Cibola grad takes Ghana study trip

A three-week adventure forever changed my perspective on my life, my country and the world.

Ten students, two professors and a bus ride across Ghana, West Africa.

We were formally educated in ecotourism projects, plantation research and traditional culture. However, our greatest learning transpired by walking through markets, dancing with children and living among Ghanaians.

A Yuma native, I graduated from Cibola High School as an honor student, varsity athlete and performing dance member. I lived and worked my family’s business, Yuma River Tours, along the beautiful Colorado River and among the greatest family a girl could have.

I moved to Flagstaff for Northern Arizona University, but hiking, camping, volleyball, live music and the community soon became an equal part of my educational journey. I felt blessed and content with my life.

But after being saturated with both the poverty and spirit of West Africa, I developed an active pursuit of happiness and appreciation for the people and opportunities in my life.

The Ghanaian culture places an emphasis on greetings, strong family ties, a hierarchal authority based on age, gender roles, a left-hand taboo, music and dance, and soccer.

Their work-to-survive lifestyle is physically demanding, mentally exhausting and emotionally strenuous. But even surrounded by this harsh lifestyle, the genuine smiles, laughter and spirit of the Ghanaians continually surprised and enthralled all of us travelers.

The intensity of the African landscape overwhelmed, captivated and mystified. Layer after layer of intricate details were jumbled together into a huge mass of green rainforest. Mushrooms grew an inch high on fallen leaves, while buttresses of trees grew 120 feet wide.

The savannah sky dominated everything. Vast and encompassing, it radiated beauty and perched over the land. Mist enveloped the morning forest and caressed our faces as we passed through the gradually dissipating clouds.

Children were a staple across the landscape as well. They screamed “obruni” (foreigner), frantically waved both hands and beamed smiles that stretched across their entire faces. Their shock and raw enthusiasm upon encountering obrunis was intimidating and funny and exhilarating, but it was never quite normal.

It tugged on my heart to see the herniated bellybuttons and red eyes of children suffering from malnutrition. However, their good behavior, willingness to help both family and foreigners, and respectful nature never failed to outshine their ragged clothing or apparent hunger.

Women walked from village to village balancing fruit, vegetables and goods in buckets atop their heads, ready to sell to anybody passing by. Babies slept peacefully while slung to their mothers’ backs with cloths of the most beautiful, colorful and intricate prints.

Almost everyone had a cell phone and, a bit ironically, had service even in the most rural villages. Prepaid cell phone minutes could be purchased along the roadside. Some women spent their days sitting in a booth held together by moss-covered, decaying wood, selling these minutes.

Halfway through the trip, my infatuation with the people and landscape of Ghana took a turn toward realism. I stopped noticing only the strength of Ghanaian women, liveliness of Ghanaian music and splendor of Ghanaian clothing. I stopped seeing poverty from the exalted and idolized Western view of Third World countries.

I began to see the tragedies of developing countries for exactly what they are – tragic - because the knowledge and resources exist to mitigate many of the problems in Ghana, but the problems are not being adequately addressed.

I also gained a deep admiration, not only for the Ghanaians initiating change and advocating for progress, but also for the average Ghanaian who held a refreshing sense of family, country and thankfulness to be alive.

I highly encourage everybody to make the opportunity to travel abroad. Take in another culture with an open mind but also apply every sight, smell, touch and sound to your life. Connect your life and your being with an African, European, Italian, Chinese or Australian with the ultimate goal of achieving empathy.

Find the true meaning of happiness, family, opportunity and blessing by living within the confines of another culture. It will open your eyes and impact your heart.