After the first week of getting accustomed to the city of Accra, bonding with group members and acclimating to the humidity, it was finally time to start our internships. Yesterday was my first day at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and to say the least, I hit the ground running. After arriving to the workplace Read More …
It’s hard to talk about touring the slave castles along Ghana’s coast without resorting to clichés. The unspeakable horror of these places is palpable as you walk through the dark dungeons. It’s a sobering and humbling experience for a white American whose privilege was built on the backs of these men and women. In 2009, Barack and Michelle Obama Read More …
If there’s one thing that Ghana has taught me so far, it’s that things almost never go as planned — and sometimes, that’s okay. I woke up 15 minutes before my alarm this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. It was the day I’d been anticipating since my plane touched down here in Ghana: Read More …
Through research I was unable to prepare for what I was intended to encounter at the Cape Coast Castle, and it did not properly prepare me for the emotions and thoughts that were about to overwhelm my mind and body. Throughout my lifetime I have studied and been educated on the slave trade and hardships Read More …
When I spent a semester studying in Ghana as an undergrad, it changed my life. I knew I would be back, but I had no idea it would take me 14 years to get here again. Now, as a graduate student in journalism, it’s incredible to return to the familiar sights, sounds and people that I fell in Read More …
We learn about history in school, but we don’t truly understand the past until we experience something that gives us a glimpse of what happened in the years before us. We are all very familiar with the transatlantic slave trade and how it continued for hundreds of years. When learning about these unfortunate events, everyone Read More …
When I was little my parents rented Roots, a mini-series from the 1970’s about American slavery. At first I did not understand why we were about to watch a show that was going to take up an entire week of my time, but I quickly became engrossed in the series. This led to years of Read More …
Having high hopes and excitement to see another country in an entirely different continent, I excitedly came out of the Ghana airport. The scene outside looked familiar. The hustle-bustle of the traffic, taxi drivers almost grabbing your hand to take you to their taxis, the strange smell of petrol and dust mixed in the air. Read More …
You can never fully comprehend a different culture until you fully immerse yourself within that culture. Before the trip, I spent hours researching the country of Ghana, the people, and their culture. While reading articles and blog posts are informative, they don’t nearly compare to walking down the streets of Ghana and speaking with a Read More …
This is not just a hobby, this is a lifestyle. Known as the master carver, he has been doing this since he was 8 years old. You do not just proclaim yourself a master wood carver. The only way you can achieve that status is from the acknowledgement of others. A student asked, “How long Read More …
Taylor’s and Webfoot are two of the most popular bars in Eugene. Located right across the street from the University of Oregon campus, they are packed with students during the weekend, and many times during weeknights as well. It’s often hard to move around inside both of these places due to the high volume of Read More …
One thing that I like about traveling is being able to experience cultures that are so much different from mine. Getting out of America allows me to open my eyes to the world and get out of my comfort zone, showing me how diverse our world is. Today, the whole group decided to go to “Monday Read More …
When we arrived the kids were sitting in rows in little purple uniforms. My heart melted when I saw them all. When they started cheering after we came in, I started tearing up. They were so happy and had such beautiful souls, despite the fact that they lived in poor conditions. They sang and danced Read More …
I turned 21 somewhere over the Atlantic, and when the plane landed in Africa it was time to celebrate Ghanaian style. I wasn’t expecting much, because everyone had been traveling for almost 24 hours, but by the end of the day I could say that 21 was my most eventful birthday yet. After arriving at Read More …