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

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.

-Kalen

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

After Cape Coast, we journeyed to the Green Turtle Lodge, and to the disappointment (and later great satisfaction) of all of the boys, we were unable to stay there due to the lack of rooms. So the boys, Predko, and I stayed about 10 minutes away at the Safari Beach Inn. The first night at GT there was a dance performance by some of the local villagers. Got up and learned some new moves with the help of one of the girl dancers. That was interesting. It was so nice being on the beach and being able to go out into the ocean and just chill, plus the Safari Beach Inn had outdoor showers, which i have discovered are the best thing since sliced bread. Went on a canoe ride through the mangroves, supposedly to see some monkeys, no monkeys, i was bummed. Oh yeah i almost forgot, before we got to the Green Turtle, we went to the Jesus Is King Orphanage and dropped off some donations (hackysacks, clothes, frisbees). It was great to see how happy the kids were. Back to the GT, the same day as the mangroves we walked through the village to see the JSS and JHS schools (Secondary and Highschool). Only one school was still open at that hour so we made some more donations of books and supplies.

last day at the Safari Beach Inn/GT we went on a day trip to see a stilt village, which was kind of a waste of time, it seemed like all it was, was a tourist attraction and they only wanted our money, that made me a little disappointed, but we got to hang out with some college volunteers who tagged along and who were staying at the Green Turtle Lodge.

HOMESTAYS!!!! Met our family (the Barnes): Kojo (the Dad), Efuei (the Mom), and Awompa (aka baby 2years). Such a nice family. The whole week at the homestays we were working on a community service project at a local school, building rooms for volunteers. The kids there were crazy about us. The entire time they called us “obrunis” which means “white man.” and after hearing that about 1,000,000 it tends to get kind of tiring. They also always ask you what your name is, your age, and how you are doing… multiple times. Two of the six days were spent at an orphanage where we helped clean and also gave some donations. It was hilarious how when we gave the kids supplies like mops and buckets,they seemed grateful. but when we gave them soccer jerseys they went nuts, screaming for seriously 10 minutes before they kind of calmed down. The best part was the food, the homestay mom made the best dinners and lunches and we got to try fufu (plantains and yam beaten into a dough). Last
day in Agona Swedru (where our homestays were) we went with the mom to pick up our clothes that we had had made, which are by far the coolest pants and shirt i have ever owned, and earlier we had played the kids at the school in a game of Football (we lost of course 3 – 0).

Now we are in Kumasi for 2 nights and the best part is, WE GOT TO GO TO A FOOTBALL MATCH!!! We convinced the group to go to the craft villages when we stop back in Kumasi and instead went to see the Asante Kotoko played the Libyan team in the Confederation coup eliminations! It was insane to see the match, the Kotoko won of course and the crowds were like the crowds at a basketball game in the US.

Africa has been such a great experience and it’s hard to believe that over half of the month has gone by. Psyched about the rest of the trip, but i do miss Willie’s milkshakes… yum.

-Kalen

After cape coast we traveled to a town called Swedru where we were going to do our homestays. I was very nervous the day we got there because I did not know what to expect. But when we were dropped off at our new homes our new family was very welcoming and friendly so I felt comfortable. We had dinner and then presented our gifts to them which they really liked. During the homestays I got to learn how to make fufu and observe how a typical middle income Ghanaian family lived, and I also learned how to wash clothes Ghanaian style, and I got all of my clothes spotless. Ryan and I were paired up to the homestay, and we got to go out and see the city and meet our host families family, and experience Ghana from the street instead of the bus. I had to dash busy taxis and trucks at the same time avoiding accidentally falling in to a sewer. In Ghana there is open sewers and that is going to take a little getting used to.

while we were doing our homestays we began our work project which was pretty intense. I learned to juggle heavy pans of sand on my head and be bombarded by kids yelling obruni which means traveler, and asking a million questions, at the same time being exhausted. By the time the week was over the whole school knew my name. We also went to an orphanage and did chores as well as donated supplies, the kids were extremely happy and it made me feel good inside. to end the week we played a soccer game which was the U.S. vs. Ghana, and although i fell and scraped my knee i had a lot of fun and the final score was 3 to 0 and we ended up losing but it was fun.

thats all for now.

bye Robert Z

The whole team worked very well together and I think it was partly due to having a break from each other and the chaperons at night while we stayed at our homestays. Pat, Kalen and I enjoyed our homestay very much and have terrific African outfits to prove it. We were a little sad to leave but after the five hour bus ride to Kumasi we are all happy to say that this is probably the nicest hotel we have stayed in. The best part is easily the hot showers. My first since Sacramento. Today, thanks to our lenient chaperons, we cut out the planned activities and attended a soccer match. The local Asante team against a Libyan team. It was very exciting to say the least but didn’t come close to a CKM game. The Legion easily out ranked the Ghanaian locals in pride and spirit. Another great part of Kumasi is that we have had western food two days in a row. After many meals of chicken and rice cooked in about a million different ways I was delighted to have a double cheese burger. Thanks for the comments on the other blog and I look forward to seeing everyone at home.

Sincerely,
Ben

JIKO orphanage – This place was awesome! i loved playing frisbee with the orphans, getting to see how they lived, and of course, donating things to them. It was an incredible feeling to help these people that need our help. I would definitely come back here, if I return to Ghana.

Green Turtle/Safari Beach – By far the most pleasant experience thus far has been the quality of The Safari Beach Lodge. After being bummed about not being able to stay at Green Turtle, it was great to find out we had decent lodging as well. I think our group bounced back from the shenanigans well, and I am not going to further about that! Oh yeah, and that beach was Sweet!

Agona Swedru – The homestay experience was arguably my favorite experience up to this point. I love the Barnes Family! Awompa, Ife, Kojo, Efua, and all those other Barnes’ men there for the funeral, you are missed already! Working at the T.I. Amidiyhaa school was a good character building experience, as well as a school building experience ( i crack me up sometimes). I dont want to embellish a lot, because i want to tell these stories at home!

Time’s dying now gotta jet!

Patrick A Redford

My home sickness did not get better with the move to our home stays. Living in a complete strangers house is a difficult thing to get use to the first few nights. It was especially difficult for me because I wasn’t getting the best nights sleep, certain things kept me awake: Chickens, Pigs, Bugs, and loud church services. All seemed to begin to make as much noise as possible right outside our bedroom window; Yet it was a true Ghana moment because this is what you get when you are in Ghana, lots and lots of loud and beautiful sounds.

George, Gladice, and Justice are three of the nicest Ghanaians I have met along my trip, and I am so greatful that Robert and I had the chance to stay at their house in the busy little town of Swedru. We had a few really great experiences while staying with them, two being when we pounded fu-fu and hand-washed our clothing.

Outside the house we were having loads of great experiences. All week long the group hauled sand, dirt, and rocks; mixed cement; and played soccer. We did all of this hard labor to help build a new kindergarten room for the kids at a school in Swedru. We also helped clean up an orphanage nearby, as well as donate around $350 worth of goods to them. It was such an enlightening and euphoric week. I felt true joy in my heart when our hard work made kids chant with joy. I had a blast, and stopped feeling so homesick. On Saturday we hit the road for Kumasi.

Kumasi has been a blast, especially the football match between the city’s home team and a team from Libya! I’m sure there will be some great blogs about the match and the crazy Ghanaian crowds that were partying in the parking lot after their teams victory.

until next time
—Ryan…FONGEE!