In the U.S. the rich are separated by gates and padded by each other. We call gated neighborhoods “communities,” which makes them sound intentional, even spiritual maybe, though members are more connected by tax-income bracket than a set of beliefs. At the gate, there’s often some kind of horse statue or fountain, evoking visions of Read More …
When you look different from nearly everyone, there’s a tendency to notice those similar to you. I’m sure there’s some psychology behind it—an innate human desire to connect, to ask, “Hey! What the hell are you doing here, too?” So when I walked into HoneySuckle Bar’s happy hour yesterday, I immediately noticed the only other Read More …
For the past three weeks, I’ve blindly followed around a reporter for Accra’s largest independently owned newspaper, The Daily Guide. His name is Melvin, a 25-year-old Liberian who’s worked in Ghana as a journalist for 3 years now. He mostly covers local politics, attending multiple press conferences every day, while writing the majority of his Read More …
The 37 Trotro station is an enormous, overcrowded lot, with Trotros and people dancing around one another. The sounds of loud music and preachers drown out the sounds of Trotro drivers yelling and honking at one another. The day was hot; like most days here. But on this day the sun was shining without any Read More …
As we approach the last week of our internships, I can’t believe all that we have accomplished as a group, and as individuals. I feel blessed to have been placed in an internship where I was able to learn a lot about the Public Relations field and about the Ghanaian culture. First, I was able Read More …
When I heard I’d be spending my time as an intern in Ghana with the Joy Sports team, I was over the moon. Due to the professional nature of the University of Oregon’s sports programs, it is difficult to even get your foot in the door when it comes to covering one of their teams. Read More …
Recently I attended the Ghana Navy’s celebration of 60 years of service. The event was equally as frustrating as it was interesting to attend. My work day started at 8:30am when I arrived at the office and a few hours later I was informed that I would be going out on an assignment to Burma Read More …
This blog post is going to be short and empowering. Earlier in the week, someone unlawfully entered the home we have resided in since arriving in Accra in the early morning hours. The individual entered into two of the rooms in which our ladies slept in. Luckily, our graduate assistant was still awake and noticed someone Read More …
“Bitte bitte..boom boom…Bitte bitee…BOOM,” the merchant across from me said, as his palms slapped against the animal skin cover of a drum. “Bitte…bittee…..BOOM,” The drum sang as I tried imitating the same elegant sound he had just made. “No no no!” He grabbed my hands, moving them to the right area of the drum. “You Read More …
Kofi looked like any other five-year-old boy bored out of his mind at an event for adults: dressed in a striped button-down and slacks, his feet swinging inches above the floor as he fidgeted in his seat. Occasionally he whispered to his friend next to him, and they dissolved into giggles. Only from a certain Read More …
I traveled to Russia in 2015. While I was there, a waiter assured me, “Russians don’t hate Americans. That’s the politicians talking.” His message was essential that the average person is more concerned with making rent, spending time with family and friends, eating good food and listening to good music. Bearing this in mind, I Read More …
If you are next year’s group, this story you are about to read is the one that everyone has been whispering about. When I arrived at the Aya Centre in late June, I looked around and thought that this would be a summer of camping indoors. We had bunk beds with some clean sheets, a Read More …
Graffiti shyly peeks out from under posters and old advertisements barely seen if you daydream while venturing through the streets of Accra. I easily miss most graffiti because of the brightly colored papers strewn on every open surface claiming their phone company is the best or their barbershop serviced Will Smith so it must be Read More …
In my opinion, the best way to learn about a culture is through their food. Food can tell you so much about a place from the types of crops grown in the area to special traditions in how that dish was prepared. Before coming to Ghana, I was told not to have street food right Read More …