Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has enjoyed the holiday with their love ones. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is not celebrated here in Ghana. Even though it is not celebrated, I took time out my day to thank about all the things I am thankful for. When this week started, I was trying to figure out what my topic would be for this week’s blog. On Tuesday around 7am, I came back from jogging to take a shower to prepare for class at 8am. I got in the shower and I had completely covered myself with soap when the water cut off. I had to get out, put clothes on and take my bucket to the polytank to get water to finish bathing. All I could do was laugh and at that very moment, I knew I would write about all the things I am thankful for in my life on this week’s blog.

As I have spent time in Ghana, I have been able to see many things in my life that I have taken for granted that I do not have currently. Things such as hot water, electricity and water running consistently without interruption, air conditioning, high speed internet, sanitation, and this list can continue. On the other hand, I do have some things I am thankful for since I have been in Ghana. I am thankful for meeting great people that have help me adjust to living here, my mom visiting me for 2 weeks, people such as yourself taking interest in my blog, being in good health, learning about a different cultural and academic system, and overall having a fantastic study abroad experience.

 When I did an overview of the past year there are many things that I am thankful for in my life such as:

·          Being a child of God

·         Having the best MOM in the world

·          A Loving family who always supports me.

·         To have all my grandparents still living and a great grandmother

·         Loving and supportive boyfriend

·         Being an American Citizen

·         Being able to attend college and have scholarships that cover of all my expenses.

·         Having all my needs meet and majority of my wants

·         My health which seems to get better as a get older

·         Obtaining internships with major companies

·         Learning to always enhance my life

·         Not being hindered from mistakes I have made

·         Having the opportunity to see another year

For everyone who is shopping on Black Friday, shop for me too! Enjoy the holiday season with the ones who mean the most to you. As I read my book Purpose Driven Life the most important thing in life is LOVE and the relationships we have with one another. I know sometimes everyone gets so busy with work, school, and the things that must be done to survive in life, but take time to tell the ones who mean the most you to that you Love them.

Looking Forward to What Lies Ahead

Most mornings I wake at 5am with an alarm clock or 6am with the sun. On Saturdays, I am unable to sleep past 7am and I try my best to stay in bed but when the sun rises in Ghana there’s no way of staying asleep. When I first arrived, I was astonished on how early people would wake up in the mornings but now I am saying good morning to them as we pass one another  in the hallway of our Hostel. This week has been an academic week for the most part with finishing my last Mid Semester Exam and starting to prepare for my Final Exams in 3 weeks.

I had two days limited water or electricity this week but it seems not even bother me like it use to. My internet does not always work and the connection typically goes in and out. My list of things that happen to me throughout day can go on and on. I can truly say this experience has made me a more humble individual. Through various experiences, I have learned life is not going to go the way you plan always and make the best of all situations. The weather is changing with it being more humid and less rain. Most days I sweat and I cannot stop sweating. The bugs seem to still get to me when I am eating especially. I am typically the only person that is bothered by the bugs where everyone else is adapted to them.

I sit and think about my return to the US and wonder how I am going to truly feel? I will be going from summer to winter weather, all natural foods to many processed foods, washing clothes by hand to using my mother’s washing machine (YES!), and being by myself to being with family. I am excited and it is one of motivations to study hard for my exams that are coming. I believe I am going to enjoy going to Wal Mart or even McDonald’s. I look at all things I have taken for granted in my life that I see is a privilege. Throughout my college career, I have not stayed home for more than a few weeks at a time which makes it always exciting to go home. I also feel there are some special things I will miss about Ghana over time.

I hope the remaining of the week is fruitful for you.

Purpose

At the beginning of this week, I realized that I had exactly 40 days left in Ghana. After realizing that my time is definitely narrowing down, I had the idea to make my last days in Ghana very meaningful. As I have said before my main goal to accomplish while studying abroad is to obtain academic, social, and spiritual balance. So far it has been going great. My Mid-Semester Exams we went well, I have been having fun socially meeting so many different people, and most importantly, I have become more in tune with God.

Over the past few months, I have been able to obtain this balance but I still felt like something was missing. I had the feeling that my life needed more purpose then just academic and career goals. As I was eating my dinner on Sunday at the Engineering Guest House, I was trying to figure out how I would solve this problem. While sitting at a table with my goals on paper to accomplish, some individuals from my church service walked in to eat dinner as well. I spoke and introduced myself and we talked about our church service. I explained that I was a foreign exchange student and I had 40 days until I return to the United States. Instantly at the moment, one of the gentlemen recommended the book Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. As he recommended, he explain that it is a life changing book and it’s a 40 day process. All I could do was say wow; this is definitely perfect timing to accomplish one last goal.

