During the Spring 2014 voyage’s time in Ghana, the MV Explorer docked in the cities of Tema, near the capital of Accra, and Takoradi. Semester at Sea voyagers immersed themselves in the local lifestyles of Ghana, embracing the natural beauty and rich history of this West African country.
Boise State University student Hailey Franklin spent her first three days in Ghana on a homestay in the Amezdofe Monkey Village where she swam in waterfalls, fed the protected mona monkeys, listened to traditional evening stories, danced in drumming ceremonies, and visited local schools.
Colorado State University student Josiah Savig snapped this photo while waiting for a tro-tro, a mini bus that serves as public transportation for many people in Ghana. “Most people I had come across were opposed to having the their picture taken. I found out that this is mainly because Ghanians want to give themselves a positive image globally, and most tourists only take and share pictures from underdeveloped areas. This sweet lady, in contrast, smiled and posed for me, as we waited, which really surprised me.”
While on the SAS field program Kakum National Park and Bamboo Orchestra, University of California Los Angeles student Catherine Bronzo walked through the canopy on bridges suspended hundreds of feet above the rain forest floor. “Many of us had to find a ‘balance’ between snapping photos of the breathtaking views and holding on for dear life!”
Scott Head, a student at Vanderbilt University, captured this image of a colorful grasshopper enjoying the warm sand and surf on Kokrobite Beach, located 30km west of Ghana’s bustling capital, Accra. “It was definitely the most colorful and beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, and it reflected the incredible variety of colorful flora and fauna found around every corner in Ghana.”
While on an independent service trip organized by SAS students, University of San Diego student Ivy Guild joined her peers in distributing over 100 articles of clothing, school supplies, and other gifts to students in the Volta Region of Ghana. “I had just given these children stickers, which they promptly placed on their papers. It was amazing to see how much our presence and small gifts energized and delighted the children. Both the teachers and children were enthralled by our visit and it touched us to see their genuine appreciation.”
While in Accra, Elmhurst College student Carolyn Peters photographed SAS peer Avery Segal being reunited with one of his favorite sellers in Malata Market. In high school, Avery lived in Ghana for 10 months on a State Department YES Abroad scholarship, and shopped at Malata several times a week while studying to become a certified Ghanaian chef. “The market women are some of the most down-to-earth, friendly people I know,” Avery reflected. “I was overwhelmed with gifts during my return including bracelets, ground melon seeds, and two bags piled full of paw paws (papayas). Ghanaian kindness really does turn the market into a second home.”
Lifelong Learner Joanne Ickstadt took this picture of her new friend Kate during an overnight stay in the small village of Torgorme. Kate was showing her the inside of a cocoa pod and how to suck on the white insides for a sweet treat.
During the SAS Kakum National Park and Elmina field program, SUNY College New Paltz student Rachel Marra photographed the majestic Elmina Castle. Built by the Portuguese as a stop on the trans-Atlantic slave trade route, the castle remains the oldest European building that still stands below the Sahara.
While touring the Cape Coast Castle, Courtney Smith, a student at Translyvania University, stumbled upon an open window through which she could see a line of cannons lined up perfectly in a row (left). “Though I was told that the cannons were never actually used, they are still very much a visual symbol of the time of the slave trade.” On her last day in Ghana, Hailey Franklin, a student at Boise State University, visited the historic slave castles in Takoradi (right). From the slave castle where she was learning about the abuses of the past, Hailey was also able to observe the daily life of people pulling in colorful fishing nets, swimming, and waving their Ghanaian flags proudly.
While on a Semester at Sea field program, international student Qingruo Zhao from Shanghai Finance University visited the Christ the King school in Accra. “The students there were really happy to see us. We played together, had lunch together, and I taught them to speak easy Chinese sentences. What I learned most from the trip is that smiling is a world language.”
After a bumpy van ride and sweaty hike through the lush greenery of the Agumatsa Forest Reserve, British Columbia Institute of Technology student Michael Jarosz and his SAS companions finally reached the Wli Waterfall, which is the highest waterfall in Ghana and all of West Africa. “From a distance, it’s a very tranquil site. The water was warm and welcoming. But as you get near and into the waterfall, it’s as if you are in a hurricane and it becomes nearly impossible to keep your eyes open. The sensation of water falling on you from 60 to 80 meters high is unforgettable.”
While traveling independently through Ghana, York County CMTY College student Jake Molloy visited the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. “During our feeding and interaction time with the mona monkeys, one of the most entrancing aspects was the mothers who had their babies wrapped around their waists. This particular moment captured the emotional connection between mother and child.”