tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79477558679277226802024-02-21T01:13:41.518-08:00Life is GoodUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-83549876378432828682008-07-15T07:20:00.000-07:002008-07-15T07:23:11.279-07:00I'm ghana miss GhanaThis will be my last post here from Africa! I officially board my plane back to the US tomorrow evening. I can't believe the time has finally come for me to leave but this past month has truly been wonderful.<br /><br />Working with New Seed International was so different from my experience this semester, I think that's why I appreciate it so much. Ho is an absolutely beautiful city, and I would wake up each morning looking out to an almost jungle like scene. It rains about everyday so everything there is so green and lush. The work I've been doing just knocks me off my feet as well. I have to double check on reality now and then because it seems all so unreal. My time was split up either doing HIV/AIDS education programs, or doing home visits to New Seeds clients/patients.<br />For the HIV education programs, we would go to places where they sew and makes dresses or do hair and ask if we could come back and talk to the workers about HIV and AIDS. These are the places where most young girls work, and they are our main target group. It also helps that these shops are everywhere around town, so there is always plenty of people to go talk to. Almost all of them said yes to us coming back and I was surprised at how open they were. It's cool because young women are the ones most affected by the disease, and we're trying to nip it in the bud with education. So, the rest of the time we went back to these places, gave the talks and it was amazing. It was so great because we were just talking to these girls, they were asking questions, and I can only hope that they came out that much more empowered and knowledgeable about the disease and that their future is in their hands- which is so true. All in all I really enjoyed this aspect of it.<br /><br />The other part, doing home visits to the clients of New Seed, was a bit more difficult because most of the people we go to visit are in stage 5 of the disease and now have AIDS. A lot of them were dying and it's just difficult to know that there isn't anything you can do, just pray for as little pain and as much happiness as they can have. Also, the way people are cared for others here sometimes is not the way I would (it's just not very personal) and is hard on the heart. But a good friend reminded me that yes this disease is huge, but God is even bigger and that's what we have to focus on. And in total it has been such a learning and growing time for me and I have loved every minute. I just feel so fortunate for being able to have come here in the first place, and that the people here have been so welcoming.<br /><br />It's going to be bittersweet coming back home but I know that this is the time to come home. Of course I'll be sad but one of my sister's told me today that all good things have their time and all sad things have their time- so as this good things comes to an end, and I may be sad for a bit, it will soon be taken over by another good thing.<br /><br />So here's to friends and family, no matter what they look like, or where they may be in the world. I am thankful once again for you all and hope I can see many of your beautiful faces soon. Take care and hope you are well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-91889857688999632272008-06-20T10:20:00.000-07:002008-06-20T10:22:16.184-07:00Ho, here I come :)Sorry, no pics. Just the written word, haha.<br />This week has been the beginning to my time here in Ho. After all the people on my program left this past weekend, I was left to pack and regroup myself for this next leg. It was wonderful to get to spend some quality time with my family after havinghad to study so much the past couple weeks. Yes, school is finally over and I hated so much to see everybody go, but all in all my semester was incredible and unforgettable.<br />Before coming to Ho, a couple weeks ago I was informed that I would be living with another volunteer, and to my surprise it was one of my best friends growing up in Seattle, Ally. I couldn't believe and it has been one of the biggest blessings having her here. She flew in on Monday but one of her bags didn't make it so she was able to recooperate from the trip for a couple days and then we headed to Ho and Wednesday. It has been great to have her here not only just because I love her, but she is a breath of fresh air. She sees Ghana with fresh, admiring eyes, and has helped me snap out of some of things I get frustrated with here. So all in all, our first couple days here have been awesome.<br />We live with a couple and there 5 year old son and each have a bed. It is apartment style housing, or what they call 'flats'. We took a tro-tro here and were met by the man in charge, Livinus. He is so wonderful and we soon met all three of his adorable kids. He showed us around town and we went to the clinic of New Seed International, as well, where I'll be spending some of my time. Ho is a lot different from Legon/Accra because it is a medium sized city/town in surrounded by a gorgeous hillside on one side and flowing jungle'esque-type surroundings on the other. It is so beautiful here, a lot less city lights, and not as many people.<br />On Thursday, we went to the New Seed office, but then were able to attend this workshop/conference at the hospital dealing with HIV/AIDS in the media. It was a great way to get more information on HIV so can be more knowledgable, and it was also interesting to see the way Ghanians discuss and deal in regards to the disease. My mind was on sensory overload, let's just say. But then that evening, a volunteer who had been there for a couple weeks was leaving the next day so we had a little dinner gathering by a volunteer house near the clinic and met a lot of kids around the area, played, danced and ate. It was so much fun and again, everyone is just about as kinds and generous as can be. Today we were at the hospital, where New Seed hosts discussion groups for HIV and AIDS in the community, as well as gives out food supplements and antiretroviral treatments. We were able to sit in and listen to the discussion (at least the bit in English) and talk to some of the people. The rest of the day has been pretty relaxed, and Ally and I are just exploring the town and happened to the internet.<br />We are going to be able to attend a wedding tomorrow, of one of the doctors at the hospital, with Livinus and other staff tomorrow. I look forward to all that will hold and I here church on Sunday is a whole other ball game in itself. We shall see.<br />I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their summers. Take care.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-9253325799734768152008-06-16T03:46:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:08:44.130-08:00The Rest of Egypt...<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Once again, sorry these are all jumbled!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzZvl3VYMLuG72Twa69-k-5jxEd1p8zL0eKjl7cHEQZLRj8H1atBmqXQ3h2g9YV0dYVHLSGOoABCNGWTgulPmVl8BrJ8Jd7CvSsjJEI3nXwfAXw2yMQSpOta7eRGIuxHf6cc_TQNyOXUl/s1600-h/IMG_1557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzZvl3VYMLuG72Twa69-k-5jxEd1p8zL0eKjl7cHEQZLRj8H1atBmqXQ3h2g9YV0dYVHLSGOoABCNGWTgulPmVl8BrJ8Jd7CvSsjJEI3nXwfAXw2yMQSpOta7eRGIuxHf6cc_TQNyOXUl/s400/IMG_1557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212449075608725826" border="0" /></a>Muhammed Ali's Mosque<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mem_9ETA_9HTTcNjfSPrMk-59P-RocRxxIBNzwwOvLzWow409ZA_GwzH5oHVVXOuijKzaKHsoRo88kOkTQ6Y_7c71vmhifZ5dOUPrtEtwwwX8nihHVtID0_Ya2k_RPAxoKHj0xpmHDkM/s1600-h/IMG_1562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mem_9ETA_9HTTcNjfSPrMk-59P-RocRxxIBNzwwOvLzWow409ZA_GwzH5oHVVXOuijKzaKHsoRo88kOkTQ6Y_7c71vmhifZ5dOUPrtEtwwwX8nihHVtID0_Ya2k_RPAxoKHj0xpmHDkM/s400/IMG_1562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212449141164307410" border="0" /></a>The entrance area to Muhammed's Mosque<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcdhRhOSNUvoYLwJzB5ijy69C2aclCKm8yHTEBDBfbSTJThKXgddNOAZysDMKEx-DwtGW9-E8HIW9bE_DqIlCcmXfpllFw6PNJhOe_agQUQ06j0rD9PA3Pyhh_fdnJD2erv6g81CB9opO/s1600-h/IMG_1114.