Last Day

Sunday August 3^rd. 

We slept in again today and had a relaxing morning. We were supposed to stay an extra day this year to have a debriefing meeting but that got cancelled for an unknown reason. We really should have flown home last night but here we are for another day with not much to do. Accra is not a very touristy area and there isn't much to see. Barb, Angela, Owen and I decided to head back to the cultural market with Eric when he drove Cameron to the airport. Cameron is heading out first and flying to Liberia to meet a friend for three weeks. There is an ebola scare there which has him worried and Canada has issued a warning about flying there, but his return flight to Canada is from there, so that's where he is going.

We wandered around the market buying a few last things. It was only about 11:00 and a lot of the shops were closed so it was a little less intense today. Plus I think we were more experienced with it and knew how to deal with the pressure. The best way to find something is to tell someone what you want and even if they don't have it they know who does and they will go off and get it for you. There must be some kind of communal pot when this happens so that one gets a cut for selling something for someone else. That is how I bought a kenti cloth shirt and some more earrings. The shirt is similar to one I saw on Oxford Street that didn't fit me. We wandered out through the back of the market building into the rambling shacks behind where there are more African things to buy. Past that we found a village attached where some of the shop keepers live. Owen found a church and we went in to have a peak. The people were very friendly and asked questions about us. The pastor gave us a long blessing.

We returned to the hotel in time for a last meal before we all headed off. Angela was the first to go and bid us farewell as she went to meet her husband and to continue their African adventure. Owen, Lyle, Cindy, Barb, Leah, and I were taken to the airport by Eric. We took an overnight flight to Frankfurt. Here Lyle left for Tel Aviv for some R and R (rifles and rockets), Leah caught a connecting flight to Norway, Barb caught a flight to Vancouver, Owen to Montreal and Cindy and I to Toronto.

Oxford Street Shopping

Saturday August 2^nd.

For the first time this trip we had a morning to sleep in with nothing planned. Lyle and I got up about an hour later than usual and had breakfast. We lounged around the pool bar area for the morning with the others and waited for Eric to pick us up at 1:00. He took us to Oxford Street which is a busy shopping street. We took three young Brazilian engineers with us who are staying at our hotel and have a free day with nothing to do. There are tourist stalls, and shops for locals. We purchased some souvenirs to take home. We bought some earrings and bracelets from a couple of very friendly local women who actually made them and we tried to avoid the hustlers that just follow you and harass you. One guy in particular was very annoying when Angela showed an interest in something and then changed her mind. He followed us and even though we asked nicely at first, he wouldn't go away. Angela ran into her husband David who is here to team up with her for a three week trip north after our project.

We headed back to the hotel in time for a swim and then dinner. After dinner we spent sometime at the bar again before bed time.

Final Closing and Ghana Night

Friday August 1^st 

Today is the last day of school. When we got to the high school in our new GNAT clothing we were mobbed by the participants in a photo frenzy. As the participants were filling out the surveys, I showed Eric and Julius the Kilimanjaro photos they wanted to see and some of the African animals. They were amazed.

When I had the opportunity to present my time capsule idea I gave out prizes of my Canada headband, sunglasses and bracelet to the people who answered questions correctly. Our final activity was designed by Lyle to demonstrate how you can use a simple square box (in our case a podium) to allow the students to perform a drama. He played the host of the TV show and then invited Barb, Cindy, me and Angela to give our final thoughts to the participants via the TV. He was the announcer who made up commercials between our little speeches.

The last session before lunch was the little plays by the participants that were to demonstrate gender equity. This is a big issue here, but the union is addressing it and making it a major focus, although we noticed that there were no women in the upper echelon of the union.

Before lunch Cameron, Owen and I went for a walk off the campus to pick up a shirt Cameron was having tailored. Right after lunch we were to amass in the big hall for the closing ceremonies. They were delayed for about an hour as we were waiting for the union president. The actual ceremonies were really long and lasted for over three hours! They paid tribute to CTF, us and the partnership between us. They presented bolts of kenti cloth to us. There were also union people talking about the possibility of a strike and what to do if there is. They also lectured the participants about absenteeism (apparently there is a fair number of teachers not showing up to work, especially in rural areas).

After the ceremonies we had a final reception on the stage with all the union people and co-tutors where we had a beer and some snacks. Shortly afterwards Ghana Night commenced. I wore my new black Africa shirt and my multi-coloured pants. At one point I asked Peter if I looked African or like a stupid tourist, he just diplomatically laughed and said he liked the outfit. Ernest was the MC and worked the crowd for a while until a drum troop showed up. They were excellent with drummers, dancers and a trumpet player. It sounded like we were off to the races in Africa. Ernest said that the Canadian teachers all wanted to learn to dance. So we all got up and entered the conga line between the dancers. They showed us the steps and we all moved slowly bent over in a line, shuffling and waving our butts in the air and our arms to imitate a bird, like an ostrich. Again all the cell phones came out to take pictures and videos. After it was over Ernest said he had an app to delete all the files so that the Canadians wouldn't be embarrassed! It was another excellent evening of cultural exchange. We left about 10:00 and Angela, Owen, Barb and I went to the bar for another nightcap.