#SOL20 Changes

Here I am

The moment you realize how tiny you are, and at the same time how large. I’m here in Florida with my daughter and son in law, in their new home feeling very special and grateful.

I helped the ‘kids’ move into their new house in December while I was home for winter break, I come back a few months later to their home. It is amazing how the nest they have made is welcoming and warm. I admire my daughter for the amazing women she has become. They welcome me into their home during this time of uncertainty and questioning of health and well being.

Today was a great first day in Florida, we were able to walk on the beach and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Amelia and I went to Sprouts for food and supplies for the upcoming weeks. We came home and watched the sun setting over their home. Made dinner and enjoyed the comforts of kinship and home.

Moment to moment, live each moment, as it is precious.

social distancing for the selfie

#SOL20 Changes

Experiencing some days

I missed some days of writing due to the a lot of changes in our world. I made it to Florida from Ghana during this time of change. I’m here with my children and in my world life is good.

The days before making the decision to fly to Florida were very tense. I used my spring break days to go to the Ghana police station for a background check. Thankfully I went with a friend. We were whisked to a place for to get the old school ink prints, go here to pay the 60 cedi. That didn’t seem right, but we kept asking if this was for an employer and got the same answer, yes. We tried to call a friend to check their process, we went toward home after we couldn’t reach anyone to ask. On the way home the friend called and everything she described we didn’t do… We turned around and headed back to the police station in Osu. The process of getting back our letter and original prints was an up to the third floor and down again affair. The sweltering day, people looking at us with wonder, “Do they have the virus?”around every corner.

We are finally in the right spot to get the digital prints, a photo and passport check, 130 cedi and another hour and a half and we are on the way. Good thing the friend was with me, we laughed and sweated together. The photo room was a cool relief with the A/C blowing full strength. We are sitting in front of the red curtain, the man processing us is kind and makes jokes with us. I give him a big smile for my photo, no problem. My friend goes to smile and we start laughing during the photo. He keeps taking photos and then stops. He looks at me and says, “Your smile was good, but you, your smile has gone wild!” The next few minutes of comedic relief changes the entire day.

That is Ghana, you just never know what an experience will have in hold for you, but enter with an open minds and heart and every little thing will turn out just as it will.

The letter that didn’t help the first time.

Day 2 in Accra

Akwaaba friends!

Montana and I are settling in to our new home in Accra, Ghana. We have a new two bedroom, two bath apartment on the bottom floor. The other people who live here are also teachers at Lincoln Community School (LCS). We have a guard outside our gated compound 24 hours a day. Montana has made fast friends with our night guard, Thomas. He has also made friends with other local Ghanians. He is definitely not shy about learning the culture and exploring our neighborhood.

New city sounds

We had the windows open on Tuesday night, we had a wonderful breeze and temperatures in the 70’s. It was a beautiful evening, we are close to the equator,  night comes very quickly at 6:15 – 6:30. I woke up at 4:00 am to the sound of the Muslim call to prayer, a beautiful sound. That was soon joined in with our neighborhood roosters and cats. A familiar Safety Harbor sound came next, a train passing through a few blocks over. I laid awake listening to the cacophony of our new city.