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcdhRhOSNUvoYLwJzB5ijy69C2aclCKm8yHTEBDBfbSTJThKXgddNOAZysDMKEx-DwtGW9-E8HIW9bE_DqIlCcmXfpllFw6PNJhOe_agQUQ06j0rD9PA3Pyhh_fdnJD2erv6g81CB9opO/s400/IMG_1114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212449153210565794" border="0" /></a>In side the his mosque<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxoZaVvwnr6WravkvFmfXCv2RbxoEMU4Ru9Ssg-NrWNBUQKws4wr_oS4wMcEo5MYeszwu1d74D2N-ecHPViNFWecpbikvnTqi4ob0Mp0qTpT5zsorQowbuEewm6FTe4ec8pHxCvJYmsy7/s1600-h/IMG_1493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxoZaVvwnr6WravkvFmfXCv2RbxoEMU4Ru9Ssg-NrWNBUQKws4wr_oS4wMcEo5MYeszwu1d74D2N-ecHPViNFWecpbikvnTqi4ob0Mp0qTpT5zsorQowbuEewm6FTe4ec8pHxCvJYmsy7/s400/IMG_1493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212444755282510754" border="0" /></a>The new library of Alexander the Great<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE80frDt4Ku-k_wTYrjJBMZB4bZgVTjEau5Wfa1-DaoDeugBdICg1gxG5zG-4JTTgHHAXFRmRKNzcylELjhhdyFcWLq59xPkDF6TEGlYpZvhnaLd1aR2m6vhMdy13SeosbGMUny2h53nkd/s1600-h/IMG_1497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE80frDt4Ku-k_wTYrjJBMZB4bZgVTjEau5Wfa1-DaoDeugBdICg1gxG5zG-4JTTgHHAXFRmRKNzcylELjhhdyFcWLq59xPkDF6TEGlYpZvhnaLd1aR2m6vhMdy13SeosbGMUny2h53nkd/s400/IMG_1497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212444761896231730" border="0" /></a>Side-street in Alexandria<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNQ5X_DYFmFaIhr9Zgcq1c2nkRLuHtrLSepj9TWJyyvYVqOOcDUQQg1jc6Tvw0LFQfhwxjkXFwWpQ-Yc8FScyE8byx071cTAQ5g8_qjXvhmfXdxFN7fj2cPcym7zEdRcUr5nJ1T72Hmiz/s1600-h/IMG_1508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNQ5X_DYFmFaIhr9Zgcq1c2nkRLuHtrLSepj9TWJyyvYVqOOcDUQQg1jc6Tvw0LFQfhwxjkXFwWpQ-Yc8FScyE8byx071cTAQ5g8_qjXvhmfXdxFN7fj2cPcym7zEdRcUr5nJ1T72Hmiz/s400/IMG_1508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212444768874929346" border="0" /></a>The Mediterranean<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jVg43TUeQkeBCIEC0ID9PRezHLkuRZyijn8xLvMbFp_quy9Y-xav1ma-PEm14qOrIigw4YH78aBUs2lTtD77mGsSrWmfveUalDGYfDsXtwZ9mr3NYmQLE-5KpFzJ1mBqhEhOYIo1AZio/s1600-h/IMG_1533.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jVg43TUeQkeBCIEC0ID9PRezHLkuRZyijn8xLvMbFp_quy9Y-xav1ma-PEm14qOrIigw4YH78aBUs2lTtD77mGsSrWmfveUalDGYfDsXtwZ9mr3NYmQLE-5KpFzJ1mBqhEhOYIo1AZio/s400/IMG_1533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212444771106890546" border="0" /></a>One of the mosques in the citadel<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR1gVrPBx2j9Vj2htP26vuqex35N4yKDnf-2bkhvQAxjQxxgivYj977hxfLOy2wlfDJJwi8PLg5vFrcZpxExySAa5bZ5Aw8zS1a5Z0jgwp_YFYPaXbwj0qt6nRFqioFtyQWD71wmCT8el/s1600-h/IMG_1539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR1gVrPBx2j9Vj2htP26vuqex35N4yKDnf-2bkhvQAxjQxxgivYj977hxfLOy2wlfDJJwi8PLg5vFrcZpxExySAa5bZ5Aw8zS1a5Z0jgwp_YFYPaXbwj0qt6nRFqioFtyQWD71wmCT8el/s400/IMG_1539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212444816832150498" border="0" /></a>Once again, the inside area of a mosque- so beautiful<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxK7f1uxP0JgBny5OhXXIQgAzTZJWPdXKyACDnTVMkbcugSplnkYfn-4ozcNE-DP4Vn09F4zQRxZVFWPiRRxsYZyKrOp0l0zcHLJGoCOgu6fjoeieHAq71rIKuPiSw7xbHrMI10L5uDfV/s1600-h/IMG_1409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxK7f1uxP0JgBny5OhXXIQgAzTZJWPdXKyACDnTVMkbcugSplnkYfn-4ozcNE-DP4Vn09F4zQRxZVFWPiRRxsYZyKrOp0l0zcHLJGoCOgu6fjoeieHAq71rIKuPiSw7xbHrMI10L5uDfV/s400/IMG_1409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212440701002130466" border="0" /></a>Good ol' Sphinxy<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHZPeKUrOJYiN6KqWd6Hsb-Xzwn9rSjWvt5m60DqjS5ribBwi2FhatsBBgoUez9axHubg0xiwp3Vf4aQ858VpeSsZhaIbxxdUECIuG2zgO1c1EnyeO-fupw8FYCWO1u2LPky61lhAwKle/s1600-h/IMG_1417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHZPeKUrOJYiN6KqWd6Hsb-Xzwn9rSjWvt5m60DqjS5ribBwi2FhatsBBgoUez9axHubg0xiwp3Vf4aQ858VpeSsZhaIbxxdUECIuG2zgO1c1EnyeO-fupw8FYCWO1u2LPky61lhAwKle/s400/IMG_1417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212440705148329042" border="0" /></a><br />Cairo city sunset<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wpuIdEEWbDiEm13AjR_jlbxr-qj0XmrRtV3Oy-v48DR2kGzhsjIUMVIGpXVWEvfqPXCaPAjA-8r61YZYGeX7IAezECURoKtU8F4BMK9i-LcZHgkepJF4WcndgmZQF6LIG0fRWMCicNm5/s1600-h/IMG_1421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wpuIdEEWbDiEm13AjR_jlbxr-qj0XmrRtV3Oy-v48DR2kGzhsjIUMVIGpXVWEvfqPXCaPAjA-8r61YZYGeX7IAezECURoKtU8F4BMK9i-LcZHgkepJF4WcndgmZQF6LIG0fRWMCicNm5/s400/IMG_1421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212440707826531010" border="0" /></a>The Nile running through the city<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQKWKoxO4LrgvulRxJdxPDRY6r_Vvje3C6tUXZObhsGR56j1vxkxnEv3Snm0TIEDqvApQvcd_Q-UCAx6gy77svLjq1pdO051ZdxR9xDOVBcwAyu2dNxt20VtkF_A6Wp5_pUTY94Q1MPxk/s1600-h/IMG_1433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQKWKoxO4LrgvulRxJdxPDRY6r_Vvje3C6tUXZObhsGR56j1vxkxnEv3Snm0TIEDqvApQvcd_Q-UCAx6gy77svLjq1pdO051ZdxR9xDOVBcwAyu2dNxt20VtkF_A6Wp5_pUTY94Q1MPxk/s400/IMG_1433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212440714195474242" border="0" /></a>St. George's Cathedral in Coptic Cairo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VbGTE9uiYAIczOmRereWBtf4ESMlwTnehsjvYzX6M8F1Bb3pWlagDClBtttG6N22RY7CDFkYXiWeBB2guV-hkvB8br6lMGcCpaZRtGgsp_bXoZTEDczpSz-D0v2onYmBmb4yngESeFrO/s1600-h/IMG_1470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VbGTE9uiYAIczOmRereWBtf4ESMlwTnehsjvYzX6M8F1Bb3pWlagDClBtttG6N22RY7CDFkYXiWeBB2guV-hkvB8br6lMGcCpaZRtGgsp_bXoZTEDczpSz-D0v2onYmBmb4yngESeFrO/s400/IMG_1470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212440721499375570" border="0" /></a>The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BXxSZAUukB2Iuw6Jvv3bM2f8YuKeYNqTIcDReN6a8pXA22SM7IpqImANm2-GwBuDSG8rLchI8Wu9fBNiA-YG91_4kSj7SiPpVFvb1-BjKtas6idNs4yrSyORZ-ti9JVGCzSs9VT21mvV/s1600-h/IMG_1348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BXxSZAUukB2Iuw6Jvv3bM2f8YuKeYNqTIcDReN6a8pXA22SM7IpqImANm2-GwBuDSG8rLchI8Wu9fBNiA-YG91_4kSj7SiPpVFvb1-BjKtas6idNs4yrSyORZ-ti9JVGCzSs9VT21mvV/s400/IMG_1348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212436062672211298" border="0" /></a>Entrance to the 'Step' Pyramid<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBjoxePB9R1GVV1T5qM50Vux96SSdL8foJjBPC9L3mAUv12LrTJonXpRmx25Rm6skkFsuI7qyoqmfkr19D5UYAt8LOBnPoih7pSvULvzoRVGwXGUv6Ws1TsmhBk8GCiB13_OvlVvQb5Jx/s1600-h/IMG_1371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBjoxePB9R1GVV1T5qM50Vux96SSdL8foJjBPC9L3mAUv12LrTJonXpRmx25Rm6skkFsuI7qyoqmfkr19D5UYAt8LOBnPoih7pSvULvzoRVGwXGUv6Ws1TsmhBk8GCiB13_OvlVvQb5Jx/s400/IMG_1371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212436072183226914" border="0" /></a>I couldn't help it :)<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlpE4RdtAi426SaLzITq7c9aw6QOQc0nr4kKexyZ52Zwr1qI-3RfbQtMmC67jvnLCqxwcp42LMEZFSv9Xv3X__u6Pt99ZRFu0IKrRfYV8B2g7gYjP9gMaFlstqULfIz8F29t1NQwF9YbU/s1600-h/IMG_0971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlpE4RdtAi426SaLzITq7c9aw6QOQc0nr4kKexyZ52Zwr1qI-3RfbQtMmC67jvnLCqxwcp42LMEZFSv9Xv3X__u6Pt99ZRFu0IKrRfYV8B2g7gYjP9gMaFlstqULfIz8F29t1NQwF9YbU/s400/IMG_0971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212436087139997314" border="0" /></a>View from the highway of Giza<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaA8-lRiN97FGmdjrb5TRtKwqwG-wPZ_oFYjrozm2pUcdKi4YHZx__b2wRzXPGHhvQ7TZBlrGTxPEM-B2qfyTrJjKD4U8gIg-f9Bt0Lc7FNYdgM7VYjLqxfJJPMRK-UTEokw_dVeidf4G/s1600-h/IMG_1392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaA8-lRiN97FGmdjrb5TRtKwqwG-wPZ_oFYjrozm2pUcdKi4YHZx__b2wRzXPGHhvQ7TZBlrGTxPEM-B2qfyTrJjKD4U8gIg-f9Bt0Lc7FNYdgM7VYjLqxfJJPMRK-UTEokw_dVeidf4G/s400/IMG_1392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212436101760968994" border="0" /></a><br />Giza</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hwBVFQosMeu88JagoXjUrUoQ987ssqNVafJMSMz1dgIKHCXO1ASXGbiGO1KWXZqFregz_z9V7stnQATAlY3TIFADLidOHAraEM_LVgWJMzMArBFMTD2vRoxsB3OsRetZrv5qfo2rkfCU/s1600-h/IMG_1402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hwBVFQosMeu88JagoXjUrUoQ987ssqNVafJMSMz1dgIKHCXO1ASXGbiGO1KWXZqFregz_z9V7stnQATAlY3TIFADLidOHAraEM_LVgWJMzMArBFMTD2vRoxsB3OsRetZrv5qfo2rkfCU/s400/IMG_1402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212436105446371474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Due to lack of time, and probably boredom on the readers part, I am going to condense the last five days into one to the best of my ability.