Friday, August 1, 2008

The Last Days

On Sunday, I am leaving Ghana. I can't believe it. Today is my last day of work and after a long night of beating the NYU group at flip cup and dancing to Jazz music at Byewel, I'm a bit slow this morning. Ghana has meant so much to me and especially the people I have lived and worked with.

I feel honored to be a part of our diverse group. And just to spice things up, here are some fun facts about our group this year:

1. We were the first group to have a case of malaria, and we had two!
2. Two of us had front page bylines at our newspapers
3. One of our group mates, Josh, is staying in Ghana to work at the wonderful Coconut Grove Hotel in Cape Coast on their radio station
4. Three of us: Michelle, Josh and Krista, are traveling after the program to Cote D'Ivoire, Mali and Togo
5. Five of us are heading to Europe directly after the program
6. We were the very first group to go on the great adventure up north to Mole National Park

Studying abroad is perhaps the most effective way to learn about yourself and I firmly believe that anyone who has the opportunity should take it. I have a much better grasp on what I want to be doing with my life (maybe even grad school in my future) and I have our whole group and this wonderful country of Ghana to thank for that. There are no words to express my gratitude to everyone I have met here for their perpetual kindness and generosity.

I am leaving for Spain on Sept 22nd for eight months of teaching English after a brief hiatus in Salem, Oregon with the family. If you will be in Europe anytime in the next year, come visit! And I will keep you posted.