These are a few of...

...my favorite things. In Ghana!

Many days of sunshine. Plenty of Vitamin D to go around!

Fresh fruits and vegetables from the markets. Always delicious and fresh!

Children playing outside rather than getting obese in front of a video game

Fufu!

Cheap public transportation

Meat pies – Africa’s version of a polish perogi

fried dough stuffed with corned beef and onions

Alvaro – the U.S. needs to get on this stuff!

Beaches lined with palm trees

Delicious homemade bread

People willing to help everywhere you go

Sunsets

Merry Christmas!

”Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” -Confucius

Plenty of time on the beach leads me to plenty of contemplation. Not surprisingly, I’m reading another travel memoir, All Over the Map. The author contends that she doesn’t feel comfortable anywhere, she has the desire to be free and to belong, to be independent and to be loved, to be in motion versus being still. I believe that these ideas will be the plight of my existence. I so very strongly enjoy my freedom. I can do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it. The only person I’m obligated to is myself, and I like it that way. But, of course someday I want to find that companionship and love that some of my friends have found. No one wants to die alone. Right now, I truly am in the midst of the trip of a lifetime. But, knowing me and my mind, it won’t be my last “trip of a lifetime”. Maybe next time I’ll have someone to share my awe with.

This is the first Christmas Eve in my entire life that I was not with my parents. The two previous Christmas days had me on flights around the world, but Christmas Eve has always been my immediate family’s time to celebrate. Usually at this time of year, I am complaining about the weather and wishing I could just hibernate for three months. However, this year, with the sun scorching my nose and the sand tickling my toes, my spirits are high and because of this euphoria, I’m not sulking too much about missing my family and friends. Hopefully they all know that I love them to bits! Thankfully technology never keeps anyone too far from home these days. Last night I indulged in a Christmas Eve buffet, enjoyed an African band, and sipped on a few cocktails on the beach. Guests of the resort dined under the stars with a buffet that was set up on the beach with tiki torches surrounding the tables. Magical. During the show, an African band pounded drums, strummed guitars, and chanted loudly. They also performed various acrobatic acts including spinning large tins on their heads, and one man even ate mashed up glass which is apparently some voodoo magic thing. Yikes! At one point, I was escorted to the stage with three other resort guests. I was first instructed to sit on a crate, next I was told to lay back which landed me on another of the guest’s laps. Once all four of us were at ninety-degree angles, the band members removed the crates from beneath us. We created a human table! Might as well sign myself up for the circus next.

This morning for Christmas I took a leisurely stroll along the coast. My destination was a tower of rocks about a mile down the beach. When I reached my spot, I climbed atop a mound of stones jutting out into the ocean and enjoyed my iPod while watching the waves crash the sharp rocks. I don’t care who you are; these are the little moments in life that really mean something. However, I couldn’t help but think about the movie 127 hours while I was climbing, alone. I forced the image of the man sawing off his own trapped arm out of my mind to get back to the good stuff.

When I returned to the beach near my resort, it felt like I entered a ginormous bubble of love.

I gazed west across the ocean towards the good ole' U.S. of A and thought about my friends and family and wished them nothing but the best on this lovely day.

It reminded me of the movie Love Actually when Hugh Grant’s character describes all of the pain around the world, but notes that love actually is all around us if you look closely enough. Fathers were lying along the shore with their small children perched on their chests letting the water wash over them. Several couples were posing for photos with the sea as the backdrop. Two friends laughed and chased each other around in the sand. I just walked by and smiled thinking about how thankful I am for my adventurous spirit to be able to have this type of Christmas.

Joy to the World! Much love to all of my people this Christmas! xoxox

Paradise in Ghana

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." --Mark Twain

It seems in the world there are two types of people: those who are confronted with adversity and choose to face it head-on not backing down from the challenge, and those who punk out. 45 days ago I wanted to go home. I thought about quitting this program every single day. But I didn’t. And as lame as it is to put in words, I am proud of myself. I stuck it out even when I was terribly uncomfortable, unsure, and scared. For the rest of my life I will have that. I will always know that I didn’t quit, and I have now come out on the other side feeling much more at ease and happy. That is really something. So, needless to say, my plans for this holiday break shifted, and ended up taking a turn for the better. I journeyed from Accra, where I was waiting for my visitor, to Takarodi. From there, I met two fellow teaching volunteers, Tiffany and Sonia, at Beyin Beach Resort in the Western Region.

My journey to Beyin was in a trotro where I was the only female sitting smack dab in the middle of fourteen Ghanaian men. Darkness descended along the way, but luckily a guide from the resort gathered me and my bag at the station. The journey to the resort was longer than anticipated, bumpy as expected, and darker than I was comfortable with.Though I was mildly terrified, I also felt exhilarated. I found myself smirking with each bump feeling this wave of excitement wash over me as I thought about the fact that my life currently consisted of exploring African beach resorts. Not a bad gig if I do say so myself. Upon arrival, we grabbed a bite to eat at Café Puerto, a tucked away restaurant near the resort owned and operated by a kind Spanish man. The ambience of this place was very inviting while the food and drinks were delicious. This guy has the right idea, and I would go back there in a second.

