A bittersweet goodbye

Well my bags are packed – somehow, I’m not sure how I managed to get everything into my luggage but I did! This past weekend we went back to the beach for one last weekend of relaxation and sunshine. I sat there on the beach and reflected on my time here. It really is amazing how fast time goes by. It has made me really take in and savor the little moments of my final days.

Tomorrow will be bittersweet. I’m pretty certain that a little piece of my heart will be left at Happy Kids after I say, what I’m sure will be a tearful last goodbye to my kids tomorrow. I choked up a little as I said goodbye to them today and I can only imagine what it will be like tomorrow. They have taught me more about life than I ever thought possible from 8-11 year olds. They taught me there is no such thing as bad days, just bad moments. You work through them and then get over them – life is too short to do anything but that. It’s too short to dwell on the negative. They taught me even though you don’t’ have control over the life you are handed or born into, you do have complete control over your attitude and how you react to situations. Going through life with a positive attitude is a much better way to live than trying to change things you have no control over. They taught me to really just make the most out of life, every day and that laughter can cure any bad mood!

There certainly are going to be things that I don’t miss about being here in Ghana and things that I will be looking forward to at home but there are so many things that have just become part of life here that I will miss immensely.

I’m going to miss…
Being able to randomly pick up children on the street
Hearing Yevoo everywhere I go and feeling like a celebrity
Having chickens and goats just walking down the street
White pineapple everyday – three times a day!
Egg sandwhiches from Unis
The simplicity of life here – the wonderful feeling of not always having some sort of technology I have to be on or using

Having a baby fall asleep in my arms every day at school
Red, red and plantains
Waking up to the sound of roosters crowing
Walking outside and seeing mountains
Beautiful sunsets down the dirt road
Going to the market twice a week and buying fabric
Walking down the street and having the locals recognize and wave to me like it was the best thing in their day

Tro-tro rides and just looking out the window

My students
Moda’s genuine smile
Yayra jumping on me every single morning
Roland’s knowing glances and intelligence
Amewuga’s playful grin
Holly’s wanting to constantly please
Porshe’s effort to try and read
Blewusi playing cops and robbers with the little ones at break
Charlotte’s laugh and toughness

I don’t think it will hit me until I am home how much this experience has changed my life. My eyes have been opened to so many things and I don’t think I will ever be able to look at the world in the same way again. I have come to appreciate every aspect of my life in America – the freedoms I have as a woman, my loving family who raised me to be an independent thinking person, my wonderful friends and people in my life who accept me for me, the modern conveniences that I always took for granted and the ability to dream and actually have the resources available at my fingertips to make those dreams come true.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers since I have been here. It has been such a wonderful feeling knowing I have so many people back at home caring and thinking about me!

Enjoy thanksgiving at home as I will be in Egypt with my family!! Please know that I am so thankful for all of you in my life and I look forward to seeing you when I finally land in the USA!!

Lots of love for the last time from Africa!
Steph