Introduction

Instead of packing, I decided to start my blog. Not particularly smart, but I'm a procrastinator, what can I say?

So.

My name is Ruth, I'm a rising sophomore attending Yale University, and I'm leaving for Ghana on Monday, where I'll be working at 2 (or 3) NGOs.

Why Ghana?

My family is originally from there. I was born in Israel, though I've spent nearly all my life in the U.S. I've been back to Ghana twice: in 2001 when I was 9, and 2007, when I was 15. Both times, I traveled with my family, spending 3 weeks visiting countless relatives--aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins twice removed, etc. They were both whirlwind experiences, filled with so many new and unknown things, yet it all seemed oddly familiar. I came back to the States, both times, changed a little bit.

This time will be different, though.

I'll be spending 2 full months there for the primary purpose of my internships, but I'll visit relatives on the side. Probably the most significant difference (for me, at least) is that this will be my first solo trip. EVER. (Well, I've flown to England without my parents, but it was with a group, so that doesn't count.) This brings with it both excitement and anxiety, but it's one of the things that I feel I must do to "grow up."

At school, I feel there's this need, almost expectation, to do something great with your summers. That, coupled with my intense need to get out of my hometown (I love you New Haven, but you know: distance makes the heart grow fonder...). I started bouncing ideas off my cousin (hey Tony!), and he suggested going back to Ghana. I emailed one of many uncles, and after much back-and-forth, he was able to find me positions with a couple of organizations based in Tamale, not only the city in which I'll be staying with him and his family, but also, the "NGO capital of Ghana."

A little background: I took a class in African history last semester that really sparked my interest in the whole field of economic development. One of the questions the class dealt with was why, on average, African countries are poorer than their counterparts. Learning about colonialism and the politics and economics of nations in the post-independence era provided some pieces to the puzzle, but not all of it. During my 8 weeks in Ghana, I hope to witness firsthand what exactly is being done to lift African countries out of their seemingly persistent poverty.

Yup.

You may (understandably) scratch your head at the title of my blog. To say mangoes are my favorite fruit is an understatement. I could go on about my love for that oh-so-juicy fruit--but I won't. I encountered the biggest mango I'd ever seen in my life when I visited Ghana 3 years ago:



Aaaand for a size comparison:


Here's to hoping there'll be many more huge mangoes in my future.

Next time I write, I'll be in Accra, 5000 miles across the Atlantic!