So due to the inconvenience of posting from other people's
computers, this may be one of my last posts. I may add more when I get back to
the US, because I'm sure the readjustment to American life will be somewhat
interesting.
Anyway, I have only two weeks left in Ghana to the day. And I
can't tell you how weird I feel about leaving. There are so many things that
I'm going to miss, yet so many things I'm excited to return to at home. Get
ready for a mushy, sentimental post.
I may not have expressed many of my deeper emotions when I
posted about arriving in Ghana, but now that I'm reflecting on my experience I
feel okay sharing them now. Before I left for Ghana I had surprisingly few
strong emotions about coming. I was excited of course, and I was sad to be
leaving my family and friends for so long, but I didn't really feel all that much
fear or anxiety about coming. But when I arrived, went through orientation and
was dumped on campus with a week or two before school started and was trying to
adjust to so much change at once, I initially felt really lost and homesick. Now,
it's so hard to imagine leaving. What is it going to feel like being able to
walk down the street again without sticking out like a sore thumb? Having
access to all the drinkable tap water I want instead of drinking from plastic bags, and be able to even get hot water straight from the faucet? Having air
conditioning and bathrooms in most buildings? (And soap and toilet paper included!) Being cold in 70 degree weather? Will I
accidentally use phrases like “oh chale!” and “it is finished” and “you are
invited” or accidentally throw in some twi phrases as well, and get strange
looks? Are the African print clothes I had made here normal for every day wear
in the US? (Even if they’re not, it won’t stop me from wearing them.) Will I
accidentally snap my fingers after I shake hands with people? Will I forget to
wear my seatbelt? Will I still feel that moment of panic that arises whenever I don't have exact change? And as my mom’s been joking about to me lately, will I try to
bargain at the taco bell drive-thru? (I wish I could! How great would that be?!)
These are all things I'll need to figure out
how to deal with when I get back. Just little things. It’ll just feel
strange, but won’t actually be a problem. Also, I’m not going to know how to
answer the question, “How was Ghana?”
…I'll probably just refer people to this blog because it's hard to sum up four
and a half months by being asked just that one question. Of course it was
wonderful, but it was also extremely challenging at times, and experiencing
life in a developing country just kind of changes the way you view the world.
I've purposefully avoided that subject on this blog and just focused on my
cultural and travel experiences, but taking classes on development and hearing
the African perspective has been one of the most interesting aspects of being
here. I'll definitely take that perspective back with me, because it's made me
think about and reevaluate aspects of the way I live life in the US.
I also can't tell you how much I'll miss the
people here. I've made really great friends, which of course makes it even
harder to leave. Both my Ghanaian friends and the people I've had amazing
travel experiences with have made this all the more unforgettable. And just the
everyday kindness you receive from people you don't know. I've had wonderful
conversations with taxi drivers, made friends with vendors (my favorites, of
course, being Maame Louise and my favorite little girl named Rahina that sells
me apples and bananas at the night market), and just been shown so much kindness
from complete strangers.
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| One of my favorite views--the mountainous Volta region |
I’m going to miss how beautiful it is here as
well. Ghana has no shortage of breathtaking ocean views, beaches, country-sides,
forests, mountains and valleys. Even the cities, though not quite as beautiful,
have their certain charming qualities. (And the best/cheapest street food I’ve ever
had.)
And since I’m being completely honest here,
there are of course things that I won't miss. Mainly the oburoni comments (only
when I'm in a bad mood), creepy guys asking for your number/asking to marry you,
people asking me about my religious beliefs on almost a daily basis, people trying to
rip me off because I'm a foreigner, and never knowing what time I need to be
somewhere because the one day I happen to be on Ghana-time, everyone else
decides to be punctual. But those were all part of the experience, and are only
slight annoyances when overall, I've been extremely happy here. I’ve learned
that it’s easier to deal with frustrations if you just shrug it off or laugh,
and I think because of that I’m a little more relaxed and perhaps a little more patient than I was before.
I'm getting more and more emotional about
leaving with every passing day. I’m feeling both sadness to leave and
excitement to get back to the amazing people at home that I've had to do
without for the past few months. But I have two weeks left here, and I plan on
making the most of it. Turns out I will be able to go to the north after all,
so I'll be able to go see some elephants at Mole National Park, as well as see
the oldest mosque in West Africa, the Larabanga mosque. I also have two finals
to take before that, but I'm much less excited about those…
And then on May 27th, I'm heading home. Back in Madison by June 4th so I can start a summer class and two jobs. Goodbye relaxing
slow-paced Ghana, hello busy, stressful life back home.
Thanks to everyone who read this while I've
been away. I really appreciate the love and support you all have shown me while
I've been here, through facebook, phone calls, texts, letters, emails, etc. I
can't tell you how good it feels to know that people back home haven't
forgotten about me. :)
I love and miss everyone, and I'll see you
back in the US! So-long from Ghana! Yɛbɛhyia bio.
