Elmina

I have officially been in Ghana for over 1 month and have relished every second of my experience thus far.  I have so much to catch you all up on and based on my obvious aversion to journaling/blogging I better get this stuff down before I run off to enjoy the next experience.  On February 23^rd, my compadres (follow this link, it’s hilarious) and I hopped on a lovely air conditioned bus to Cape Coast accompanied by our instructor and spirited Lieutenant Colonel, Abayiwa.  The small fishing community of Elmina proved quaint and inviting.  Picturesque sea-side landscapes complete with stunning palm trees were hailed with “ooohhhs and aaahhhs” from the bus windows.  The townspeople waved and smiled in true Ghanaian fashion.  And then there it was – Elmina Castle (a.k.a. Sao Jorge De Mina).  One of the oldest European structures built south of the Sahara and one of the most important trade settlements involved in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.  The Elmina Castle was originally erected in the 1400s by the Portugese, was seized by the Dutch in the 1600s, and eventually rendered to the British Empire during colonial rule in 1872.  The fort was initially established to mine gold but soon discovered wealth in trading human beings to ship to the developing countries in the West.  Elmina essentially served as a massive depot for human trafficking.  It is needless to blog about how disturbing this dark stain on human history really is – but to stand within the walls and rooms where so many lost their lives, their families, and their roots is one of the most sobering experiences of my life.  At one point during the tour of the castle, our guide locked us in one of the slave holding cells.  I cannot to this day describe the feeling this evoked.  A blend of fear, shame, and the purest form of humility is the best I can come up with.  To all the souls lost in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and to those who suffered direct/indirect repercussions, I am so sorry that humanity failed you.

 After the life-altering effects of Elmina, the group ventured to the cozy Stumble Inn for some much needed downtime on the beach.  The night was full of laughs with some shenanigans involving poultry, magical fruit, sachet whisky, and one ultimate beach jump pic (MIA: Kayla and Nathaly L).  New budding friendships were formed with other “Obruni” foreigners that continue to enrich this experience.  The weekend was topped off with a wonderful canopy adventure at Kakum National Park where unfortunately no critters were in sight.  No worries, the 40 m drop from over the treeline was enough for some of us as evidenced by the expression on Carly’s face!  A not-so-speedy “bite” at Hans Cottage to finish the weekend off and we were back to the grind Monday for more nursing learning.  All in all, one extremely successful weekend! To be continued... (still weeks behind SORRY)!