“I Won’t Come Back”

Well, I’ve left school. Yesterday I got to Bolga early and took the 6am bus to Tamale, where I am now. On Sunday, I’ll take one last fabulous bus ride to Accra, do official distings for three days and then fly out on the 28th. So soon.

“Goodbye” is sometimes used as a verb here – I spent the last week goodbyeing people in the village and finally at school. It was an interesting process. A lot of people were really sorry to see me leave, even people that I didn’t think would care that much. It was touching. The basic conversation went like this..

“Hey, so, you know, on Thursday I’m leaving Tongo to go to America.”

“Oh! Oh oh. And when will you come back?”

(head shaking, shrugging) “I won’t come back.”

“OH! Oh ohhhh we will miss you!”

Etc etc. Then we trade contact information and take a picture if I have my camera with me. It really was a process of checking people off the goodbye list – first people in Bolga, then people in Tongo, then school people and students. On Tuesday we had a staff goodbye party for me. It was really really nice! We all sat in the student desks, the acting headmaster opened the meeting, a bucket of boiled groundnuts was passed around and the secretary passed out the drinks. I love that official functions include the drinking of alcohol here. The the acting head made a speech about me and opened the floor for other people and they said nice things about me. Then they wanted me to say something. I was really glad for the opportunity to say all at once, to everyone, how much I appreciated them and loved my time at school etc. Of course, I immediately started crying, but it was really okay. Afterward, I thought how if I started crying like that in front of American colleagues, it would probably be really awkward and embarrassing, but this is case it wasn’t. I felt okay about it. When I was done crying/talking, they presented me with a smock!!! See picture below. I love it! I love smocks and always wanted one, but they’re costly! I’m super pumped about it. I was a little tipsy at that point and did a little happy dance when I saw what it was. They all liked that. After the meeting ( I closed with the closing prayer, which they also liked) we took a staff picture and that was that. It was a great, closure-giving experience.

Saying goodbye to the students was also really nice. For a few weeks before, they’d known when I was leaving. I didn’t want to surprise them with it (and I wanted the kids for whom I was keeping money to come and collect it in time), so I’d periodically at assembly made an announcement that was like “Goooooood Moooooooooooooorning! Me out date/number when????” And they would all be like “TWENTYONEEEEE” (which is my favourite number sign, the one that looks like you’re squirting a water guy). So they knew it was coming. A few days before I left, I took pictures of all the classes and took individual pictures with all the JSS students. It was funny. Then, on the morning of the 20th, I told them at assembly how much I loved them and how happy my two years were here. It was nice. They all told me to travel safe. Good, heartwarming closure all around.

I’ve finally been about to plug in my camera – here are some pictures for you.

It’s a smock!

Smocks are great!

Staff picture. I’m the white one.

This is Dorcas, one of my small girls. She wanted to take this picture.

This is my other small girl. She was eating the big flying bugs that people here roast, salt and eat. They’re actually delicious. I believe this is a self portrait.

This is Salifu. He’s one of my favs.

Lucy, Ennis and Agana washed my bike for me. It was great fun.

Tongo market day!

Bolga market lady. This is how you buy underwear (called ‘pants’) in Ghana.

Here’s Julius! He’s now off to Takoradi for the Air Force.

This is Beatrice and Godsbig.

Jamilu loves him some banku.

Ennis learned how to jump rope! They call the jump rope a “skipping rope.” They come to my house and say, “Katreen, I want skipping.” Cute.

Selling oil at Bolga market. HILARIOUS.

Here’s what paragliding looked like.

P5

I hope you have enjoyed this episode of Pictures from Ghana. I’ll talk to you later, probably from Accra!