So I woke up this morning still not sure what our "Obama experience" was going to be like, if it even was going to happen. We were supposed to be at the Peace Corps Training office by 8:30, "Leaving no later than 9" which sounded crazy late to me especially with how late everything runs here. By 9:30 we still hadn't left and I thought we're cutting it pretty close to be in Accra by 12. After a few hours we reached the Greater Accra area and shortly after, the traffic started. People were selling Obama newspapers, American flags with his face on them, and Obama T-shirts. There were "Akwaaba Obama!" billboards, "Change is here!" billboards with Obama and the Ghanaian president Atta Mills, and an array of Obama paraphernalia everywhere. People had Obama wax print fabric made into dresses, shirts, and trousers.
Obama/Mills Billboard
It really opens your eyes to "the other side". On TV you hear "Obama is visiting XYZ place today" and you think.. cool.. another speech. But the impact this 'just another stop' this visit has on the country he goes to is amazing. Ghana was transformed and vibrant with energy in anticipation.
Accra had several main arterial roads closed and we had to take alternate routes. Finally somehow we got onto one of those roads with our peace corps van (and one shady red one in the middle which looked NOTHING like an official vehicle.. but we couldn't all fit into the 2 vans w logos) and Express Lane! Until we reached the next barrier. The police at this stop were not moving. "Road's Closed". Next question. When a camouflage painted pickup truck with "military patrol" painted on the side was turned away I figured we were screwed for sure. But we just sat, waited (this is Ghana, after all), and all of a sudden cheers were heard. The guard lifted the barricade, and we continued on towards the PC office in Accra.
Police Officer Reluctantly Moving the Barricade
When we got there we were given our tickets (after we showed our Peace Corps IDs). Two people didnt have their proper IDs (to tell the truth, I almost forgot mine, it wasnt explicitly clear we needed them) and so they didnt get tickets. They sadly accepted they werent going, and sat down. Whoooaaaah buddy. Better people than me. To put it lightly, I would have exchanged words with some people if I wasnt allowed to go when ALL the materials needed to make me another Peace Corps ID were in THAT SAME BUILDING.
Anyways... We had a quick lunch and were shuttled in our busses to the US Embassy. From there we got in line, I got yelled at for taking a picture of the embassy logo, and we got on board an embassy shuttle to the airport. When we arrived a secret service agent came on board our bus to let us know that Obama was late coming from Cape Coast, so just chill, in the AC bus and we'll go soon enough.
A few hours later we walked up to the side airport entrance (with about 3,000 other people) as I feared by the generic looking tickets before, this was looking to be a huge all-call full of random people. Whatever, at least we'll see Obama. It'll be fun... We waited in the huge mass of people, and all of a sudden some Ghana Police Officers stood shoulder to shoulder making a human wall cutting a hallway into the crowd, coming out from the gate entrance. Kevin (a PCT who had been passed the message) shouted "Peace Corps, Left Side!" and wow the express lane really started flowing. We went through that line to the Disney style security checkpoint. Cleared. Good to go. A white house aide looked at my ticket and said "ok, ahead and to the right"
wait.. my ticket is different than all the other people we walked by with tickets?.... ok... ahead.... now walk to the right....
HOLY. SHIT.
My "Holy Shit" Face
Air Force One
Air Force One. Wow.
This is amazing! No way... is THAT the podium he's going to talk at??
The Podiums - Madd Close
We're seriously 50 feet away! Wow. I cant believe how close we are. Behind us is the general crowd, our inner circle for Ghanaian dignitaries, Peace Corps, and invited US citizens was amazing. The precision of American methodology is noteworthy: there was a guy who hand wiped down the hand-rail leading up the stairs to the door of Air Force One. Another guy who I designated "seal-dude" walked up and placed the seal of the United States on the podium Obama was to speak at. Everyone had assigned jobs, no matter how simple, and they all calmly did it in a planned, orderly fashion. Maybe it's coming from the constant chaos (although functional chaos) of Ghana that this seems refreshing to me.
A lot of sitting, waiting and boiling anticipation. The americans in the inner circle took pictures. The ghanaians in the general admission around us swayed as a crowd and sang and danced Obama songs, while waving their mini-flags.
After about 2 hours 2 massive helicopters approached and landed a ways away. Some drummers and dancers placed themselves on the red carpet and the presidential precession rolled up.
Obama Landing
The star of the hour got out, his smile carrying with no loss of quality the quarter mile back to where we were. He greeted the Ghanaian politicians and got onstage with President Mills. People all lost their effin minds. It took a few minutes to quiet the crowd. It's hard to say what had a stronger impact, his charismatic smile, or the deep knowing gaze as he looked over the crowd. Like any intelligent leader the transformation of his face from care-free pure smile, to knowing and deep penetrating thought, is as clear as night and day.
Calmly Commanding Attention
He began his speech by thanking president Mills and only about 45 second in he said "And I want to recognize all the Peace Corps Volunteers here" (Cueue loss of mind in joy.) I think he tossed us props like 4 times. "To all the Peace Corps people here, I just wanna say you're doing an excellent job."
He gave a short speech about Peace Corps, Ghana, it's past and it's future, and the US's job in all 3. When he was done both Commander In Chiefs stood for the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless Our Homeland Ghana. I thought it was over and before I knew where he was, he was coming around shaking hands! I'm usually pretty cool and collected about celebrities or political figures but seriously, I got struck with that Obama Fever.
HandShakes
I seriously looked like a 13 year old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert. Jumping up and down; he had to tell my section to not push the barricade (or each other). He shook the hand of someone in front of me and I touched his sleeve as he passed. Michelle came next and I shook her hand.
So freaking cool. They both said goodbye, got into Air Force One and we watched them take off. Unbelievable. I went from expecting us to be overlooked, to VIP 50 ft and then arms length away from the most powerful man in the world.
Oh and yes, ladies, he is even more handsome in person.
Me and Julie Celebrating
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