Friday, November 5, 2010
I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me
This video says so well what I have had a hard time putting into words since my return from Ghana. Please watch and you will understand a little more about just how powerful my whole experience was there. Out of so much that is not present in their lives there is so much joy, hope, hospitality and generosity of spirit. I need, the whole world needs, a lot more of what they have in their hearts.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
I'm back in the states!
Thurday morning, at home typing and sharing from my very own desk in my very own office. The trip home was eventful, including getting stranded overnight in New York City due to a canceled flight, and when I got home, finally on Wed., my luggage did not arrive with me. The canceled flight was really a blessing because it allowed me to spend the night with my sister Lauren who lives right in Manhattan, and we had a chance to talk, catch up, etc. and she made me a huge breakfast on Wed. morning! Funny how life works out--- we both are pretty certain our dad made sure my flight got canceled ;>))
It was so exciting to see Richard, Nigel and Carson last evening--- I haven't seen Nigel smile like that in quite a while! We spent the evening opening souvoniers, trading stories of the time we spent apart, and also looking forward to what's next--- practice, parent's night, soccer and football games this weekend, etc. Reality just won't wait!!!
It was amazing trying to summarize the whole trip into small stories and tales, hoping to give as full an account of what I saw and experienced in Ghana--- and everything I shared, brought up something else to share, so it went on and on, until homework was done, and I was falling asleep on the dining room table. If I were to share highlights, I think they would include:
- Seeing a country full of people making their way and a life out of so little, yet people who are happy, hospitable, and very hopeful for the future.
- A people very tied in to technology to stay connected with each other and those around them. I was amazed at how FB is just everywhere and on everything technology related.
- A feeling of connection with my own spirit and spirituality that I've never experienced before. As I told Richard, up to now my spirituality has been very much outside of me and experienced in my church life, my prayer life, through service to others, etc. This was a very new and certain feeling of my own internal voice and spirit from inside of me that has not been a part of my experience thus far.
- A new knowledge and understanding of the saddest part of the African story, through visits to the Cape Coast and Elmina Slave Castles that allow one to experience and see into that past in a way that is not possible anywhere else, except in the places where those atrocities took place. Those places moved me deeply inside with a sense of sorrow and anguish that really is impossible to describe adequately. One needs to see, touch, smell and experience what those places were/are like to completely connect with the history and legacy of our ancestors.
- I now have such a desire to tell African Americans how much we still look like our African kin back home on the continent.
- A new desire to learn about my own family lineage and ancestral story and how that connects to Africa, whether it's in Ghana or some other areas or countries. There may very well be a book in the making; more on that, perhaps, another time.
- A very strong and renewed desire to assist my friend and business partner Nana Gyepi to pursue his vision and dream for the people of Ghana as well as Africans throughout the world to build the "Tower of Return" and bring new life and opportunities to the entire Ghanian country.
There is so much more to tell, and I think it reasonable for me to continue to think and reflect on my experiences until I have a clearer sense of where I go next with my experiences and new found knowledge, and what "next" really looks like. The exciting part of the trip seems to be over, and I am grateful to have had the experiences and opportunities that I have had. I am truly blessed, and have really enjoyed sharing my journey with you and so many others. I hope to continue writing, and will keep sharing this journey, which may eventually make it's way into a book, "My Journey Home: 400 years in the Making." That is just a beginning thought, and I am open to the process which I know will be necessary to transform this story into a more public offering. Hopefully some of my "writer" friends might be open to helping me begin that new part of this journey. ;>))
STAY TUNED . . . . and thanks so much for letting me share this with you!!!
It was so exciting to see Richard, Nigel and Carson last evening--- I haven't seen Nigel smile like that in quite a while! We spent the evening opening souvoniers, trading stories of the time we spent apart, and also looking forward to what's next--- practice, parent's night, soccer and football games this weekend, etc. Reality just won't wait!!!
