Conversations

The more I think about it, the harder it is to "update" this blog. In general, updating on my life currently is damn near impossible. Ghana is great, and life is good. As for specifics, I would not be doing this place and its people any justice by attempting to write a few paragraphs about these things I've been experiencing. I'll try my best to keep it simple yet informative:

I began my internship at a different place because of some circumstances. I am now at the Hope Community Chapel, which is an orphanage located in the town of Hacho. The children are amazing and brilliant individuals with infinite amounts of potential for greatness. A friend of mine now, who has lived in the orphanage for many years, takes care of the library and other facilities. I had one of the most inspirational conversations with him. I told him that I am quoting him on everything and compiling a book. Practically he gave me a sermon on his ideals, life struggles and successions, values, and beliefs. We exchanged great conversation that has stuck with me since. 

Many wonder, so what is Jess doing for fun in Ghana? Well, when I have free time here I have spent it getting to know some amazing people. Of course this is aside from travel, exploration, work, class,  and studying. I have been cooking, which has become a great way to fill hours of free time and relax, also a great way to finally eat some hearty vegetables! Yes, I could be hitting the club scene and all sorts of craziness, but in fact I would rather spend my time learning about others and learning from people through one word, conversation. Human existence thrives off connecting and learning from others' past, present, and future. How do we learn if all we do is constantly feel the need to entertain ourselves? I believe "entertainment" is able to come from enjoying other people's company, enjoying music, laughter, and exchanging stories. 

I urge people to take advantage of the fact that we as humans are trained to have lasting connections, whether with humans or nature. With that said, put yourself out there in a way that you feel vulnerable. 

Take a risk, do something you would never imagine yourself doing, and step out of that bubble, because the world is a magnificent place with fascinating people all around, who are surprisingly just like you. 

I will end this post with a quote from the brilliant Albert Einstein:

"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received."

 

Oh Hey Kofi !

Home Sweet Home

It has been an interesting journey thus far. Although sickness has overtaken my energy the past few days, I'm not letting it completely drain me. It is just a matter of getting acclimated to the food, climate, ect. I have been doing lots of contemplation, reading, and relaxing the past few days. Besides those three, I have been doing some exploration. Some of this includes parts of Accra, such as the hectic Makola Market, and the fascinating encounter with KOFI ANNAN....i mean only the past UN Secratary General, no big deal. Appartnely he is the Chancellor of my University now? Who knew...

Kofi Annan at the Kwame Nkruma Memorial Center

TroTros (the cheapest means of transporting from point A to B) have been such an adventure. It takes more than an hour of TroTro/Walking to get to my internship sight. It is located in a pretty rural area, but not too far from the hustle and bustle of the large market in the area called Medina. 

Classes began this Monday. I am taking Twi Language (a dialect of the Akan Language--tonal, fun, and difficult), Development Studies (with the Internship), International Conflict, Resolution, and Human Rights, Social Psychology, and Community Entry Techniques in Social Work. Have had most of these in the first half of the week- so far so good :)

Makola Market - Downtown Accra

Seeing the different neighborhoods of Accra was quite shocking. There were very large houses in some areas and grappling poverty in others. Reminds me of the huge gap between rich and poor we have in our own country. A conversation with a Ghanian friend the other day really inspired me. She reminded me that we do not choose where we are born. No matter what, we must make circumstances work and just go with it. It is amazing how much we learn through conversation and connections. Only a short time I have been here and I could write a novel, therefore I will leave this post with a quote by MLK Jr. that sums up some recent thoughts of mine:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Akwaaba!

Officially moved into the International Hostel located outside of Accra, Ghana in the town of Legon. Walking the chili pepper-smelling streets has been an adventure thus far. I have met some amazing people through the organization I am studying through, and those are mostly all Americans. We are now on campus with people from all over the world. Orientation has taken up most of my time, but some exploration of mostly the University has happened. Ghanian Hiplife music is the most popular music according to the locals I've spoken to. The live bands have been awesome and so much fun! At one bar, a woman made an announcement for no bone-to-bone or flesh-to-flesh dancing...major cultural difference among many. Homosexuality in this religious society is unheard of, but is becoming more exposed through the media. 

The University of Ghana has somewhere between 30 and 40, 000 students (quite the change from Champlain College).  The campus is filled with dirt paths, spanish style architecture, and beautiful trees and plants. Of course, water runs out sometimes, so buckets are a must...but such is life! Life here is simple yet lively. I found out my internship is at a place called Echoing Hills, an NGO that works with mental disabled children, youth, and adults. I am really excited to begin classes (too many amazing ones to choose from) and work. 

Have yet to become proposed to but an "I love you" was spoken. The reason why I mention this is because every semester, just in my study abroad program at least a few girls come back engaged or married to Ghanian men. The first program in 1993 there were twenty students, and a whopping ten came back with a ring on the finger...perhaps I am the next? Jokes, jokes....

There is currently a Ghanian dance party going on in the cafe...maybe I'll join....

 

Tata!

Tuesday to Tuesday

Today is Tuesday, July 26, 2011. In exactly one week I will be aboard a plane flying to the city of Accra, just off the Ivory Coast in Ghana, population four million. Bittersweet feelings fill my heart but I am very thrilled nonetheless. I will try and update on this blog as much as possible while abroad, so those of you strangely interested in my life could follow it I suppose.  

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

The road is life and no matter where we are, the road winds constantly... Peace & Love dearest friends & family... I will miss each and every one of you...brace yourself for some crazy times come January :)

I am a loner sometimes...and love the simple things in life...

Chelsea, Faraji (Kaka aka Brother), and myself on our last day together. 

