It's is a country that is a little hard for me to describe, and harder for me to write about. I had no expectations of what anything was going to look like and it sure did surprise me. I went on a trip through "can do land tours" and it was the best thing I have ever done. The company was started by a guy named Fredrick and he came along with us on our journey. He is all smiles and the greatest person to be around. Our trip took us way out into Ghana where most of the roads were dirt and the houses were built out of whatever was around. The village we stayed in had one paved road in the area, it wasn't used with in the village, it was just there as a pass by road to get to other towns and places.
When we unloaded the bus there was a massive group of kids anxiously waiting to see us. We all immediately had at least 5 children trying to hold our hands. The tours are for semester at sea participants and around 15 of us went. We were given various host families and the homes were all different. My family did not speak any English, but there were two little boys who understood a few words. The house I stayed in was actually pretty nice, it was one made out of cement. No electricity or pluming but that was no problem at all.
-funny story: the little boys were showing us where the bathrooms were and there was a language barrier confusion that happened. They pointed to two rooms: boys and girls. When I looked inside there was only a drain and nothing else. I thought that was strange because usually the bathrooms at least have a hole in the ground. After using the room a few times a bathroom for a day and a half I found out that in the room over there was actually a toilet....... I had been going in their shower! Luckily it was one # 1 the whole time but when I found out I was laughing so hard. Oopsss.
Through out the trip we met lots of people, played many games, and shared lots of laughter. Just because we don't speak the same language doesn't mean we don't know common things like dancing, soccer, and laughing at funny faces. We found out that the money for the trip actually went to the village, with the money we were able to build them water tank system! The women no longer have to work to pump their water.
When the last day came it was hard to leave. I did not want to leave my new family, or the children I met. I did not want to leave the village that gave me a new outlook on living. We even got to meet the village elders which was a great pleasure.
I did not realize how much of an impact Ghana had made on me until I was back on the ship feeling guilty for everything I owned and for everything I have been able to do. Before I knew it I was crying so hard that air was hard to take in. I was sad because I did not want to leave where I just came from, and frustrated that I can't help with what I saw. But how would I even help a place that doesn't think anything is bad? Where would one begin, and would the people even want it? They are very loving people and everyone is considered family. Where for me, back home i barely know my neighbors, and two doors down I couldn't even give you a description of their face, but here in Ghana all doors are always open and neighbors and friends come and go as if it were their own house. There is no selfishness or whining about who owns what or where one property starts and the next one ends. If you are hungry you will eat and if you need help it is given.
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