23rd August, 2013 7:55AM
Cape Coast
With two weeks and two days left im beginning to truly realise how much ive fallen in love with this place. My first African home, from day one I was welcomed by everyone and quickly grew fond of their culture.
Music, dance, food, nature, children, religion and family are all words that come to mind when i think of ghana.
Some of the things i am sure to miss are:
* The children at the orphanage
* Loud music in the streets and taxis/tro tros
* The friendliness of strangers
* My room mate Leisa
* Playing football with the boys at the orphanage
* Playing Ampe with the girls
* Being escorted to the taxiby seven kids fromtheorphanage
* Local food - red red, yam, wachi, cassava, plantains
* The sweet taste of fresh fruit - coconuts, pineapples, mangoes
* Watching people carry everything on their head
* Sitting with Millicent as she cooks
* Nana and Asantua screaming myname and jumping on me when I return home from work
* Hanging out with Angela
* Playing with the street kids
* The absence of technology
* Oasis, dancing on the beachside until
4AM* Being woken by childrens laughter
* Drinking water from a plastic satchet
* Buying lunch on the street for less than 50 Pesowas
* Buying fabrics
* Climbing the ladder to the balcony when weve been out till late
* Not worrying about how I look
* Being with children every day
* Meeting so many people from across the globe
* Being invited to eat by friends from nearby shops
* Being proposed to
* The consistency of warm weather
* Doing yoga on the balcony
* Getting my feet dirty
* The attitude of not babying the kids
* Their strange terminology: toffee means chocolate, sweet means it tastes good for anything (even chicken), are you okay? means are you full?, im coming means i will be back.
Things I wont miss:
* Being sweet-talked by guys who see a dollar sign above my head
* Being sick
Once in a Lifetime things:
* Swim under the tallest waterfall in West Africa
* Climb the tallest mountain in Ghana
* Walk through Kakum National Park from darkness to light (
4AM-6AM treck)
* Travelled to Kumasi and the Volta Region
* Experience the Fetu Afehye (Cape Coast Festival)
* Get Malaria
