Day Three

Thursday, June 2nd

Our second day of class instruction at the University of Ghana- Legon began with a PowerPoint presentation from Daniel Kumah, Assistant Lecturer, in the Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies. Afterwards, he took us for a brief tour inside of the university’s archeology museum.

Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, has a population of 27.7 million people. We learned that slavery is still very much an emotional topic and that slavery in Africa existed prior to the arrival of the Europeans. A person could be put into slavery as a:

• pawn slave (payment of security of debt- retained personal rights)
• domestic slave
• slave

As slavery was socially constructed in the United States, “free-ness” was determined by your skin color, even if you were freed you could be re-enslaved. There were 63 slave trade markets in Ghana- Salaga is the most famous slave market. As a twin, one of the interesting things I learned was that twins were once considered a bad omen, and often times one twin would be sold into slavery.

• “Akoa”- servant
• “Awowa”- debt/pawn
• “Donko”- domestic slave
• “Dommum”- war captive
• “Akyere”- slave under capital punishment 

Fertility dolls, or Akuaba, (pictured above) are given to women who are unable to conceive. These women must care for these dolls and carry them on their back, as if they are real children, until they are able to conceive.

When a chief or royal of a village dies, they must be present at their own funeral. Funeral day figures/portraits (effigies) are created. To get the image of a person, artists would pray to spirits that the image of the deceased would appear in a bowl or they would borrow the pillow of the deceased and sleep on it for a night. Effigies are not buried with the deceased.

When a child is born, boys are given a bracelet and girls are given beads for her waist. These are used to see if your children are growing and they are believed to give you shape. It would be an insult for one man to tell another, “I know the colors of your wife’s beads.”

After the lecture and archeology museum tour, we visited one of Ghana’s biggest attractions, the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial.

Dr. Nkrumah led Ghana towards independence from Britain and became the first president in 1957.

At this point in the day I was ready for a nap but was excited about our next activity- a trip to the Accra Art Centre. I didn’t know what to expect but was prepared to be overwhelmed. The second we stepped off of the van we were all immediately swarmed by men who invited us each to their shops to see their wood carvings, bead work, and paintings. We took the time to grab fresh coconut water and chat with the locals.

The young man I spoke to was named Mumin. He told me that he was from northern Ghana and moved to Accra to find work. As a child of the streets he went through primary schooling at an academy, where he was introduced to and fell in love with the arts. 

This was our first exposure to the bargaining culture in Ghana which caused a lot of anxiety for many of us. After being bombarded, for a time period that felt like forever, we were warmly embraced and welcomed by all of those same men in the market. They pulled out benches for us to sit and drums for them to beat, and began to sing in unity. It was such a joyful experience that brought me a feeling of happiness I will never forget.

Our last stop for the day (and an amazing surprise) was a visit to the beach. The beach has always been my favorite place to be- the sand below my feet, the loud crashing of the waves, and the smell of the salty Atlantic Ocean. 

Today was indeed a good day.

Day Two

Wednesday, June 1st

Today was the first day of class instruction at the University of Ghana- Legon. We had class on-campus in the Maison Francaise (which translates to French House) which serves as a building for modern languages, such as, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. 

In our first day of class we had a brief orientation. We learned the safety precautions to be taken, created a behavioral contract, and reviewed the schedule for our trip. In addition to this, we participated in exchanging gifts with our Ghanaian program coordinators and the peer social work students, Samuel and Ishmael, who will be joining us during our stay. We gifted them with Texas State apparel and men’s body wash and we all received a beautiful bag and a bracelet (pictured above.)

In Ghana, when someone is born they are not given a name as we would in the United States. Instead, the family usually waits until after leaving the hospital to host a traditional ceremony where the child is given their name and welcomed to the world by their family and community. Names are given based on the day of the week they were born and their birth order. My Ghanaian name is “Yaa”, which stands for Thursday.

Some of the cultural do’s and don’ts we learned about are as follows:

• It’s appropriate to deny food after it has been served, not before
• Pointing your thumb is an insult
• Don’t kiss in public (but it is common for people of same gender to hold hands, dance, and be affectionate.)
• Always greet people from right to left, with your right hand, and greet everyone when you enter a room
• Always be respectful, especially to elders
• And so much more!

After a quick lunch at The Basement Plus- Restuarant and Fast Food, a university dining option, we had a campus tour from our Ghanaian peers. I learned that the University of Ghana started out as an agricultural university and is known for its Bachelor of Arts programs. The university also has the largest library in West Africa, Balme Library (pictured below.)

It was cool to see that they have a lot of the same programs and campus buildings that we have at Texas State. The University of Ghana has a School of Pharmacy, School of Law, Department of Social Work, Communications, Adult Education, Public Policy, and so much more.

I learned throughout the day that when Ghanaians shake hands they snap middle fingers with the person they are shaking with. I also learned that there are approximately 44 tribes in Ghana, “Akwaaba” means welcome, “abruni” means white foreigner (and is not used as an insult,) and English/Pigeon English and Twi are the spoken languages here in Ghana.

