West Africa · August 2006
Ghana, Africa
Three Weeks in West Africa — August 2006
Ghana is located in West Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. A country roughly the size of Oregon, it became home to our son Jon, who served in the Peace Corps there. He joined the Peace Corps in 2005 and headed off to Africa in June to teach in Ghana. Kathleen and I flew over to visit him in August of 2006. It was one of the most incredible three weeks of our lives as we traveled the country with Jon.
Jon in the Peace Corps
Jon joined the Peace Corps in 2005 and departed for Ghana on June 7th. He was assigned to teach at the Secondary School in a small village called Bawku, located in the far northeast corner of Ghana. If you look at the upper right corner of a map of Ghana, you'll find it there — a remote but vibrant community where Jon spent years making a difference.
Bawku — Life in the Village
Bawku sits in the Upper East Region of Ghana, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Togo. Jon taught at the local Secondary School, living among the community and learning the rhythms of daily life in West Africa. His letters and stories from Bawku were a window into a world far removed from Milwaukee or Seattle.
Kathleen and Ken's Visit — August 2006
Kathleen and I traveled to Ghana in August 2006 and spent three weeks with Jon seeing most of the country. We traveled from the coast to the north, experiencing the markets, the people, the food, and the landscape. It was one of the most eye-opening and rewarding trips of our lives. I am just trying to get a bunch of stuff up here now, but will come back to edit and add more. So please return.
About Ghana
Ghana is a stable, welcoming West African nation with a rich history. It was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule, in 1957. The country is known for its warm people, vibrant culture, kente cloth, and the historic Cape Coast Castle. Accra, the capital, is a bustling modern city, while the north — where Jon lived — offers a very different, more traditional way of life.