Hey everyone sorry this is so late I'm been really busy with everything and there is always something better to do on the ship then type up blog posts but I promise I'll be better about it.
Ghana was a very interesting country and one that I wouldn't mind revisiting. We ported in Tema, which is about an hour drive to the capital of Accra. Its only about 3 miles away but the traffic is so bad that it takes a while. I did a home stay in Senasi village, which is about a 2-hour drive north from Kumasi. Kumasi is just about in the middle of the country so we were pretty far north.
We visited a slave castle the first day in Cape Coast and that was interesting but pretty depressing. President Obama and the first lady visited a few years ago so everyone in Ghana absolutely loves Obama. Whenever we would tell people we were from America they would yell Obama and say how much they love the U.S.
After staying the night in Cape Coast, we traveled through Kumasi, and experienced something that could only happen in a place like Ghana. Since in the cities traffic is so bad people will sell just about anything to you in your car. Bags of water, awesome ice cream, chocolate bars, onions, loves of bread for about a dollar, small flags, banana chips you name the food and you can probably buy it from your car in Ghana.
We arrived at Senasi village after dark and had a great dinner of something really good. It was pitch black with few lights so we went to bed early. The next day we played with tons of kids before visiting schools, playing with more kids and then visiting high school aged kids all before lunch. The sad thing is that the younger kids and older kids learn in the same buildings. They are basically open structures with roofs, few walls, no windows and doors. The only thing on the walls is a blackboard and posters about HIV/AIDS.
Meeting all the kids was really great and fun but it was also incredibly depressing. It really changes your perspective on a lot of things when you witness their reality. I can't imagine staying for a week or a month because 2 nights and 2 days was enough to really get me. Later in the day we had some down time to play soccer with some kids and then we learned a dance that we would perform the next day in front of a school.
After dinner a few of us stargazed for a while in an unfinished church with no roof. The power in the town had gone out around 8pm so it was pitch black everywhere making it perfect for stargazing. The next day we had a great breakfast of who knows what and left the town to go to the school and perform our dance. It was a ton of fun and the kids really loved it. Then we were back on the bus for the long drive back to the ship. It was a really great experience, so far the most eye opening one I have had on this journey and it is one that will certainly have an effect on me once I get home.
For the last day in Ghana, I headed into the capital city Accra to do some shopping and to check out the city. Thankfully it only took about an hour to get into the city and that was with light traffic. We went to Global Mamas first which is a nonprofit organization that operates a fair trade store so all the profits go directly to the people that created them. They have a website so if your interested they have some cool t-shirts and accessories check them out!
Next we headed to the cultural center where I got my first lesson in bargaining. This was the place to buy arts and crafts and they had some really awesome stuff. Huge masks that you can hang on the wall, wooden sculptures and carved out bowls with great detail were in most stores. It was like a tent city, some places sold t-shirts others jewelry and many that had paintings and great pieces of art. When you bargain in a foreign country you have to be smart otherwise they will take advantage of you. I bought a mancala board and a wooden beaded mask for way too much but I learned my lesson. A good rule of thumb that I know is to take 30 to 40 percent of what they tell you. They will seem angry or insulted but it's the name of the game and you will enviably settle on a reasonable amount. It can be fun but frustrating and if you just walk away, they usually yell for you and will take your bid. After walking throughout the shops for a while and buying the necessary souvenirs, we headed to Makola Market to do some grocery shopping before heading back to the ship. Some things were reasonably priced like the ice cream and some candy but things like a can of peanuts would have cost about $15 USD. It was interesting to see just as it was in Nassau, Roseau and Manaus what food prices were like. For the most part Ghana was more than reasonable but things we take for granted like nuts or granola bars are considered luxury items in other countries.
We got back to the shuttle, which was leaving at 4 and made it back to the ship by 5:30, on our way due to bad traffic and cattle crossings it took longer than expected. But just as in other countries looking out the window is so entertaining. In a place like Ghana if you wave to people, they will smile and wave back.
If I've learned something in Ghana it is that a smile is universal and though a village may not have running water or even power, people do all the same things. They take bucket showers, they eat breakfast and they find ways to economically sustain themselves.
My Cape Town post should be up soon and possibly pictures so check back!
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