One of the things that stood out the most to me was that Ghana has a bargaining culture. By this I mean that not everything has a “set price” the way things do in America. In Ghana, you pay what you think things are worth, so often the buyer and seller participate in negotiating. This can and will prove to be uncomfortable experience for us tourists and I know that this is something I will probably struggle with. I didn’t think that I’d want to participate in bargaining but our Ghanaian peer, Ishmael, gave us a different perspective that made me want to at least give it a chance.

He said that in Ghana, bargaining is a good skill to have because social workers use it to negotiate resources and services for their clients. This was the first international cultural connection I made to our profession and is something I’ll always remember.

It was a wonderful first day and we all had so much fun. Looking forward to what adventures the rest of the week will hold!

Day One

Tuesday, May 31st

Today was the first full day of rest after flying across the world. After some rejuvenating sleep we woke up to one of the most delicious breakfast meals I’ve had during my travels- eggs, fresh avocado, mango, watermelon, and bread. Simple, but so tasty and filling.

A few hours, and a nap later, I walked over to the living room and joined my peers and professor in watching a cultural television program in which a man taught viewers the different ways to wear Ashanti Kente cloth. It was interesting to note that men, elders, Royals, and even drunken men, wear their cloth differently. While watching the program we experienced our first power outage, which is a very common experience in Ghana. I experienced a lot of un-comfortability during this time and hoped that the power would come back soon- I missed the convenience of having on-site maintenance and backup generators in America.

After waiting a couple of hours, our van driver, Richard, eventually came for us so that we could pick up our other peers to all have dinner together. Another thing I quickly learned is that in Ghana time does not equal money, so Ghanaians get there when they get there. “Go with the flow,” as they always say.

While driving around Accra, we saw a lot of young girls with their hair very short. We asked why this was and our Ghanaian program coordinator, Theo, told us that young girls keep their hair short so that when they’re in school they are focusing on their academics and not their appearance or attracting men. Learning this was so interesting when compared to American culture, where many girls “dress up” in middle and high school to catch a boy’s attention.

For our first Ghanaian meal we were treated to Koffee Lounge inside of the A&C Mall in Accra. Eating in Ghana will be a continual challenge- not only finding food that we like to eat but also being mindful for our health recommendations. We were encouraged not to drink un-bottled water, drink everything with a straw, and don’t eat food that doesn’t have steam coming off of it.

Leftover Jollof rice I ate from dinner at the Koffee Lounge

After this meal, we checked into our hotel, the Forest Gate Hotel in East Legon, and went to bed to rest up for the next day.

My aspirations for the duration of this trip are to:

• Learn about attitudes regarding social services and tourism in Ghana
• Learn about beauty standards for women and men
• Learn about attitudes towards those who identify in the LGBTQ+ community, forms of punishment, and if there are any advocacy efforts in Ghana
• Experience culture, tradition, language, and foods different from my own
• Learn about access to education
• Get out of my comfort zone and grow
• To debunk stereotypes perpetuated in American media

Wait til you hear about all of the things I learned on the first day of class instruction! (I’ve been journaling every day but I’m behind on blogging because of the occasional wifi outages- please bear with me.)

Xoxo,

Mariana

Pre-Program Days

Sunday, May 29th – Monday, May 30th

Unexpected. It’s the one word I would use to describe the first 48 hours of my trip. After sitting in a plane for twenty hours, traveling through three different continents, and almost having a meltdown, I have never been more glad to take a shower and lay in a bed.

Switching terminals in the London Heathrow airport

This is my first international flight and after having delayed and cancelled flights, lost luggage, trekking through multiple terminals and gates, and becoming a professional at going through security- I think I can handle anything.

Things I noticed while traveling:

• Cars drive on the left side of the road in London
• Your phone will die because all electrical outlets aren’t the same
• Dialing phone numbers in Ghana is complex compared to the states
• Different ethnicities and nationalities (while in the airport I met a college aged girl from Jersey who was traveling to Greece, a man named Samuel who has a Puerto Rican wife and greeted us in Spanish, and a Ghanaian man married to a white woman in Chicago.)

During all of this trouble there were several times I wanted to throw my hands in the air, give up, and go back home but I’m glad I didn’t.

Texas State University Office of Community Relations bon voyage at Mochas and Javas

The things that kept me strong and reminded me of why I came on this trip were the family and friends who helped me emotionally and financially prepare for this trip and the letters they wrote that I carried and waited to start reading until I landed.

The first letter I read was from Alana. To my sister: thank you for going through life with me every step of the way and always being by my side. I’m sad that I’ll be spending all this time (especially our birthday) without you, but I’m glad you’re so supportive and understand what this trip means to me.

I can’t wait to tell you all about my thoughts and aspirations for the program and experience from my first day in Ghana!

Xoxo,

Mariana

Coming Soon!

I can’t believe it, at the end of this week I’ll be leaving the United States and will be arriving in Accra, Ghana, to study social work with an emphasis in social justice and human rights.

When I found out about the program back in February, I had no idea that three months later I would be packing my bags and preparing to board a plane for the journey of a lifetime.