It was amazing trying to summarize the whole trip into small stories and tales, hoping to give as full an account of what I saw and experienced in Ghana--- and everything I shared, brought up something else to share, so it went on and on, until homework was done, and I was falling asleep on the dining room table. If I were to share highlights, I think they would include:
- Seeing a country full of people making their way and a life out of so little, yet people who are happy, hospitable, and very hopeful for the future.
- A people very tied in to technology to stay connected with each other and those around them. I was amazed at how FB is just everywhere and on everything technology related.
- A feeling of connection with my own spirit and spirituality that I've never experienced before. As I told Richard, up to now my spirituality has been very much outside of me and experienced in my church life, my prayer life, through service to others, etc. This was a very new and certain feeling of my own internal voice and spirit from inside of me that has not been a part of my experience thus far.
- A new knowledge and understanding of the saddest part of the African story, through visits to the Cape Coast and Elmina Slave Castles that allow one to experience and see into that past in a way that is not possible anywhere else, except in the places where those atrocities took place. Those places moved me deeply inside with a sense of sorrow and anguish that really is impossible to describe adequately. One needs to see, touch, smell and experience what those places were/are like to completely connect with the history and legacy of our ancestors.
- I now have such a desire to tell African Americans how much we still look like our African kin back home on the continent.
- A new desire to learn about my own family lineage and ancestral story and how that connects to Africa, whether it's in Ghana or some other areas or countries. There may very well be a book in the making; more on that, perhaps, another time.
- A very strong and renewed desire to assist my friend and business partner Nana Gyepi to pursue his vision and dream for the people of Ghana as well as Africans throughout the world to build the "Tower of Return" and bring new life and opportunities to the entire Ghanian country.
There is so much more to tell, and I think it reasonable for me to continue to think and reflect on my experiences until I have a clearer sense of where I go next with my experiences and new found knowledge, and what "next" really looks like. The exciting part of the trip seems to be over, and I am grateful to have had the experiences and opportunities that I have had. I am truly blessed, and have really enjoyed sharing my journey with you and so many others. I hope to continue writing, and will keep sharing this journey, which may eventually make it's way into a book, "My Journey Home: 400 years in the Making." That is just a beginning thought, and I am open to the process which I know will be necessary to transform this story into a more public offering. Hopefully some of my "writer" friends might be open to helping me begin that new part of this journey. ;>))
STAY TUNED . . . . and thanks so much for letting me share this with you!!!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Nature can be unkind!
It was a great morning. Cab and Nana picked me up around 4am, and we were on our way. Met up with Nana's daughter Crystal as well, who was my "stuff keeper" while I ran. The marathon started an hour late, while we waited for buses of people from several hotels. Met some great people from here in Ghana, as well as 3 Australians, a guy and his wife from Germany, and a really amazing American who ran his 337th marathon today, in his 105th country!!! So, we were off, and just as I started running, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. Wow, what a testament to the fact that I was in the right place at the right time! The weather was great, cool breeze and certainly pleasant compared to some of the mornings I've run in Richmond. So, I was last as I predicted, but I was okay with that, really!
Started off with a good supply of water, and I was feeling great. Talking to myself a lot to push my way through the negative messages that come, like "you know you're too tired to go on", or "you have no business out here, just stop now and preserve your pride." Got through some of that, when low and behold, stomach problems at mile 8, the kind that are impossible to run through, unless you want to leave a real mess behind you (sorry to be so graphic). Well, I kept on as long as I could; the police were very worried about how far behind the rest of the racers I was; they even went and bought me a bottle of water when the support from the marathon had moved on to the fresher runners who probably needed the relief badly. So, at mile 12.5 or so, I gave in and hopped into the marathon van, figuring things would get much worse on the road than I was capable of handling.
