...and then it's November (the massive post experience blog ((grab a beer)))

A lot of tens have been the theme this week. 10 November 2016, the beloved Marine Birthday. TEN (Teacher Education Network) conference coming up. 10 weeks of NFL, and my 10th year as an educator.

I always hear people talk about life moving fast and [to be read condecendingly,] 'seize life and every opportunity'. As tacky as it is, I am very thankful to have married a person that I can say will be seizing a lot of goddamn moments with me over the next two days. This introduction serves as a hook, but also an excuse for not posting. I have no apologies, we've been having a blast, learning a lot, and seizing the goddamned carpe out of the diem. God diem.

MounTEN Biking

Toward the end of September, some colleagues invited me on a mountain biking trip to Abruri (pronounced a brewery). You can imagine that when they told me that we were going to ride to a brewery, I was pretty pumped. However, Abruri resides about an hour and a half north of Accra. The immediate change in elevation was a relief for this Abronie (uh-bro-knee) from Colorado. This also represented my first time indulging in some of the roadside treats (plantain chips, blue sky pineapple ginger juice, etc) being sold by vendors walking between cars on the highway.



Upon arriving in Abruri, we were issued mountain bikes and a 17 year old guide (who we immediate began to ignore). This trip was not the traditional climb up and ride down the hill. Exactly the opposite. We were taken down a steep road down the hill (pictured above as the high point on the hill). We then rode through the forested dirt road area and a bit off the beaten path through a few local villages.


Local kids began chasing us from village to village in a very 'Rocky' type of scene. However, instead of 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor, the kids yelling, 'abroni' and 'money' led us to the last stretch of our ride. A few kids pictured here were brave enough to come up to us as we stopped for water. One of the boys pushed the smallest of them toward us. I suppose to make sure we would not eat the weakest one (sorry, it's not letting me upload the picture of the kids). While we waited for the final push, I pulled a #yeti coozi holding a canned beer for the past six hours out of my #osprey it wasn't fridge cold, but survived a humid hot ride #payme, bitches. We at Obama burgers at a local resort (tasted of freedom and a healthy economy). This would be a must see and experience trip for anyone that wants to come visit us!! The invitation stands :)

VacaTEN

Our Fall break provided a great exercise for Bayli in her booking, organizing, and management skills. I helped by drinking beer and massaging her fingers when they got tired of typing and picking up the phone. Kind of kidding, but seriously, if you ever need to book something, put Bay on it. She is flipping amazing. Originally, we had planned London and Galway as our Fall Break destinations. Upon arrival, we found out that our working Visas would may not come back to us until October. This makes it really easy to get out of Ghana, but not back in.



This venture proved to be fruitful as we had a very well traveled driver and opportunity to see our gorgeous countryside. We made our way West stopping at Koh Sa Resort near a couple of the local forts and castles that we would be touring the next day. We had also heard that the local castles were quite the experience, and this also proved to be true.


Ten Seconds a Slave

As the plaque that stands on the walls of both Cape Coast and Elmina Castles reads, “In everlasting memory of the anguish of our ancestors. May those who died rest in peace. May those who return find their roots. May humanity never again perpetuate such injustice against humanity. We the living vow to uphold this.”

The Cape Coast slave castle (as well as Elmina) were two very powerful and enlightening experiences. I will not be able to do them justice with a few pictures and descriptions. In the U.S. we often learn hear about the capturing of Africans and then their being sold to the slave trade in the U.S. and Caribbean. Now I'm going to 'Tarantino' this blog and tell you about our departing words from our trip in Cape Coast Castle [paraphrased].

Slavery still exists in the world. In some ways it is familiar, in other ways it takes a new face. In 2009, the 'Door of No Return' which was the last time many of the slaves touched their Native Africa was changed to the 'Door of Return'. The phrase 'Akwaaba' which means welcome greeted many visitors that included the president of the United States. The most important guests; however, were the remains of 2 original Ghanaian slaves (one died in Jamaica, and one died the U.S.) in a welcoming ceremony, their remains were set to rest in Ghana. 2 Native children returning home. This, of course, had the opportunity to put emphasis on the negative and blame on the guilty. Instead, it was set a plea. Visitors then and now are tasked with upholding the abolishment of slavery in all its forms.

Condemned 

Female Confinement Cell

Being at these castles and learning about the trade, the people involved, and the impacts then and even now were of course powerful, but also fulfilling. The tour itself provided a visual of the spaces that held 1500 (Cape Coast) to 750 (Elmina). It was unfortunately too dark and pictures were (understandably) discouraged during the tour in order to internalize the experience. Upon seeing the male and female holding areas, we were brought to what is the only original door on the Elmina tour.

Rowdy, defiant, and deadly slaves were not tolerated in dealing with these slaves, soldiers would drag them into a small room that was set in the absence of light and ventilation. The tour guide shut us in for what was probably only ten seconds. Upon opening the door, he explained that these slaves were placed in this room without food or water until the last one had died. Typically, this process would take 3-4 days. Bodies were removed (by other slaves) and thrown over the side of the castle upon the rocks into the shore as a message to the other slaves.

