On March 7-17th, I traveled to Ghana as part of Shenandoah University’s Global Citizenship Project with a team of thirteen other faculty, staff, and students. We spent eight days traveling throughout the southern region of the country visiting the major cities of Accra and Kumasi, in addition to rural areas and national landmarks. Out of all the incredible experiences I had in the country, one sticks out the most. Before I begin my story, it is important to know that I have tried and failed many times to share that day and all the events and details that shaped it. There is no way to fully capture the impact it has had on my life, and I have struggled with the decision that has always faced history: what are the most important pieces?
Ghana was at one time the biggest export of slaves in the world, and there are castles up and down the coast that remind us of those dark times. Half way through the trip, our group visited one of those places: Elmina Castle. The castle was home to the governor and was the holding place for hundreds of slaves at a time. The governor’s bedchamber was connected to the female dungeons and across the courtyard and past the church were the male dungeons. After all these years I could still smell the stench left by thousands of close bodies living in a dark, one window cell. You could see the inhuman conditions left as stains on the walls, and sense the presences of the people who suffered within the walls of this castle. No exhibits were necessary in this museum. After we spent the afternoon in silence reflecting on the past, we were brought back to meet with Elmina Dance Ensemble who rehearses in the castle.
The atmosphere was drastically changed in a matter of seconds. They begun by dancing for us, and as a dance major I felt my heart breaking down, as these people began to share their heritage with us, celebrating life in a way we all knew that those who passed before them could not. After performing two very different pieces, the ensemble invited all of us to learn some basic vocabulary. We moved together in a circle, and I felt a sense of community and healing as they encouraged us to jump in and let loose in the movement. That exchange in itself would have been enough for me to see the castle differently, but it went one step farther. I was asked to dance.
They said, “no one has ever danced for us before.” As I sat on the cobblestone tying my pointe shoes, I tried not to panic as I became overwhelmed with different thoughts and emotions. I wanted to make amends for all the horrible things that had happened within those walls. I felt so inadequate, because I knew that was impossible, but at the same time I felt so blessed to be given this opportunity. It was the most unlikely place I ever thought I would dance. I began by teaching the basics of ballet to the eager dance ensemble who absorbed everything like a sponge, trying desperately to get this foreign technique to resonate in their bodies. After a few minutes, I couldn’t stall any longer, and they asked me to dance. As the drummers began to play on their djembes, all of my anxiety melted away, and I was filled with sheer joy as I saw the looks on the faces around me. I was so amazed that this group of people could find life in one of the darkest places in history. When I finished I saw that the audience of thirty had grown. There were children in their school uniforms sitting on the roof of the castle, and the doorways were flooded with people who had come in from the streets curious to see what was happening. I then took off my pointe shoes, and handed them to one of the ensemble members, who immediately put them on, and demanded I teach her how to tie them. I’ll never forget the look on her face as she took her first steps on pointe. The exchange was complete; I had given everything I had.
Dancing in a slave castle in Africa seemed the most unlikely place I would ever dance, yet it would provide the stage for the most satisfying and rewarding performance of my life. I left that day knowing that if I never danced again I would still consider my dancing career a success.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Hello all! It been a while since the last time I was on here, sorry I'm busy and forgetfull. Anywho, since last time I have been keeping busy and doing some traveling.
More below the fold..
I started my independent study on health care about 2 weeks ago. I have been meeting with the director of the best hospital in all of Africa. It is a non-profit hospital that has most of the latest equipment and is fairly well staffed. The director was sure to show me all the American equpiment that they have in the hospital. They are all very proud of their hospital, and rightfully so. The hospital is very much like the average American hospital, which made me relize how spoiled/lucky we are and how lacking health care is here. The director was espically proud that in this hopsital they have two doctors that are at the hopsital 24 hrs a day and they have a small nursing staff that is also there 24 hrs a day. He said that in most hospitals in Morocco after hours the housekeeping staff and lay people care for the patients! For that matter housekeeping and lay people usually care for the sick in most hospitals around the clock, and they have nurses and doctors that visit occasionally! I was pretty shocked!! I have met with the director twice and he is answering all my question I have. He also said he would be putting me in contact with the director of a public hospital and some clinics so that I can visit them as well. I'm looking foward to seeing the care that the majority of Moroccans have access to.
This past weekend was the first group trip. We traveled to Meknes, Fes, and Volubiis. Friday it was rainy and cold, but Meknes is a pretty cool city. We visited the Madrasa (Islamic school), several other religious places. We visited the old prision/dugon in the center of the city. The prison is a huge room underground with very little light and it was chilly down there. Pretty creepy all together. The country side between Meknes and Fez was beautiful (even with the rain.) In Fes we visited all the big attractions, a madrasa, the saint's shrine (the door, we couldnt go in), the different suqs (markets) and a palace. The afternoon we had free, I deided to explore the madina some more. It is very different from the medina of Rabat. It is much busier, larger and has lots of donkeys! On Sunday we went to Volubiis, which is a Roman ruin. It was beautiful. The rules and protection of the ruins were a bit lacking, which ment that we could walk in the ruins and touch (other than the mosaics) the ruins. It was quite the feeling to know that you were exactly in the same spot looking at the same things that people looked at and built thousands of years eariler.
