This is an update post, and I’ll keep it short and sweet. In my last blog post, I discussed my somewhat unorthodox and disappointing first day of work. I’m happy to report that by the end of the week, I had a different story to tell.
I came into the office on Friday feeling optimistic and well-rested for the first time in a while. I had barely sat down before I was pulled into the studio to be interviewed on the recent horrific shootings and incidents of police brutality in the U.S. It was a difficult subject to talk about (perhaps I’ll blog about that later), but the experience was thrilling.
Almost immediately after, I was whisked off on assignment with a reporter named Wil. We chatted about travel and politics on the way to Ghana’s highest court building, where Wil dragged me from courtroom to courtroom, looking for a story and introducing me to judges, lawyers and members of parliament.
Next, we took off for the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Affairs, or GIMPA. GIMPA’s law school was hosting the opening ceremony of the country’s first moot court — a huge achievement for Ghanaian law education. I can’t tell you how many hands I shook in those few hours, but it was so exciting to be in the presence of so many important Ghanaians — including members of the Supreme Court!
The highlight of the excursion was meeting Georgina Theodora Wood, Ghana’s Chief Justice and the fourth most powerful person in the country. After her speech at the ceremony, I introduced myself and shook her hand. Justice Wood is the first woman to ever hold the position and, in my opinion, a total boss.
Exhausted and elated, I returned to the newsroom with Wil around 2 p.m. As I sat down to write, I heard my voice over the speakers: my thoughts on American current events were being broadcast all over Ghana. It was surreal.
On the tro-tro home, I blasted my “Girl Power” Spotify playlist and felt on top of the world. Friday was just another reminder of the nature of this trip: you never know what to expect from life here, and sometimes it’s difficult, but when it pays off, it’s an unforgettable adventure.
Comments by rbenner@uoregon.edu