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Ubuntu · Emma Hogeterp

Going Up the Mountain and Getting Down with the Locals

May 12, 2017

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The beautiful view from the top of Gemi Mountain

During my first week in Ghana, I had the privilege of seeing, experiencing, and learning more than I could have imagined. I roamed the bustling market streets of Koforidua, learned about the transatlantic slave trade at Elmina Castle in Cape Coast, and fed a monkey on my shoulder in the Volta region. All of my travels have helped me lean a lot more about Ghana’s social, economic, and political context before I begin teaching cases at All Nations University. However, one evening I spent on Gemi Mountain stood out in particular.

The evening began with hopping on the back of a motorbike. In the beginning, I was hanging on to my friend Jenny for dear life! After getting over the fear of falling off however, I was able to truly enjoy the ride up Gemi Mountain. The view was spectacular – a landscape full of lush flora with small villages scattered throughout. The mountain back home in Hamilton, Ontario could not compare to this!

After the ride, we finished the ascent by hiking. At the very top we reached a cross standing tall against the skyline, a landmark in the area. Looking out at the beautiful nature surrounding me was a grounding experience. This hike was followed by another to a nearby waterfall, where we listened to the peaceful falls and chatted with the motorbike drivers who decided to join us.

The night concluded with a very special dinner. As we were hungry after our hike and still on top of the mountain, we decided to ask around Vane village for a place to eat. A local family offered to cook us a meal of rice, tomato sauce, and boiled eggs. Their kindness and generosity to a us, a group of complete strangers, was a great privilege to experience. We enjoyed our meal with chickens clucking at our feet while the father of the family joked about our friend Hui marrying his young son! The experience was priceless, and I look forward to having the opportunity to pay forward the kindness back home in Canada someday.

I have learned many great lessons while travelling around Ghana so far and developed my leadership Character. I hope that I can use the understanding I have gained to better comprehend and teach Ghanaian business cases in the classroom. I implore everyone of you to explore and get out of your comfort zone -  it will help you personally grow, increase your cultural understanding, and even make better business decisions someday!