Outside looking in

It was great to read Jamie's blog entry about her time in Ghana. While she does a great job at describing our trip to the Northern region, I can see that it's absolutely impossible to truly describe what it feels like to live and breathe Ghana. Since I don't go back and read my own blog entries, I don't know how the detail compares from one entry to the next. However, I can assure you that even those entries that drip with detail and make you wince, cringe, laugh or cry, they pail in comparison to the true experience. If you ever have an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, take it. Thanks for writing Jamie!!

On another note, Barack Obama is finally our President!! Between the time Obama was elected and the day swore in as President (the first time), Ghana has had one election, one run-off, a re-vote in one constituency and a swearing in of their own. Atta Mills took office roughly 72 hours after he was declared the winner while much of the world waited in suspense while wondering if the Obama era would ever actually begin.

It has begun!! I joined several fellow volunteers at the W.E.B. Dubois Memorial in Accra on Tuesday where we stood behind several hundred other enthusiasts. Ghanaians, Americans and ex pats from around the world walked around sporting Obama gear from t-shirts to Ghanaian fabric with Obama's face on it. The energy was palpable throughout the historic event while tears, cheers and hugs were shared by many. The mother of one of my fellow volunteers was away from her D.C. home. She said after the ceremony that she was happy to have had the experience of witnessing the event from Ghana and wouldn't have traded it for a chance to be in D.C. at the time. It feels similar to election day for me. I was anticipating the event for such a long time and enjoyed it so thoroughly without really thinking that the event itself is only the beginning and these feelings of hope and elation don't have to stop just because the day has past. Obama is already doing great things and I can only hope that the words that he so eloquently spoke on January 20th truly suggest what he'll do as our President.

Love to all!
Ira