By the time the van arrived back at the marathon finish, some of the runners were beginning to come in for their finish. It was great to see them fulfilling their goal, and lots of the 1/2 marathon runners were arriving in also. I, needless to say, was very disappointed!!! Made me remember all the people who warned me that an international marathon would probably not be like ones in the states--- how right they were. I'm really glad I ran, though, and I'm proud of the money I raised, and the consciousness that I spread about the health and life expectancy of those living in Ghana.
I'm in my room now recovering from the 12 miles, and the stomach issues (can't go too far); then hope to get in the pool a little later. Total rest day today, I feel like I've earned it!!! Tomorrow, we'll run around looking for souvenirs and gifts to bring home, and then flying out early on Tues. I get back in Richmond late Tues., so will hope to be in touch with lots of you later on in the week to show pictures, tell stories, and give the best accounts that I can of this amazing journey and adventure that I had here in Ghana. So much more than I ever bargained for, and now that it's almost come to a close, I'm feeling sad that it has to come to an end. Joyfully, my work with Nana has been renewed and he and I hope to move forward with some projects that will make life here in Ghana so much better for all.
Thank you all for your support, words of encouragement, prayers, energy, cards, time, hospitality--- I could go on and on. It has meant so much to me as I moved through all that has happened since I started this adventure. I am enriched, renewed and invigorated and I look forward to seeing you all soon. Much, much love, Cheryl
Started off with a good supply of water, and I was feeling great. Talking to myself a lot to push my way through the negative messages that come, like "you know you're too tired to go on", or "you have no business out here, just stop now and preserve your pride." Got through some of that, when low and behold, stomach problems at mile 8, the kind that are impossible to run through, unless you want to leave a real mess behind you (sorry to be so graphic). Well, I kept on as long as I could; the police were very worried about how far behind the rest of the racers I was; they even went and bought me a bottle of water when the support from the marathon had moved on to the fresher runners who probably needed the relief badly. So, at mile 12.5 or so, I gave in and hopped into the marathon van, figuring things would get much worse on the road than I was capable of handling.
By the time the van arrived back at the marathon finish, some of the runners were beginning to come in for their finish. It was great to see them fulfilling their goal, and lots of the 1/2 marathon runners were arriving in also. I, needless to say, was very disappointed!!! Made me remember all the people who warned me that an international marathon would probably not be like ones in the states--- how right they were. I'm really glad I ran, though, and I'm proud of the money I raised, and the consciousness that I spread about the health and life expectancy of those living in Ghana.
I'm in my room now recovering from the 12 miles, and the stomach issues (can't go too far); then hope to get in the pool a little later. Total rest day today, I feel like I've earned it!!! Tomorrow, we'll run around looking for souvenirs and gifts to bring home, and then flying out early on Tues. I get back in Richmond late Tues., so will hope to be in touch with lots of you later on in the week to show pictures, tell stories, and give the best accounts that I can of this amazing journey and adventure that I had here in Ghana. So much more than I ever bargained for, and now that it's almost come to a close, I'm feeling sad that it has to come to an end. Joyfully, my work with Nana has been renewed and he and I hope to move forward with some projects that will make life here in Ghana so much better for all.
Thank you all for your support, words of encouragement, prayers, energy, cards, time, hospitality--- I could go on and on. It has meant so much to me as I moved through all that has happened since I started this adventure. I am enriched, renewed and invigorated and I look forward to seeing you all soon. Much, much love, Cheryl
Saturday, September 25, 2010
One day to go!
Well, it's Saturday, one day to M-day (marathon day)! We left Cape Coast on Thursday after a morning of running around, visiting with a few people, packing up and coming to Accra. Nana's brother came to visit so I had a nice chance to meet another of his family members, and his two nieces were just adorable. Once in Accra, I began to appreciate the many contrasts between this large densely populated city and the much smaller town of Cape Coast. The biggest problem here--- traffic, and I mean traffic like LA freeways. It took us 2 1/2 hours to get from the van drop off point to the hotel, and it was bumper to bumper the entire way (hard to estimate how many miles it was, but suffice it to say we never left the boundaries of Accra). And you think NYC has terrible drivers, imagine a place where there are few if any stop lights, no stop signs, pedestrians on both sides of the road and sometimes in the middle on the yellow lines, and NO SPEED LIMITS! Can you say "formula for disaster?" You have to see it to believe it. Needless to say, I've spent as much time in a cab in Accra as I have seeing the actual sites.
