Why Ghana?

I’m not sure if I can explain how badly I wanted an experience like this but I’ll try. Being the list maker I am I still have a goals list I made when I was a sophomore in high school and written in bold letters and underlined twice is goal number two: to study abroad. When I first realized that the opportunity to study abroad was possible for me, I began thinking about all of the countries I could visit and what they would have in store for me.  I thought about Europe and visiting the Eiffel Tower in France, walking the beautiful streets of Greece, and chasing bulls in Spain. I thought of Australia and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. But then I thought what do I really want to gain from my experience abroad? I hope that at some point in my life I will visit all of these places and experience all of their cultures, but I feel that at this point in my life I am looking for an experience that will help me grow as a person in a way I wouldn’t be able to find just anywhere. I also feel that at this point in my life, I am available to experience more than I will be later on. I am single, without children, and in great health. I feel that I need to travel to a place that I will not be able to when these aspects of my life change. To me, this is the perfect time to challenge myself and visit a country that isn’t a conventional choice. And that’s why I chose Ghana, Africa.