Post 5: Holiday Festivities

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a great holiday season and that many of you are adjusting well back into the everyday routine. I personally have been taking some time as well to enjoy the holiday season to relax and prepare myself for the upcoming year. I hope to share in this blog what I've done since the last time I've written and what I hope to write about going forward.

"So how was Christmas?"

This is a question I've been getting asked by many people. Christmas here was a unique experience which I really enjoyed. The holiday is not normally celebrated here in Tamale due to the majority Muslim population. Not once throughout December did I see any Christmas trees or decorations ornaments or Santa Clauses. Only at the few churches in town and Christian ran restaurants was there any recognition of Christmas.

This year, for Christmas, my Belgian roommates Michiel and Merel and I wanted to give our host family a Christmas they would always remember. It began with selecting what we should get them for gifts. For Arafat, we got him a full Chelsea uniform with soccer socks. For Iba, we got here jeans, lip-gloss, nail polish and a t-shirt. For Nafisa, better known as Mamma, we wanted to get her something really special. Knowing Mamma enjoys keeping in touch with her host kids after leaving Ghana, we decided to give her a smartphone with a big enough screen that she can now video chat instead of only calling.  The second step was Christmas eve. Mamma was to make a spaghetti meal she loves to make for her host kids to give them "a taste of home". In the meanwhile, my host brother Michiel thought of the amazing idea of making our own homemade movie theatre! Doing this would allow us to have friends and family over to celebrate Christmas in style. So, after getting a project, speakers, a big enough white board to project on, popcorn and drinks, we made a movie theatre in our own backyard!

Our Homemade Movie Theatre! (Was quite dark so this evening sorry for the bad quality!)

On the night of Christmas eve the magic began. Starting with a wonderful meal, we decided after to give the family their gifts. This is where I learned yet again, as I do at least once per Christmas, the true meaning of the day. Whether it was the pure shock of the family when they opened their gifts or learning this was the first Christmas they ever celebrated, it was truly something else. After cleaning up, our guests began to arrive to watch Toy Story and we had the "world premiere" of the not-yet in theatres (by one day) The Hateful Eight. The night is one I will never forget.

The Host Family (left to right, Iba, Mamma (Nafisa) and Arafat

As for Christmas day, except for dinner with the family and lunch with other volunteers, it was a quiet day; however, there was something that happened which I want to make note of... For those involved in my Christmas gift, which was a video from back home of season's greetings from many individuals I know and love, thank you so much! Not only did it do accomplish its goal in making me smile but I had no chance at holding back tears. It has not been easy living over here, especially during a time like the holiday season; however, to receive holiday greetings from all of you made it honestly the greatest Christmas gift I have ever received. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

New Years

On the 26th I received an email from my boss indicating I had the rest of the year off for holidays. Upon receiving this news, I quickly decided that I was in much need of a vacation! With my holiday time, I decided to go back to Cape Coast for the New Years! While I did much of the same as I did last time (relaxing), I went canopy walking in the rainforests of Kakum National Park which was quite a view! While I thought it was quite pretty, I as well felt sad that the animals were too scared to come out. In the forest resides animals such as forest elephants, leopards and many types of birds.

Kakum Canopy Walk!

On New Year's Eve, the resort I was at hosted the town's largest New Year's Eve party! Throughout the day, staff worked hard to prepare what was shaping to be a legendary night, which it was! Starting with a buffet dinner, the night then consisted of an acrobatics show which got people energized to dance. When the New Year arrived, it began for me on the beach. All the resort's amps were turned towards the beach and the dance party turned into a large beach party! Fireworks went off for hours, large bonfires blazed and wowed and late night swimming in the ocean commenced. The party went all night!

While I would have stayed up all night, I had another important event happening on New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, I was presented with the opportunity to go hiking up in the Eastern Region of Ghana (near the city Ho Hoe) and go camping on top of one of Ghana's highest mountains. Intrigued by this, I signed onto the trip and I do not regret it for a second! The mesmerizing scenery of emerald green everywhere from the variety of trees, waking up to the sun rising while looking over Ghana from the top of a mountain and experiencing Canadian fall temperatures at nights for sleeping was amazing! Some of the main highlights included climbing Ghana's highest mountain Afadjato, visiting Wli falls (the highest waterfalls in West African and the coldest water I have been in second to Gander Lake!), meeting expats from across the world, visiting a monkey sanctuary and rock climbing into caves. I will never forget the trip!

A Few Snapshots for your enjoyment!

View from my tent 

The Campsite near the Smmit of the Mountain (Summit is on other side)

The other side of the mountain! 

On top of Ghana's highest peak Mount Afadjato!

Wli Waterfalls (You can ever tell I am freezing!)

So What Comes Next?

As I touched upon earlier, December was a tough month. Common within long-term travel,  a lot of difficult situations arose in December which made writing at points very difficult for me to do; however, I have hope that with a new year comes a new me! I am hoping in my next few blogs to elaborate a bit more about these experiences as I feel they're important to share and will give a better context into my experience here thus far.  I am hoping to get back on schedule and keep you wonderful people up to date! Until next time have a great week :)