The Beginning of the End

The coming week is my last in Ghana. Of course, I am feeling a complicated layering of emotions. I'm sad to say goodbye to the kids, two in particular, one of whom I'm strongly considering paying for the remainder of his schooling. He is 16 and one of the most funny, sweet, and hardworking kids I've ever met. He wants to attend university in the States eventually. I hope this is something we can turn from an un-likelihood to a probability.

I'm feeling excited to come home, and ready to see the people I love again. I lost a friend in Eguafo yesterday. There's a group of dogs in the village and there was one who was such a sweet and good dog. None of the dogs have names, but we named this one Spot because of the brown spot on top of his white head. I'd give Spot scratches every day, and he liked to sleep on top of a wooden bench under the carpenter's work area just near our house. I also gave him my scraps from meals. He gave me puppy dog affection when the people here just don't get it. He was my surrogate dog in Africa. Yesterday he was hit by a car on the paved road that runs through our village. We buried him by the old school, but then The man in charge of the orphanage and school said he had to be dug up because if we buried the body the person who hit him would be cursed. So the other volunteer (who is male) and the boy (he's 20) who Spot sort of belonged took the body and laid it in the forest instead. I'm relieved that's what happened. Rural Africa...could have been something much more shocking.

The Africans have all thought I'm crazy for crying over a dog, but he was a friendly face to me and a joyful part of my day. Spot, I hope you're in doggie heaven chasing chickens and getting lots of leftovers.

Needless to say, this loss has made me yearn for home a bit more. I plan to spend my next week focusing only on the kids and hanging out with my buddies I've made. Although I leave Eguafo next Tuesday, I know this experience and these connections will be with me for much much longer.