Northern Ghana

What a week! On Monday we headed out with our AFS group to Cape Coast. In Cape Coast we went to 2 different castles which were used as slave prisons, before the captives were sent away. The castles were very sad to be in; one room with actual ropes and shackles made my stomach hurt so badly. It was interesting to see, in depth, the slave story on the other side of the ocean. Our history classes always focus on what happened in the U.S., but of course the tragic story really begins in Africa. After touring one of the castles, we went down to the beautiful beach. A vendor kept asking for my number, but I told him I didn't have a phone. On Tuesday we went on an amazing canopy walk, and then went and had "chips" (fries) at a restaurant with a crocodile pond. On Thursday we went to several different markets. Have you every gone bead shopping in a couryard in the dark? It's quite an experience. This is our last wfeekend with our host families, and it's definitely and emotional one. Last night we did one last shopping outing with friends, and made one last batch of pancakes (Ghanaian pancakes are similar to American crepes). Right now I'm packin (keep your fingers crossed that everything fits). This afternoon we have a farewell reception, tonight we sleep in a hostel, Monday we have an 11 hour flight to NYC, and Tuesday I'm flying back to Detroit! All in all, a pretty crazy couple of days (and most likely, not much sleep is involved).

So I guess now is the time to say thanks to all the people who helped me both in Michigan and in Accra, and farewell to Ghana. At least until next time.

"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning"

"And Pooh gave Christopher Robin the biggest Pooh hug he could because he knew that goodbyes wer not Far Away"

"And you'll be with me, like a handprint on my heart... who can say if I've been changed for the better...I do believe I have been changed for the better...and because I knew you, I have been changed for good"

Babies, swings, dancing, and plantains

This week was great. One day I was in a classroom teaching shapes (1st grade?), and one day I was in a classroom with slightly older kids, playing hangman. I really enjoyed being with the slightly older kids (5th grade?), because, unlike the little kids, we didn't have to entertain them, and I found myself genuinely laughing at their jokes. There was one boy in particular who was definitely the class clown, and introduced all his classmates in funny voices. It was interesting to see the cultural differences, but at the same time notice all the dynamics that also characterize an American classroom when the real teacher isn't there.

A different day a couple of us went to the daycare (which was really hard to find), and spent the morning walking around with adorable babies. We asked their names, and one of them didn't have a name, because she was new there. I found that pretty unsettling.

We found a couple of swing seats lying in the grass, and strung them up on the freshly painted swingset (which did not have any swings on it until now). It was great to see Thomas, a little boy with huge eyes, be the first to test it out. I'm not sure any of them went back to class after that.

Saturday was my group leader Leanne's birthday, so on Friday night we went out. First we went to a restaurant (where I had a very good chocolate milkshake), and then we went out to a club to dance. It took forever to get there (there were many complications along the way), but when we finally got there it was really fun. My host brother was there (thankfully), but one of the other girl's host brother left, so everyone (8 people) came back to my house to sleep. By the time we actually went to bed it was about 5:00 am, so we actually didn't sleep much. Luckily we had the weekend to rest.

In other important news, I've discovered fried plantains. They look like bananas and taste a little like sweet potato fries. Yum yum yum!

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million"

Weekend fun

Friday at the orphanage was very productive. We painted the "cafeteria", and built about 8 benches for the previously bench-less cafeteria. Being at the orphanage can be very sad. Lots of the kids don't have shoes, most of the uniforms are ripped, there are holes in the walls and no glass in the windows (so it can be very hard to hear the teacher over the noise from outside). One little girl had a wet diaper, but they couldn't give her another one.In the day care room (which is just a room with a bunch of kids and a tiny blackboard), there were about 7 2-year-olds lying against the wall sleeping (I assume in nap time). Two of my friends and I sat in on an English class. As far as we can tell, the kids can walk out if they want too; which means the kids in the room really want to be there. Despite all this, I haven't seen one sad face there (except for a crying baby). The kids are always smiling and laughing so much.

Saturday was a lot of fun. I walked around about 3 different markets, with my host brother and various AFS students. We got smoothies and wonderful banana bread, and in the evening we went to the mall and got pizza - so good! I went to church this morning, which was really fun and interesting. I love the colorful dresses!

For everyone at the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes this week - I'm thinking of you! Eat lots of cherry pie for me.

"I believe the children are our future.

Teach them well and let them lead the way.

Show them all the beauty they possess inside.

Give them a sense of pride"

Akwaaba! Welcome!

Hi! I love it here, and we've had so many adventures already. The first adventure was coming 30 seconds away from missing my flight from Detroit to New York - but I made it, so I'm just grateful. The flight from New York to Ghana was a red-eye, but it was very hard to sleep. We were so confused about what day it was when we arrived.

Unfortunately Ghana lost the soccer game, but we got to go see the Black Stars arrive home, which was really fun (there was a big celebration). So many flags! I watched the Netherlands-Uraguay game with my host family last night. It was fun, everyone was enthusiastically rooting for the Netherlands.

We walked through the market with our group (I really like all 13 people in my AFS group), which was quite an experience. People reach out and grabbed our arms, saying "Obruni, obruni, come over here!" ("Obruni" means white person, or foreigner). The market itself was fun to see, but I'm not sure how you know where to buy something you need. We took tro-tros around, which are vans that act kind of like buses - they remind me of the Knight Bus from Harry Potter. I haven't taken one without a guide yet.

My host family is great, there are always lots of people in the house. There are several people staying close by me from our group, so they come over a lot.

We went to the orphanage for the first time today. The kids are incredibly cute. We played with them a lot after lunch. A group gathered around me, wanting piggyback rides, shouting "Obruni, me!". It was hard enough to leave the orphanage today, I can only imaginge what the last day will be like.

I haven't heard much about what's going on in the U.S. - I hope everything is going well!

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends"

Getting Ready

My name is Ann. I'm 17, I'm going to be a senior next year at the Roeper School, and I live in Detroit, MI. In 3 days, I'm leaving for the AFS Ghana summer service program. I'll be gone from July 1st to August 3rd. I'm so excited! I chose to go abroad because I think it's very important for citizens of the world, especially youth, to travel and learn about the world and it's many beautiful cultures.

I'm also excited about the work I'll be doing in Ghana. We'll be volunteering at an orphanage, working and playing with the children. I know this will be very sad in many ways, but it will also be fun. For the last few summers, I've volunteered at a summer camp for young girls at Alternatives for Girls in Detroit (and loved every minute of it). I expect my work in Ghana will obviously be very very different, but perhaps similar in some ways too.

Another important reason I'm excited: Ghana beat the U.S. in the World Cup game (in South Africa) 2 days ago(2 to 1 in overtime), to advance to the quarter-finals!

I pretty frantically packing and getting ready right now. I can't believe I'll be in Ghana in about 96 hours!

"I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within." ~Lillian Smith