As of tomorrow morning, I will have left home, and as of Wednesday, I will have arrived in Ghana, exactly four weeks ago. Its been a surreal month to say the least.
It began with a night in DC and the thirty hour travel marathon to Ghana, by way of Frankfurt, Germany. My arrival in Ghana did not coincide with my realization that I was in Africa. That epiphinal moment crept up on me over the next week and sucker punched me once I had moved into my homestay. It struck as I was lying in my bed, drenched in sweat, covered in bug bites, and serenaded by screaming goats.
"What the hell am I doing here?"
Totally unlike Connecticut, and only in negative ways it seemed. I was continuously mulling over how much I would be willing to pay to sit on a ceramic, plastic, or really, any non-concrete toilet. Is that really too much to ask? For a salad? Some privacy? Or a meal portion that doesn't make me think I am supposed to share with the other twenty-one volunteers in my group?
I didn't realize what it meant to be overwhelmed before arriving. Typically, I can maintain my cool in stressful situations. Sometimes I do when perhaps I should be losing it. However, arriving in my homestay town of Addo Nkwanta was a total sensory, emotional, and mental overload. So much so, that I didn't have a chance to maintain, or lose, much of anything. The first couple days dragged like only the worst of their kind. Every movement was scrutinized, every interaction was strained, and I was ninety percent sure I was going to contract a flesh-eating disease and die before the week was up (This is still a concern; no help was given by learning the names of the specific flesh-eating diseases that currently enjoy epidemic status in Ghana.(Just kidding Mom, as long as I don't swallow any of the water I use to brush my teeth or take bucket baths with I'll be fine.))
Anyway, that was 3 weeks ago and I am still here, happy as my African Momma after she beats the crap out of a neighbor boy for stealing her chicken. This post is a testimony to my (mostly) functional vitals and the initial trials I underwent. These struggles have only begun but I am absolutely certain that this is where I am supposed to be, and unequivocal in my determination to succeed in every way I can.
Ghana is a truly amazing country and I am excited to share it with anyone who remembers me fondly enough to actually read this. More optimistic posts are forthcoming...
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post do not represent the views of the Peace Corps. They only represent those of the author.
