Travel

For a total of eleven years, I’d worked outside the States, starting in Tanzania with the Peace Corps. Yet, I planned far more for a two-week trip to Ghana than I’d ever planned for life in another country. Also, this was the most I’d ever paid for a vacation; so, I wanted to make sure … Continue reading »

When had it become Sunday? Surely, while we flew over international waters. Ghana was four hours ahead of the East Coast. But psychologically, the idea of “the next day” didn’t gel because I hadn’t slept. Despite the fact that my head was cushioned and propped against the window, I couldn’t fall asleep for any appreciable … Continue reading »

RC and I joined other early-bird members of our tour group outside of the hotel. To the right of the hotel, a watermelon vendor was ready for business BEFORE 6 AM. Talk about a strong entrepreneurial spirit. As a matter of fact, there were many people up at that time, just milling about. Then, I … Continue reading »

My sister joined us for the 6 AM morning walk. Yesterday, she was late and never caught up with us. Although we retraced our route from the day before, we experienced less traffic, no walk-of-shame club goers and fewer tour group members. We walked past the doughnut vendor and across the bridge. I pointed out … Continue reading »

After returning the room key and placing my suitcase in the bus, I headed to breakfast by 7 AM. Other tour members were waiting in the lobby for 7:30 since that was the breakfast start time on our agenda. They followed me because I announced that breakfast should have already started. The agenda also showed … Continue reading »

Perhaps that blaring church music from last night affected me more than I realized. Thursday was actually the 17th! As I figured, our rural morning walk was wonderful. Less traffic, less noise and no air pollution. I saw a bar adjacent to a pharmacy and asked aloud, “Which one has the cure?” (Please click on … Continue reading »

My head was full of prayers for Dad during the morning walk. I thought about my leave-the-country curse. Just before I had left the States to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania, my maternal grandfather passed. A few days before I returned to the States after completing my PCV service, my paternal grandmother … Continue reading »

I woke up minutes before the 6:15 alarm. I needed that extra time to eat leftovers. The two pieces of yam were frozen. I nibbled them a little before abandoning the effort. I ate all the kelewele (fried plantains), which had the added joy of groundnuts sprinkled throughout. Groundnuts vs. Peanuts: groundnuts have three nuts … Continue reading »

After warming up enough to sleep, I dreamt that I was back in NC to inspect a newly installed ceiling fan. While home, I questioned why the kitchen counters had been covered. My sister said because Mom was finally converting the dishwasher area into a cabinet. When I told Dr. Kofi my dream about returning … Continue reading »

We experienced a slight drizzle during this morning’s walk. I used my umbrella for the first time, which I referred to as my “anti-rain stick” since I had carried it before and it had not rained. Had the rain made it easier for the chickens to find food? Maybe just a coincidence we saw them … Continue reading »