On Monday, between classes I rush to town by taking 2 taxis to get to the local Christian book store. It was an amazing adventure to eat lunch and be on the go in an hour all for a single book. Once I got the book I had to rush back for classes. Once I was done with classes, I was able to sit down and read the first chapter of this 40 chapter book. I am currently on chapter/day 5 and I am starting to see life in a different perspective. So far this book has made me more passionate and excited about my future and the purpose god has for me. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone seeking purpose to their life.  In the mist of starting this 40 day process, I have started the process with my boyfriend. I enjoy discussing the chapters over the internet in the evenings every day. I am looking forward to the great results of a purposeful and focus life.

On Tuesday, I attend another bible study with a classmate. This bible study took place outside when it was dark in the school local park. We sat on benches under a tree praising god, and reading is word with the light from our cell phones. This was an amazing experience and I will never forget how exciting and unique it was. As I enter the park there were different groups of students having various bible studies with prayer and singing. I wish I could have recorded the scene to show to people because it is definitely something worth seeing.

In the mist of obtaining my spiritual goals, I have been studying consistently for all my classes. With it being the final stretch of the semester it is getting more intense and I am preparing to do my best on my finals.

I hope everyone has a fruitful week!

Focusing on the Books

                My study abroad experience has been wonderful in so many ways but I have to stay focus on my main purpose of being here which is academic. Sometimes it seems like it’s harder to get in study mode in a different environment. I am learning to focus and study in any type of environment.  I have adjusted to a different academic system. That has not been the easiest but I feel I am managing and my exams will go well. Due to the strike this week is when I will be taking Mid Semester Exams then I will be taking Final Exams in approximately a month. It is definitely official study mode time and focusing on the doing well. This semester I am taking Mechanical Engineering Lab I, Thermodynamics, Strength of Materials, Applied Electricity, and Dynamics. I am aiming for a 4.0 this semester. I know if I can obtain a 4.0 here I can continue to do extremely well at North Carolina A&T.

In the mist of adjusting academically I have been researching ways to be more effective in studying and preparing for exams. Sometimes I catch myself studying but I question how effective am I? I am aiming to get the max out of my study time. I had the feeling that I had freshmen year when I took my first exams of just not knowing what to expect. On Tuesday, I took my first Mid Semester Exam for Strength of Materials and it went very well. The exam took place in the Lecturer Theatre with approximately 125 students. I was given script paper and the actual exam. On the script paper, you are required to give your index number which takes place of your name and that is where space is provided to show work for exams questions. At this university names are not used so all students will be graded equally. The test was approximately an hour. On Thursday at 6am, I took my second exam which was a little intense. After leaving I felt, I needed to study some more for that class in a different way. I am looking forward to the final exam of this class to well. Tomorrow I am taking my last exam of the week for Basic Mechanics. It has been interesting week full of preparing for exams.

On Wednesday, I had an experience of a life time. Some classmates of mine invited me to a mid-week church service. The church service started at 7pm which took place in a residential hall dining room. It was a nice service and I was enjoying it but in the mist of it the lights went out. My first thought was they were going to pray and dismiss service because the electricity was out on campus. Well as the lights went out students obtained candles and placed them on the floor lit and service continued for the remaining time it was scheduled. I was flattered to see how students dealt with the lights going out and continued to praise god in the mist of it all. Once service was over, I headed to my room walking in the pit black.  I was very tired and had a lot of homework but was unable to do it because of the lights going out. With that said I went to sleep for time to pass and hoping for the lights to come back on. I woke up approximately every 3 hours to check to see if the lights were on. Throughout the night they never came on and at 6am when the sun came up it was not bright of enough to see to do homework. With that said I went for my morning run and let more time pass to for the sun to be bright enough to study. When I got back to my room from running the lights were finally on.

I feel that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel towards going home. I have less than 7 weeks and I know the time is going to go fast. I am excited about Christmas, snow, my family, friends, and American food. Great grades lead to a Great Christmas. This is always a goal for me to accomplish every fall semester. It make the holidays that more specials when you can relax knowing you did well in school.

It has been another week of interesting events and I am looking forward to what next week has in store.