Friday 15 August 2014

An incredible trip comes to a close: Obruni ba-bye Ghana!


COUNTRY: Ghana
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Work Placement
WRITTEN BY: Maddison Kowal

Our last 5 days in Ghana. We're not really sure how we feel about leaving this amazing place. But we had to send in this last blog (once again written on a Tro Tro) to tell you all what an incredible journey we've all been on. Sorry family, you're going to hear a lot about it over the next 5 years, this is just the beginning.

Let's start with the past week. We stepped out from the comfort of our houses in Swedru- saying a teary farewell to the town that has been our home for quite some time- and departed for the Tro Tro station, ready to start some adventures on our own. Beginning at Cape Coast (where we had our very first weekend away), we successfully steered away from the beautiful dresses and beads in the stalls along the main road, knowing they wouldn't fit in our small backpacks anyway. We then had some time to relax and process leaving Swedru.

From there we went to Kumasi, where we stayed for two nights. We went to the Palace Museum and heard the stories of the Ashanti people's struggle against the British, and how they conquered. From Kumasi, we made the mistake of taking a night bus to Tamale, which was a few hours shorter than we expected, meaning we arrived at 1am! Luckily, we were shown to a taxi that took us to a hostel where we got a few hours sleep. Tamale was just an unplanned stopover for us to reach Mole National Park. Here's where the real adventure begins.

Mole is known for its elephants, antelopes and baboons. On the first night at Mole we stayed in a comfortable dorm, fitted out with luxuries such as pillows! On the second night, we were pretty excited to be staying in a treehouse out in the jungle/savannah with all the animals. The treehouse was a beautiful open topped tree, surrounded by African wildlife. It started out a clear, starry night under mozzie nets, as we laughed in the moonlight with our buddy Abdullah. At about 2:30 in the morning, we felt a few raindrops. Thinking it was nothing, we went back to sleep, only to wake up in the middle of a lightning/thunderstorm, complete with torrential rain. Jumping off our mats, we scurried to get down a level where there was semi-shelter. Using the mats as umbrellas, we huddled together, shivering, teeth chattering and soaked to the bone. We begged our Ghanaian Bear Grills to call someone to come pick us up, only to be told he had no service. Luckily, he found reception and we were eventually saved. We were returned safely to the Motel and went back to the comfort of the dorm.

Friday was full of sleep and safaris. The previous day we saw elephants and antelopes on a walking safari, where the guides told us off due to our lack of protective footwear. All praise must go to Jess, who showed her true blue spirit, completing the safari in thongs. We had dinner with our new friends from the US, Holly and Lindsay, chatting about the boisterous baboons, home, and our love for hot chips.

That brings us to today, where I'm writing this message in a Tro Tro on the way to Koforidua- a bead market we've been meaning to come to for 3 months. Typical us.

Our journey is nearly over, but it's been a blast. Thank you all so much for supporting our adventure, and being so patient with our lack of blogging. We're dirty, sweaty, tired and looking forward to a hot shower (what even is a shower?) but we would not have had it any other way. Thank you so much to all who made this trip possible, the Antips crew - Lucy, Michelle, Colin, Shelby. The Ghana troupe - Seth (Dad) for putting up with us and our questions, Tina and Felicia, Gladys (Grandma) and Elizabeth, Charlotte and the girls, Mary and Clarence, Kwame and Pat for opening their homes to us. To all the kids who let us into their hearts, teaching us so much, you will be sorely missed by us all. To our families- without your love and support, we wouldn't be where we are today. We owe you so much.

My only pieces of advice for the next Ghana group is this: take all your love and bring it with you. What you give away, you will get back from everyone you meet. Just be here, have no expectations. I promise you, there will be ups and downs, but you will have the time of your life.

Thanks for reading my babbling, I promise, there's more to be had. See some of you soon, ta ta for now. Or as they say in Ghana: Obruni ha-bye!

No comments:

Post a Comment