Working hard...or hardly working?

Late-night conversations around the dinner table with friends can bring about some powerful words of wisdom. During our most recent discussion about jobs and career paths, it was agreed that “if you love what you are doing, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

I think that this motto can basically summarize my time in Ghana thus far. While we’ve been busy working, our tasks have been so enjoyable that I don’t even know if I can call it “work.” Every day brings us a step closer to strengthening the partnership between the H.O.P.E. Center and GlobeMed (in fact, I just came back from a productive meeting with the regional health director to discuss these aspects), and making progress on the Center’s outreach programs. Along the way, I’ve had a chance to get to know some really amazing people whom I am honored to call my colleagues and my friends.

We’ve also experienced public health work in action through the child welfare clinic days, nutrition and sexual health outreach programs, and our daily experiences seeing patients at the Center. To top it all off, I just finished the last of my maternal health interviews and have started analyzing and interpreting the data. Yes, it’s true that I haven’t been working at all. More like getting to experience so many awesome things while doing what I love!

Last weekend was spent in Cape Coast, the only “tourist” area in Ghana (though nowhere near as “touristy” as one might expect in the states- it was basically a glorified version of Ho with beaches, an old slave fortress, and a really cool canopy walk 40 meters above the treetops- see above picture). I was able to meet up with a friend from high school who is spending her summer in Northern Ghana. It was so much fun to reconnect with her, and I have a lot of great stories from the weekend including: getting lost in a dilapidated taxi, becoming soaked by a giant ocean wave (clothes and all!), hunting giant spiders in our hostel, and many more!

This past week, Margaret took us to the area where they make kente cloth, a beautiful woven fabric that is hand-made in giant looms. It was fun to see them make it and we even put on a little fashion show, much to everyone’s amusement. Life is good in Ghana!