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Courtney’s
Vicarious Voyage... GHANA!
By Courtney DeSchepper
Hello from Tema, Ghana! I spent February 13th- February 18th at this
port. The country was beautiful. The temperature was in the 90’s most
of the week with a thick layer of smog. Sometimes the air was so thick
your chest could tighten with just a shallow breath. Most of the
country is filled with lush green trees and bushes that produce some of
the most intoxicating fruits you will ever taste. There is so much to
do in Ghana; these are just a few of my experiences.
While in Ghana I spent time in Accra, one of the main cities on the
coast. Accra is intense. There are people everywhere. Imagine walking
down Broadway with 500 people and a hundred street vendors constantly
pulling at you to buy whatever they may be selling. That is how walking
down the streets of Accra would feel like. It was as if I was swimming
through an ocean of people, constantly weaving and bobbing to miss the
biggest shark. While in Accra I also went to the National Theatre which
was unique but beautiful. The architecture was influenced by the
Chinese, while the inside was inspired by traditional Ghanaian
influence. I was able to walk around inside and see many art pieces
that describe different aspects of Ghana’s history. It was almost like
looking through a picture book of interpretations of what makes Ghana
so unique. It was a moment when I could see so vividly the struggles
that Ghana has overcome to reach where they are today. While Accra was
a unique experience, it did not hold a candle to the rest of my week.
One day I visited a school called Morning Star. It was so enlightening
to see what a private school in Ghana was like. The school wears
uniforms and hosts children from kindergarten through Junior High. This
school teaches or uses up to three languages. They teach them English,
and then there choice between two native languages while the students
speak both English and Ga. The school also requires them to participate
in at least one after school club, and teaches them all how to play one
instrument in their time at the school. While at the school I got to
visit numerous classrooms, watch the students participate in music
class, and play soccer with them. It was an inspiring moment, as a
future educator, to interact with them and really get to hear what they
think about school and the opportunities it gives them in their
futures. It amazed me how many of the first graders talked about going
onto college. Although this does happen in Amerce; every student knows
how precious an education is even at such a young age. While this
school was enjoyable, our next school was what impacted me.
Once I left Morning Star our group went to visit another type of
school. This school is called Unipra. Here they serve a much smaller
number of students, but the conditions are much worse. The school was
started by a man who noticed children were not being educated in the
village nearby. The school is one room divided by make shift walls, has
almost no supplies, and has volunteer teachers because there is no one
to pay them. This school broke my heart. The struggle on the teacher’s
faces was almost unbearable to watch. I could tell that they loved
teaching, but the way they were forced to teach due to the
circumstances was taking a tole on them. The children were so happy
though. They just enjoyed our company. We gave them what little
supplies we had with us, but I know that there is so much more I could
do.
In Ghana I also got to experience some traditional music. I attended a
drum and dance workshop. Here I was actually able to purchase a
handmade professional Ghanaian drum. While at the workshop I learned
how to play my new drum, a few African dance moves, and a little bit
about African music history. This was definitely one of the highlights
of my trip. Now, when I come back to America I can teach all sorts of
people different styles of dance from around the world. So far I have
learned Brazilian and Ghanaian dances. I hope that I will have the
opportunity to learn others as I go along on this journey.
Overall, Ghana has had the most shocking culture, the nicest people,
and it is the most memorable country I have encountered to date. Ghana
has many struggles. It is heartbreaking to see what they go through on
a daily basis compared to what we do in America. Ghana is also a place
making great strides to become a better place for its people. The hope
that I saw on every person’s face was something I have never seen
before. They all have hope that the Lord and good-will will make all
their struggles worth it in the end. I only hope that this continues
for the country to make Ghana an even more beautiful place capable of
impacting everyone who lives and visits there. I know that it has
forever changed my life.
I am heading to Cape Town, South Africa next. I will get to see a
totally different side of Africa now. I will reach Cape Town on Friday
February 24th; until then feel free to follow my blog at:
agirlaroundtheworld-2012.blogspot.com
Bon Voyage ☺
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