Day 19: Accra

I cannot believe I leave here in a week. Me and change, while we’re old friends, don’t quite get along. In some ways I feel I am just finally getting settled and into a groove and don’t want to leave. In other ways I feel I am getting restless and am ready for the next chapter. Ghana was my “work” trip. Since my project is over and I accomplished what I set out to do I feel lost in my purpose for being here now. I guess I could just have fun??

After all of our hard-work, we still have a stupid paper to write! Our group needs to compose 12-15 pages and give a presentation on Tuesday as our final project before heading off to Kumasi for 3 nights. I spent a large portion of today working on that. It was nice, actually. One of my Ghanaian friends came over and we watched the futbol game. He sat yelling at the TV while I alternately typed and watched the game. It reminded me very much of undergrad and dorm life. Not that I miss that, but it was a nice adult-like flashback.

Afterwards we went for a walk to get some fresh air and later stopped at a local eatery for a drink. We had a great conversation about everything under the sun – family, upbringing, education, future, culture. We are very similar in many ways – both are first-generation college students who have worked hard as hell to get to where we are today and we both have younger siblings whom take care of (physically and/or emotionally). We both had drama in our homes as children and had a parent who suffered from mental illness. The effects on us seemed similar – we became hard working, dedicated, stubborn, motivated people who would not take “No” for an answer. Similarly, we became hard on ourselves and put pressure on ourselves to succeed. Failure was a motivating fear because we never wanted “those people” (who didn’t want to see us succeed) to be right or win. We wouldn’t allow losing wagers to be placed on us. I admire in him the strength and perseverance. Even now, he is looking to study in the States and is working very hard to learn more information and determine what it takes. It is not often that I meet someone who I believe matches my hard work and determination to make things happen. I rarely feel that someone works as hard as I do, but I feel it with him. It is interesting how I have to go to the other side of my world to meet someone whom I can relate with so well in that regard.

Later in the night, Miss K., our hostel mistress threw us a party! Since we will be out of town the later part of the week and most of us leave on Sunday or Monday, she wanted to have a bash to send us off. She is so sweet! She has been incredible at accommodating a large group, cooking for us, and generally being loving and motherly. She always greets us with a smile and a warm welcome. Again, the warmth here is unrivaled. We pushed back the chairs on the back patio and she had a DJ playing jams. Luckily it was a cooler night and there was a perfect breeze to help keep us not so sweaty as we danced the night away.