<br />Sunday (Day 3) was the day of pryamids! Kelsey and I tended to do our own thing without the touristy stuff, but seeing that transport to the pyramids is a little tricky we took our hostel up on a deal to have a tour of Memphis, Saqqara and Giza. Our guide's name was Hendt and she was so sweet. She took us first to Memphis then Saqqara and we ended at Giza. Seeing all the amazing structure and architectural feats that I have read and learned about for years was slightly surreal. I just couldn't believe that I was standing in front of something so massive, magnificent and historical. But the desert was a lot closer to the city than I imagined, and you can actually see three pyramids in Giza from the highway. There was a lot of tourist-happenings going on all around so it kind of took away from the moment, but it was incredible all the same. All in all, it was so wonderful and it still doesn't seem real that I was able to see them. It was funny, because after that great 'historical' experience we headed back to the hostel and right across the street was a McDonald's. Neither Kelsey nor I eat there back home, but lacking meat and potatoes in Ghana, it sounded like a delicacy. Who would have thunk? We then perused the streets and walk along the Nile. It was such a pretty time of day and nice to just walk in cool weather.<br />Monday, Kelsey, myself, and then a girl we had met the day before who was traveling by herself ventured to the Egyptian Antiquities Museum. In the museum were a large portion of the artifacts retrieved from the tombs and surrounding areas in Egypt. This included the mask of Tutankhamen, mummies, statues, jewelry, pots and everything in between. All of Tutankhamen's artifacts were all I imagined and more. Once again, standing in front of artifacts and the bodies of so many people I had studied was unbelievable. The museum was so huge and full of so many things to see, it was almost overwhelming. Once we got our fill of Egyptian artifacts, we just grabbed some dinner and treated ourselves to the new Indiana Jones movie. The theater was beautiful, yet a little odd to be watching an American movie in Egypt, with Arabic subtitles.<br />Tuesday was probably one of my favorite days. Kelsey and I had bought train tickets to go for a day trip in Alexandria. The train ride was about 2 and a half hours and so, so, so much fun!! It was great to travel in a different way besides tro-tro, van, or plane. Being able to see the country side outside of the city was really neat, and to my surprise, when we got off the train, it was even a little cooler there. It then hit me that it was that way because Alexandria gets a nice see breeze because it sits on the Mediterranean Sea! I have never seen anything like it. The water was incredible and I could see have this was an attraction for travelers from afar a long time ago. Alexander knew what was up. The original library of Alexander the Great actually burnt down sometime ago, but they have created a brand new one with several interesting exhibits. We went and walked around in the library for a while, walked around the city and along the water and then had a wonderful dinner at a little restaurant. The city itself was much calmer than Cairo and I enjoyed the buildings and sights so much.<br /> Wednesday, Kelsey and I went to the Citadel, which encompasses several mosques, including that of Muhammed, considered one of the last and greatest prophets in Muslim beliefs. Once again, the architecture in each place knocked me completely off my feet. I could have stayed there for hours on end just thinking, looking and looking some more. The mosques had been turned into a governmental place where there was still some worship held there, but mostly it was for tourism. Muhammed's tomb was even in the central part of his mosque. Everything there was just so astounding and incredible. After that, we had heard of this incredible mall that held everything you could imagine Starbucks, so we decided to check it out for kicks. Again, it was so crazy being in a place like this, because it was so westernized and I don't think Kelsey or I were really ready for that. But none the less, a cup of coffee in my hand has never tasted so good. We ate at a Mexican place and were happier than little clams after NOT eating rice! haha.<br /><br />Then Thursday came along and it was our last day. Our flight left later in the afternoon so we went back to Khan-El-Khalili for some last minute meandering and ate at this fantastic pancake house. We got one that was kind of like a pizza and then another with honey and nuts...yum!! Then we got our stuff because we had to leave the hostel by a certain time and headed to the airport to wait out our remaining time. To our glorious surprise, we were able to have one last cup of coffee and even a Cinna-bon! wooo!! Our flight back was safe and even though Egypt was such a wonderful experience, I can't tell you how good it felt to be back in Ghana. Being away from Ghana for that time made me realize the things I love about it and that I will miss so much when I leave. I feel so comfortable here and there is nothing like coming home to a place where your family missed you too. I can't even think about leaving them now- they are all so wonderful and have truly become my family in my heart (as cheesy as that sounds).<br /><br />But, sadly, Rachel left on Saturday (my roommate) as well as almost the majority of my program. This marks the last part of my journey here in Ghana. I leave for Ho tomorrow and will be there for four weeks. It's going to be a lot different from my time here in Legon, but I know it will be great all the same. I will probably not blog, or if I do not as much, while I'm there because of lack of internet situation, but who knows.