days.

That is all that is left before I depart for Ghana…I cannot even believe that number… Seventeen.  I knew time would fly, and I am far from surprised at that fact; I just cannot imagine how this journey will unfold in the next few weeks… I am sure once I am sitting on a plane (or rather waiting in the airport for hours), it will set in and I will have a minor breakdown/panic attack, as I usually do when I look around at where my heart has landed me, often without my head’s true acknowledgment.  There’s always that moment of, “Wow, I really did this…I’m really on my way…. Oh crap, what did I get myself into this time…”  I have a knack for jumping head first into whatever opportunity presents itself…

But you know what?  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  It has taken me on so many adventures and led me to so many wonderful people.  I can honestly say at 22, I have already begun living my life to the fullest, and have already had some of the most incredible experiences…experiences of a lifetime. And I know its only the beginning.

So as I sit here on Christmas day (or rather the day after Christmas, since it’s almost 4 am…), in the comfort of my momma’s apartment, cuddling with our sweet kitten and enjoying the beautifully lit Christmas tree, I can feel nothing but gratitude.  Gratitude for all that I have been given, for every experience I have been a part of, for every family member and friend I hold so dear in my heart, and for the incredible amounts of love I’ve given and received.  I am in awe at the beauty that surrounds me, at the gift of life itself… grateful for the human experience-for the highs and lows, the struggles and triumphs, the pain and the pure joy… grateful for the opportunity to learn and love and grow… and for the opportunity I have to give it all back in some way.  Thank you to every single one of you that have been a part of my journey… You are the reason I am where I am, You are the reason I am who I am.

So I am enjoying this beautiful, blessed moment in the quiet hours of the night, within the comfort of a loving home.  And I am also filled with excitement at the prospect of what lies ahead…at the opportunities awaiting my arrival…Filled with love and gratitude, and ready to spread that to every heart possible…