Day 5

I've been here 5 days now and the people of Ghana managed to break my heart today... and not only once, but twice.

I have spent most of this week getting oriented/acquainted with my surroundings, working environment and a vague grasp on what my job will be.

My boss wants me to focus on an HIV awareness/prevention type program that I am to design that went on the backburner up to now, since they have lacked someone to follow it through.

The more days that pass with me living in this free and beautiful country, the more I am beginning to feel at ease/at home. Ghanaian's are beautiful people. Both physically and the way they treat one another. This country is safe, friendly, patriotic, people are respectful, very professional and even go out of their way to accomodate you where they can in all capacities... even in speaking english. (For those who knew of my journey in South Africa, you will know this experience is much different!)

I keep waiting for something bad to happen, as life is very easy-going and relaxed here...
no complaints.

Give me a few more weeks and that story may change!

In the beginning I mentioned being extremely touched by some Ghanaian's I met today...

the first was this woman who we approached who was living in a shack made of wood planks on stilts, and had a plastic bag on her head for warmth. She told us of the journeys she made in her youth... to USA, Canada, Europe and was living well throughout her time abroad. When she came back to Ghana to retire, her husband left her, and she is unable to locate her 2 grown children who are expected to bear the responsibility of taking care of their aged mother. No one is to be found or located.

The second woman we met in her shack which had beams from the roof coming down atop her bed and she was an amputee with only 1 leg. I remember when our host was describing her situation, our eyes met and I smiled at her- with my eyes and she did the same, then looked down right away.

The moment in time when we made eye contact- I have to say is one of those rare moments that only we as human beings can ever experience. The only way I really know how to describe it is in saying it was a very primal, raw and emotional connection but without words.

Then the elderly woman began to cry after I looked away from her. These types of human connections are so rare in our lives, but when it happens with an elderly person-- especially an elderly African person, there is something that just reaches right into your heart and takes hold.

Both of these women moved me to tears b/c of the way age has laid its heavy hands on their tiny, frail bodies in horrible living conditions without a family member in sight. They left their footprint in my heart today.

Oh Ghana... my journey has already begun.

I just wanted to share my experience today with you so that you may be able to take a moment in your busy day of challenges, annoyances and worries-- to reflect on your blessings. These women will never have a fraction of what a Canadian takes for granted daily. Please be mindful of that today as you go about your interactions with others.

I was moved today, and hope you can be reminded today of the beautiful gifts we are blessed with daily here on earth.