Friday was quite a day. Nana took me to visit the memorial sites for W.E.B. DuBois who lived and died right here in Ghana, and is a great national hero here. We also visited the memorial site of DuBois' best friend and first President of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah, a god and savior to the Ghanaian people. What an awesome experience to be in the space and presence of two giants, human beings among the greatest perhaps to have ever lived. There is much too much to tell about each one, so I'll share something that struck me about both. At DuBois' house and burial site, (and it is in the actual house where he lived and where he died), I was struck by how much the world loved this man, this scholar and humanitarian Pan-Africanist, yet how sad it was that the United States of America, his home, denied his return and entrance back into the country in 1961. His heart was broken and he was probably never the same--- perhaps he became even better for it. At the President's memorial, again, a man admired and revered the world over; my favorite picture there was of him in the back of a car with President John F. Kennedy, both talking and sharing with each other, I imagine, the fun and the horrors of ruling a nation!
Then, while once again trying to exchange travelers checks, I got a call to arrange a radio interview about my run on Sunday, and Nana received a call to come directly to the President's Office (yes the President of Ghana) for a meeting, right away. To say the least, we scurried quickly over to the Castle (as they call it here), for his meeting with what Nana thought was a meeting with one of the President's close advisors. As one might expect, we sat and waited for quite a while and the time came to decide if we should wait or try to make it for the radio interview. Nana being the pragmatic and flexible soul that he is, asked if he could reschedule his meeting that afternoon to Monday, so that we could leave and get to the interview. So that's exactly what we did! The interview was fun, but not at all the big deal we thought it might be--- they asked me two questions, and I talked for a total of 2 minutes I think. But it was fun, another learning opportunity, and Nana was able to network with some really good people, so it was well worth the trouble to get there.
After that we stopped by to see an American friend, someone who's lived in Ghana for 27 years though all of his previous children still live in the states. He has children aged 53 yo - 3 yo!!! Yup, he made a joke about planting seeds in as many places as he could. Baba was a film maker, screen writer, actor, turned engineer and says he could never live again in the US after so many years here connected to the people and places of Africa. From there we finally made our way back to my hotel, cut up an avocado and pineapple which became a light and satisfying dinner. I'll talk about the food in my next post.
In the states, my father was buried and carried off to heaven in services that called back many, many friends and family members to honor him. I, here by myself, went down to the beach around 9pm and gave him my own personal send off, as I, too, told him I was ready to let him go off to the better place in which he will now rest. I made him promise, though, to be back here, bright and early on Sunday--- we've got a long race to run!!! I loved my dad--- and feel that I must have a special purpose somewhere in the world to have been born his daughter.
I'll share a poem my sister Lauren wrote for him, I think it says so much:
If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane,
I would walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye,
you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness, and my tears still flow.
What it means to lose you, no one will ever know.
~ Lauren Groce, September 23, 2010
Until next time, hopefully after I've successfully run, AND COMPLETED MY VERY FIRST MARATHON. Oh, by the way, my bib number is . . . . . . . #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday was quite a day. Nana took me to visit the memorial sites for W.E.B. DuBois who lived and died right here in Ghana, and is a great national hero here. We also visited the memorial site of DuBois' best friend and first President of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah, a god and savior to the Ghanaian people. What an awesome experience to be in the space and presence of two giants, human beings among the greatest perhaps to have ever lived. There is much too much to tell about each one, so I'll share something that struck me about both. At DuBois' house and burial site, (and it is in the actual house where he lived and where he died), I was struck by how much the world loved this man, this scholar and humanitarian Pan-Africanist, yet how sad it was that the United States of America, his home, denied his return and entrance back into the country in 1961. His heart was broken and he was probably never the same--- perhaps he became even better for it. At the President's memorial, again, a man admired and revered the world over; my favorite picture there was of him in the back of a car with President John F. Kennedy, both talking and sharing with each other, I imagine, the fun and the horrors of ruling a nation!
