Wrap up of China and Hello GHANA!

Greetings Everyone! Due to the internet blockage of Google in China, I was unable to blog about our amazing experience in China. Currently I am in rural Ghana writing this blog but will report on my previous experience in China with Lisa as well as my current position as a leader for a high school summer enrichment program here in Ghana.

Our travels in China included four main destinations: Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Beijing (in that order). Our experiences traveling in China vs. India were very different. Most noticeably was the fact that we did not speak Chinese and as well the more noticeable presence of government in China versus India. Luckily we were able to meet up with our good friends Bill (served Peace Corps with me in Costa Rica) and Robin (served Peace Corps in Guatemala), who are currently teaching English in the city of Nanjing at a University. With their foundation knowledge of the Chinese language we were able to successfully navigate our way through the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou. In Shanghai we had an amazing time! We were able to visit the Bund (the scenic area/view of the business high rises of Shanghai), see the view from the 101st floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center (the world’s tallest observation deck), ride the psychedelic underground cable car from the Bund to business district, visit the unique French Concession district, tour the Chinese Propaganda Museum, and eat AMAZING Chinese street food (dumplings, grilled skewers, etc. which we pretty much did throughout the whole trip).

After our experience in Shanghai we went to Bill and Robin’s “hometown” in China, the city of Nanjing. In Nanjing we were able to stay in their spacious two bedroom apartment furnished by the University which they were working for in China. In Nanjing we were able to party hard at a packed Chinese Nightclub drinking Tsing Taos, spend time visiting Bill and Robyn’s University and speak with the students about life as a student in China, eat horrible French food but eat really good Pizza, and spend a night partying and making home made fresh dumplings with Bill and Robin’s Chinese coworkers and friends at their apartment. Our experience in Nanjing was very relaxing and it was absolutely amazing to spend some quality time with our really good friends. I also fell in love with something new in Nanjing, and that love is called a “Taiwan Sandwich” aka Taiwan Sammie. This sandwich is best made and can only be found prepared on the streets of China (and probably Taiwan). It consists of a fried egg, ham or chicken, lettuce or cucumber, and spicy Hoisan sauce all wrapped together in a flaky similar to a scallion pancake wrap. It is absolutely delicious and the best thing one could possibly eat at 2 am after a serious night of hitting the “disco”.

Our next city we visited was called Hangzhou. This city was around five hours away by Chinese super fast railway (speeds in excess of 200 kilometers per hour, I think). Hangzhou is a beautiful tourist city whose centerpiece is a large lake. One of the most beautiful parts of the city are the perfectly manicured Chinese gardens surrounding the Lake. We went to Hangzhou with our friends Bill and Robin and were able to do many different things, including hitting a jazz club, walking through many beautiful gardens with gorgeous atmospheric lighting at night, eating a gourmet dinner meal at a “penthouse” Italian restaurant in the middle of the city, to exploring all nightlife Hangzhou had to offer (including finding the Reggae Bar!). Overall Hangzhou was a very beautiful and romantic city and we were very fortunate to have had the positive experience we had with our good friends.

After our experience in Hangzhou we needed to part ways with our friends Bill and Robin and continue on North to Beijing. Many say Beijing represents the historic past of China while Shanghai represent the modernization of China, and I can very much agree with that. Beijing is definitely growing at a feverish pace, with new buildings and parts of town popping up all the time. In Beijing Lisa and I stayed at a Hostel located right in the center of the Old City literally 10 minute walk from the heart of Tiananmen Square. We were extremely fortunate to meet up with my friend from High School, Kevin and his girlfriend Meg. Both Kevin and Meg are working as English Teachers in Beijing. Kevin has been in China for the past three years and pretty much speaks fluent Chinese knowing around 3,000 characters and definitely able to hold his own in any type of Chinese conversation. It was great to have the both of them as guides during our 6 day stay in Beijing as we were able to go on a tour of the best spots in Beijing according to them. In Beijing we were able to go to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Mao’s Mausoleum, and my personal favorite the Great Wall of China. For me the Great Wall of China was one of the most impressive feats of human achievement I have ever seen in my entire life. The wall is over 2000 miles longs and took over 1000 years to build! It was extremely impressive as well as dangerous to see in person, considering many parts of the wall were very steep and the rocks were loose because we visited “un-restored” portions of the wall. I absolutely was in awe of the sheer magnitude of the wall and how it was literally built on the tallest part of the ridgeline of the mountain range and extended as far as the eye could see. Knowing that countless people dedicated and gave their lives to the creation of the wall was something I was very cognizant of during my whole stay at the wall. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to visit this monument of human achievement and history and highly recommend visiting this site. Back in Beijing city, my friend Kevin took us to the ex-pat district called “Stanleyton” (I know I’m spelling it wrong) but that is where you could find all your expat goods including Apple products, Cold Stone Creamery, Nike and all major American apparel stores. The funny thing was, was that right next to all of these stores selling authentic clothing was this one large building filled with pirated goods including Polo Shirts, Nike Shoes, and Mont Blanc pens. At night Kevin took us to his favorite Peking duck restaurant and as well favorite dumpling restaurant, which I would have to agree were the best dumplings I have ever had in my life. Whenever traveling it is always best to seek out someone who knows the city best, and have them show you the prime spots in the city. On our last night in Beijing we were able to see the Beijing National Acrobatic troop which was extremely impressive. Acts included one woman juggling a giant Umbrella with her feet, one performer juggling nine balls, a young girl contorting her body on a small pedestal while holding three glass chandeliers, acrobats flying around on stage, and the finale of 16 female acrobats riding one bicycle. It was absolutely amazing to watch and extremely impressive to see in person, the whole auditorium was packed. It was sad to say good bye to our friends Kevin and Meg as they had shown us an amazing time in Beijing and we definitely saw and experienced things which we wouldn’t have otherwise had the knowledge to go and experience on our own.