Yesterday I started teaching English. It was an adventure. My class was a group if 17. All were male except one. They knew more english than I anticipated. It was interesting, and it went well over all I think. Its a challenge.
My classes are going well, I'm a bit slammed with work currently, its midterms!
Love and best wishes!
More below the fold..
I started my independent study on health care about 2 weeks ago. I have been meeting with the director of the best hospital in all of Africa. It is a non-profit hospital that has most of the latest equipment and is fairly well staffed. The director was sure to show me all the American equpiment that they have in the hospital. They are all very proud of their hospital, and rightfully so. The hospital is very much like the average American hospital, which made me relize how spoiled/lucky we are and how lacking health care is here. The director was espically proud that in this hopsital they have two doctors that are at the hopsital 24 hrs a day and they have a small nursing staff that is also there 24 hrs a day. He said that in most hospitals in Morocco after hours the housekeeping staff and lay people care for the patients! For that matter housekeeping and lay people usually care for the sick in most hospitals around the clock, and they have nurses and doctors that visit occasionally! I was pretty shocked!! I have met with the director twice and he is answering all my question I have. He also said he would be putting me in contact with the director of a public hospital and some clinics so that I can visit them as well. I'm looking foward to seeing the care that the majority of Moroccans have access to.
This past weekend was the first group trip. We traveled to Meknes, Fes, and Volubiis. Friday it was rainy and cold, but Meknes is a pretty cool city. We visited the Madrasa (Islamic school), several other religious places. We visited the old prision/dugon in the center of the city. The prison is a huge room underground with very little light and it was chilly down there. Pretty creepy all together. The country side between Meknes and Fez was beautiful (even with the rain.) In Fes we visited all the big attractions, a madrasa, the saint's shrine (the door, we couldnt go in), the different suqs (markets) and a palace. The afternoon we had free, I deided to explore the madina some more. It is very different from the medina of Rabat. It is much busier, larger and has lots of donkeys! On Sunday we went to Volubiis, which is a Roman ruin. It was beautiful. The rules and protection of the ruins were a bit lacking, which ment that we could walk in the ruins and touch (other than the mosaics) the ruins. It was quite the feeling to know that you were exactly in the same spot looking at the same things that people looked at and built thousands of years eariler.
Yesterday I started teaching English. It was an adventure. My class was a group if 17. All were male except one. They knew more english than I anticipated. It was interesting, and it went well over all I think. Its a challenge.
My classes are going well, I'm a bit slammed with work currently, its midterms!
Love and best wishes!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Jennifer in Jordan....and Damascus
Hello, here's some pics from Damascus and Jordan and the Dead Sea. This blog and the next few were meant to be all in one entry but it didn't quite all fit. So the next few entries go together. I hope you enjoy the update. 
Hello everyone from Jordan!
Yeah, so we had our first break this semester and some of the students in my class were talking about going to Syria. I was really hesitant to go on this trip because, being an American, it can (and did) take several hours at the border to get a visa. I decided to go since I would not be the only American holding up the group...and it did take four hours! We took a servicee taxi there for about $30 per person and we stayed at this amazing hotel call Al Rabie. The doorway to the hotel was located in a narrow, dirty alley, but the inside opened up into a gorgeous courtyard (see the pics below) with the rooms surrounding the courtyard. You would never know how fantastic this hotel is unless you actually walked into the place. This is how much of Damascus was. The hotel, the restaurants, and the shops...they are all very uninviting from outside and absolutely amazing on the inside. Each place is its own little "best kept secret"!
Like everywhere else, Damascus has its poverty, which can be seen widespread in the streets. The market place sells questionable fruits and veggies, but the atmosphere is exciting. The people are trying hard to make a living competing against a multitude of other venders selling (or trying to sell) similar products. I definitely felt like more of a foreigner in Syria than here in Amman, Jordan. The people in Syria, especially the children, seemed so interested in us. Because they were on holiday from school, as were we, many groups of young boys were out in the market area and in the streets having a good time. There were several boys who came up to us and asked if we spoke English, only to mock us when we replied. A few of the boys were anxious to have their opportunity to speak to us and practice their English. We were invited to be in photographs and offered handshakes and verbal pleasantries. In some cases, the merchants found us to be an opportunity to make a little bit of extra money for the day. Unfortunately for them, I've learned to negotiate...or at least I think I have :)
Our trip to Syria was a quick two-day turn-around, which I was glad about. I didn't realize how beautiful Amman really is until I was on my way back "home". I suppose that's true with any trip.
