I'm baaaaaaack

So it's been 2 full weeks since I've left Ghana. This is just sort of a "how it's been now that I'm back" post. Ghana was amazing and really affected me in a positive way, as you could probably tell in the most recent post. The first week I was home was sort of difficult because I was really Ghana-sick and missed everything and everyone there, especially the warm weather. That first week I was back it was absolutely freezing in Texas... not pleasant. I'm sort of used to it now, especially since it's now in the 60s and 70s. :) Everything still reminds me of Ghana: movies, TV shows, songs, even certain foods. I can't eat scrambled eggs anymore without thinking of how often I made them in our kitchen, and how Holly and I tried to show everyone the heavenly-ness of breakfast tacos. The movie, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, will forever be associated with watching it with the girls in Kate's room, laughing at some of the crazy quotes. 

I miss everyone I met there like crazy, even the people I didn't originally click with very well. It's hard because I know that I may not see some of these people ever again, and that's incredibly difficult to accept. Thank goodness for facebook! I love that I still keep in touch with some of the girls in my program and I feel that if we ever see each other again, nothing will have changed and we'll still get along just as great. I'm planning on trying to find plantains somewhere and making some fried plantains. yum! I also want to print off a ton of my pictures and put them all over my room. This was the trip of a lifetime! Swimming in a waterfall, hiking through rainforests, going on a canopy walkway, feeding monkeys, going on a safari (!), buying traditional cloth, bargaining in the markets, riding on trou-trous, going to the beaches, learning African history and philosophy, meeting amazing people, volunteering with the most precious children, and becoming what I hope will be lifelong friends with people who I know will accomplish a great amount in the future. This experience has taught me more about myself and the world than 4 years in the same college most likely will. I will treasure it, and the people I met, for the rest of my life. 

The weirdest part about being home is how so little has changed, at least compared to what I expected. At least gas prices are finally down... only $1.50 a gallon!! Praise the Lord!! The economy is still dreadful and probably will continue to worsen until it can improve. However, compared to this time last year, I'm happier than I have been in a long time. I'm content, which is an amazing feeling. I still want to go abroad, anywhere, after I graduate and will most likely try to find a job in which I can do so. I really loved my experience in Ghana, still want to go back for an extended period of time and truly appreciate everything in that region. My best advice that I can give anyone now is that if you have the means and the chance to do so, go abroad. Anywhere. I've talked to friends that studied all over the world this past semester and I have not once heard a single bad account. Everybody I've talked to had a great time and misses it a ton. So here it is: Study Abroad. Take the chance. Go someplace completely different than what you are used to. Gain a different perspective of the world. Meet new people who have lived and experienced things that nobody else you know has. Just go for it. Take the leap. 

Love from Sherman!

Tidbit of the day: Be polite on airplanes. You can meet fascinating people on long flights. 

me pe wo ghana

I'm so sorry that I've been so terrible about updating. We had finals this week and I had a test, paper, or performance everyday. I've also been busy doing the last minute things before I leave, which is today. Leaving is going to be so bittersweet. I'm excited to see everyone back home and have more variety in my food choices rather than pasta, rice, and eggs. I'm really going to miss all of the friends that I've made here. It'll be tough going home and have people NOT understand all my inside jokes and phrases. Everyone in my program became so close to each other. We know everyone's most shameful stories and best moments here as well as our entire life histories. It's been such a great and rewarding experience being here and being such a noticeable minority. I've really enjoyed observing such a drastically different culture and being a part of it. I definitely appreciate the States so much more. I'm warning everyone now, I have picked up a few words and phrases that I replace others with. For example, I say chips instead of fries; queue instead of line; filling station instead of gas station, among others.

Quick recap of the past week or so: 2 papers, 2 tests and 1 performance later, I'm done with finals!

Election day was Sunday. The NPP and NDC are in a runoff because there is controversy concerning the votes and the election is ridiculously close, which is cool because most people thought the NPP would win by a landslide.

We had our goodbyes to our various bars and restaurants that we frequent on a regular basis. Champs, Venus, Purple Pub, Monsoon, Osu Food Court, etc. etc. etc.

I apologize for never putting up pictures. The Internet is crazy slow and if I try at school, it's almost guaranteed that the power will go out.

I realized that I really do know a good majority of the obronis in Accra. I walked into a fair trade shop the other day to buy souvenirs and realized that I knew the cashier from Champs! Anywhere I go now, just to walk down the street, I see someone I know. I absolutely love it and I've grown to love being a "regular" at some of the restaurants and bars I frequent a.k.a. Champs and Purple Pub.