That title has been the depiction of my mood the past week. Although I haven't updated this in a while, I do not think I could with all the emotions and thoughts that have graced my hectic brain lately. Holy shit, so...Tanzania. WOW. One word to describe it- I don't think one word could even describe Bagamoyo and it's people. Where do I begin?

Children of AMAP

Once upon a time, a little Russian girl traveled to Eastern Africa and never wanted to leave, the end. No, but in all seriousness, the three weeks I spent in Bagamoyo, Tanzania have brought an extreme positive light to my life. I have definitely caught the travel bug...and have realized that the passion I have for helping others is raw, real, and the path that life has given me. The beautiful people of Bagamoyo---all of you including the boys of Uhuru and all of those associated with it, African Modern Arts Park (Saidi and all of his beautiful students), Imuma & its children, and every single citizen of this wonderland on the coast of the Indian Ocean--- I miss and love all of you so much, it aches my heart every single day.

I cannot begin to describe how much all of you have given me in return, much more than I could ever give to you. Along with the beautiful place, culture, and people of Bagamoyo, the people I spent the trip with are just as equally important. I love you all for sharing such an experience with me and it will always be something we can share, laugh, and love about together. Although I cannot sulk and simmer in sadness over the fact I am not there, I take all that I have learned of others and myself into my life here. We don't need what we want, we need what we need. I have less than a month until I am back in Africa and I cannot wait to embark on future journeys that will never end. I will not settle & that's that.

Sunset in Bagamoyo 

After Tanzania, I went straight to California after a trip back to Vermont from Mass. My best friend Phoebe and I traveled together. I was able to meet so many of her Filipino relatives, who are amazing people. Santa Barbara, Oxnard, and San Diego were all wonderful places with AMAZING food! I loved being in diverse atmospheres getting a feel for new cultures while being with my sista from another mista. I miss her lots and lots and lots <3

Jumping rope on Father's Day with Pho, her cousin Alfredo, and the rest of her family.

          It is amazing how everything seems to come together, or seems like it does. Does it ever come together? I feel as though we are always on this journey and we think we've achieved that pure happiness at some points or another. On the other hand, life is a journey in itself that IS a pursuit of happiness. Change, turmoil, stress, love, and fear are all in the mix and without those elements we could never reach our own sense of peace. Stop worrying about what's coming tomorrow and live your life today for what it is and its beauty. I love my life and it's fucking extraordinary...cheers to the world and it's beautiful people.

"If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything."

     Good ol' Thich Nhat Hanh stated the above saying. It has been very persistent with my mood lately. This year has been one of extreme learning experiences and I can soundly say I am very happy and with peace in many aspects of my life. I suppose my new years resolution was to really take everything as it came to me and not to keep persisting on the future to make myself happy. In the final meeting for Tanzania, we discussed our "colors" that correspond to our personality in regards to characteristics, how others perceive us, and our stressors. This really put things into perspective to me. It helped me realize, yeah I come off as rude sometimes, and maybe say some things out loud I should not say, but hey we all have flaws. What is important, is that we realize them and understand why we do certain things we do.

     In regards to summer vacation, it has certain had a solid start, to say the least ha. I have met and bonded with some incredible people, even just this past semester. Those people you look back and think...is this real? WHY have we not been friends our whole lives? Goes to show, there are amazing people everywhere we look, walk, talk, and eat. We are just lucky when they stumble into our lives unexpectedly.
Speaking of amazing people, going home in about eight days. . . fantastic. Some of the most beautiful, inspirational, and interesting people live within a ten minute walk of my house in MA. These real friendships have been going strong for almost my entire life and I love these people so much. Considering I do not have much family in this country, I can safely say they are my family and I have no idea how my life would be without them.

     A good friend once told me "You are the reason I wake up every morning" (she will remain nameless because of her blackout status). Jesus christ, it is true though. Reflecting about our relationships with others and why and how we connect is very important in just understanding ourselves. . . and if it were not for all of the connections I have made with these other human beings, then I could of never understood why I am the way I am, why I do what I do, and why I think the way I think. Thank you, and happy summer :)

Roma!

Although it is the end of March, I felt before my memory is filled with old age and dementia, I would write about my trip to Rome this Spring. Ah, just magical (as Alyssa would put it). No big deal, "monumentally pre gamed"....Trevi Foundtain, the Pantheon, you know the usual? That was a typical night...just roaming Rome (no pun intended) with boxed wine costing close to one euro that was NOT like Franzia..no bag slapping necessary. Well, the minute I was off the plane, Alyssa (the greatest host /friend ever) met me and greeted me with the greatest sense of warmth and compassion to let me enter her exciting new life in Italy. Wow...the sights, the smells, the food, the people, the drinks, the LOVE- just indescribable. Typical sunday morning started with some crack coffee...I'm almost out...too addicted ...so sad :(...anyways, yes then...went to the Vatican, saw the Pope, listened to him speak his insightful words in many languages (including English). Feeling empowered, we go off to galavant and explore the city ( which had begun the moment I stepped off the plane and did not end until I was back in Vermont). So much self-exploring and exploring with Alyssa and some of her friends including Lo (shout out :)!) . .. espeically to our last night at the authentic restaurant, that was just PERFECT. Gelato I miss you so, towards the end of the trip it was a twice a day occurrence to have some gelato. It was perfection in a cone.

In conclusion: Italy- a place of beautiful people who may seem rugged on the outside and so loud and full of life, are the sweetest people. . . I think one night I compared them to Fererro Rocher chocolates. Roma- a city of smiles and celebration (not to mention Carnival was going on all week - which was full of amazing spectacles and parades!), a city of history and ancestry, a city that brought me back to Vermont with the clearest mind ever. One place, so much beauty and culture- makes me want to explore all the cultures our world has to offer. Great people are everywhere, we just need to find them, some of them are right under our noses and we may not even know it.