<br /><br />I miss everyone so much and I hope all is well wherever you may be. Take care to all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-88427379607816889842008-06-07T02:37:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:08:46.873-08:00Egypt- day 1 and 2<div style="text-align: center;">Sorry- these are all a little jumbled! :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC0vywiSgNvSzzBH9pWDBheS1y_vhX4gKh2I9_6zKnUi2FSlBR7dWNeazhy26y4UFqsucMUXNXlGF-FV1Nn8MT9xrh3uLWkRjJK-1AmVw0N9ORcsuzgspsMYt7BhfkEWdxPAci_JHiMh9/s1600-h/IMG_1283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC0vywiSgNvSzzBH9pWDBheS1y_vhX4gKh2I9_6zKnUi2FSlBR7dWNeazhy26y4UFqsucMUXNXlGF-FV1Nn8MT9xrh3uLWkRjJK-1AmVw0N9ORcsuzgspsMYt7BhfkEWdxPAci_JHiMh9/s400/IMG_1283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209075868157096898" border="0" /></a>This is a pretty weak shot, but it was from our hostel<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KbQwq1wm2EiEYnA_iQH7fBeXbDoASksOoGCaEFBNHNkv3vcup-EehELc3hYjwIC_Fy67sWAuyeNzQzBwf5XMjTatpsUmT4-h8tzornJrBnyY4de_uwjv7s7A2rF5H1uNYdwKpnG0W_OS/s1600-h/IMG_1304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KbQwq1wm2EiEYnA_iQH7fBeXbDoASksOoGCaEFBNHNkv3vcup-EehELc3hYjwIC_Fy67sWAuyeNzQzBwf5XMjTatpsUmT4-h8tzornJrBnyY4de_uwjv7s7A2rF5H1uNYdwKpnG0W_OS/s400/IMG_1304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209075872452064210" border="0" /></a>In the mosque with our head coverings<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDjWx3izEcaNoWQbuW0C353hFLHUPQ4cTxI1SPbEx30djQEOEhXzI-HBRaTaOEHc6-_besROytYy48gVvb-4SIP6BFMp340xgjjHwP3Thb-ZwP8-knmz74CpC0JqDaqpHPI7zN_xbhdOM/s1600-h/IMG_1330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDjWx3izEcaNoWQbuW0C353hFLHUPQ4cTxI1SPbEx30djQEOEhXzI-HBRaTaOEHc6-_besROytYy48gVvb-4SIP6BFMp340xgjjHwP3Thb-ZwP8-knmz74CpC0JqDaqpHPI7zN_xbhdOM/s400/IMG_1330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209075876747031522" border="0" /></a>The streets of Cairo- Talaat Harb<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQBq2vgUcM0HPDR_jhT2Nqz-_MQQ97PDnApppKXzPcuXOa4zUobgE1S-iK7PhM2E77d4ctLH1ZljDuXk_Qahi1SD_8a7muAkNUxdRmS9S7OhUZ8x92vBTqqVnSryvFPlv2sXXT8dFk7Zm/s1600-h/IMG_1307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQBq2vgUcM0HPDR_jhT2Nqz-_MQQ97PDnApppKXzPcuXOa4zUobgE1S-iK7PhM2E77d4ctLH1ZljDuXk_Qahi1SD_8a7muAkNUxdRmS9S7OhUZ8x92vBTqqVnSryvFPlv2sXXT8dFk7Zm/s400/IMG_1307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209074734285730674" border="0" /></a>The Al-Ahazar Mosque<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnosOjbtClZ-Ti2vGlcacZVG1EEaZV_LCiDvdte-BQUJ-pujr9__370r4T_4ZiSzGLxZj9dR-TjwgLNySnheUwfWFrCtMwXOQKyJPFqFaBkT-BqdxReXwLiZdSGibSF9ejDFA45GYdDd7A/s1600-h/IMG_1308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnosOjbtClZ-Ti2vGlcacZVG1EEaZV_LCiDvdte-BQUJ-pujr9__370r4T_4ZiSzGLxZj9dR-TjwgLNySnheUwfWFrCtMwXOQKyJPFqFaBkT-BqdxReXwLiZdSGibSF9ejDFA45GYdDd7A/s400/IMG_1308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209074738580697986" border="0" /></a>Inside the mosque- men studying the Koran<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibIsn-TV5zvzTbis03RZsWA51U-8wrpyfLaNQ3M8thNaZC3_E1wnUc_nGghjhN4So2q3cPddd1qd66YRNPqWb7gS-BS7L6hq1mc8nwsa-Dow0HTPwCIYO3r_3UZ5oMPI_M_aHq2hOqC6f/s1600-h/IMG_1332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibIsn-TV5zvzTbis03RZsWA51U-8wrpyfLaNQ3M8thNaZC3_E1wnUc_nGghjhN4So2q3cPddd1qd66YRNPqWb7gS-BS7L6hq1mc8nwsa-Dow0HTPwCIYO3r_3UZ5oMPI_M_aHq2hOqC6f/s400/IMG_1332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209074742875665298" border="0" /></a>The final product of our henna<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWd9wJbJ-Lw1VWToIyZepb_AXqfJAz7ymclzoUaJUPBxcUlnR8SH0hMDe0b621hTuWL-3-QHFzWqmwhc-AC1j-pebwbgx0nCJYmtugTes6nEhwioqPk7nqhtbc8dUvyjO6c34taPguaDE/s1600-h/IMG_0918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWd9wJbJ-Lw1VWToIyZepb_AXqfJAz7ymclzoUaJUPBxcUlnR8SH0hMDe0b621hTuWL-3-QHFzWqmwhc-AC1j-pebwbgx0nCJYmtugTes6nEhwioqPk7nqhtbc8dUvyjO6c34taPguaDE/s400/IMG_0918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209074747170632610" border="0" /></a>Our favorite restaurant!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnOQAUcBxqRcxIFa4WHf-aFaHNoqNjvuk_QnWZ5MA5mgy6DBjXwFOnLgS5iG4dzjj9GFI4lmKdRpAd04aSeExonM5h9WDqTtviqnnEdtdA8uzSt6P3vR371kQjUgS1s0Sg9ttZAZVyiMo/s1600-h/IMG_0921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnOQAUcBxqRcxIFa4WHf-aFaHNoqNjvuk_QnWZ5MA5mgy6DBjXwFOnLgS5iG4dzjj9GFI4lmKdRpAd04aSeExonM5h9WDqTtviqnnEdtdA8uzSt6P3vR371kQjUgS1s0Sg9ttZAZVyiMo/s400/IMG_0921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209074751465599922" border="0" /></a>Delicious tomari and lentil soup at Felfela's<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZT93EZhNleUxtOYhyI3s_YkuKadJyCwBgBnQ-TCC9VIOecyMIsulgTwZ-kYxsIkMqiGlwhrmeIIpSVWyyDythm628hFgu90bpwV5nBCSAUkZ_c1x4KgpHkziUu096hu2V1hfAWhkZtr6/s1600-h/IMG_0894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 8px; height: 10px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZT93EZhNleUxtOYhyI3s_YkuKadJyCwBgBnQ-TCC9VIOecyMIsulgTwZ-kYxsIkMqiGlwhrmeIIpSVWyyDythm628hFgu90bpwV5nBCSAUkZ_c1x4KgpHkziUu096hu2V1hfAWhkZtr6/s400/IMG_0894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209072891744760610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLmmj9mKf5G_Vrok_oMRd-I5bJgx12aXe0D-aXp5aFS-pRUS0sJGW_PzcMS-0I7xCJk6rnRr0c6Z57BRWieArENSGma5wtl6-TK79ynKJHmdkfWlLMVKz3eVlU7WGV8SlVgtrbk9PPmbd/s1600-h/IMG_1323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLmmj9mKf5G_Vrok_oMRd-I5bJgx12aXe0D-aXp5aFS-pRUS0sJGW_PzcMS-0I7xCJk6rnRr0c6Z57BRWieArENSGma5wtl6-TK79ynKJHmdkfWlLMVKz3eVlU7WGV8SlVgtrbk9PPmbd/s400/IMG_1323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209072896039727922" border="0" /></a>Fishawi's Coffee house<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8P24P5wrmsyYp4D45NFoI4VIdiSaeEDGd2g6qOw5iun3b-3TjHxQ9oGvFxsNPZp88qMhFzkkoJ8x8uX8C9_iDDnfee7LwhsBrbuGehbdfY_O38ELAKxXHAbiqA5rzmrL__XRE3xcIxr_/s1600-h/IMG_1325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8P24P5wrmsyYp4D45NFoI4VIdiSaeEDGd2g6qOw5iun3b-3TjHxQ9oGvFxsNPZp88qMhFzkkoJ8x8uX8C9_iDDnfee7LwhsBrbuGehbdfY_O38ELAKxXHAbiqA5rzmrL__XRE3xcIxr_/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209072896039727938" border="0" /></a>The tourist side of Khan-El-Khalili<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKM4US036osZQ1tFI7oJ7K4Rpz1iLpGDh8Z0_kZ40y_xORNzj8o9ZXPU5TvyE1N45KaydTZRUmkuxXPcv4bp6vDmy5LBDR7_YdlxVJEZ8CHL48DD4PjpOso0TsRPxzExeF7HYxfkGeLI0/s1600-h/IMG_0894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKM4US036osZQ1tFI7oJ7K4Rpz1iLpGDh8Z0_kZ40y_xORNzj8o9ZXPU5TvyE1N45KaydTZRUmkuxXPcv4bp6vDmy5LBDR7_YdlxVJEZ8CHL48DD4PjpOso0TsRPxzExeF7HYxfkGeLI0/s400/IMG_0894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209072904629662546" border="0" /></a>The oldest stall/business in the market...the Fez hats!!! too cool<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnp7dJV1uURCgsI8Ukqo9LBGaRoE3bY6a5mJHaZ2jr1ZsWmgrPtilmZ03wca_UKKuuP6jdEQlpqQA7jXwbyOrmBucQQfCMqwgyRnPWsn6tkklKQFvaDLaiPcdL1EwPAAgH4Hwrc9Dz0nTR/s1600-h/IMG_0911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnp7dJV1uURCgsI8Ukqo9LBGaRoE3bY6a5mJHaZ2jr1ZsWmgrPtilmZ03wca_UKKuuP6jdEQlpqQA7jXwbyOrmBucQQfCMqwgyRnPWsn6tkklKQFvaDLaiPcdL1EwPAAgH4Hwrc9Dz0nTR/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209072908924629858" border="0" /></a>Kelsey and I enjoying our Turkish coffee and hookah<br /></div><br /><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">My trip to Egypt was definitely the most unexpected part of my adventure here in Africa. My friend Kelsey and I decided to seize the carp during our break from school before exams and I am so glad we did! We were there for seven days and six nights and it was the perfect amount of time- not too much, not too little.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a wonderful red-eye flight to Cairo, we arrived in Cairo Friday morning. It worked out great because the hostel we stayed at picked us up at the airport sans-cost so we weren’t completely confused straight out of the gate. We stayed at the Ramses II Hostel (catchy, huh?) and it was on Talaat Harb St. right in the heart of the city. It was a ten minutes walk from the Nile as well as the Egyptian Museum. We were on the 12<sup>th</sup> floor and you should have seen the view from the balcony! Pictures just don’t do it justice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was such a bizarre feeling being back in a city. I’m pretty sure my experience would have been completely different had I been coming from America going to Cairo. I was in awe of all the tall buildings, highways and central buzz going on all around me. I was just used to a different pace and feel it was a different kind of shock I was in, because I was pretty well prepared for the culture having been in Ghana for awhile now, but the city just took me aback. The language was also a different kind of barrier. I really enjoyed trying to speak Arabic but I think I was the only one because everyone else just looked at me like I was a big weirdo. I could have sworn I was saying everything correctly but apparently not <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span> I also think I’ve rediscovered a passion for languages that I have forgotten- I really enjoy learning and speaking them (although some people rather me not, ha).