Then, while once again trying to exchange travelers checks, I got a call to arrange a radio interview about my run on Sunday, and Nana received a call to come directly to the President's Office (yes the President of Ghana) for a meeting, right away. To say the least, we scurried quickly over to the Castle (as they call it here), for his meeting with what Nana thought was a meeting with one of the President's close advisors. As one might expect, we sat and waited for quite a while and the time came to decide if we should wait or try to make it for the radio interview. Nana being the pragmatic and flexible soul that he is, asked if he could reschedule his meeting that afternoon to Monday, so that we could leave and get to the interview. So that's exactly what we did! The interview was fun, but not at all the big deal we thought it might be--- they asked me two questions, and I talked for a total of 2 minutes I think. But it was fun, another learning opportunity, and Nana was able to network with some really good people, so it was well worth the trouble to get there.
After that we stopped by to see an American friend, someone who's lived in Ghana for 27 years though all of his previous children still live in the states. He has children aged 53 yo - 3 yo!!! Yup, he made a joke about planting seeds in as many places as he could. Baba was a film maker, screen writer, actor, turned engineer and says he could never live again in the US after so many years here connected to the people and places of Africa. From there we finally made our way back to my hotel, cut up an avocado and pineapple which became a light and satisfying dinner. I'll talk about the food in my next post.
In the states, my father was buried and carried off to heaven in services that called back many, many friends and family members to honor him. I, here by myself, went down to the beach around 9pm and gave him my own personal send off, as I, too, told him I was ready to let him go off to the better place in which he will now rest. I made him promise, though, to be back here, bright and early on Sunday--- we've got a long race to run!!! I loved my dad--- and feel that I must have a special purpose somewhere in the world to have been born his daughter.
I'll share a poem my sister Lauren wrote for him, I think it says so much:
If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane,
I would walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye,
you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness, and my tears still flow.
What it means to lose you, no one will ever know.
~ Lauren Groce, September 23, 2010
Until next time, hopefully after I've successfully run, AND COMPLETED MY VERY FIRST MARATHON. Oh, by the way, my bib number is . . . . . . . #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Where I'm supposed to be!
How to even start this post--- what's been happening in my travels, or honor my father's memory? Let me start with my travels, the rest will come as I write.
Monday, an eventful day, after the rain forest, changing $US to cedi's, lunch, and dinner looking out on the Atlantic. Cape Coast is a paradox of very old Africa, very poor Africa and yet very new and very rich Africa in it's dependence on technology and it's beautiful and generous people. Cape Coast is a fishing town, the first capital of Ghana until it moved to Accra, 2 hours to the northeast. Nana Gyepi, my host is a traditional tribal chief of Cape Coast and everyone knows him, and he gets special treatment wherever he goes. There is a real split between the traditions of the tribal culture and the modern world; everyone here has at least one, some two and three cell phones, thus my reference to the modern. So Nana and I have spent a great amount of our time together in conversation about his vision and mission in life, to create the "Tower of Return" here in Ghana. His dream is to build a grand complex of historical, cultural, educational, and economic significance so great that it will draw Africans of the Diaspora (those of African decent spread all over the world), and all others wishing to come to Africa to connect with the African Motherland. It will be sort of the mecca for those coming to/returning to the continent. So he foresees museums, a library, conference and convention offerings, schools, cultural centers, hotels--- everything one would need to learn about and connect with Africa. I learned of his work when we met in 2000 in Richmond, and I have been in touch with him since that time trying to do what I could to help his mission along. So my visit here is as much about running my marathon as it is engaging in this endeavor and continuing to support and help Nana realize this dream. So that's a little about Nana--- there is a lot more to tell to this story, but time and space won't allow that right now.
