[By Emma McFarland]
Packing for Ghana was stressful. I overthought the packing list that was sent countless times. I packed. Then, I unpacked. Then, I repacked. All to ensure that everything I brought was in the right place. Now, as I look at my suitcases with their gaping mouths staring at me, dumbfounded at how these six weeks have passed by so quickly, I prepare to fill them with all of the memories I have made. Here are the highlights of what I brought with me on this trip, and what I will bring back.
What I Brought With Me:
Fanny Pack:
I am a fanny pack enthusiast. This bag is versatile enough to be used anywhere. For this trip, my fanny pack allowed me to carry the main essentials without squirming with the discomfort of heat underneath a thick backpack strap. Its small size also lent itself to ease in carrying the bag to consistently be aware of my belongings in crowded marketplaces.
Portable Fan:
Ghana is humid. I am used to heat, having been born in Arizona. But, that is all dry heat. Humidity is another animal altogether. Having this fan in my bag during long, hot days has brought me much-needed relief– even saving me from heat exhaustion and fainting during our first week.
Cameras:
With all of our amazing adventures that lay before us, I couldn’t leave without making sure I had a way to document everything. I got my Minolta in middle school and bought film to bring it along. Then, anticipating late evening dinner trips, I also grabbed a disposable camera to take advantage of the flash capabilities and lightweight features that my Minolta doesn’t have.
Microfiber Towels:
Towels are thick. I didn’t want to lug around a bulky hunk of fabric in my bag to the apartment or to any of our weekend field trips. Not only are they compact, but they also dry incredibly quickly. These towels saved me on luggage space and time on more than one occasion.
Krusteaz Pancake Mix:
This contribution was actually my roommate, Jorney’s. All you need to add to this mix is water. Then, you get a plate full of pancakes and a stomach full of happiness. This mix also seemed to last a lifetime. They also pair perfectly with fresh mangoes or jam– no syrup needed!
Medication:
Huge shoutout to Dr. Rebecca Hagerwaite for being such a caring support in the UO Health Center’s travel clinic. She made light of the diseases I might encounter in a new country, making our consultation more like a friendly conversation, rather than a death sentence. Because traveling doesn’t have to be scary. After four shots and a week of typhoid pills, I was given doxycycline to take for malaria each day and an epipen to prepare for the worst case scenario with my peanut allergy. My medicine bag was an absolute essential.
Sunscreen (in all sizes!):
Not only am I pale and scared of skin cancer, but I was also on doxycycline for the duration of this trip. My doctor informed me that while this pill had many benefits– malaria/ bacterial infection prevention and acne treatment– my skin would be more at risk to burn. To me, this meant I needed sunscreen for every occasion. A face stick worked nicely to throw in my backpack for my internship and on other short outings. The other bottles worked to keep in my weekend travel bag and in the apartment before I walked outside.
What I’ll Bring Back:
Kente Cloth:
During our weekend in Kumasi, we had the opportunity to learn how to weave in a kente village. I eagerly hopped into the loom and got a taste of the labor of love that is infused in these textiles. I knew I had to bring a fabric back with me, their beautiful designs serving as a visual representation of the vibrance of my time here.
Recipes:
If it wasn’t apparent from my blog post about food, I better tell you now: I love Ghanaian food. Since my food spotlight, I have tasted even more food and fallen even more in love with it. One of my coworkers cooks at home to bring food in and has shared her process in preparing various foods.
Digital Camera:
My roommates and I set out on a mission to find cameras in a marketplace with our tour guide, Sonny. Originally, I had planned on getting a point and shoot that could replace the waste of the disposable camera. Looking at the options available made me more inclined to choose from old digital cameras instead that could be easily transportable and had flash. I was able to talk the vendor down to $40 USD for the camera, a new battery, a charger for the battery, and a case.
Experience:
Throughout my time interning at Joy News, I sought out opportunities to expand my understanding of the news and broadcast journalism. I played an active participatory role by contributing to the organization, and made friendships along the way that I hope will persist long after I leave.
During my time here, I have:
- Pitched stories (Mpox Story, which headlined the Super Morning Show bulletin);
- Reported and interviewed locals alone on assignment (Nigerian Protest Report);
- Shadowed reporters on location (Co-reported a public interest story while shadowing),
- Wrote scripts for social media news segments (Founder’s Day and Affirmative Action shorts);
- Cameoed and assisted in production (Joy News Lifestyle Promo, Midday News Promo);
- Connected with my coworkers (Tasting new foods at lunch, exchanging ideas and lived experiences);
- AND MORE!
What I Will Remember/Keep:
I brought many things on my trip. Aside from physical belongings, I brought nerves, excitement, and even a little fear. I was intimidated at first to live with these (then) strangers for six weeks. To me, they were nothing more than intimidating peers who knew a lot more about life than me because they were older and wiser. Little by little, however, we became each other’s daily reminder of home. We danced whenever music played, we laughed, we explored the beautiful landscape of the country, we ate, we struggled through bartering with vendors, we shared stories of home and our internships. We did all of this together.
Without this program, I would have never met these people or made these connections. Maybe I would have passed by them in Allen Hall. Maybe one of them would have been my GE. But, our different ages, majors, and hometowns wouldn’t have encouraged our lives to cross. I am grateful for my memories, and even more grateful that these memories were made with such an amazing group.