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The weather in Egypt was INCREDIBLE and such a nice change from the humid, grueling heat of Ghana. There was a nice breeze and so wonderful. But we just settled in the first day, got our bearings, and there was this really cute movie theatre next to our hostel and so we ended up watching a movie (in an actual theatre!!) that night- I think it was ‘21’. It was funny how many English movies there were, and then they just added on subtitles. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next day we went to this huge bazaar called Khan-El-Khalili. Little to our knowledge, there are three sections to this bazaar: the Egyptian market,<span style=""> </span>the Turkish Market and the Tourist market, and our taxi dropped us at the Egyptian section. This means that this is where everything is produced and a lot of buyers buy things in bulk to sell elsewhere. We got this feeling soon as we continued to walk and saw no other outsiders. But then we were sent an angel in the form of a guy named Hamesh. He was a student at the University in Cairo and was studying English. So he pretty much took us around the Egyptian market, got us good deals and was our tour guide and friend for the day with out asking for a thing! It was so nice and refreshing to meet someone like that. Before we crossed over to the dark-tourist side, we were able to go into the Al-Hazar Mosque, which is the oldest in Cairo. It wasn’t too big, but it was just incredible but at the same time a little heart wrenching, to see this awesome place of worship. We wore head coverings and were able to walk around while the people inside were studying. It was almost completely all men, and Hamesh told us they were all studying the Koran. It was really interesting and the mosque itself was beautiful.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we went to the tourist side, I’m so glad we did because we happened across this really neat coffee place called Fishawi’s and before that had a delicious falafel sandwich-yum! Fishawi’s is the oldest coffee house in Cairo and it was my first experience with Turkish coffee. I am no expert so I have no idea how they make it that way, but it’s A LOT thicker and there’s this sludge-remainder at the bottom. Despite my description it was delicious. We also had hookah while were sat there and then a lady came up and gave us both henna on our hands. Yes and yes!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a little more meandering, we headed the direction of our hostel and grabbed some dinner at this really quaint restaurant named Felfela’s. I had lentil soup with bread and falafel, and Kelsey had this amazing dish called tomari. It had rice, noodles and this delicious read sauce. Everything tasted amazing and it was the perfect ending to a great day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sorry I’ve written a novel. In between my studies this week, I will be sure to write about the next couple days. Three more exams to go…wooo! Take care to all and I miss you!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-83487659126551235852008-05-30T04:19:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:08:49.471-08:00Kumasi and Lake Bosomtwe<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T0z8NJ2AT8uqSZHGZMqJz476GQdEWTtv8G4kyjqJSf1EBQo9fwr-uzv4lFxyru0fHdTPtqxqahhEXi0eqmwFCNhVVMqa6mNIi1o8I5vFJDwWyDOaulgNAjEtkjYv5HY_UafbeMLsnWyy/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+792.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T0z8NJ2AT8uqSZHGZMqJz476GQdEWTtv8G4kyjqJSf1EBQo9fwr-uzv4lFxyru0fHdTPtqxqahhEXi0eqmwFCNhVVMqa6mNIi1o8I5vFJDwWyDOaulgNAjEtkjYv5HY_UafbeMLsnWyy/s400/lindsay's+pics+792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206524686314242338" border="0" /></a>Everyone in our group stamped the cloth with an Adinkra symbol- this one is of hope<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWcMkiAPNfZwoDmYEdDe4f1EpX5a9ydBx1tL3BhqfzdmUksvBoge9WnfLDA8Yx68DQN5WUnlkaOvoWiG3f3xesO_sK0ak6Ud7lszq7LO7PL8PXpP2gUcg0jeg16Wx1rBtbfHIg9sLszoh/s1600-h/IMG_1122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWcMkiAPNfZwoDmYEdDe4f1EpX5a9ydBx1tL3BhqfzdmUksvBoge9WnfLDA8Yx68DQN5WUnlkaOvoWiG3f3xesO_sK0ak6Ud7lszq7LO7PL8PXpP2gUcg0jeg16Wx1rBtbfHIg9sLszoh/s400/IMG_1122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206524694904176946" border="0" /></a>Handmade stamped cloths- so beautiful<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAAEK6reG52B3kHqTU9IRWrIkVpKdXIKLyfL1_bU3s7cJuRdZ_ba4FXnH3ySOD4mnnl96iFkc0KFKBCQRpJx_qIqaiTuRTs3s8s91RGXcmhUX99m_ePahPfhS9iFN_Y8f45p3LYCRaVal/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+803.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAAEK6reG52B3kHqTU9IRWrIkVpKdXIKLyfL1_bU3s7cJuRdZ_ba4FXnH3ySOD4mnnl96iFkc0KFKBCQRpJx_qIqaiTuRTs3s8s91RGXcmhUX99m_ePahPfhS9iFN_Y8f45p3LYCRaVal/s400/lindsay's+pics+803.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206524699199144258" border="0" /></a>A man weaving Kente<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47ychYr-D2e7-tW_OcomHLqnIRL5es4B1ZvXCXCiKIeBdpwMo35RXDWhTzI7p8b2XEk2rt-OVLt6Pvu0dY6JILGuWdA0gMyT4MPGby0MGskfZT22mM-OCq4z3MmM2Y5vfy1zb3xY6UW7O/s1600-h/IMG_1092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47ychYr-D2e7-tW_OcomHLqnIRL5es4B1ZvXCXCiKIeBdpwMo35RXDWhTzI7p8b2XEk2rt-OVLt6Pvu0dY6JILGuWdA0gMyT4MPGby0MGskfZT22mM-OCq4z3MmM2Y5vfy1zb3xY6UW7O/s400/IMG_1092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206524703494111570" border="0" /></a>The Chief's Palace and his 'guardian' peacocks<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc9AeR7coOQ2x5IzJLWBlRrDf5_TmXJ62gvM08gXLptx9JsKnPIDxJL7fsQY3tbWmqdOkku6TBpk5gsr7VGoWYSxQywTxCYgYWXsMULesz7cVMpigeidDZ5a0kFzowR8qZer_O7Manog2/s1600-h/IMG_1107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc9AeR7coOQ2x5IzJLWBlRrDf5_TmXJ62gvM08gXLptx9JsKnPIDxJL7fsQY3tbWmqdOkku6TBpk5gsr7VGoWYSxQywTxCYgYWXsMULesz7cVMpigeidDZ5a0kFzowR8qZer_O7Manog2/s400/IMG_1107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206524707789078882" border="0" /></a>These creatures have God's beauty and creativity written all over them<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOws86CWGl3sYMdq21VmzDI7lZ5LpWjWLV0K9Xcn1Ugw-verBZ2ovFnRN-lJePxRSsZlYGOwFfDlElaNSgdNuXccmPXUuf6zRKGhBbZPUVhTgz-AyscMLq8GoLT8A6LJGpLTjhf7N5Pp8/s1600-h/IMG_1171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOws86CWGl3sYMdq21VmzDI7lZ5LpWjWLV0K9Xcn1Ugw-verBZ2ovFnRN-lJePxRSsZlYGOwFfDlElaNSgdNuXccmPXUuf6zRKGhBbZPUVhTgz-AyscMLq8GoLT8A6LJGpLTjhf7N5Pp8/s400/IMG_1171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206522925377650898" border="0" /></a>A view of Kumasi Central Market- the biggest in West Africa<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHw1zjcs3ZUVlBuLqJhyphenhyphenxm02RdARtWNifeVq1SCKkNxay_tHMn6I_tgCmiReEmn8OGVcCKZ5sFjFSpDn_XHACnoFyrQ9ha9ytigRumrjugiZeLS_yQaus6Gkb8IGL-k041SqtBzvvZFga/s1600-h/IMG_0791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHw1zjcs3ZUVlBuLqJhyphenhyphenxm02RdARtWNifeVq1SCKkNxay_tHMn6I_tgCmiReEmn8OGVcCKZ5sFjFSpDn_XHACnoFyrQ9ha9ytigRumrjugiZeLS_yQaus6Gkb8IGL-k041SqtBzvvZFga/s400/IMG_0791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206522938262552802" border="0" /></a>This man was explaining all the meanings behind the designs of the Kente cloth<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuRTYllz1B-9mdWc8NvuuGFCh26xENrOqO2CWQkDNKycI5KElUr7Wzbr_SYbdbaCF9SuvBYwYcA-JjW5HOIiUdN64H75pXxRdog-4y9T9RzUIXOmCuZAdnoTZ7u7g08WpPMMAScY4ilZE/s1600-h/IMG_1157.