Beyin Beach Resort was a quaint hideway full of raffia-roofed bungalows and chalets. This area focuses on turtle conservation, so along the beach in the very early hours of the morning, large sea turtles wash up along the shore to nest and lay their eggs. We missed the viewing at Beyin, but had plans to seek out this sight at the next stop. morning we grabbed a quick breakfast where I had toast with this absolutely delectable jam consisting of bananas, lime, and salt. Yum. Then it was on to Ankasa Park! This is a wildlife preserve in the Western Region of Ghana, but it was much more remote than I think any of us realized. Three trotros and about ninety minutes later we arrived. A guide led us on a two-hour hike through the rain forest, where we panted, sweated, and fought off ants and ticks. It was a great workout, and it’s always fun to explore a new terrain, but I would have been just as satisfied with a one-hour trek. That evening we returned to Café Puerto for a hearty meal to replenish our worn down bodies, then we were off to the next resort, Axim Beach Resort. Turns out, this place is paradise! Truly! A blissful beach side resort comparable to anything you would find in the Caribbean. It’s unfortunate that so many people have such a negative view of Africa, because there are so many beautiful places to see. The coast of Ghana really is spectacular and full of postcard worthy scenes.

Some day I will surely return to this Axim Beach Resort, whether with a “boo” or a friend or on my own. Lighted walkways guided the way to ocean front individual chalets and hotel-style rooms in a large building block, which is where we were staying. Upon arrival, our beds were adorned with fresh flowers and sheets folded into the shapes of hearts. The number on each building was formed by tiny seashells and inside of the restaurants, shapes of Africa and Ghana appeared on the walls created by stones and shells. The attention given to detail at this place is impressive. Rather than a napkin under my pina colada, there was a large, fresh green leaf.Outside, the ocean waves could be heard crashing against the shore and reggae music washed through the air. My first evening at Axim ended on the beach chillin’ with Tiffany chatting and basking in the glory of the fact that we are essentially being paid to be on vacation for nine months. We discussed a lot of our frustrations about our program, and the overwhelming sadness we feel about the education system here in Ghana. But we surely have not let these thoughts drag us down! Today we chilled on the beach and enjoyed some cool treats and good eats. Tonight will include a late night visit to the beach to hopefully see those turtles washing up on shore. I love my family and miss those people like crazy, but I can’t say I’m all that disappointed about spending my Christmas at such a beautiful African resort. I’ll take it. ☺
So my itinerary for the next few weeks is this: here at Axim Beach Resort through Christmas, then to Cape Coast on Monday, and on to Winneba for New Years. From Winneba, I will head back to Accra for a little shopping and finally back to Bechem some time after the New Year. As a result of the change in plans, I am enjoying more exploring and getting the opportunity to see some new places. Everything works out just as it should in this crazy world we live in.

Merry Christmas people!

P.S. I don’t have my camera cord with me, so pics will have to wait a few weeks.

To the Cape!

“The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen

Thursday morning I boarded a Metro Mass Transit bus for a weekend in Cape Coast with a fellow volunteer. Exactly what I needed to rejuvenate. Though I have visited Cape Coast before, it was a different experience as a return visitor and when it was simply a weekend getaway planned on my own versus part of a weeklong obruni (white person) tour.

I enjoyed the memories of my past visit and more thoroughly reveled in the beauty of it all this time around. Thanks to a national holiday on Monday, I was able to stay one extra day and do a little venting, a little eating, and a whole lot of sightseeing with the other Amy, who because she also has brown hair and white skin, everyone assumed was my twin. Oh Africa. Sigh…..A touch of American life creeped onto the agenda as well. Cocoa puffs with milk, grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches and yogurt. Oh yea.

Cape Coast is a bustling coastal community. Fish, fish, and more fish. Roaming the Kotokaruba market is an exercise in patience and alertness. Taxis get the right away in these parts, so get out of the way, or suffer the consequences. From shoes to bread to clothing to vegetables to books to ice cream….this market has everything anyone could possibly need. I half jokingly told the other Amy that I could have showed up in Ghana with an empty suitcase and very easily found everything I needed to live. In Cape Coast, you will find many white volunteers, and they like to hang out at the Oasis where a dose of familiarity is available with some good ole’ American cuisine. A view of ocean waves crashing the shore doesn’t hurt this place’s ambience either.

Saturday night included an African drum and dance show. The joy radiating from the musicians and dancers is contagious. It’s hard not to smile and tap your foot to the beat of the African drum. Love of the arts is strong in African culture. I dig it.

To escape the city, we ventured about twenty minutes east to a small piece of heaven-on-earth called Anomabu Beach Resort.

Upon arrival we happened upon beautiful sandy beaches, families frolicking along the coast, and delicious coconut shrimp and cheesy pizzas. Our accommodation for the night was a tent set up right near a lovely hut umbrella and two cushion covered lounge chairs. We strolled the beach, relaxed while listening to the sounds of the ocean, and enjoyed some delicious boxed sangria.

Can’t go wrong with that combination! Anomabu stole my heart. I’m totally mesmerized by the ocean and island life and messages in bottles and people living on deserted islands....I often get “Lost” in the idea of being a “Castaway” ;)

Our weekend culminated at Kakum National Park. We conquered the canopy walk, which happens to be about 120 feet above the ground and is ranked third in the entire world for excellence. Two Canadian fellas helped out some Ghanaians to construct this adventure about sixteen years ago.

It's amazing. Incredible. Breathtaking. As I walked across foot-wide wooden boards held in place by large bolts and intricately woven ropes, I couldn’t help but smile and marvel at the vastness of the dense, greenery of the rain forest below me. We even snagged some bottled pure honey along the trail. Delicious!Lunch followed at the Hans Cottage Botel which is a restaurant hovering above a swamp filled with friendly crocodiles!

I needed this weekend. I needed to see some beauty and enjoy Ghana. I haven’t had a very positive attitude about my time here thus far, but Cape Coast, you turned things around for me! Though this whole experience may not be all that I hoped it would be professionally, I am going to enjoy what Africa has to offer me and savor the freedom and opportunities to explore.