Tuesday was spent at the Elmina Castle, another slave castle in the town of Elmina, with a similar and horrific story about centuries of colonization, torture, and grief for Africans taken into slavery. Pictures can only scratch the surface of telling those stories, but I'll try to post some to give a bit of a glimpse.
And now, I guess the news from home that my father, Herbert Monroe Groce, Jr. passed away on Monday September 20. It has been a very difficult to receive and process this event, this news, so very far away from home, from my family, my friends and those that care for and support me. Understanding the timing has been the hardest, really, knowing that there is absolutely no way that I can be there in person for his home-going services on Friday of this week. My sister Lauren has been a great support for all around her family, and I send her all my love and support as she and all our loved ones and friends prepare to celebrate my dad's life and legacy. He and I had a distant relationship, and I suppose we were as "close" as a distant relationship will allow. I last saw him at the celebration of his 80th birthday in Sept. 2009, and it was a great event, and a wonderful chance to see him, and also reconnect with Aunts, Uncle's and cousins I had not seen since we were all children. My father was a man of great force, force of personality, force of conviction, and force of volume (spoke, laughed, and lived louder than anyone else I've ever known). Nana will help me do something to honor his memory and his life and send him along here in Ghana on Friday; Nana is a very spiritual person, of the Akan tradition so it will be African in nature, which I think might really please and delight my dad, at least I hope so. My heart is broken that I cannot be with my family on this occasion; they will hopefully know and feel that I am with them all in spirit!!!
So, that means I have him to watch and run with me on Sunday--- an angel closer to me than perhaps anyone else in the universe. With that support I know that I will indeed run like the wind--- the wind beneath the wings on Sunday will be my father--- I couldn't have asked God for a greater gift. Nana thinks my dad had something to do with this arrangement--- I can't help but believe that someone/something did!!!
Look out for pictures, either here on my FB page. So much to show you, only so much bandwith to tell it! Best for now, Cheryl
Monday, an eventful day, after the rain forest, changing $US to cedi's, lunch, and dinner looking out on the Atlantic. Cape Coast is a paradox of very old Africa, very poor Africa and yet very new and very rich Africa in it's dependence on technology and it's beautiful and generous people. Cape Coast is a fishing town, the first capital of Ghana until it moved to Accra, 2 hours to the northeast. Nana Gyepi, my host is a traditional tribal chief of Cape Coast and everyone knows him, and he gets special treatment wherever he goes. There is a real split between the traditions of the tribal culture and the modern world; everyone here has at least one, some two and three cell phones, thus my reference to the modern. So Nana and I have spent a great amount of our time together in conversation about his vision and mission in life, to create the "Tower of Return" here in Ghana. His dream is to build a grand complex of historical, cultural, educational, and economic significance so great that it will draw Africans of the Diaspora (those of African decent spread all over the world), and all others wishing to come to Africa to connect with the African Motherland. It will be sort of the mecca for those coming to/returning to the continent. So he foresees museums, a library, conference and convention offerings, schools, cultural centers, hotels--- everything one would need to learn about and connect with Africa. I learned of his work when we met in 2000 in Richmond, and I have been in touch with him since that time trying to do what I could to help his mission along. So my visit here is as much about running my marathon as it is engaging in this endeavor and continuing to support and help Nana realize this dream. So that's a little about Nana--- there is a lot more to tell to this story, but time and space won't allow that right now.
Tuesday was spent at the Elmina Castle, another slave castle in the town of Elmina, with a similar and horrific story about centuries of colonization, torture, and grief for Africans taken into slavery. Pictures can only scratch the surface of telling those stories, but I'll try to post some to give a bit of a glimpse.