This trip has been so great. I think I've become a much more patient and independent person. It'll be interesting to go back home and try to readjust, repatriate. I'm going to miss Ghana like crazy. I love the city of Accra and loved our trips around the country. It is unbelievably gorgeous here. I can't imagine going home and not coming back for awhile. It's really sad to think about, even though I'm ready to see my family and friends. Y'all are definitely lucky to NOT be on the plane next to me on the ride home. I will most likely be bawling my eyes out. The Frankfurt airport will be the worst since most of us are going to that airport before our connecting flights to all over the States. I love the people I've met here and I love this country, despite its faults.

Well I'll be home sometime Sunday night. I'll update next week with my experiences on the flights and being home so far.

(for the last time) Love from Accra!

Thanksgiving, Volunteering, and Shopping, oh my!

I really apologize for not updating as often as I should. Things have been busy and the Internet has been flakier than usual. Anyway, past couple weeks in a nutshell.

Thursday 11/27: Had my Steve Biko presentation. It went really well and my prof said it was the most rewarding presentation of the semester because it showed her how much we all had grown! That night was Thanksgiving. At first I was disappointed that I wasn't home, but we were invited to a chief's house for Thanksgiving dinner. He and his wife provided us turkey, gravy, potatoes, corn, REAL Greek salad, rolls, and some Ghanaian dishes. Yummmm. I sat at a table with two young American boys that had moved to Ghana the same time we arrived. Their Ghanaian mother decided it was time to move the family back. They were precious little ones.

Friday 11/28: Music and Dance as usual. We ended the class with improvised solo dances. It was actually a lot of fun. Probably because my professor wasn't there, just his professional dance students. That afternoon I went to Osu Children's Home with Kate to volunteer. I absolutely love those babies. The 2 year olds sort of annoy me, but the babies are amazing. I was able to talk with an older American woman who has lived here for a few years and is trying to adopt one of the babies. I'm going to try to buy supplies - such as diapers, wipes, and baby powder - for the orphanage next week and give them to her because I know she'll make sure all the kids get them. After the orphanage, we showered and then had a girls dinner at Champs with Holly and Montana. That place has provided a lot of great times for us this semester.

Saturday 11/29: I finally went to a Saturday practice for my Music and Dance class. The prof was an hour late and then we went over and over our Final Performance for 2 hours in the hot sun. After that, he sprang on us that we'll be having our practical final exam that day. Great. Hopefully I did alright. It was nerve-racking: being in a room, by yourself, with just your serious professor and professional musicians and dancers. Ugh. Anyway, that night I went to Champs and hung out with a bunch of NYU friends for awhile. One of the girls has a bartender that's in love with her and sends her free food all the time, which means they share with me. It's fabulous.

Sunday-Monday: Nothing of significance. Just schoolwork and such.

Tuesday 12/2: I woke up incredibly early to go to the Arts Center with Evelyn to go souvenir shopping. Although I spent a bunch of money, I got a ton of stuff. Mostly wooden things, but I love being able to bargain prices down. You get a great feeling of accomplishment when you get something for half the price of what the guy originally proposed. Anyway, we also had our class evaluations in my Africana classes. It was great realizing that we were the guinea pigs for our brand-new teacher, and also to see how people's perspective have drastically changed this semester. That afternoon/evening I just hung out with the girls and watched too many episodes of Gossip Girl.

So far Wednesday 12/3: I've been at school for most of the day working on my rough draft for my philosophy paper due tomorrow. Unfortunately, the Internet has been down all day so I had to move to the Internet Cafe and now I'm procrastinating. I have to admit though, the more I study Steve Biko and apartheid, the more interesting it becomes. I've been reading a lot of old articles and books about it and it's just mind-boggling how far South Africa has come since then, and how much further they still have to go.

Rest of this week: Tomorrow I have to go to the seamstress to make sure my dress fits and get another one made. I really should stop doing things at the very last minute. There is also an NYU farewell party/dinner thing that I've been invited to, which should be interesting. Friday we have OUR Farewell dinner, but since we're so small we're only allowed to bring 1 friend each. I'm bringing a girl that lives on my hall that I went to church with the beginning of the semester. All of us CIEE girls have decided we're throwing an unofficial Goodbye party at Champs on Saturday and are going to try to get all of our Ashesi friends to attend. Should be a fun night, no matter what.

As of today, December 3, I leave in 10 days. Scary!!

Love from Accra!!

Tidbit of the day: I'm not sure if I'm completely ready to come home and leave all of the friends I've made...