I hate goodbyes. But after our six weeks in the village of Marfokrom expired, it was time to tip our hats to the place we called home this summer.
It was especially difficult to explain to the community that we were unlikely to return. Against my best judgment, I told the guys on the soccer team and a few of the teachers that maybe one day I could find my way back. In any case, I'll miss waking up in Marfokrom in the coming days and weeks.
Oddly enough, the best way to stay in touch with the people in the village is via cell phone. Most have no access to computers or e-mail, and the mail system is unreliable and painstakingly slow, leaving cell phone communication as the best alternative. Since returning to the US I have already received two phone calls from people in the village.
After we packed up the tro-tro one last time in Marfokrom we set off for a week of travel and relaxation to ease the transition process back to the U.S. We spent a weekend in Cape Coast (the city where Barack Obama gave his July address on his foreign policy goals for Africa), visited the oldest European built slave castle in Africa at Elmina, and spent a few last days on the beach before heading to Accra to catch our Saturday flight home.
Pictures are the best way to blitz through the highlights of our team's final week:
Overlooking the fishing village of Elmina from Elmina Castle.
In front of an American owned taco shack five minutes down the beach from the Green Turtle Lodge.
Our team's final dinner on our last night in Accra.
