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Writing a blog about my experiences in Africa seems weird to me. I did so much there and there is so much to say about all that, but it’s odd to be writing about it from my own house in America. The things that happened don’t really seem like they happened to me. I don’t feel like I said good bye to Charles and Nat just 34 hours ago, it seems to me as if the whole thing was like a dream.

But that’s just about enough of that!

I really got a kick out of the trip’s second half. Mole had more of the rugged, outdoorsy feel that I thought the whole trip outside of Accra would be. Seeing elephants, bush boks and the occasional baboon hell bent on getting some food, was way more exciting to me than sitting in the bus or going shopping.

Tamale was a real neat and unique city, due to it’s high number of bicycles, Muslims and motorcycles. The shea butter village tour was my only real interactive experience with a village like that and i loved getting to mix shea butter, feed goats and ride a bike around.

Niii and Charles were great both as guides and as friends throughout the trip. Nat was an amazing driver and his enthusiasm for everything was awesome.

Goodbye AfriPeace Blog. Thanks for reading!

Patrick

Wow, this month has been incredible. I feel that I have so much to say about how this experience has changed my life, how I’ll never be the same, and how much I love Ghana….but I can’t put it into the right words.

Never before have I been so happy. This country is so wonderful it makes me weak in the knees. There are no words that can properly describe the joy I feel waking up in the morning and saying to myself, “I’m in Africa.” Before I left home, there were a lot of things on my mind, in a nutshell, my future. There have been many sleepless nights because I’ve simply come up to a point in my life where I have to make life altering decisions. Within the first week of being here everything started to make sense. My life, the direction it was taking, was completely right. I am going to stay in Sacramento for a few more years, I’m going to learn how to teach, and then I’m going to do it. It’s amazing how a few days in a place like Ghana can simplify everything going on in your life. All of those things that you worry about don’t matter as much anymore. And it’s not because the country is such a horrible place. That is so far from the truth. It’s because the country is so extraordinary. I have spent this last month with a grin plastered on my face because of how happy I am to be in Ghana.

Of course it wouldn’t have been the same without the group. I wouldn’t have given half of these people a second glance if it hadn’t been for this trip. We’re all so different, we have our clicks and our previous assumptions, but after a few weeks none of it matters. It’s easier to get past egos and self-consciousness when you’re placed in a situation in which you depend on one another. Example? While sitting around outside at the Green Turtle Lodge I regretted not packing a sweater. But have no fear! Patrick and Terren readily placed themselves on either side of me to keep me warm. Before this trip, the only contact I had with Terren was seeing her with a mutual friend at a Regina Spektor concert. And Patrick? I graded his tests, stamped his papers, and admired his height. After a few weeks in Ghana I found myself very comfortably sandwiched between them. I’ve also developed existing friendships with Kelsey, Naomi, and Ryan. I feel that after spending all of this time together I have a better understanding of who they are. (They are wonderful by the way). There are others that have changed my life just by being around me. Mikaela and Lindsay for instance…they are some of the most caring, funny, and beautiful girls I’ve ever met. They have helped me get through some of those walls during the trip. Whenever I needed someone to talk to about the same old stuff they were always there. You can only talk about how much you miss your brother so many times to the same three people before they start getting annoyed. “What about Kalen, Rachel, Ben, Robert, Taylor, Lauren, and Lucy?” is what you might be thinking. I have not forgotten them. They are all fun people with good hearts. I would give little stories about each one but I do not have the time for it. As of right now I’ve been on for 45 minutes and I have 15 minutes left.

I can’t believe that we’re leaving tomorrow. Every time I think about it I start to get tears in my eyes. I don’t want to leave this group and I don’t want to leave this country. At the beginning of the trip we had a tour guide who said that when we leave Ghana we will leave some of ourselves behind as well, and we’ll keep coming back to try and find it, but we’ll leave more and more of ourselves until we are one with the country and its people. Now that I’m packing I can really feel what he meant. I will never be the same. Already I’m laying out plans to come back and live here for a few years. This country is so spectacular and special to me, and my words don’t do it justice. I love Ghana and I am so sad that I have to leave. Are you ready for the cheesy last statement? My life has been forever changed because of my experience here, and I have a feeling that I’m going to keep coming back to try and find what I’m leaving behind tomorrow. My adventure is only beginning.

After a month in Ghana, we’re leaving, for home!!! USA USA USA! I’m so pumped to finally get that milkshake and hammer 5 i’ve been craving since we left! But in a way im kind of sad that we’re leaving. This was by far, one of the greatest experiences of my life. Being in Africa was amazing, and being with friends made it even better. I’ve had so many great memories like seeing wild elephants, baboons stealing food from European’s who decide to punch the monkey, food poisoning from mayo, and endless games of catch phrase. So much has happened in a month, it’s hard to process all of it, i mean it’s hard for me to even remember everything. Every day something new and exciting happened. I have had so much fun, meeting the people, learning about the culture, and just seein Ghana, but i am ready for that greasy burger in my hand, which America is the best at providing. Can’t wait to see everyone.

-Kalen

Well, we have all made it back to accra in one piece. We are all ready to get back to sacramento and enjoy whats left of our summer, though we have had a great trip here in ghana.We have seen so much on this trip from the urban (Accra and Kumasi) to the rural(monkey sanctuary). We have seen elephants from afar and had warthogs camp outside of our room in mole. we have even fed monkeys bananas we have all had a ton of fun, and learned a lot about the culture. This trip has definitely changed my point of view on a lot of things. I now realize the4 small luxuries I take for granted in the UNited States like hot showers, and clean and comfortable beds, and no bugs. But i also see that in Ghana the people are so kind and welcoming, even to a bunch of strange white people. Probably my favorite part of the trip, apart from seeing all these new and interesting things about ghana, was all the people and friends i have made on the trip, who i’m sure i will keep in touch with. overall the trip was fantastic, but i’m ready to go home to sacramento. USA! 2 more days. i’m ready. all i have to do is use up all my cidis at the market and i will be set. i’m excited.

So, the group is finally back in Accra and I has just dawned on me that is difficult for me to grasp how long we have truly been away from home. part of me feels that I stepped off the plane yesterday, another part tells me I have spent years in this country, I think of it though and I realize that a month is both a long and short time to spend here. My mind grasping so much and missing the rest this no dought has changed me.

Matt,
the people here live modestly, most only on one or two Ghana cedis a day. Most who live in the city live in shared mud and cement houses similar to apartments. People who live in the rural areas of Ghana tend to live in round mud huts that are connected to a main court.All those surrounding the court are in the same family. More when I return!

-Ryan