Day 1: Friday 25th March 2016
The Batavia Bulldogs arrived safely to Ghana without one travel glitch (a minor miracle). We even arrived about 15 minutes early and the ONE bag we checked was one of the first to come off the plane. All of these events together signified to us that this trip would be an extraordinary one. We stopped for breakfast at a local spot along the Accra road where the students enjoyed toast, omelettes, and sausage. They were not too excited about the thought of coffee or tea since it’s so hot and humid! From there we moved on to Stumble Inn which is when I turned to check on the students to realize that all of them had fallen asleep. Heads bobbing, a bit of snoring going on (no names mentioned), they all took an impromptu “power-nap”. When we reached the beach at Stumble Inn, we ate lunch (the girls talking frequently about their “food babies” in their stomachs from all the food) and the kids were quick to put their swimsuits on and head down to an afternoon on the beach. They played soccer (in Ghana it is referred to as football) with a group of Ghanaian boys, some half their ages and they got their butts kicked but gave it a valiant try! We rounded out the night with a delicious chicken kebob buffet and an African Cultural Drumming and Dance show. The kids were exhausted and I “put them to bed” about 10:00pm. As they hopped into their bunk beds and argued over who was the closest to the water to fill up the water bottles, Max commented, “I only have sunburn over almost my entire back!” LOL. They are all soaking in the culture and their environment at this time while maintaining a level of excitement and anxious anticipation that make me grateful to be a part of their experience! Until tomorrow parents, we wish you well. -Erin
Day 2: Saturday 26th March 2016
Good morning hot, hot Saturday! I let the students sleep an hour later than planned due to the fact that we had to alter our schedules to accommodate a Muslim burial that was taking place at the same time our Welcoming Ceremony was to occur. At 10:00am I woke the Cherubs and we had a buffet breakfast of eggs, oatmeal, toast, pancakes, and fruit salad. Some time was spent relaxing by the beach and discussing the Ghanaian oil paintings with Rasta Kobi. After that we jumped in two taxis and headed to the ancient fishing village of Elmina to tour the oldest remaining slave castle in West Africa. While the students went through this guided tour, I headed on to Cape Coast to exchange their money as they were chomping at the bit to begin buying souvenirs. From there we headed back to Stumble Inn to have lunch, spend one more hour at the beach and then shower and prepare for our Ayensudo Village Welcoming Ceremony. When we arrived each student exited the bus to be greeted by dozens of smiling, clapping, and singing Ghanaian children. We participated in the formal event of entering the Chief’s home to greet him and his Committee of Elders. Each student introduced themselves and announced their age and grade in school. I, of course, let the Chief know that Ellie and Max were siblings and I made Troy explain how his parents met. Both of those stories elicited smiles, applause, and the Chief saying, “Oh, fine, fine!” which is one of the only English phrases he knows! He has a linguist who never leaves his side and interestingly enough, speaks no english at all. Hmmm…The Welcoming Cermony cannot be adequately described in a narrative, rather the pictures will develop the experience for you. Cultural performances from the Ayensudo students included our Bulldogs being escorted to center stage to learn some of the local dance moves and customs and I can tell you, they ALL have moves you probably don’t know about! Troy gave a speech for the group and each student followed with their own introduction. The fact that Casey and Ellie play “football” was the talk of the town as well as Max and Matt playing an instrument. We walked to our campsite escorted by the Chief, the elders, and hundreds of children. Our Bulldogs assembled their own tents (with a bit of Ghanaian help), got to know some of the Ghanaian students and begin their cultural integration. After dinner we relaxed around the camp, shared some cultural differences and similarities with our head teacher Paddy, and had quite a fun time getting in to the tents for our first night of sleeping under the stars. Melissa fell over in her tent causing a domino effect that made the laughter and bedtime stories begin. Tomorrow is Easter-church service, exploration of the village, and some more beach time await us. Until tomorrow…