Well, it is time for my last entry from Ghana. I would say that the time flew past, but it really does feel like i have been here for 3 months, and it is time to move on. I leave on Thursday evening, and Im fliying to Cairo ("Thats in Egypt!") and then onto Casablanca. I think I will spend the first few weeks travelling to Fez and Tangier, before returning to Casablanca, meeting up with Ed and Andrea, and then heading for Marakkech for Christmas. Sounds pretty good to me.
The last week has been awesome, for one main reason, FIREWORKS. Growi9ng up in Australia, fireworks were illegal, so i missed out on this important part of my childhood. I can gladly say my inner pyromaniac has helped me make up for this over the last week. Fireworks are perfectly legal in Ghana, and fantastically cheap. We have become neighbourhood heroes with our nightly fireworks extravaganzas. Last night was Ed's last night here before going home for a cold English christmas, so we had a huge fireworks party at our place. It was awesome, minimal injuries were sustained (Becky walked into a sparkler) and perhaps even rivalled the granduer of the Mildura Show (hard to beleive, i know). ANyway, there are barely any fireworks left in the shops in town now, so i think the fun is over.
Things have been crazy at out house for the last few weeks. Docas, a young female teacherfrom our school has moved in, and Vera has turned into a silly girl (as she is prone to do). There have been many waterfights between all of us (known as baptisms) and a lot of practical jokes and teasing going on. If there is one thing i will miss from Ghana it will be Vera, she really is the best host ever. My host family in Nepal (the Silwals) were quite, shy and respetful, and the language barrier made communication very difficult. Vera on the other hand is big, loud, silly, and rarely serious. Whenever i return from travelling in Ghana, my return is met by scream of delight by Vera, whilst I am squashed like a baby to her bug black bosom. She really is a whole lot of fun, and I really think she will miss us a lot to. She said she wont leave her room on Thursday when I leave because she will be crying too much.
The last few days at school should be good. The kids know we are going, and are already getting sad, but they also know they can get away with a whole heap because the wont get in trouble in our last week. SOme of the girls are sad because I have not agreed to marry them, and when i am gone they will not be able to stroke my beard. I think Ross is also sad that when I am gone he will not be able to stroke my beard.
So, a big thanks to the country of Ghana. The few bad things that happened to did nothing to detract from my experience, and the time here has been fantastic. Even though my camera was stolen, the Ghanaian police, especially Detective Inspector Cletus, showed that torture and wrongful arrest can work to find stolen property, and i got the camera back. Still, I havent forgiven whoever stole my table tennis net, bats and balls from our dining room table. That was a shameful act and you will be punished, WHOEVER YOU ARE!!!!! Ghana is big, loud and proud, and I could have hoped for nothing less from my first african country. God bless Ghana, and good luck to the Black Stars in the World Cup next year!
SOmething lighthearted and typically Ghanaian to finish my last entry. Yesterday we where walking along the road, trying to get a lift in the back of a truck back to our village. We were past by an ambulance, which are mainly used as hearses in Ghana. In true Ghanaian fashion it had a religious message stuck on the back window in big letters. It read "I am alive, The devil is a liar".
Write soon from Morocco,
Ryan
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