I was concerned to hear about the two American journalists who went missing in Lebanon. Someone in my class knows them. Hearing about that hit a little too close to home for comfort, but I'm glad to hear that they have returned back home safely.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Message from Tammy Marco - GCP participant 2008
Tracy,
I first want to say congratulations and I am looking forward to the future of Shenandoah University as you begin your journey as Shenandoah University President. What an awesome accomplishment!
I would like to give you a little history about myself. I have lived in the Winchester area for most of my life. My family is and remains my main focus. Being from a rural area, working and raising a family was my main objective. Traveling has always been a passion of mine and I have always hoped that I would have the opportunity to pursue more traveling after my children were grown. So, after hearing about GCP and all the interesting places I could go, I took a chance and applied for GCP. I was selected by the GCP committee last spring 2008 to travel to India.
The India trip was my first experience abroad and words cannot express how much I enjoyed my trip, the experiences that I was involved in, the open discussions and the opportunity to travel abroad with Sapna Gupta (faculty leader), Bipin Patel, Dr. Davis, students and staff. My experience to India was one to remember, full of mystery, excitement, enthusiasm and many members of our India group still find time to meet and get together occasionally for a dinner and catch up and discuss our experiences.
Since my GCP trip in 2008, I have had the opportunity to host two beautiful young ladies Junna (Nursing Major) and Mitsuki (OT Major) from Japan as part of a culture experience with the Tamano Group via Global Community and Outreach in the Cross Cultural Center over the summer. What a great experience for me to be able to show two young ladies how living in the USA and especially the Shenandoah Valley can be. We toured Winchester, talked about culture differences (the best we could due to the language barrier), laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. Junna and Mitsuki are ready to come back to the states after they graduate to work in the USA. (I still keep in contact with them via email and the popular Facebook.com. I am their USA mom J) Junna and Mitsuki will always be welcomed in my home. The GCP program gave me the opportunity to see another culture in action, opened my mind to think ‘outside the box’ and extended my culture experience here at Shenandoah University.
I am a big supporter of the GCP project and have encouraged everyone in my department to submit an essay for 2009 GCP. The “Ask Me About GCP” badge that was provided by the GCP Office to promote this program for 2009 was worn with pride!
I am currently involved in the 2009 GCP task group and selection committee for this year. I hope to give my tips/ideas as a first time traveler overseas to the committee and provide them insight on my personal experiences.
I hope future GCP trips are as successful as my trip to India, and that each participant can bring back a piece of what God sent them there to find. I came back more humbled, with a stronger faith, with new friends, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you.
Tammy Marco
I first want to say congratulations and I am looking forward to the future of Shenandoah University as you begin your journey as Shenandoah University President. What an awesome accomplishment!
I would like to give you a little history about myself. I have lived in the Winchester area for most of my life. My family is and remains my main focus. Being from a rural area, working and raising a family was my main objective. Traveling has always been a passion of mine and I have always hoped that I would have the opportunity to pursue more traveling after my children were grown. So, after hearing about GCP and all the interesting places I could go, I took a chance and applied for GCP. I was selected by the GCP committee last spring 2008 to travel to India.
The India trip was my first experience abroad and words cannot express how much I enjoyed my trip, the experiences that I was involved in, the open discussions and the opportunity to travel abroad with Sapna Gupta (faculty leader), Bipin Patel, Dr. Davis, students and staff. My experience to India was one to remember, full of mystery, excitement, enthusiasm and many members of our India group still find time to meet and get together occasionally for a dinner and catch up and discuss our experiences.
Since my GCP trip in 2008, I have had the opportunity to host two beautiful young ladies Junna (Nursing Major) and Mitsuki (OT Major) from Japan as part of a culture experience with the Tamano Group via Global Community and Outreach in the Cross Cultural Center over the summer. What a great experience for me to be able to show two young ladies how living in the USA and especially the Shenandoah Valley can be. We toured Winchester, talked about culture differences (the best we could due to the language barrier), laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. Junna and Mitsuki are ready to come back to the states after they graduate to work in the USA. (I still keep in contact with them via email and the popular Facebook.com. I am their USA mom J) Junna and Mitsuki will always be welcomed in my home. The GCP program gave me the opportunity to see another culture in action, opened my mind to think ‘outside the box’ and extended my culture experience here at Shenandoah University.
I am a big supporter of the GCP project and have encouraged everyone in my department to submit an essay for 2009 GCP. The “Ask Me About GCP” badge that was provided by the GCP Office to promote this program for 2009 was worn with pride!
I am currently involved in the 2009 GCP task group and selection committee for this year. I hope to give my tips/ideas as a first time traveler overseas to the committee and provide them insight on my personal experiences.
I hope future GCP trips are as successful as my trip to India, and that each participant can bring back a piece of what God sent them there to find. I came back more humbled, with a stronger faith, with new friends, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you.
Tammy Marco
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)