Now that I am home after spending 4 months in Ghana, I figured I should write one final post to give this blog some closure.
It's hard to comprehensively sum up my experience, but I can say that I have learned a lot over the last 4 months, and I think I can say I have changed a bit too. It's not like I had an earth-shattering epiphany on a daily basis, or even discovered the meaning of life, but I do feel like I developed a somewhat better perception of the world and Africa's place in it.
Even though I cannot solve the problems that exist between Africa and the rest of the world, I feel like I have a much better sense of empathy for events that happen far away from where I happen to live. I no longer think of Africa as an impossibly remote place. When I think of Africa, and Ghana for that matter, I am able to visualize specific places and specific people. I view this as a pretty important change in my mindset.
One thing that surprised me about my time in Ghana was the fact that I probably learned more this semester about home economics than I did about journalism or political science. While I went abroad to to find adventure and independence, I actually assumed the role of a regular 1950's housewife. I spent a good deal of my time cooking and doing laundry by hand. These are without a doubt valuable skills to have developed, but they are just not exactly what I had had in mind.
Overall, I have to say that Ghana was a really good experience. I made some really great friends, met some really interesting acquaintances, and talked to some pretty creepy Rastas. Although I will remember some of these people more fondly than others, I can say that most of them helped me to grow in some way. (Even the Rastas.)
Ghana was such an eye-opening experience and it has only made me want to discover more places and cultures throughout the world. I look forward to many more adventures in the years to come.