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuRTYllz1B-9mdWc8NvuuGFCh26xENrOqO2CWQkDNKycI5KElUr7Wzbr_SYbdbaCF9SuvBYwYcA-JjW5HOIiUdN64H75pXxRdog-4y9T9RzUIXOmCuZAdnoTZ7u7g08WpPMMAScY4ilZE/s400/IMG_1157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206522942557520114" border="0" /></a>Lake Bosomtwe<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvp4418VaeYsSed0g0U9VIMl-Eq_-yAM79mKbYqXXVxJ12fNvGfIy0GPVEMU7hiPwoZmtbsGhTlUCjgVP2UM1XPu7W_Aw9EOdvD17ov8k-fAZCa-MywaVNXLufQctwvuFQtkAOnKfZuyo/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+785.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvp4418VaeYsSed0g0U9VIMl-Eq_-yAM79mKbYqXXVxJ12fNvGfIy0GPVEMU7hiPwoZmtbsGhTlUCjgVP2UM1XPu7W_Aw9EOdvD17ov8k-fAZCa-MywaVNXLufQctwvuFQtkAOnKfZuyo/s400/lindsay's+pics+785.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206522951147454722" border="0" /></a>Talking about how the dye for the cloth is made<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithOlhYyZ5OAk_s-SXrqAelw1HTe0eot3O0TI_oZFWX6VqjYc_BaNiYzxYpXpS2jDyB2-Gb4mp2bXfzos4lzbFTDVOV0ul-aWmaA6T7afb1y8tvMfMjQ5rJTYKW0hqgKRQbQE3RUP1dN3i/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+788.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithOlhYyZ5OAk_s-SXrqAelw1HTe0eot3O0TI_oZFWX6VqjYc_BaNiYzxYpXpS2jDyB2-Gb4mp2bXfzos4lzbFTDVOV0ul-aWmaA6T7afb1y8tvMfMjQ5rJTYKW0hqgKRQbQE3RUP1dN3i/s400/lindsay's+pics+788.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206522959737389330" border="0" /></a>Stamps for all the Adinkra symbols<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZQMJi90jZHZX7Negf5PvvZAsHZohfjN93qIQ87jcg6zZKxvE1AyZ4FDa9TCREoUG4CMKKHg0VjtzKpB_Uyn5tFUhYCPkNidVOs33KTPmPYsER4d2TJiodfudIbGQvbCni29cjQ0CWL62/s1600-h/IMG_1131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZQMJi90jZHZX7Negf5PvvZAsHZohfjN93qIQ87jcg6zZKxvE1AyZ4FDa9TCREoUG4CMKKHg0VjtzKpB_Uyn5tFUhYCPkNidVOs33KTPmPYsER4d2TJiodfudIbGQvbCni29cjQ0CWL62/s400/IMG_1131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206519798641459330" border="0" /></a>Giving Kente weaving a try :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UubrPRKBTiXsvz81iAgtNzPIcubRoSpghf8xOhKBeilbU7yiQ-RhryG8GlOw0a0A_enpsZtXtb_QdwqTtscK0F2iWaqEmjEIvr0kbCWSDxJti4ia-8ENE-uSg-LxaHR5riOYFd-zBGJF/s1600-h/IMG_1135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UubrPRKBTiXsvz81iAgtNzPIcubRoSpghf8xOhKBeilbU7yiQ-RhryG8GlOw0a0A_enpsZtXtb_QdwqTtscK0F2iWaqEmjEIvr0kbCWSDxJti4ia-8ENE-uSg-LxaHR5riOYFd-zBGJF/s400/IMG_1135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206519811526361234" border="0" /></a>Our hike to where we ate lunch on Lake Bosomtwe<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DULncJs9-xTgWmIpFE9cvwA_EXItdmNydX1-ePIAVicl8QtV7t3wsGUeYg-nKXz9vKEIOeQOWCommYGRshTCRowXVYTBK13_28g8sw2xycyYzDfmLjovC2l0C72IfzNU-NGNIjX9PK8x/s1600-h/IMG_1147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DULncJs9-xTgWmIpFE9cvwA_EXItdmNydX1-ePIAVicl8QtV7t3wsGUeYg-nKXz9vKEIOeQOWCommYGRshTCRowXVYTBK13_28g8sw2xycyYzDfmLjovC2l0C72IfzNU-NGNIjX9PK8x/s400/IMG_1147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206519811526361250" border="0" /></a>Isabel, Lindsay and I on Lake Bosomtwe<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OWsCbXbxpDjHcW7m5ywdKmUjr4AUgcm205BwjAKR92P7es5qkvE_vKilTQXyzV93p99Kt6YZ979yLLa1Yxsn6kk5YKjgR_RW-vfNv1kzFKqAejCSf5PlN6kDjWOoqtM5JcN_apqyf54o/s1600-h/IMG_1152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OWsCbXbxpDjHcW7m5ywdKmUjr4AUgcm205BwjAKR92P7es5qkvE_vKilTQXyzV93p99Kt6YZ979yLLa1Yxsn6kk5YKjgR_RW-vfNv1kzFKqAejCSf5PlN6kDjWOoqtM5JcN_apqyf54o/s400/IMG_1152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206519815821328562" border="0" /></a>Lake Bosomtwe<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span id="EC_role_document" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">HELLO!! Sorry it has been so long!! Hopefully I'll make it up with a double-post this weekend :)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But all all has been going well and I can't believe that as of today, my program ends in two weeks! Of course that doesn't mean I'm going home but it does mean there are two countdowns to keep my eye on- once my semester here ends, then I'll have four weeks left until I head back to the good ol' US of A- I just moved the date up a couple of weeks. I'm definitely not itching to leave, but I can't help but miss my dear friends and family.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Last week marked the beginning of the University's Revision week. After that, then there is a three week period where finals take place. It's so different from back home because at Texas we only allot for not even a week and a half for finals, and there are only two 'dead days' for revision- I guess that's the Ghanian style. All my classes have ended well though and everything has just been quite the experience. I actually had my first final last week because the Fine Arts finals happen during revision week. It was for my drumming class and I think (hopefully) I did just fine- we shall see, though.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To catch up on the times of recent past, several weeks ago all of us on the program traveled to the second biggest city in Ghana called Kumasi. The trip was about 5 hours and it was one of the most beautiful drives I've ever seen. Rolling hills and mountains just covered with dense jungle and forest. The rainy season has come (at last!) so everything here is so much greener and fuller. The heavy rains bring brief, and I repeat BRIEF, relief from the heat but then we're usually confronted with muggy weather the next day- when in the tropics, I guess. But when we got to Kumasi, we visited the ex-palace of the chief of the Kumasi Region. He now lives next door in a not-so-humble abode. It was really interesting to learn more about the history of the region and in turn a lot about how Ghana came under colonial rule. The 'palace' yard area was filled with beautiful peacocks, randomly, but it was my first personal encounter ever with them- who knew it would be in Africa!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The next day we visited the village where Kente cloth supposedly originated from. Kente cloth is a uniquely woven cloth in which certain patterns have certain meanings. It was very cool to see it being done first hand, and I even got to try my hand of weaving, which was fun. We then went to a small village outside Kumasi where they make this certain type of dye to use for Adinkra symbols. There are about thirty different Adinkra symbols and they all have characteristics (such as strength, courage, humility etc.) associated with them. We each got to choose the stamps we wanted and put the symbols on the cloth ourselves- it was really neat.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">After that our group drove to Lake Bosomtwe which is a crater lake, about an hour outside the city. It was so beautiful and big. Being able to look up and be surrounded by blue skies and green jungle is a pretty incredible feeling. We had lunch there and were able to relax and go on a short boat ride. The city of Kumasi itself was a nice change from the city of Accra and its surrounding areas, because it was much more spread out and not as congested every where we went. I take that statement back on only one occasion- before we left Kumasi, we went to the biggest market in West Africa. It probably stretched over 6 city blocks by 4 city blocks and looked like a sprawl of metal roofs from the top. It was pretty hectic so I just stuck my nose in for a second but chose to stay near the outskirts.