The past couple of weeks have been crazy- I made a trip to Houston to get my tourist VISA, ran around campus collecting proper documentation for my scholarship award, and went from clinic to clinic searching for an affordable yellow fever vaccination.

Along with everything I’ve mentioned above, I’ve been taking the time to visit family and friends before I leave.

Never did I think I would have this opportunity. I didn’t think I could afford a college education, much less a trip abroad. I decided very late in the game that I’d be participating in this program- at the time, there was only one scholarship application still open, so I applied. After being selected as an alternate, I didn’t think I had a chance of being selected, but one week later I was notified I’d be receiving a $3,000 scholarship.

The fact that this trip is happening is a true blessing and it would not be possible without the Gilman International Scholarship or the following people:

• Andrew Zamora
• Suzanne Zamora
• Fernando and Michelle Zamora and family
• Tracy Gonzales
• Gloria and Fernando Pequeno
• Emma Trinidad and Fernando Zamora
• Ofelia Vasquez Philo
• Frank and Cynthia Arredondo
• Shelby Scott and Ben Kvanli
• Melba Vasquez, Jesus Trinidad, Richard Anzaldua, Grace Mueller, Gloria Sasser, John Thomaides, Oscar Alvarez, Maggie Gillespie, and Elizabeth Castaneda
• Audrie Bermea, Brandi Ortiz, Irene Sauceda, Paloma Gonzalez, Steven Thornhill, Krystal Costilla, Marianna Perez, and Sabrina Deleon
• Brian Barger, Naveen Cypers, Frances Badgett, and Al Mendez
• And so many others!

There are not enough words or hugs to express my gratitude for each and every one of you. THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate everyone who offered assistance, monetary or in-kind, and provided me with emotional support and encouragement through this journey. Now it’s my turn to do my job- to learn as much as I can, make a positive impact in the lives of others, and learn valuable skills and grow so that when I return I can be the best individual, and future social worker, I can be!

It’s All About The Money

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything about my journey towards studying abroad this summer and a lot has happened since then.

Back in February I was officially accepted into the study abroad program to Ghana and since then I’ve had one large fundraiser, applied for summer financial aid, applied for the Gilman International Scholarship, applied for my passport, and attended two orientations with the seven other students I’ll be traveling with.

To say the least, it has been a very busy couple of months.

On February 20th, many of my friends and family members helped me put on a Hamburger Fundraiser at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, in which we sold almost 300 hamburgers, chips, and drinks. Through this fundraiser I was able to raise a little over $2,000 which has helped cover my first tuition payment, my passport, and a couple of other expenses in order to help me prepare for my trip. This fundraiser would not have been possible without help from my father, aunts and uncle, grandparents, and generous family friends and community members.

My nephew, Jayden, helping load supplies into my car the morning of the fundraiser.

In addition to this $2,000, I have also been awarded a $2,000 summer tuition grant from Texas State University- Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Unfortunately, I will not receive this money until after I’ve already left to Ghana.

Meanwhile, I’m still working to raise more money for my trip to help me afford my expenses. I know that I’ll go on this trip no matter what obstacles come my way. I’ve definitely set my goals on participating in this program and want this experience more than anything. I’ve sacrificed too much and have come too far to let anything set me back. Thank you so much to everyone who has invested in me and my trip to study abroad in Ghana so far.

Stay tuned to follow me on my journey to Ghana!

Starting Something New

My name is Mariana Zamora and I’m a senior at Texas State University pursuing my bachelors degree in social work. I’m set to graduate in December 2016 and plan to continue on to earn a masters degree in social work. My career goal is to work with children in educational programming and some day do advocacy work in Washington D.C. on behalf of a civil rights and social justice organization.

I’m raising money to participate in a Summer Study Abroad program in Accra, Ghana. This program will offer social work classes with an emphasis in human rights and social justice. While abroad we will participate in a group community service learning project that will enhance our learning experience. Our community projects will range from working with children to working with individuals living with disabilities. One of the many experiences I’m looking forward to is spending the night in an African village and spending the following day shadowing a woman from the village to catch a glimpse of her day-to-day life.

I would like to go to Ghana before I graduate and enter the working profession so that I can take the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture that is different from my own, experience something that is out of my norm, and make unforgettable memories. I graduated high school in three years at the age of 16 and will graduate from college shortly after my 21st birthday. In the past four years I’ve realized that life is too short and that I should take advantage of these opportunities while I’m young.

Anyone who knows me knows how quiet and shy I can be, but I would like to take myself out of my own comfort zone and push for personal growth. I believe that this trip will help provide me with the skills to work with diverse populations on a national and international scale. Not only will it do this, but it will give me the opportunity to do the only thing I’ve ever wanted in life- to make a positive impact in the world. This is what I was born to do.

 I am very passionate about encouraging youth to pursue higher education, feeding families in poverty, advocating for the undocumented community, empowering young women, funding youth scholarships, and helping a community in critical need of assistance.

During my trip I plan to blog my travels and share my story with everyone who has helped me along in this journey. Stay tuned to read about my fundraising efforts for my study abroad trip to Ghana.