Posts

Traffic Jam

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Maybe it was the sight of the truck on the George Walker Bush highway with its cargo tilted at a 45 degree angle, and being able to appreciate how close it was to disaster, but yet it still hummed along in the shoulder-to-shoulder traffic just like everyone else the insanity of a nightly traffic jam caused by one turn-off to Accra Mall and the thousands of cars and guys on motorcycles weaving in and out without regard. only the radio barking in Ewe or Twi or Nga what you assume must be some reason amongst madness. the common jeep broken down by the roadside and always a small team of people giving it enough juice for a few more weeks of life the face of a tired man in the sardine trotro with the best seat, his head out the window, and wondering where his day took him and if/where he was going home. To be an outsider is to admire how people here just make it work. To be an outsider is to be able to love that which we think is insane or unliveable. If you take away the admiration or empa...

Labor Day weekend trip to Akosombo

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  Hike in Akosombo. Before the bushwhacking and slicing up my legs. Cedi Beads Madame tour guide Grade 1 teachers and company Accra Zoo taking Akpeteshi from inedible to incredible

Mole National Park and Tamale, Northern Ghana

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Cape Coast, Elmina, and Kakum National Park

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March 6th We had a long weekend off from school in late February-- and missed a travel opportunity because my group couldn't make decisions. And being stir-crazy, I decided to jet off on my own to Cape Coast avoiding coordinating with anyone else on this long weekend. I had wanted to push myself to be on my own, putting myself in the position to talk to more locals and get around without help. And I just wanted to do things on my own agenda. After thoroughly checking the STC online bus schedule through the week, I arrived at the bus station in Accra at 6am on Saturday only to find out that the online schedule was wrong. I waited 3 more hours in the station for the bus to Cape Coast. The ride was almost 4 hours with traffic from Accra, a comfortable A/C and cushy leather seats that reclined. The rumor I had heard said that the buses ran on limited capacity for COVID, but in practice, this was false.  I hopped a cab on arrival to my hotel which sat on top of a dusty steep hill overlo...

"You Don't Eat the Fufu" -- Christmas Break 2020

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Dec 21 Christmas break couldn't come fast enough. I think I had reached my capacity with being able to handle 6+ hours sitting in front of the computer teaching from home. I had intentions of hitting Tanzania or another country since we had 2 weeks off, but border restrictions and the struggles of taking and paying for countless COVID tests deterred me. I traveled with my teacher friend / apartment neighbour Lauren to the eastern Volta region of Ghana instead. This area is more rugged and is a less-traveled region for tourists. It boasts great hiking mountains, waterfalls,  jungle, wildlife, natural resources, and village experiences.  We took a five hour car ride for hire from Accra to the township of Wli [vlee] and arrived for our 3-night stay at Wli Waterfall Inn with Mr. Vincent. We were the only tourists that night, and the other guest was a man from Togo. A few local friends of the owner wandered in and out for banter, food, and drinks. Lauren and I grabbed Club beers an...