On September 28th I had that opportunity to travel to a place that I had never given much consideration. It wasn’t that I was opposed to traveling to Ghana, it was just that I never knew much about the country.

Ghana has more to offer than the world gives it credit for. I met some of the most kind-hearted people and felt so much love in such a short amount of time. From the second I stepped off of the MV World Odyssey, I experienced a bigger culture shock than I ever could have imagined; it was my most memorable experience and out of the five countries I have been to so far on this trip (I’m currently in India).

Luckily, I had a plan for Ghana; most of my days were filled with either a field class (selected by my professors on the ship, which is a mandatory and 20% of my grade) or a field program (purchased by me through Semester at Sea- completely optional & an alternative to independent travel).

TEMA GHANA (September 27-28)

On the first day we docked in the industrial port of Tema, Ghana. It was much different from both Germany and Spain; Instead of having a cruise terminal, we got off the ship and were immediately confronted with an overwhelming amount of local clothing vendors and shop owners trying to sell us souvenirs. 

Because I was on my very first field class, we were able to board our bus right then and there. Shortly after boarding our tour bus, my World Music class made our way to a tiny village to participate in an African drumming, dancing, and singing workshop with the locals. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start off my four days in Ghana.

We began by learning the different drumming techniques and making our own drumming patterns. My professor is an amazing musician and it was a unique experience getting to see him in his element. *If you’re reading this and you’re a future semester at sea student, I just want to let you know that SAS is unlike any other study abroad program. Field classes and ship-life really do teach you a lot about your professors and how interesting they are.*

We also learned dances from the women and participated in a sing along before being treated to a musical performance by hired professionals. I can honestly say I enjoyed every single moment of my day.

On that first night, I ventured out with my neighbor Sara and we did our best to explore downtown Accra safely. We got dinner and a few drinks in the OSU district before making our way back to the ship.  

On the second day, I signed up for a field program (purchased travel programs through Semester at Sea); we traveled to the City of Refuge to spend the day volunteering and helping out around the school.

When we first arrived we were given an introduction about what exactly City of Refuge is; JohnBull and his wife started the program with dreams of rescuing children from the terrors of Lake Volta.

It is often single mothers, or families in extreme poverty that send their children to work for fishermen from Lake Volta. ‘Fishermen’ from the lake often promise the parent(s) that in exchange for work, their child will receive an education and a good life. However, this is most likely not the case. Instead, children are forced to spend hours a day diving into 100-foot water to free fishing nets that are stuck at the bottom of infested waters. The children often drown, obtain painful parasites, or get stung by poisonous fish.

The City of Refuge not only ensures the safety of the children, but gives them an education and a place to live. They have also made it a mission to take in several struggling mothers to teach them skills such as sewing in order to gain confidence and make a living in the community.

Semester at Sea has had a big impact on The City of Refuge. In the past SASers have helped them raise money, donated an entire computer lab, and donated enough books to create a library.

After the introduction and receiving a tour of the facilities, I helped paint a structure that the kids play in. Other duties included: taking sponsorship pictures, sorting clothing, or organizing art supplies. Being outside gave me the opportunity to interact with the children and I am beyond grateful to have gotten to meet some of the most beautiful souls. I hope to return shortly after graduation to spend a month or two volunteering.

TAKORADI, GHANA (September 29-30)

The third day in Ghana, first day in Takoradi… I had my second field class of Semester at Sea. This one was for Global Studies, which is special, meaning I got to pick which program I would like to do based on a group of “one-day global studies eligible programs” (as this is usually selected by the professor). I picked to do The Kakum National Park Canopy Walk, something I wanted to do anyway (but for free!).

The canopy walkways were handmade by two men and have become one of Ghana’s biggest tourist attractions. From above I was able to see all around the forest.

I felt it was a bit rushed, but that may have been because I was with a tour guide through Semester at Sea and we had other things to see. I think it would have been better to go independently because we kept getting rushed along, but overall I’m glad I did the program through SAS because the path to get there is pretty long and I would not have wanted to take a taxi.

The field program also included a drumming performance and it was something I enjoyed so much. Along with the previous day, I developed such an appreciation for Ghanaian music and traditions.

 

After the field program we went back to the ship where I met up with a few others to go experience the Takoradi night life at the Paragon club. We had so much fun dancing and making memories with other SASers. 

The final day in Ghana was one of the best days that I have had on this trip. A few friends and I rented a taxi for the day and drove to a beach resort along the Busua beach, to hang out and get lunch. While hanging out on the beach, I met two local girls named Josephine and Anita. They were 9 and 10 years old, which made me miss playing with my little sister Finley who is currently 4. I spent the following hours teaching them every childhood game I know: Hop Scotch, Tic Tac Toe, Slap Billy-Olla. 

Eventually I had to say goodbye to them and meet back up with my friends for lunch on the opposite side of the beach. The food was decent, but in Ghana is where I fell in love with coconut rice.I couldn’t think of a better way to end my 4 days in the country; sitting on the beach with a few of my closest friends, watching a few play volleyball with the locals and the rest surfing in the waves.

Ghana was definitely a culture shock… More than any of the other countries I’ve been to (I’m writing this from Vietnam, my 8th country on the trip). I try to thoroughly appreciate every culture I step foot into, some are much more overwhelming than others. I experienced the hardest time in Ghana and now that I look back on it, it makes me a little sad that this was my first stop that majorly differed from the USA. I wish I had some preparation from the countries I visited later in the trip. In other countries I also had to deal with haggling, but nothing as severe as Ghana; it would have been nice to work up to an understanding of the process.

I try to be as real as possible and as honest with myself everywhere I go. Ghana was hard. Despite the 500 amazing people I met, there were a few merchandise sellers and taxi drivers that made it hard for me to feel fully comfortable. The moment I stepped off the ship, I was swarmed by men that were eager to sell me something. They would grab me and tear me every which way. Once I got past that, I was forced to deal with taxi drivers that were twice as overbearing. People who know me, know that I do not like to be touched, yanked, or screamed at. Part of exploring different cultures is realizing that there are different boundaries; trying to draw a line somewhere between that and your own beliefs is where we learn and grow.

It hurt my heart realizing that this was my first impression of such an amazing country. I grew to love the spirit of the people and the kindness that everyone else offered me. In fact, I hope to return to the City of Refuge and spend a month or two volunteering my time. Ghana holds a special place in my heart for a variety of different reasons and the country itself was unlike any other place I have ever been.