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I haven't really done a lot of traveling else where since then but have enjoyed being a little more of a home body for a change- just some weekend jaunts here and there. One of my sisters, Hablanyo, her father died at the end of January but they just had his funeral the first weekend of May. Crazy- yes. But it was so interesting! The family decides on a certain design and cloth to be made, so everyone will be dressed in the same fabric. Funerary colors are usually black, brown or red, and this is exactly what it was. They decided on a fabric that was mostly black, with some red and brown and a picture of his face in varying sizes all over it. It was so interesting! So Rachel (my roomie) and I were invited to attend and bought some of the fabric and had it made into a dress. We looked so goofy compared to all of them but it's all good. Hablanyo's home village was about 2 and a half hours away, very near the Ghana-Togo border. Hablanyo is the 25th of 29 children and her father had 3 wives. Oddly enough, this is more normal than not. We arrived (there were about 10 from my family that went) and we sat and had some coffee then went over to the traditional ceremony was taking place with the Chief of the village there and it was quite the hoop-la. We then got to see the body, and I was prepared for it to be in a casket but he was placed in a chair like it was any ol' day. I'm not going to lie, was kind of eerie, and given that the body was almost 4 months dead, it was even weirder seeming. But oh well- the rest of the traditional ceremony went on for hours, but we went back to the house and there was food and music. After that we left around 4 and headed back to Legon. I didn't take my camera because I thought it would be rude, but now I really wish I had because it was truly a once in a lifetime experience.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">My family is doing wonderful and I love them so much. It's hard to think about leaving them, especially my sister Yawo who I've become close with. The kids too, I will miss a lot- even when they bug me a little, it's so wonderful because they've really become just like little sisters to me. Rachel is gone to Mole National Park for 10 days for her internship so I'll be all by my lonesome for awhile- but the time to myself is kind of nice all the same.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I had the awesome opportunity to go to Egypt for a week and just got back yesterday. It was incredible, but more to come on that later...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Cheers to all those back home and I miss you tons!</span></span><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-85216117764672867962008-04-17T04:32:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:08:55.068-08:00Cape Coast etc.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUQjHA6JVhYx4L6L2BfhFjS7G9co_V28Hj2jRBMBFtIdlhe08jp8y8N0lA4yLzRsxK4ZM-0qxkWRdRQvYyznrre73UVzu53aOZ1puxErEN0OcHQ1t905TJkrih7Bl0iW4CnqfGVrLfJG8/s1600-h/IMG_0946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUQjHA6JVhYx4L6L2BfhFjS7G9co_V28Hj2jRBMBFtIdlhe08jp8y8N0lA4yLzRsxK4ZM-0qxkWRdRQvYyznrre73UVzu53aOZ1puxErEN0OcHQ1t905TJkrih7Bl0iW4CnqfGVrLfJG8/s400/IMG_0946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190195315498013938" border="0" /></a>Looking out from a window in Elmina Castle<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZK6r_zf4PHfHLwIbRjWcwgjhGX_DyNRBjPpruu8oSsSgdO7JiEwUH2QidDhWKKFwjp47rq2FEgy9FA0TVVGHImICq5PYeiMtq-vJl_9H6WyNP3lSOF7_8etQ7D1jnKcY2qR2PPaejLypd/s1600-h/IMG_0942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZK6r_zf4PHfHLwIbRjWcwgjhGX_DyNRBjPpruu8oSsSgdO7JiEwUH2QidDhWKKFwjp47rq2FEgy9FA0TVVGHImICq5PYeiMtq-vJl_9H6WyNP3lSOF7_8etQ7D1jnKcY2qR2PPaejLypd/s400/IMG_0942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190195324087948546" border="0" /></a>Elmina Castle<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUzn_yU6HrrilqSIvu33Yd33RZC3JlfJEb3AakKd8HxXRlN0_W5c_h2OqDh8WX6xwvp1DorneAUQWS0HFe7ylIbm0fKN1Pjvz9MyNpQSGz2IaxRLHXI1Gr4x2iISHVsA4N5clNyo-hvLj/s1600-h/IMG_0936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUzn_yU6HrrilqSIvu33Yd33RZC3JlfJEb3AakKd8HxXRlN0_W5c_h2OqDh8WX6xwvp1DorneAUQWS0HFe7ylIbm0fKN1Pjvz9MyNpQSGz2IaxRLHXI1Gr4x2iISHVsA4N5clNyo-hvLj/s400/IMG_0936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190195332677883154" border="0" /></a>One of the cells slaves would be kept in before departure<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrGe8l-KmpJ4WUhcQdxkCJDAKg_1gt4EO0eEOpmU-3rNxj9FHDkk9w80ZDFh4XVsSHIZ4C_Xwz4ycP0ubYEMuWp1gQtYr-ms8mnTb2ufeIV5IHiWYArsNBam8T_rUQF-Gso9v2BXYGGOs/s1600-h/IMG_0919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrGe8l-KmpJ4WUhcQdxkCJDAKg_1gt4EO0eEOpmU-3rNxj9FHDkk9w80ZDFh4XVsSHIZ4C_Xwz4ycP0ubYEMuWp1gQtYr-ms8mnTb2ufeIV5IHiWYArsNBam8T_rUQF-Gso9v2BXYGGOs/s400/IMG_0919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190195341267817762" border="0" /></a>The outside of Elmina Castle<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl80Qncpcs0HeIhDpYK9fxDfH6XBfCu9gma__6HZc0MDt1cXlKeZE8ALipBEHaSBNocYUKp8VpRXwlPxJerNORL3yN-VGy0iYilFlgIKItI25gfMaSkE7_pTFMmB2dT2zbwSLtSneg_Nt/s1600-h/IMG_0963.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl80Qncpcs0HeIhDpYK9fxDfH6XBfCu9gma__6HZc0MDt1cXlKeZE8ALipBEHaSBNocYUKp8VpRXwlPxJerNORL3yN-VGy0iYilFlgIKItI25gfMaSkE7_pTFMmB2dT2zbwSLtSneg_Nt/s400/IMG_0963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190193953993381026" border="0" /></a>Cape Coast fisherman- I love these boats!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD9tDUhrq3wgLyiCQWmxfbITzsX9u2P2LtZlcpJR5w78RqAWD3LKDjEqoPKhBz3Z5E9_44P3vT4Jf7-f5IRRNI622WGkeqNqKbdxykFK-47SqOrEgOnxa1R9r5irkVy9TSg2sYvSRoEZ7/s1600-h/IMG_0954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD9tDUhrq3wgLyiCQWmxfbITzsX9u2P2LtZlcpJR5w78RqAWD3LKDjEqoPKhBz3Z5E9_44P3vT4Jf7-f5IRRNI622WGkeqNqKbdxykFK-47SqOrEgOnxa1R9r5irkVy9TSg2sYvSRoEZ7/s400/IMG_0954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190193962583315634" border="0" /></a>more fishermen...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtkkLrjAfZ93khY4Te-e0ZK-vlxrgjw9eaz-Wq3cNl_ueyLObXec1AeVdyKK5Jg4gHPn6HkmxkQ8vMtbEpvnKeqH9fxoRUvCBXK_rnMWMZnketuMu7njoBWtqUshdjgat27kQy4VS8rIM/s1600-h/IMG_0952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtkkLrjAfZ93khY4Te-e0ZK-vlxrgjw9eaz-Wq3cNl_ueyLObXec1AeVdyKK5Jg4gHPn6HkmxkQ8vMtbEpvnKeqH9fxoRUvCBXK_rnMWMZnketuMu7njoBWtqUshdjgat27kQy4VS8rIM/s400/IMG_0952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190193966878282946" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcYkyWWDS43HOMmzVhanKHtoMHiQ0Zb-YQOMSBtVT4k6mYfSufVldTzU4AmWlP1HY92sAZ9MzaPqcSARRCbZcx90zw5uKpvTCgH0JM95cYK2VAa3X8CGHrk1nq_8BwlKoULpVCuqzL8Dt/s1600-h/IMG_0979.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcYkyWWDS43HOMmzVhanKHtoMHiQ0Zb-YQOMSBtVT4k6mYfSufVldTzU4AmWlP1HY92sAZ9MzaPqcSARRCbZcx90zw5uKpvTCgH0JM95cYK2VAa3X8CGHrk1nq_8BwlKoULpVCuqzL8Dt/s400/IMG_0979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190193975468217570" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Amy and beautiful beach<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcMGYBdczWi8A5Tq2Xu90r7w9i3JhwXaxNsd6QJJJF5FGVIGYLaRA6oyCvGDa-1pwzrh_70-m2IuQteneYPbMDz8Aw_OP8e9uN6h6FkK03sRnn2luuU8p3NHUCsgPXWzxoB9MfSD7fZnC/s1600-h/IMG_0989.