Overall the 2+ months experience traveling through India and China was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in my entire life. I was extremely fortunate to be able to share this experience with Lisa, as most couples have never had the opportunity to just travel freely for two months and share the experiences which we had together. As well we were very fortunate for our friends, especially during the China part of our visit, taking us under their wing and showing us around. India and China are two massive countries which encompass almost half of the world’s population, so in a way to not know or have experienced this culture is to not know firsthand almost half of humanity. These countries are only poised to grow more and I look forward to monitoring their continued successes on the world’s stage. I am overall extremely grateful for having had this experience as it has always been a dream of mine to visit these two countries. If you are thinking of traveling or backpacking for an extended period of time or even a short period of time I say DO IT! DO IT NOW! For no other time is better than today. Traveling as many of us now is a very grueling and strenuous activity, and the younger you are the more flexible and active you well be and the more you will be able to see. Nothing beats experiencing cultures first hand, eating their food, speaking to the local people, seeing the sites. In this day in age it is so important to be globally minded and the best way to be that way is not only through books but through actually being on the ground and seeing it for oneself. Obviously travel is a luxury for most of us but If you can do it, and if you can find someone who can pay you to do it then that is even better! Overall I am very happy how the trip worked out and could not have been happier with its outcome. If anyone wants any tips or tricks for their future trips to China or India by all means shoot me an email.

Currently, I am writing this very long blog post from the top bunk of my bunk bed located in rural Ghana about 3 hours east of the capital city of Accra near the city of Keta. I will be sleeping in this bed for the next 2 months, because I am working a service learning/leadership based high school summer enrichment program here in Ghana. In two days 30 students will be arriving from round the world and it will be my responsibility to guide and mentor them as they complete community service projects in the neighboring schools. During the weeks as well we will engage in various local cultural activitites and during the weekends we will go on excursions away from our homebase, including visits to waterfalls, NGOs, beaches, monkey sanctuaries, and rural villages.

I arrived in Accra, the capital of Ghana, last Sunday (June 19). For me leaving to go to Ghana after being in the US for less than one month after my mega trip throughout Asia, was very difficult. After coming home from Asia I was so happy to be back home in New York and seeing all of my family and friends again, that it was hard for me to imagine heading out of the country for an extended period of time, again. But I am definitely fortunate to have this job opportunity and it will be another amazing personal experience abroad to draw from as I begin my graduate studies this fall at George Washington University.

The past four days have definitely been action packed as we are working hard to organize ourselves for when all of the students arrive. We have been meeting with the local schools, speaking with local Chiefs (who will talk to the students during our afternoon cultural experiences), meeting local seamstresses (who will make the students handmade clothes out of local cloth), organizing our curriculum, reviewing safety plans, and getting to know our Ghanaian staff counterparts.
Our homebase is where we will be spending the majority of our time. It is basically a compound which consists of 8-10 rooms with 2 bunk beds in each room, several bathrooms, eating hall, kitchen, and several lounge areas, all enclosed by a cement wall bordering the perimeter of the compound. We have a computer with internet but it runs off of a USB 3G internet stick, so at times the internet is unreliable and I will not immediately be able to respond to emails or upload large amounts of pictures at a time.

Overall everything is running well and I am very excited to begin work with the students who will be arriving shortly. I am sure the dynamic will completely change once all of the students arrive. I know that this will be an amazing experience for them, and I will work hard to make sure that they have a great experience. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to work in Ghana and experience Africa first hand.

Anyways that is the latest for now….. I know that this is a very long blog post and I really appreciate those who have read it in its entirety! I will be sure to write more soon, especially when the students arrive and we start working in the communities and engaging in the cultural activities.

I love and miss my family, friends, and Lisa.

Peace to all.


UPDATE :

I did not have internet for awhile so I wrote this on my computer a couple days ago.... Currently the first group of 29 students have arrived and all is well ! It is great to get back in the swing of things working directly with students and I am super excited for tommorrow when we begin our community service in at the local school. We will be mostly working with primary school youth at the school teaching classes, and running activities, as well as making bricks for a new school building as the school has no cement walls, just bamboo reed walls and a tin roof. We will be meeting our high school headmaster under the Mango Tree (his office) to begin the day ! I miss you all !!