Year of 28

Lived in Ghana for 1 year…without any malaria I might add

Got another cat

Not so afraid of spiders any more

Might of found my mothering instinct

Might be starting to grow up

Carried water on my head…among many other things

Learned to cook Ghanaian food

Fell in love with fufu

Saw dung beetles

Italy with Leila was awesome

Finally tasted wheat beer again

Climbed a mountain that made me cry

Put a condom on a wooden penis

Learned patience

Still amazed by the amazing friends and family I have

Learned to sew

Learned to batik

Hobnobbed at the U.S. Ambassador’s more than once

Become more outspoken and confident

Learned humility, time and time again

Learned what it means to “pick your battles”

Became an excellent barterer

Learned exactly what “homesick” means

Katie Mae and Sheldon from the U.S.

Took 9 hot showers in 365 days

Lost a dear friend in Ghana

Had more strangers sleep on my couch than I can count

Can’t imagine not being called “Sister Boala”

Value my headlamp as one of my most prized possessions

Don’t wear deodorant every day

Can wield a machete

Have made friends from around the world

Been “unemployed” for a whole year

I can kill many things by throwing my shoe

Palm wine!

Became a teacher

I get in fights for what amounts to 80 cents

Seen Juju close up

The only piercings I have now are in my lobes

Made cheese

Don’t even change clothes when a kid pees on me anymore

Can walk into the bush and pick the most delicious fruit

Learned that my body is kick ass strong!

Said many goodbyes and hellos…once again