Day 16

Thursday May 16^th, 2013

Today was such a beautiful, fun day.  We headed up to Lake Bosomtwe! The drive was beautiful.  The lake is actually built from a crater that struck forever ago.  On the drive we were talking about how we will be going to some of the old slave castles and we were talking about slavery a little bit.  And I guess one of the guides in the past said that they aren’t mad at the white people for the slavery because even though tragic things happened to their ancestors, the ones who survived and the posterity are living in a free country with rights and privelages and the ability to move up in class.  I thought that was really interesting.  I thought of it from a religious standpoint and maybe that is why God allowed slavery to happen; for the benefit of future generations.  Mysterious man He is.  Anyways, dropping down into the lake from the mountain was beautiful.  We got on this little dirt road with Blue (our bus) and the road started to get more narrow and narrow.  We had to drive across this tiny bridge and I didn’t think we would make it but Richard has powers and got us there.  We had this resort and beach all to ourselves; they were so grateful we came too.  They were excited for the business.  We got lounge chairs and sat under the palm trees.  It was so nice.  We rented these log boat things and played out in the water with them.  The lake has 30 communities around it and there are no boats.  I didn’t hear any engines.  It was incredible.  The water was so freaking warm.  There are thermal springs and at times the water near the surface felt like a hot shower.  It was so crazy.  I had so much fun swimming.  I love the water. The log things were so fun for all of us to climb on and swim with.  Richard was having such a good time as well.  He would get so nervous when I would swim off away from everyone; asking me to come back.  The people still fish with nets and we were able to watch them cast them our and it seriously was one of the coolest looking things.  Lisa got her toe ring snagged in one and lost it.  It was one she was had for like 18 years so I went back and totally found it.  Pretty freaking cool I must say.  It was cloudy but the sun finally burned them off and the weather was perfect.  Most of us did not where sunblock so we all got our fair share of sun today.  And my junk got rubbed raw from my suit and climbing on the board.  I am in pain tonight!! I read on the beach which was nice.  We swam all afternoon and then a guide came and told us all about the lake and how it was found.  A hunter was out trying to get food and he was going home empty handed.  As he got near home he saw an antelope and he followed it and finally shot it with an arrow but the antelope didn’t fall.  He followed the blood trail to the lake and the antelope was gone.   Some from Twi this story gave the lake its name.  I love legends like that.  We had some kids come over and play on the logs with us.  It was just a really nice relaxing day.  There was no hectic people grabbing at us and no mayhem.  It was nice.  We got back home this evening and I continued to read.  We had dinner catered and it was delicious.  My fish was yummy.  I am turning into a real fish eater.  Way healthy right? It is our last night here in Kumasi and honestly, I am not ready to go home.  I don’t want to.  I like it here.  It is comfortable and the people are so nice.  Even the hotel staff are so good to us.  I feel at home here and although I am excited to move onto Accra I know I will miss this place.  Accra stands for going home and that is something I am just not ready for at this time.  I still got more in me.  I want to teach more and interact with the people more and stimulate the economy.  I really like reading my textbooks about business and seeing all the ways the business works here in Ghana.  I am getting so many ideas and seeing so many possibilities.  I feel like I am really growing.  I am not ready to go back home to all the materialistic things of America but I am ready to delve into my education and appreciate it more and take more of an active role in it.  It is my destiny and I am in charge of it.  I can change it and make my life what I want it to be.  That gives me confidence and like I said I am really enjoying reading these textbooks.  Maybe its because I know that this year is my last for undergraduate or maybe it is because I see how important education is.  This country is not educated and all of history shows that education changes things and grows economies and I really want to help.  I want to do international business and start my own company and non-profit.  I want to do so many things.  Man I am rambling.  I just love it here! Kevin is going to try and stay an extra week and I wish I could too.  It is more beneficial for him though being a Respiratory Therapist.  They are having a bunch of meetings with the schools to set up a program.  And I have things at home that I need to do; it all works out. Oh man.  Tasha got locked in her bathroom in only a towel and we had to take apart her door to get her out! Teamwork.