During my sophomore year of high school, my social studies teacher passed out a blank world map and asked our class to label the continents. I was sure I aced the pop quiz when I turned it in — oh, how I was going to show Mr. Quesada that mama didn’t raise no foo! Well, she did. At least that’s what an “F” generally indicates in the American school system. Of all the mistakes I made on that test, the most glaring rested on Africa where I scribbled “Egypt” across the entire continent. A for effort?

So when I received the call that I would be making my third trip to Africa this year for our escorted flight to Ghana (oh hai Delta Skymiles!), I had a much better grasp of the continent (and for the record, after a rigorous university course I can now name/locate all its countries, their capitals, and current presidents. Thanks mom!). Still, I have to admit, Ghana was one of those places I hadn’t heard too much about before working at Projects Abroad. Though after talking about it extensively over the past year and a half, I was enticed to experience the black star nation once and for all.

In honor of my first trip to the West Side aka the Best Side of *Africa*, here are my top five most curious things about Ghana:

1.) All the Beautiful People

A child at an orphanage in Accra

Hands down, I have never been to a place where I’ve seen so many beautiful people. This encapsulates not only the overall look of the population, but also how genuinely friendly people are. Countless times I was invited to share meals, engaged in fun conversations, and welcomed into people’s homes. Throughout all my travels, I’ve never experienced this type of openness to a complete stranger.

2.) Volunteer Diversity

“I spy Americans, Canadians, Koreans, and an Englishwomen!”

I suppose with hundreds of people from Projects Abroad coming to Ghana each year, it’s only natural it would host our most diverse volunteer population. As a cross-cultural enthusiast, meeting people beyond the host country really enhances the volunteer experience and creates some interesting couch surfacing possibilities after ones’ time in country has passed. To give you a little idea about Projects Abroad Ghana volunteers, one host family housed people from the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. That is some international flava.

3.) Unpredictable Weather

Assistant Country Manager Ellie Gurney after a wet and wild storm

Granted I visited Ghana during the rainy season, but the weather was about as predictable as the L train on Wednesday morning* (*mandatory Williamsburg reference). Out of nowhere, rain storms lasting for hours would beat down and then sticky heat would take over.

I am not always the most efficient packer, so the list of things I failed to bring because I took too many pairs of shoes would include: a rain jacket/poncho, water proof gear, extra flip flops, a hat, and looser clothing.

4.) Interesting Cultural Differences

Part of traveling is of course discovering what makes one culture different from another. I was fascinated by the burial traditions in Ghana — when one dies, they are put in a coffin shaped like their occupation. I went to a shop where they fashioned these and saw the likes of airplanes (pictured above), fish, chickens, and tomatoes. Hopefully they’ll be able to construct a fierce pair of skinny jeans by the time this custom hits Brooklyn.

5.) A Love for the United States

Me Feeling Unusually Patriotic

Ghana is the first country in recent memory I’ve visited that simply loves the U.S. I really think this photo says it all.

By Allison Kean, Program Advisor - Canada

Hi! I have just recently started at the Projects Abroad office here in Toronto and was asked to introduce myself via the staff blog. So here’s a little bit about myself and my travel and volunteer experiences!

I grew up in Northern Ontario in the city of Timmins. Living in northern Canada is not as bad as it sounds. I have fond childhood memories camping and calling loons by the lake in the summer, winters spent at the ski hill or being towed behind a snowmobile on a GT snow racer, and sitting around a campfire in the fall.

I was very involved with Girl Guides when I was younger, and when I was sixteen I was selected to participate on a volunteer trip to Costa Rica. We volunteered at an ecotourism lodge in the rainforest, building a giant swimming pool. I stayed with a host family, and I loved every minute of it. I loved the cultural sharing and the excitement of being immersed in a different culture. It made me realize that the world was bigger than my little northern town. This might sound cheesy but it was during my Costa Rican adventure that I was bit by the so-called travel bug.

The following summer, I was selected to represent Ontario at a UN Friendship conference in Switzerland. I fell in love with Europe and before I left, had already begun to plan my return. Later that year, I returned to Europe on a student exchange in Niederkassel, Germany. While my Canadian friends sweated over their calculus and physics homework, I did puppet shows with my grade 6 German class and travelled around Europe.

After graduation, I moved to Southern Ontario to attend university. I obtained a bachelor degree in Global Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. The best part of the Global Studies program at Laurier was that students had the opportunity to take advantage of the “Global Studies Experience” credit. The GSE was structured so that you could set up some time abroad wherever you wanted (within reason) and count the experience as a credit towards your degree.

It didn’t take me long to decide that I was going to spend the semester volunteering in South America. I decided on Peru and before long I was living in a suburb of Cusco, where I worked at an orphanage in the Sacred Valley and volunteered at a drop in centre for street kids in the Plaza de Armas. To date Cusco is still one of my favourite places and I miss it (and especially the people) a lot.

After finishing University, I pursued my Post-Graduate degree in International Project Management at Humber College. Now here I am, living in Toronto and settling into my new home with the Projects Abroad family!

By Scott McQuarrie, Programme Advisor

At the risk of making Robert Burns turn in his grave, I’ve prepared this short poem based on my recent time in Nepal. Try reading in your best Scottish accent!

Nepaland

Nepal is a riot of radiant skies
Blind men see sights to move the wis
Another life that’s not bound by things
harder now, yet still the music rings

Does He really care if it’s Hindu or Buddha
As I make my way along the Stupa
It seems enough, colours burn so bright
Flags droop low but hung up like a kite

Mountains obscured by hills and the mist
Rainy season turning palms into clenching fists
The water pours down on one smiling old man
Only one word uttered; it’s beautiful “Chitwan”

Tuk Tuks and rickshaws litter the street
Cloths and rags and the humid August heat
Children sell space for more than a Rupee
Converting the cost, is not all we see

A word in Nepali is spoken, “Namaste”
Translation means hello or simply just hey
Other words used sparingly to people in ranks
“Dhanyabaad” given as they offer their thanks

Kathmandu Valley where dogs often bark
Thamel town resonates long after dark
Banapa’s quiet and Patan’s stunning view
Women tell tales, the day’s almost through

Shanika and Jess carry out an induction
Enthusiasm radiates through words like conduction
Sajana’s stories, she tells them so dear
Over to you: the Projects Abroad volunteer

The poet himself

By Ian Birbeck,

I have just come back from visiting our Argentina projects which was great. It was good to be able to meet so many volunteers, hosts as well as staff.

I found out lots of things sitting in taxis, buses, bars and in coffee shops.

A couple of things I found out. The first Test Match cricket match was between USA and Canada. If you looked at my bookshelf at home you wouldn’t expect this English cricket nut to need to fly to Argentina to find that out.

Another interesting fact I picked up in Atlanta stopping over on the way home. I visited the Coca Cola museum which had been recommended by many. Did you know that famous shaped bottle came because the designer thought it was Cocoa Cola. The shape is meant to look like a Cocoa pod.

Any other interesting facts you guys have picked up on your journeys around the world?