During the last week of the trip I have reflected on what I will miss most about Ghanaian culture. Without a doubt it will be the effervescence and vibrance of the people. America is just not the same. People are often caught up in their day to day lives. I too have realized I do this on a regular basis. Ghana is a community of people. They are always willing to lend a helping hand, and that is a value I will take back to the States. Over the course of the trip I have been creating a virtual collage via Instagram, attempting to capture the emotions and attributes that make Ghanaian life as welcoming as it is unique. Here are some of the memories sewn together that will remind me of the loud, vibrant culture that represents community, nature, laughter and happiness. Please check out the rest at keyyzus on Instagram.

This man was one of the first vendors we encountered at the craft market of week one. We have learned so much since our first visit to the market, especially the fact that “looking is free.”

Yusef is a kind man who was at the first craft market we visited. He has been painting for six years and has filled his store with his and his friend’s work.

Day one on the University of Ghana campus, I ran into this lady selling bananas by the bookstore. She was very kind and laughed at my attempt to speak Twi. She even taught me how to say banana in Twi, which is “ek weh du.” I remember trying to bargain for a bunch of bananas, which I learned that prices of fruit are not usually something you are supposed to bargain for. She still graciously dropped the price for me.

A painting drawn by Yusef. The lion spoke to me and I was able to bargain down the price to 45 cidis, which is roughly $10.50. What a steal for an amazing work of art.

A beautiful day at the University of Ghana campus. This is the famous library of UG and it is also featured on the 5 cidi bill. I was surprised at the size of the UG campus. It has an extensive array of greenery and feels much larger than the University of Oregon campus. The most surprising and astonishing aspect is that all of the grass is hand cut with machetes.

Here is a pic of Martin, our tour guide at Aburi Botanical Gardens, scaling the remnants of a tree. The hollow frame of the tree is actually not a tree at all but a parasitic fungus. This fungus constricts the tree from the outside, feeding off of its nutrients until the tree dies.