In Western African culture, symbols known as adinkra adorn everything from weavings to clothing. These icons are related to proverbial ideas, and, said Bethel Park teacher Charles Youngs, there's one that's a perfect reflection of life in the Republic of Ghana.

"It's kind of a goose, a bird called a sankofa," said Mr. Youngs, who heads the English department at the high school.

"It's walking forward, but its beak is facing backward, as if it's looking back," he said. It's "symbolic of moving forward, but taking things from your past."

Mr. Youngs and two other district teachers, Neil Armstrong Middle School gifted instructor Lisa Machado and first-grade Franklin Elementary instructor Cheryl Wagner, returned home after spending most of July in Ghana on a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad trip arranged by the University of Pittsburgh.

Fourteen travelers, mostly educators, went to Ghana to immerse themselves in the culture of a country that gained independence about 50 years ago. Unlike many areas of Africa, Ghana enjoys political stability.

Panafest, a celebration of the country's emancipation and cultural heritage, is held every other year in July and August. The Pittsburgh group was there for the event.

"I was seated four seats away from these kings, these traditional kings, and right behind the former secretary of the department of education," Mr. Youngs said.

"It was a thrill to be so close ... the tribal chiefs are in charge of handling justice and legislation and governance in their districts. I think that's why Ghanaians are so proud of their democracy; their neighbors are having such turmoil."

It was also coincidence that during their trip, President Barck Obama visited Ghana: "In the markets, you could say you were 'from Obama's country,' " he added.

Mr. Youngs includes two works about Africa in his AP class for seniors: Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" and Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness."

"The visits to the rainforest and the slave dungeons gave me great appreciation for Conrad's ability to describe the oppressive density of the forest and the Europeans' unfamiliarity with the complex, rich African civilization," Mr. Youngs said.

And, "I saw the importance of proverbial wisdom to West African life and that is woven into Achebe's style. Maxims are ubiquitously evident in Ghanaian speech, adinkra textile patterns, taxi driver mottoes [emblazoned on their cars' windshields], company names and songs," he said.

Miss Machado said she hopes to integrate what she's learned from the trip into the social studies aspect of her teaching.

"I wanted to know pre-colonial Africa," she said. "It concerns me that American students don't meet an African [in textbooks] until he's the possession of someone."

The modern-day lifestyle in Ghana's urban areas, she said, came as a welcome surprise.

"Life is lived on the doorstep, in the front yard," Miss Machado said. "Everyone is included, and that feels really good. They were just as accepting and welcoming to us, even though we were outsiders. It was cool; there was a real sense of belonging for everyone."

Through tours and lectures -- which included visits to rainforest and waterfalls, universities and grade schools as well as the homes of residents -- the group experienced the gamut of everyday life in the region.

Ms. Wagner said she hoped to pass along her experiences to her first-graders through various means, but most likely through the social studies portion of her teaching.

"It's first grade, so I'm about as broad-based as it gets," she said, laughing.

She cited a trip to the rainforest as a highlight, and certainly stories of waterfalls and walking along rope bridges with tiny wooden slats underfoot will grab the attention of any 6-year-old.

"The waterfall was spectacular," Ms. Wagner said, noting that the group gathered at the bottom of the falls, where some guests ventured underneath the roaring downpour.

"And the rainforest, it was almost like a sanctuary."

The three said one of the most lasting impressions was the general friendliness and sense of community among the Ghanaians.

"There is a cultural imperative to say good morning or good afternoon to everyone walking down the streets," Mr. Youngs said. "Even though we were obvious visitors."