Ghana! It still seems a little crazy that I have been in
West Africa for almost a month! Unfortunately, this semester is going way too
fast! I’m starting to regret not signing up for a year!
A lot has
happened in the past two weeks! I’m currently working at an Orphanage, Children’s
Ward of a hospital and starting soon I’ll be working with a sex-trafficking
refugee service. I’m so happy that I have been able to get involved with the
community and people here in Ghana!
The
orphanage is so great! The kids are adorable and so
sweet. The children’s ages range between a year and seventeen. Because it is a
private orphanage, the government sends many kids to this particular site that
have disabilities. There is one client who is blind and has severe developmental
disabilities and it has been a joy listening to music with him. There are other
children who have learning disabilities along with health concerns including
HIV and AIDS. It has been really fun
just playing with the kids and reading to them. They all LOVE attention and are
so thrilled when volunteers show up to hang out with them. One really cool
thing that I have noticed about these kids, is that they love reading. Most of
them would rather read than play games. I think that is a major difference between
Ghanaian children and American children. 
Another
service learning assignment that I have started was at the Children’s Ward in
the University Hospital. I was placed there with another girl named Emily who
is also from Chico! We showed up to the hospital and gave them a paper proving
that we can work there. After we were escorted to Children’s Ward we were
introduced to the head doctor. No joke this was our orientation, “What is your
schedule? Great, see you tomorrow. Go to administration and get a long white
coat.” I honestly couldn’t help but laugh. We weren’t told what to wear, what
we could do, what we couldn’t do, how to use things, where things are…
anything. And another funny part is that we were given these fancy coats that
made us look so official. We honestly looked like doctors but we had no idea
what to do. I still laugh just thinking about it. 
Unfortunately,
the University of Ghana’s professors have been on strike for the past 2.5. For
us, it is super annoying and also stressful because after three weeks, the
University shuts down. Thankfully, the International Program has a special
agreement so international students will get classes but I feel bad for the
Ghanaian students. We have a couple more days so lets hope that the professors
will come back!
Even though
the professors are gone, I LOVE this University. I have joined the University
of Ghana basketball team and it is so much fun! I guess I can officially say
that I have played college basketball and I have played overseas. It is going
on my resume! J
This past
weekend was absolutely incredible. Our group went on a trip to the Volta Region
in Ghana and I think it is my new favorite place in the world..no joke. We left
Friday and after several hours of driving, we stopped at a Monkey Sanctuary. We
were given bananas and then walked in a rainforest-like area. As we walked, we
saw tons of monkeys. If we held a banana out, the monkeys would jump on us,
peel the banana, eat it then go away. It was so fun! We got to feed tons of
monkeys as they jumped on us! Some of them were super sneaky and if you didn’t
hold the banana tight enough, it would grab it and jump away. Who knew that
monkeys actually ate bananas!!!
After the
Monkey Sanctuary, we drove to our hotel that was on top of a mountain. It had
an incredible view, amazing food and hot showers. It was perfect. I forgot how
much I missed hot water. 
The next
day was absolutely amazing. We started the day by climbing the tallest mountain
in West Africa. It was the hardest hike that I have ever done. Most hikes in
American do switch-backs or have a little bit of flat land. This mountain
didn’t. On our way up, there was even ropes to hold onto as we went up. It was
literally straight up. I was so sweaty and tired but getting to the top was
such an amazing accomplishment along with an AMAZING view. When we got to the
top, there were people cheering and it automatically made me happy. You could
see the beautiful African forest in every direction and it was breathtaking. We
took tons of pictures and many Africans took pictures of us. It was hilarious.
People would ask us to take a picture with them like we were celebrities. 
After the
hike, we made our way to the most amazing waterfall I have even seen. I’ve seen
a lot of waterfalls in my lifetime but this one was by far the most beautiful.
We had to walk about 30 minutes to it and as we got close, we could hear it and
as soon as we saw it, I was blown away. It was so high and there was so much
water! We immediately got in the water. There was so much water that when we
got close to the actual waterfall, we would have to hold onto another person
and slowly made our way under the water. It was so awesome! 
The
following day, we were making our way back home but we first stopped at a mini
safari park. We saw antelope, ostriches, and baboons! The baboons were so cool!
We got to feed them and touch them! One of the baboons tried to steal my
camera. That freaking baboon! After the baboons, we went to a bat cave. It was
pretty smelly and dark but once we got in there, we had the chance to walk up
the mountain to where a chief would usually look across the savannah to see if
they were getting attack. It was so beautiful and as far as we looked we could
see the savannah! The trip was AMAZING. Next weekend were are going to the
Ghana verse Zambia soccer match. It is a world cup qualifier so it is going to
be intense. Ghana beat America in the last World Cup! I’m planning on buying a
jersey and painting my face! Next weekend, we are also going to Cape Coast.
Cape Coast is where one of the major slave ports in Africa is My eyes have been
opened about how much I have already learned about the Slave Trade that I
didn’t learn in America. It is a completely different point of learn about the
slave trade in Africa. 
Some of the
other things I have done in Ghana I have done is that I went to one of our
Ghanaian “Buddy’s” friends house to learn how to make FuFu. Fufu is a
traditional Ghanaian dish. To make it, you first boil cassava and plantains.
After they are soft, you pound it with a huge stick. It was a super intense
workout. 
I am also
taking an African Dance which is the most entertaining thing I have ever done.
I have never laughed so hard and I also realized that I am the worst dancer in
the world. African Dancing is hard but so amusing. I cant wait to dance for you
all in American.
After being
in Ghana for a month, I have learned so much about myself, the American
culture, Ghana and other people. I am so freaking blessed and this opportunity
is amazing.
PS I love letters so if you want to be awesome, feel free to
write me!
Janae Schallert
University Studies Abroad Consortium
P.O. Box LG PMB 26
Accra, Ghana
You guys rock!
Janae
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