week one

So a intense but wonderful week has passed in Ghana. We arrived to Cape Coast just in time for the Fetu Afahye Festival, which means we’ve experienced way more of the Ghanian culture than I thought we would have by now. 

There’s around 30 of us studying Global Environmental Management. 30 individuals from different parts of Scandinavia and Ghana, with very different backgrounds, both academically and personally. Some’s been studying for years while others been working or traveling. 

We spent the first week at the study centre at beautiful Brenu beach just getting to know each other and getting to know Ghana. There’s been information on tropical diseases, how to do the special Ghanian handshake and also today we had our first environmental lecture with Mr. Esia-Donkoh. There’s been a lot of interesting discussions already.

On friday we had our welcome party and I think everyone was kind of surprised the way it turned out. I didn’t really know what to expect when we left in the bus from Nana Bema (where we live) but I sure did not expect that we all would end up dancing at a Gas station with hundreds and hundreds of locals for hours. It was amazing. Although I wish we would have had tonights dance lesson before the party… I’ve realised Sweden is far behind Ghana when it comes to rhythm and moving..

Due to late night dancing we were all kind of tired on Saturday and mostly enjoyed the festival in town, watching the parade with the chiefs of the surrounding communities and all the beautiful costumes. A few people went out dancing on Saturday too but I went to bed really early since a few of us were leaving to Busua, a beach town about two hours from Cape Coast, at four in the morning to still our surf abstinence. It was all one big adventure, jungle trekking, lots of surfing, slack lining, eating 1000 bananas and playing around on the beach with the local kids. We’ll probably end up going there as often as we can. It was just one of those days that were absolutely perfect. Actually, most days has been like that since we arrived here. It’s just those small things or moments that has made me fall in love with this place. Like the fact that I already have this amazing lady at the market from who I buy all my fruit, or the fact that there’s music playing everywhere, leading to people dancing everywhere. Cape Coast is such a beautiful, colourful and alive city, as well as it feels like everyone know and appreciate one another. 

I think we’re all very happy calling this our home for the next few months. I can’t freaking wait. 

Simple things

It's those simple things. Like waking up reading that text from a friend on the other side of the globe asking about boys and inviting you to stay with her until you get sorted if moving there. Those simple things. Makes my day.

Oh. And I'm moving to Ghana on Friday. Messy, yes. Beautiful, oh yes. 

kärleken

The mother we share

Sometimes you meet people that will be stuck in your mind forever just because you learned so much from them or because you shared something so special that no time can ever take it away from you.

Sometimes when I think about certain moments from my travels I almost feel embarrassed. Not embarrassed maybe, more like I'm blushing and I get a little bit nervous and there's a thousand butterflies in my stomach. Just because those moments are so damn beautiful and so damn cheesy-movie-alike that I don't know what to do with myself.

Sometimes it's about a lover, sometimes it's when you realise that this human being will be your sister and best friend for the rest of your life. Sometimes it's about when you have that experience of acceptance with a local family and your soul feels fulfilled. Sometimes it's a swim under the full moon and sometimes it's someone reading poetry in the middle of the day.

When you look back on it it's so overwhelming. And then you realise that there's even more to come and suddenly it feels like your blood is floating on the outside of your body and it's filled with so much oxygen it turns in to a shade of red you've never seen before.

Between oceans

It might seem like I've got it all under control. Every next step planned, my shit sorted out. But to be honest everything is fucking chaos. It's just spontanious decisions reflected of my constant need of not getting stuck. My need of moving. Not moving as in being on the run every single day. Just moving my soul to different places and moving bits of my heart into other peoples hearts. That might sound a bit messy.

But everything is a mess. It's my beautiful mess. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Always alright

SO FREAKIN GOOD
makes me wanna dance down the street

Sahara

Small things

When I was in India this spring I spent a week on Havelock, one of the Andaman Islands. We were a group of different individuals that all stayed in the same hostel. There were the three israeli best friends traveling India together for the second time with their new best friend (a young swiss guy). There was Boris, the crazy french chef with dreadlocks down to his hips, there were the finnish skateboardrampdesigner Ilari and his english friend. There was the older dutch woman who had sold everything and now traveled the whole world. There were Naama and Maor, the israeli newly weds that spent their honeymoon on shitty hostels in India (amazing!!!). We used to spend the days beach hunting or swimming. Boris cooked us pasta for dinner and Naama and I would sit up talking all night.

The whole point of this short story is that when I said goodbye to Naama she wrote her name in my journal, and accidently spelled it wrong. I've been trying to find her on facebook or online, without result. A few days ago I gave it one last shot and then, seven months later, I found her little profile. Talking to her and Maor and them telling me to come to Israel and stay with them for a while just breaks my heart. Because sometimes that's what it is all about. Hanging out with people for a super short time and then ending up with friends all over the world for the rest of your life. 

I know that I have a home in Israel. Probably several in Australia and a bunch in America or Canada. It wouldn't be hard to find a couch in the UK, Switzerland, New Zeeland, Germany or India. And I am so grateful for that. You can all come and stay in my bedroom in Mariefred too. Whenever you want.

Maor and Naama

Timshel

It feels like the only time I write something in this blog is when I'm on my way to a new adventure. I leave in a month. Heading back to Lombok and back to the surf. It's gonna be amazing to meet all the champs over there again. And the surroundings and the village and the ocean. Three weeks and then I'm on my way. 

It feels a bit different this time, like it always does. Last year when I left Sweden I felt like I knew what was coming and I knew what I could expect. I was so excited and I had the time of my life. I learned a lot. Most importantly I learned that you don't always, all the time, constantly have to be excited and oon top of the world when you're traveling. It's ok not always to be the happiest person on earth and it's ok to hate being on the road. And I think that's why it feels different this time. I know that I'm going to meet amazing people and create a lot of good stories. But I also know that during those days that I don't write history with someone else I can do it by myself and the page can be empty at the end of the day. It feels like I'm more excited about going to quiet places on my own than I've been before. I want to meet and talk more to the locals. I want to see that rock in Sri Lanka and I want to sit on that bumpy bus with my headphones on listening to a lifechanging tune. I want to do yoga in the sunset and I want to surf during sunrise. But don't get me wrong.. I'm still gonna dance my feet of for a week without a break and I'm still gonna stay in Hikkaduwa for as long as I want. Just because I can. FREEDOM my friends. Freedom.

Quiet company

it takes an ocean not to break