As you can imagine, the days heat was not as much a bother after this short experience. The tour was well presented historically, as the castles were passed among many hands starting with the Portuguese , Dutch, and eventually the English. 30+ original forts still reside. Elmina, Cape Coast, and Accra housing some of the restored and tourist castles. These castles now serve as educational institutions and hubs of art in which many local artists present their art and the opportunity for you to take it home. Alas, we walked away with only a 5 cedi shell that Bayli bought from Benjillo.


Before I barrage you with pictures, I would like to share just one other powerful experience at Elmina. This Castle had a much larger female population. You'll be able to see the quarts that incoming female slaves were chosen by the Governor to have his way with. These females were chosen, bathed, clothed, and taken up a 'back' entrance to the Governors bedroom. After being raped, the female was escorted back to the female cells and taken advantage of by the soldiers.

If that isn't sad enough...

Many of these females became pregnant in waiting for the slave ships to arrive. If you were lucky enough to have the child before the ships came, the child was taken care of, educated, and visited by the mother once a month after nursing. However, if the ships came and it was discovered that the female was pregnant, she was deemed as useless at the auctions and therefore thrown overboard to their deaths. The disparity and contrast between the two offered a very interesting insight into the slave trade as well as the people that it impacted.

Cape Coast (top level, Governor's Quarters)

View out to the boats from the Cape Coast 'door of no return/return'.

View of the Cape Coast from the Governor's quarters.

View of the door to the female dungeon at Elmina

View of Cape Cost City and the market area

Cape Coast shore from Governor's quarters

Atlantic Trade Industry brand used on incoming slaves

The rest of our trip brought us close to the Ivory Coast on the 'Frenchman's Farm' an Ivorian who provides employment and sanctuary to the local tribes that are being killed. A national forest trip that included a promised 'big tree' was cut short by mud and one of the tour vehicles getting stuck. Despite some help, they insisted that we continue the trip why they got the vehicles out of the mud and crud. Our tour and their hilarious humor upon the trip would point to most trees of some stature and ask, 'Is that the Big Tree?' to which 'No,' from our tour guide became more and more absent of patience. Fuckin Abronis, am I right? 

Nightmare Fuel  Big Tree Pics (still not the big tree, though)

The final part of our trip was spent on the beach. Fanta's Folly is a resort near Takaradi. The owners Fanta (a local) and Phillip (the western European folly) are the site of hundreds of sea turtle births each year. They provide sanctuary for the females as they come inland to lay their eggs that will begin to hatch in the next couple of months. A huge victory came in the middle of the night as the owners and their employees tried to wake us to see a female that had gotten off course after laying her eggs. They were able to find catch her and hold her to the late morning (as the local fishing nets would have proven a feat for her to escape).

Bay on the Takaradi coast @ Fanta's Folly

Late afternoon walk w a hottie

Upon our departure, Phillip solemnly explained that another female had been spotted; however, before they got to her, some of the locals seized her. Despite his offers to pay them on the spot for the turtle, the hungry locals refused. This was of course sad; however, we had the advantage of leaving. My heart goes out to Fanta and Phillip in balancing the triumphant wins with the heartbreaking losses.

One of our final mornings of break was spent on a leaky canoe. We opted to check out the local fishing village at the tributary that deposits into the ocean. Our trip was less than eventful. Upon returning to the village the village chief was working on some of the boats and had some strong words for the two that took us out. I can only speculate what the conversation entailed. However the young naked kids standing on the boat in an 'akwaaba freedom stance' made our choice of pictures and need for our cabana and drinks necessary.

Former monkey and crocodile residence

Bayli and Ashley navigating

For Sale: Very few holes, freedom stance a must. Inquire w the chief.

EducatTEN Rockstars or Ten Degrees of Martinez

Birthdays. Anita (middle)
taught at Fairview Elementary
in Denver

I've alluded to the amazing friends and colleagues that we have had the great privilege to work with. A very interesting aspect is that everyone in the international community knows somebody that you know. Upon introduction to the staff, one of our learning support specialists let me know that she was dear friends with the Roseberry clan of Durango. Everyone new to the international scene initial was disoriented at the small size and interconnectedness of our world. 

I bring this section up because the connections that we make with others in this world are one of the only things that we can truly leave behind. I challenge everyone reading this to have an adventure today. If that adventure is just introducing yourself to someone new, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you already have in common and the potential connections that you already have. 

Know some firefighters? Local station presents fire safety for
our students.

Ten + Ten + Ten

A big celebration for me is that thanks to my wife and our new lifestyle, I've lost about pounds every month since we have been here (about 30 lbs total). I don't exercise much more or eat any healthier. I think that the change in pace, shift in priorities, and opportunity to engage in being active without the burden of saying, 'I have to...' before we do anything. We are lucky to have a wonderful housekeeper that provides us the gift of time to balance ourselves personally and professionally.




If I'm hungry, I eat.
If I'm tired, I sleep.
If my wife needs wine, I jump on my bike and peddle my ass to the alcohol container.
If my wife is at the gym, I can blog...