And now, I guess the news from home that my father, Herbert Monroe Groce, Jr. passed away on Monday September 20. It has been a very difficult to receive and process this event, this news, so very far away from home, from my family, my friends and those that care for and support me. Understanding the timing has been the hardest, really, knowing that there is absolutely no way that I can be there in person for his home-going services on Friday of this week. My sister Lauren has been a great support for all around her family, and I send her all my love and support as she and all our loved ones and friends prepare to celebrate my dad's life and legacy. He and I had a distant relationship, and I suppose we were as "close" as a distant relationship will allow. I last saw him at the celebration of his 80th birthday in Sept. 2009, and it was a great event, and a wonderful chance to see him, and also reconnect with Aunts, Uncle's and cousins I had not seen since we were all children. My father was a man of great force, force of personality, force of conviction, and force of volume (spoke, laughed, and lived louder than anyone else I've ever known). Nana will help me do something to honor his memory and his life and send him along here in Ghana on Friday; Nana is a very spiritual person, of the Akan tradition so it will be African in nature, which I think might really please and delight my dad, at least I hope so. My heart is broken that I cannot be with my family on this occasion; they will hopefully know and feel that I am with them all in spirit!!!
So, that means I have him to watch and run with me on Sunday--- an angel closer to me than perhaps anyone else in the universe. With that support I know that I will indeed run like the wind--- the wind beneath the wings on Sunday will be my father--- I couldn't have asked God for a greater gift. Nana thinks my dad had something to do with this arrangement--- I can't help but believe that someone/something did!!!
Look out for pictures, either here on my FB page. So much to show you, only so much bandwith to tell it! Best for now, Cheryl
Monday, September 20, 2010
I'M "HOME" IN THE MOTHERLAND!
It is Monday, 12:55pm and I am in an internet cafe with my friend Nana, while we change $US to Cedi's so we can get on with our day! This morning--- wow, we went to see and experience the African Rain Forest, and it was an EXPEREINCE!!! Pictures to come once I can download them, but let me paint a picture--- a canopy walk that is supported by one steel cable, and then rope, ladders and boards!!! The canopy walk was precarious, no way to do it if you are afraid of heights; I'm not afraid of heights, and it was scary to say the least. We walked through the canopy above the rainforest floor, looking down on the kind of vegetation, trees, vines, and bushes so thick you cannot readily see the ground, or the rainforest floor in technical terms. We heard sounds of monkeys, but did not see any, and many many birds, and insect sounds. And lots and lots of ants--- ants so thick they made a "highway" of sorts for themselves. We saw a tree that, when cut, sheds fresh water, fresher than any spring. Kind of strange coincidence about ants, when I traveled to Austrailia in 2002, I was told by an Aboriginal man that ants are my animal totem. What that means I have no idea, but the fact that we saw them in such abundance, here in Africa, while I am on such a personal mission spoke volumes to me!!!
Nana (I'm going to post some information about him later today or tomorrow) also took me to the Cape Coast Castle, a slave castle on the Atlantic coast, from which Africans were taken and sold into slavery for 400 years +. The dungeons where male and female slaves were held--- haunting. The smells and signs of the kinds of business and commerce that took place on those grounds and within those walls still palpable. The dread and grief felt as millions left their homeland and kin still imaginable--- devastating to be in the same space. Again, I will post some pictures when time allows.
Also was able to catch up with the marathon folks, so I will be going to stay in Accra on Thursday, that is where the marathon will be run. And here is how small the world is here in Ghana--- the lady "in charge" of the marathon, Anna Bannerman-Richter, her father is best friends with Nana's cousin who runs the hotel I am staying in. Can you beat that? Feels a little like how everyone knows everyone else in Richmond!!! ;>)) More to come, XOX, Cheryl
Nana (I'm going to post some information about him later today or tomorrow) also took me to the Cape Coast Castle, a slave castle on the Atlantic coast, from which Africans were taken and sold into slavery for 400 years +. The dungeons where male and female slaves were held--- haunting. The smells and signs of the kinds of business and commerce that took place on those grounds and within those walls still palpable. The dread and grief felt as millions left their homeland and kin still imaginable--- devastating to be in the same space. Again, I will post some pictures when time allows.
