Being Back

It has been a while since I updated my blog. I guess I did not have many good things to say, and instead of internet venting I just didn’t write. It was just the weight of everything bogging me down. All the failed projects, lack of enthusiasm, lies, and discrimination became too heavy to simply put a smile on my face. Once I gave in to agitation I had no defense against the things that were bothering me. The energy I was putting out was reflected by those around me. I was not feeling happy, and the things setting me off became more frequent. Thankfully I was given the best Christmas gift I have ever been given. My Dad flew me home for Christmas.

The best part about being home was the laughter. I literally have not laughed that hard in over a year. The food was awesome and I checked off everything on my America list that I had made in anticipation of being home. When I first got back I was marveling at how beautiful the trees were in their pre-winter state. That was the only thing that really stuck out to me as something that I forgot about or took for granted. Everything else was something that I knew I was missing. Spending time with my family and friends filled a gaping hole that had been eating away at me. Knowing that I have so many people who would do anything for me, who care about me, and understand me (especially my sense of humor) is the only thing I have to keep me going for the next year. As my Dad and I headed to the airport I felt like I was going to vomit. The feeling continued the entire 27 hour trip back to Ghana. It was the most intense as the plane was landing in Accra.

Ahh, Accra! The most back to reality welcome of all time. As we got off the plane it was raining. When we got to the baggage area not only was all of our baggage soaked, but there was water dripping from the ceiling and a huge puddle next to where they had piled our luggage. They had taken it off the conveyor belt and put it together, telling us that was all the luggage from our flight. No more luggage would come. My luggage was not there. After checking the pile about six or eight times they direct me to lost and found to report my bags. And I am waiting in line with a lot of other angry people I realize that my Ghana phone is in my lost bag, and they will have no way to call me to come back tomorrow or whenever it comes. They said it may still be in Madrid. I keep my cool but I am thinking of all my goodies like the Reese’s Pieces and almonds I brought back with me that could potentially be lost forever. Then when I get up to the front of the lost and found line they tell me that there is more luggage coming for my flight, they had just stopped because of the rain. In Ghana when it rains everything stops. I went back up to the baggage area and found all my stuff without any further problem.

The next day I head back to my site, and as it is time for me to get out of the car to my house it starts hammering down rain. When they see that it’s me carrying a bunch of bags everyone in sight runs out of cover and into the rain to help me carry my stuff to my house. Many people are sheltering from the rain under my veranda so I am welcomed with a chorus of “AWISI”s and “Mo Heee” (which means welcome). I am reunited with my family and my cats. It was nice to be welcomed with so many people at one time. They said that the rain had come to welcome me. Its dry season so the rain is a little bit unusual. When I first went into my room it looked a LOT shabbier than I remember. It also smelled like mold. Im working that out with some Nag Champa. Outside of my room I’ve been noticing a lot of smells everywhere that remind me of when I first came to Ghana. It’s interesting to me that I forgot about these smells when I spent my first year here, but upon return they stick out again. Another thing that has returned is the constant itching. There are always spots turning up on my body that are very itchy and I have no idea where they came from. Also the water sometimes makes me itch after I bathe, and even randomly when I am in bed at night my body is itchy. I had forgotten about that. I had definitely taken that for granted during my vacation.  

It was fun to give my family their presents from America. My little sister has been carrying her Barbie around with her wherever she goes. The annoying thing is that literally every person that I know in the village asks me what I brought for them. It would be impossible to bring something for everyone, there just isn’t enough room in my bag. They ask it rather aggressively too which is probably what sets me off about it.

It’s been a week since I’ve been back, and it has been a hard week. Jet lag has had me up at night and sleeping in way too late. The first couple days I felt miserable. I read the Hunger Games trilogy and cried through the whole thing. (I had to know what happened after seeing Catching Fire when I was home). I haven’t had much of an appetite at all. I finally forced myself to make breakfast yesterday morning and I think it is a sign that the worst is over. I made some delicious coffee with the grounds that I got for Christmas. I am starting to feel normal again and fall into my Ghana rhythm.