Arise & Shine!

I was once again selected as the Trip Liaison for a field program. This time we were heading to Morning Star School, which is a private school in Accra (the capital of Ghana), with grades K-9. When the ship was cleared (now in Tema), we got off to find the exact same vendors from Takoradi waiting next to the ship. I remember seeing them pack everything up in Takoradi once the students were back on board, but didn't realize they would just make the 3 hour drive to Tema and be ready to welcome us again the next morning. The vendors were actually pretty good at remembering people and names and, because of this, would try to persuade you to buy more items from them.

We set out for the school at 9am with another excellent guide, Nii Laaye. He was a younger guy and had a lot of energy, so he was perfect for the students and for this field program to the school. The traffic was busier (I was warned that Ghanaian traffic is similar to LA, which is horrendous), but luckily we weren't really travelling during the “rush hour” times. It took about 1.5 hours to get to the school, where we were welcomed (“Akwaaba”) by Mrs. Nana Abena Kwakyi, the Director of Academic Affairs for the Morning Star school. Mrs. Kwakyi did a brief introduction with our group and explained how the school was founded in 1965 with 7 students. The current enrollment is 1070 with a staff of 120. The school’s mission is to, “promote optimal learning to enable our pupils and staff to seek and use knowledge for personal growth and development and service to mankind.” In addition, their motto is, “Knowledge is power for service”…not a bad slogan to run a school with. Mrs. Kwakyi explained the children would be having free time soon, so we could feel free to just play with the students until the bell sounds for them to return to class. Like other programs, the children were probably just as excited to see the SAS students and we were to see them. 

With Mrs. Kwakyi at Morning Star School

I was planning on taking pictures again, so the students could just enjoy themselves. However, I had a group of 3rd grade boys come up to me as soon as I snapped a few pictures. They were interested in everything about me and kept asking questions. They then started laughing at the shape/size of my nose. This turned into a game of tag (I was ALWAYS “it”), which was great. Certain boys kept taunting me, so I asked who was the fastest in the group…they all raised their hands. After chasing/catching them, we headed to the playground and mainly stayed on the jungle gym. Similar to myself at that age (and probably boys everywhere), they just loved climbing, swinging, hanging upside down, etc. on anything possible.

The Group of 3rd Grade Boys

One boy led me away from the playground area (and away from all the other SASers) and over to the kindergarten area, where I joined in a counting activity the teachers were doing with the children. At first I thought the kindergartners were on free time too, but I think they might have just been doing the activity outside. When I participated with them and jumped around when the teacher got to “10,” the kids went wild. I then started high-fiving the students, which evidently gets them more excited. Soon I had 25 5-year olds jumping on me and grabbing at me. Luckily the teacher came over to save me from the mob and took the kids back into the classrooms.

One of the Kindergarten Classes Singing a Song

The final activity I did during free time, was play a dance game the girls (mainly) tend to play. There was always someone in the middle of a circle facing one person on the outside of the circle. The two individuals would clap twice, jump twice, and then clap and put one foot in the circle simultaneously. If the person in the middle picked the same leg as the person on the outside, they would win and move on to the next person. If not, the outside person would then become the one in the middle. Soon after joining this group, the bell rang indicating the children had to go back to class.

 Girls & SASers playing the "Dance" Game

SASers Dancing to the Morning Star Band

The next two hours were spent touring the school and stopping in various classrooms to chat with the students. We stopped in classrooms of most grade levels and would spend 5-10 minutes independently, learning about the kids and asking/answering questions. The kids were thrilled to see us although it was hit or miss if you started talking with an outgoing or shy child. I took lots of pictures as we went from classroom to classroom. Here's a few:

 Caitlin & Melody hoping to get left behind

The final place we visited was the library, where first graders were sitting watching Cinderella. Mrs. Kwakyi asked for two people in our group to talk with the kids about why school is important. After a student, Caitlin, went, I got up and asked the kids what they want to be when they grow up. The first kid said, “a pirate”…or so I thought. I wasn't really sure how to respond, but thought he could possibly make that a reality by moving to the east coast of Africa. When the second boy I called on said, “a pilot,” I realized the first boy probably said the same thing (whoops!). The next girl wanted to be a teacher and the final girl I called on wanted to be a doctor. I asked the pilots if they knew how to fly a plane and asked the doctor if she could treat a sick person…they laughed and said no. I finished my talk by explaining how if they work really hard in school, they could learn all they need to get their dream job. I told the pilots, one day I’ll be flying on their plane, the teacher could teach me something new in the future, and the doctor could make sure I’m staying healthy. The kids seemed receptive (at least for first graders) and we finished our visit with them by saying, “Morning Star,” to which they all respond (while lifting their hands up), “Arise and Shine.”

1st Graders: Morning Star...Arise & Shine

We finished our trip to the school by a visit to the kitchen/cafeteria, getting shown a cocoa plant/tree (which obviously makes chocolate), having some pastries/drinks while doing a Q&A with the administrators of the school, and finally taking a group photo.

Q&A with Administrators

 Group Photo

SASers: Morning Star...Arise & Shine!

It was another wonderful visit with children and the SAS students absolutely loved it. We headed back to the ship (hitting worse traffic this time) and once again had a relaxing evening at the ship.

My final day in Ghana, Carla and I decided to go explore Tema. Most people were visiting Accra, the capital, but we heard traffic was going to be terrible (because it was a Friday), and didn't desire to ride a bus for 4-6 hours. Thus we hopped on the shuttle to the port gate, picked up a taxi, and headed into town. Similar to Takoradi, we wandered around the streets (baking in the heat/sun) and made some purchases. It’s hard to describe what a town in Ghana looks like. They really don’t have many tall buildings and no real skyscrapers. The city was dirty with trash piled up on the sides of the roads, in ditches. Vendors were selling anything/everything you could think of and women were carrying huge items/baskets on their heads (no hands), as if it weren't a struggle at all. The people were still very friendly, but many had that used car dealer charm, meaning they really just wanted you to buy their merchandise.

When we were done with the heat, we headed back to the ship to prepare for embarkation from Ghana. The ship did a barbecue for everyone, which was delicious (burgers, BBQ chicken, mac & cheese, etc.) Once again…any change of pace is a good thing when it comes to food on board, so this was wonderful!

The next morning, we would be celebrating Neptune Day, which is celebrated when crossing the equator for the first time on a ship! 

“Nostalgia is a necessary thing, I believe, and a way for all of us to find peace in that which we have accomplished, or even failed to accomplish. At the same time, if nostalgia precipitates actions to return to that fabled, rosy-painted time, particularly in one who believes his life to be a failure, then it is an empty thing, doomed to produce nothing but frustration and an even greater sense of failure.”