I am sadly and excitedly counting my final days on the African continent. For the past two days, I have planted myself in a chair at my hotel next to the beach - reading and watching the local kids run around the ocean. I can't seem to motivate myself to do anything else, and it is actually the best way to wrap up my time here.
It has been over 5 months since I said goodbye to family and friends and boarded a plane for Ghana. Shortly before my arrival in Ghana, I recently learned that it was located in West Africa and little else. It seems fitting that my last days in Africa should end where it began - Ghana. Since I haven't been very good about blogging, I will try give a quick little run down of where and what I have been up to.
For the first two months in Ghana, I lived and worked in Kumasi, Ghana, which is located approximately 250 kilometers north of the capital city Accra. Kumasi wasn't an easy town for me as I had a terrible time with the local food and left Ghana ten pounds lighter than when I first arrived. Kumasi was also a bit lonely and boring, but it also gave me a wonderful opportunity to interact with my neighbors and other locals. I also had a chance to travel around to rural areas surrounding Kumasi, which was fantastic. You can't really say you have been to Africa until you head out to the rural areas where you see people living very modestly, but still very cheerful.
After my most unfortunate problems with the Ghanaian immigration officials (still don't know why they are so difficult!), I headed to Nairobi for a little rest and relaxation before my next placement in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Although I did not do extensive traveling in Tanzania, I did head out to Zanzibar on two separate trips, which was nice. After hanging out and working in Dar es salaam for 2 months at two different partner microfinance institutions, I crossed over to Kigali, Rwanda. My previous blog was about my time in Kigali, so I won't repeat it.
From Kigali, Rwanda, I traveled by bus to Bujumbura, Burundi, where I spent a few days. I went to Lake Tanganyika and just sort of saw the countryside from the bus.
After a few more days in Kigali, Rwanda, I headed to Nairobi, Kenya to collect Rob. While in Kenya, Rob and I traveled to Masai Mara for a safari. Masai Mara is probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. A huge Savannah where lions, zebras, warthogs, impalas, giraffes, etc. hang out naturally and wildly about. From Masai Mara, we headed to Lake Naivasha and biked through the national park, Hell's Gate, where we met our new friends John (a local Kenyan) and Marin (a Dutch traveler). After Lake Naivasha we headed back to Nairobi and to a town called Murang'a where we met with a local microfinance institution who specialized in giving out loans to borrowers to buy dairy cows. We even met with a few borrowers, which was my favorite part of my fellowship.
From Nairobi, we next headed to the coast and the island of Lamu, which is a predominately Muslim area located in northern Kenya. Lamu is beautiful and historic. We spent a few days in Lamu town and a few days on Shella which is the neighboring village. In Lamu, we took two dhow rides (dhow is a traditional sail boat), and I even road a donkey. After Lamu, we headed by bus to Mombasa, which is another coastal town, but located in the southern part of Kenya. Mombasa wasn't quite as charming as Lamu, but I did get to ride a camel there. Therefore, Rob caught a flight back to the States and I continued my journey back to Ghana.
Since I have been in Ghana, I have spent most of my time in coastal towns - Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi and now Busua. In Cape Coast, I went to the Kakum National Park which boasts the highest canopy bridge in the world. Also, I went to the famous Cape Coast Castle which housed several hundred African slaves prior to the departure to the Americas. It was a very surreal and sad visit, but also important for people to remember this history, so that it never happens again.
From Cape Coast, I traveled by tro-tro (a small mini-van) to Takoradi, where I had the most deliciously pain au chocolat at Bocadillos, which is run by a French/Nigerian couple. Realizing that I wanted to be right on the beach in a sleepier town, I decided to head to Busua.
I hitched a ride with two Ghanaians, who were friends of the receptionist at my hotel in Takoradi), who drove me the 45 minutes to Busua and dropped me off in front of my new residence for the next few days - Busua Inn. The Busua Inn is this little place located right on the beach owned by a French couple who have been living out here for the past 5 years.
And here I plan to be until at least Saturday before I head my way back to Accra, see my friend Richelle and collect my bag for my Monday morning flight back to the States. It has been an amazing year, and although I am not exactly sure what I will do when I get back, I am excited for what awaits me. I remember very early in my time here a manI met told me that people come to Africa to learn about themselves or escape themselves. I would like to think that I learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of. This will likely be my last post from Africa unless something really exciting happens. However, since I am sloth-like in Busua, I doubt much will happen. I will miss all of the wonderful people that I have come across during my life and travels in Africa, but I am excited to see my family and friends - especially my two sweet little nieces!
See you soon America!
