By Kyla Morris

With both feet back in the US, I am now able to reflect on what an incredible time we had in Ghana. With a few hiccups along the way, not much could spoil our 6 weeks. Our last and final week was full of goodbyes and last-minute trips, eating at our favorite local spots, and buying souvenirs. On Thursday I said goodbye to all the people I had worked with at Joy FM, people in the sports department, and others I had met around the office. One of the sports broadcasters I became close with even sent me off with a Ghanaian dress as a gift. I was very appreciative and enjoyed spending the past few weeks with these great people. I learned a lot at Joy FM and developed some great relationships. Everyone was sad to hear that it was my last day. Later that evening, our Oregon group had our last meal together at Starbites, eating our usual fried rice, chicken kabobs, potato chips, pizza, and pasta. The food was tasty, and it was great to see everyone together one last time. Friday was spent packing and enjoying our last day in Accra. Then Saturday, we said our goodbyes to each other and were on our way back to the US, onto our next adventures. This last week flew by as each day was inching closer and closer to the end. 

 I am truly grateful for this experience and am so happy that I took advantage of this opportunity. This trip offered so much learning and personal growth, new friendships, and more excitement for traveling. I am happy to be home but cannot wait for my next chance to go back. There are so many great stories to tell and pictures to share, it is tough to get them all out. I feel like I keep retelling the same stories as my family members are all eager to hear about Ghana. I want them to know how awesome my experience was without skipping any details. 

I am very thankful for Leslie and Senyo and all their hard work to make this trip happen. I am thankful for Sonny and Felix being our local guides and making this time so enjoyable. Last but not least, I am thankful to the group of Oregon students I was able to travel with. They are a huge part of the experience and are the people who I learned with and enjoyed every part of the trip with. I will forever remember this summer in Ghana!