Connections - An Alumni and Friends Magazine by Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, IN
Ghana Again
"I think (of the Castle) as a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome."
—President Obama, after touring Cape Coast Castle, Ghana 7/11/09
In the summer of 2010, Holy Cross College will celebrate ten years of the College's visits to Ghana and the Ghanaian Brothers of Holy Cross. The program entitled, "Through the Eyes of Faith" has enriched the experience of our students offering them a glimpse of modern African society, the Ghanaian people, and especially the dedication and hospitality of the Ghanaian Brothers of Holy Cross. The Brothers continue to greet us each year with the words, "Welcome to Ghana; you are most welcomed here."
An unforeseen circumstance allowed me to make a return trip to Ghana this summer as the faculty advisor for a group of Holy Cross College students. It was my second consecutive year to take in the hospitality of the Brothers, the beauty of the Cape Coast area, the urban trek to Kumasi, and the memorable canopy walk above the rainforest at the Kakum National Park. This trip had a sense of homecoming, and yet with 19 new students I was able to relive the newness of the experience through their fresh eyes.
I remembered the horrifying stories behind the slave castles at Elmina and Cape Coast, and its important and overlooked connection to the United State's shared history with Ghana. We gained a vivid picture of the nation's proud history when we toured the Manhyia Palace Museum. Br. Ken Goode worked his magic and finessed an impromptu tour of the grand soccer stadium in Kumasi for our group.
The markets at Cape Coast and Kumasi were not nearly as loud and crowded as I had remembered, they were delightful places of conversation and interaction with merchants, dressmakers and street vendors selling authentic Ghanaian "fast food." Everywhere we went we were greeted with a genuine hospitality, a cool drink, a real curiosity for us, and an interest in helping us enjoy our visit to Ghana. This year we also had a lively exchange of hopes and dreams with students at the Brother's sponsored secondary school, St. John's. It didn't take long for a mutual love of music and football (soccer) rivalries to take over!
We traveled to the fishing village of Moree and the nearby village of Brafoyaw. Having seen the sites before, this time I was more aware of the beauty of the Ghanaian people this time. Some of the Holy Cross students spent time in the classrooms at St. Matthew's School in Moree while another group walked down to Brafoyaw and taught English, mathematics and social studies at a local school. A third group of students had the privilege of spending three mornings at Cape Deaf, a school for hearing impaired students.
There is little doubt that the Holy Cross students learned more from these experiences, extending themselves into new and exciting situations, than they could ever learn in a classroom. Whether it was communicating through sign language, singing with kindergarteners or mapping out sentences in English, our students learned to think on their feet, have patience, and experience the difficulties faced by any traveler in building international relationships. One thing our students also took home with them is the memory of the joy on the faces of the children, and their unmatched enthusiasm for learning in a culture where school can't be taken for granted. This life lesson will find its way back to Holy Cross College written on the hearts of our students.
Maydasi (thank you) to our dear Ghanaian friends! Nyame Adome, (by the grace of God) we will meet again soon!
The Global Immersion Experience is a fundamental program in the Holy Cross College curriculum; however rising costs are making it more difficult for the college to continue this commitment. We would like to hear from donors who may be able to sponsor a student's trip, airfare, expenses, or simply one day of meals. Please contact the Development Office if you can help.