There was an honesty that emerged from the surface of the pages that wasn’t always easy to read. Slowly, though, she began to let people in.
While I did come to Ghana, Ghana also came to me. I’ve never been good at farewells. They imply leaving, but I never feel loss, even as my distance grows. I can’t erase the experiences from my book, as they’ve been etched with a diamond pen. Every character on this journey has left a stamp on my pages as if they were meant to be there all along. They will last forever, safely tucked within the spaces of my story.
As I lay here, flipping through Chapter 20, I see my aunties laughing in the office. I see my host mom stuffing my twisted ankle in a bucket of freezing water. I see myself and some friends getting lost in the Volta. I see Modua pounding fufu outside the house. I see my students trying their best to add five and six. I see walks along the coast and into the clouds. I see how colorfully I’ve painted these pages. I turn them gently, careful not rip the corners. It’s always a little heartbreaking when a good story ends; you become so invested in the lives of all the characters. As time passes, and my book continues to grow, I can always return to Chapter 20 and let the sounds of trotros and the smell of okra soup flood my memories. I will see the characters’ stamps and smile, wondering what stories they’re writing now.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this chapter in my book. Typing these weekly articles was a highlight in my story, and I hope reading them brought insight to yours. There is still so much to learn about Ghana and other countries in Africa. You will never know it all, but you can enjoy the journey in trying to.