Also was able to catch up with the marathon folks, so I will be going to stay in Accra on Thursday, that is where the marathon will be run. And here is how small the world is here in Ghana--- the lady "in charge" of the marathon, Anna Bannerman-Richter, her father is best friends with Nana's cousin who runs the hotel I am staying in. Can you beat that? Feels a little like how everyone knows everyone else in Richmond!!! ;>)) More to come, XOX, Cheryl
Saturday, September 18, 2010
THIS IS IT!!!!!!
I'm sitting in the Richmond Int'l Airport (they do fly out of here to Canada), it's 2:56pm and I fly out to Atlanta at 3:55, arrive there at 5:45, at fly out directly to Accra, Ghana at 7:00pm! Richard, Uncle David (Richard's brother), and Carson drove me to the airport--- Nigel stayed home to watch some chicken on the stove; and surprise of surprises, my running buddies Mary and Terri met me with a sign, "Run Cheryl Run"!!! How sweet are my friends!!!
Almost had a luggage emergency--- my one bag was way over 50 lbs., so the solution was to get a second bag and split things up, versus pay $200 in overweight baggage fees! OMG, who knew?!!! Guess what the two bags ended up weighing? . . . Wait for it . . . 47 and 39 lbs!!! Whew, dodged that bullet, and happily, Delta still allows you to check 2, yes TWO bags, FOR FREE!!! Bless them.
Ran my last long run of 7 miles this morning, with dear running partners Mary and Mia, and what an awesome run it was. Cool weather makes all the difference. Also saw Carson play his second Wildcats football game, lost 22-zip! Those boys did play hard. And then it was home to finish preparations, eat lunch and hop in the car--- and here I am.
So I'm feeling excited, very excited!!! This dream that I conjured up last December is now coming true and I just can't believe my good fortune to be doing this now. I still feel like it's a crazy, wacky thing to do, and I also know that I'm going to have the time of my life. Thanks so much to all who have run with me, encouraged me, sponsored me, prayed for me, honored me, believed in me, and anything else that you've done--- it is by the grace of God that I am making this journey, and I am really, really grateful for this incredibly amazing, opportunity!!! I'll keep you posted as best I can from here on . . . FROM GHANA, WEST AFRICA!!!
Almost had a luggage emergency--- my one bag was way over 50 lbs., so the solution was to get a second bag and split things up, versus pay $200 in overweight baggage fees! OMG, who knew?!!! Guess what the two bags ended up weighing? . . . Wait for it . . . 47 and 39 lbs!!! Whew, dodged that bullet, and happily, Delta still allows you to check 2, yes TWO bags, FOR FREE!!! Bless them.
Ran my last long run of 7 miles this morning, with dear running partners Mary and Mia, and what an awesome run it was. Cool weather makes all the difference. Also saw Carson play his second Wildcats football game, lost 22-zip! Those boys did play hard. And then it was home to finish preparations, eat lunch and hop in the car--- and here I am.
So I'm feeling excited, very excited!!! This dream that I conjured up last December is now coming true and I just can't believe my good fortune to be doing this now. I still feel like it's a crazy, wacky thing to do, and I also know that I'm going to have the time of my life. Thanks so much to all who have run with me, encouraged me, sponsored me, prayed for me, honored me, believed in me, and anything else that you've done--- it is by the grace of God that I am making this journey, and I am really, really grateful for this incredibly amazing, opportunity!!! I'll keep you posted as best I can from here on . . . FROM GHANA, WEST AFRICA!!!
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