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcMGYBdczWi8A5Tq2Xu90r7w9i3JhwXaxNsd6QJJJF5FGVIGYLaRA6oyCvGDa-1pwzrh_70-m2IuQteneYPbMDz8Aw_OP8e9uN6h6FkK03sRnn2luuU8p3NHUCsgPXWzxoB9MfSD7fZnC/s400/IMG_0989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190186394850939986" border="0" /></a>This guy was trying to catch some dinner as we passed<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EXkjB5t_BY1TIg4OJLfgqY3VHz47R8i_MCuNgmHyCbdwvOrlEGVv19kIbAgLpog4VuZRIqGCJ8kvJyPOjNMgKC-7m-2_C_H9R3mV_P_M2YfwSCXke1qvHqNBc7wNBbStQcnUPck3r8Hq/s1600-h/IMG_0991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EXkjB5t_BY1TIg4OJLfgqY3VHz47R8i_MCuNgmHyCbdwvOrlEGVv19kIbAgLpog4VuZRIqGCJ8kvJyPOjNMgKC-7m-2_C_H9R3mV_P_M2YfwSCXke1qvHqNBc7wNBbStQcnUPck3r8Hq/s400/IMG_0991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190186403440874594" border="0" /></a>I was so happy to be able to capture the sun like this- when it gets cloudy the sun pierces through the clouds in this perfect circle and it's such a different kind of beautiful<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadbcZUU2G5TcKwolJzmQefcqw_S0k5iSu8TRCaD0HT8kMteRmkgGpTaX_Xm3Lj-dZEcgPojxWtfw_Owdak_N9vz91hQjKuGP8XkO4KJBpM8GiEzL8bPdqFnIEz2Qa_R76x-OfxB8CAboO/s1600-h/IMG_0988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadbcZUU2G5TcKwolJzmQefcqw_S0k5iSu8TRCaD0HT8kMteRmkgGpTaX_Xm3Lj-dZEcgPojxWtfw_Owdak_N9vz91hQjKuGP8XkO4KJBpM8GiEzL8bPdqFnIEz2Qa_R76x-OfxB8CAboO/s400/IMG_0988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190186407735841906" border="0" /></a>Another jumping picture- they're so fun!<br />l-r: Stevie, Amy, Tamu, me, Stevie's Dad<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKR9Wvy1JACUzy9q0876Y5I_qCvA33lG2Gr1hV57COr83-gkIfVxgWcb7Lf7iSL3RDKAPmPyAdqQXntTro7v5QjEpC7qga_OCoMgXKJ4hC2tHqhPtGgX13XczoBnwd_-xnLiAn-HVgt7N/s1600-h/IMG_0982.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKR9Wvy1JACUzy9q0876Y5I_qCvA33lG2Gr1hV57COr83-gkIfVxgWcb7Lf7iSL3RDKAPmPyAdqQXntTro7v5QjEpC7qga_OCoMgXKJ4hC2tHqhPtGgX13XczoBnwd_-xnLiAn-HVgt7N/s400/IMG_0982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190186416325776514" border="0" /></a>This was completely candid- as we were about to take the picture, I pointed out to Rachel that she had a mystery bag on her foot that had floated in from the water :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF81nmF6XRgYyna2wRCCqP0Sd6jYzxuxjhZhseCvb18NsaY761iwsB9Ss-LUJVxzDEPx0PKlUBWyzWMhuip5J3IYkENsEnIbth_lhSPvMSho-qQ23kWHWX35_eb9XG6Pc931ohChitcPt/s1600-h/IMG_0981.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF81nmF6XRgYyna2wRCCqP0Sd6jYzxuxjhZhseCvb18NsaY761iwsB9Ss-LUJVxzDEPx0PKlUBWyzWMhuip5J3IYkENsEnIbth_lhSPvMSho-qQ23kWHWX35_eb9XG6Pc931ohChitcPt/s400/IMG_0981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190186420620743826" border="0" /></a>My nua (sibling in Twi), Rachel and our dresses that we got from Auntie Grace<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2IqTQ21C3Hkvnx2rNeS-I4m5IueRoSTfMUJXfM95hUIXO7FllFxQvH2Ohi6KCXc_AWgP2bqby5_w32EtpFXG06xATchZ2WOcLJ6r62ddAaA6vpU7b_w5ZjAwCJtE1JNbIVdTyNrc8INM/s1600-h/IMG_1013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2IqTQ21C3Hkvnx2rNeS-I4m5IueRoSTfMUJXfM95hUIXO7FllFxQvH2Ohi6KCXc_AWgP2bqby5_w32EtpFXG06xATchZ2WOcLJ6r62ddAaA6vpU7b_w5ZjAwCJtE1JNbIVdTyNrc8INM/s400/IMG_1013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190182434891093010" border="0" /></a>This is the view downward from the canopy walk<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yNRXYE8P6JHNyD92iKwFd5cC3KUTEnIRNJ1Yklut5i9xb0FJ4Pc5Pulpf7W2UbX3ZqN9tKt5Da4skbem3cPbxL9MB5-guJtCHjPEeFYOyEzbXIngFAqd2ChkpFPNZQfxRhcpJIlOqimw/s1600-h/IMG_1010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yNRXYE8P6JHNyD92iKwFd5cC3KUTEnIRNJ1Yklut5i9xb0FJ4Pc5Pulpf7W2UbX3ZqN9tKt5Da4skbem3cPbxL9MB5-guJtCHjPEeFYOyEzbXIngFAqd2ChkpFPNZQfxRhcpJIlOqimw/s400/IMG_1010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190182456365929506" border="0" /></a>Stevie and Travis just walking in some trees<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VP5JwwK07oYFCMOgcaH2pm6xjjaLX3QhTNjsEKO6Q5noj6d5NcjNVMz0ZAcDPB3GqxwTtII0ya6FfTgyGkp82Qe46CsTOdKb6-wr6NnDM7tcFXw_Q4H9YpxCYDL-4Y99kru7pU3kUuJi/s1600-h/IMG_1005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VP5JwwK07oYFCMOgcaH2pm6xjjaLX3QhTNjsEKO6Q5noj6d5NcjNVMz0ZAcDPB3GqxwTtII0ya6FfTgyGkp82Qe46CsTOdKb6-wr6NnDM7tcFXw_Q4H9YpxCYDL-4Y99kru7pU3kUuJi/s400/IMG_1005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190182464955864114" border="0" /></a><br />The canopy walk ladder aka what our life depended on, haha<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrVbD2kNwmAmJm1875uVEcdXAKXWmeQm_FoK08S6KxlW_OjKH4gD4cI4xCVz3BYDwjPkOe_opngQKxFpbUICNM2khAuLISVSy_tXcoyCHFebgrEoFWRBpQgAnhAyUIfkqpM1VlQjhVEb/s1600-h/IMG_0998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrVbD2kNwmAmJm1875uVEcdXAKXWmeQm_FoK08S6KxlW_OjKH4gD4cI4xCVz3BYDwjPkOe_opngQKxFpbUICNM2khAuLISVSy_tXcoyCHFebgrEoFWRBpQgAnhAyUIfkqpM1VlQjhVEb/s400/IMG_0998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190182477840766018" border="0" /></a>More tree tops<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">This past weekend was yet again tons of fun. I went with my program to Cape Coast, Elmina Castle, and Kakum. We left Saturday morning again and came back on Sunday evening. Saturday's events started out going through Cape Coast and then going to Elmina Castle. Elmina castle is a historical landmark in Ghana because it started out as a trading post for the Portuguese and later became a slave trading post for the Dutch. It was interesting to visit because so often we learn about the slave trade in our American textbooks and the reality of it can only come so close. You feel certain strong emotions of course, but to be in a country where slaves came from and to standing in the place where fates were sealed and people's lives were bartered was a completely different feeling. It was also so ironic because the area surrounding the castle is so beautiful. Beaches stretch for miles, palm trees line them, yet there in the middle of it is a dark place. But I'm really glad I was able to learn more about the slave trade in general as well as experience first hand one of the places of origin.<br /><br />After we visited the castle the mood was much lighter as we headed to where we were staying the night. Dinner wasn't going to be for several hours so some of us decided to wander down to the beach and walk into town. The beach was yet again, gorgeous, and it was a really nice evening. We ended up walking for about 2 hours and ended up at Cape Coast castle, but it was closed and getting dark so we couldn't go in. It surprised me how poor the town of Cape Coast is because the castles are one, if not the, top tourist stops in Ghana. Everyone was still so kind and it was a great end to the day- but we definitely took taxis back to the hotel :) The hotel had air conditioning and water pressure so I was definitely a happy camper.<br /><br />On Sunday morning we headed to Kakum we were able to hike to a canopy walk in the forest. For some reason I really love heights so it was so much fun for me, but it was a stretch of enjoyment for others. The ladders were about 180 feet off the ground and you didn't even get the full effect of how high you were because the tree tops gave you a false sense of there being something there. But the views were incredible and I loved every bit of it.<br /><br />I just registered for classes today and that was sort of bizarre to me. I guess because I feel slightly removed from the University of Texas world so it was weird to be registering for a school thousands of miles away, and simply to be thinking about what I will be doing in 4 months. I don't know if that makes sense but it was just kind of ironic, I guess, to where I am now. But anywho, all continues to go well. Classes are keepin' on and my internship continues to go wonderfully. This weekend I am going to visit the place where I will be working this summer and I'm really excited about that. It's about 2-3 hours away and I'm excited to get a better idea of what I'll be doing and meeting people too. wooo! I'm looking for to it.<br /><br />But I hope everyone enjoys the weekend and know that I miss you!! Can you believe April is coming to an end? Because I can't. baahh. Take care to all!<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-12688252768643837322008-04-10T10:09:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:08:59.235-08:002 months in...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGnE9sppPX9as6GYY2Dj-_Iao3pKzwQgVQH6W6gmwdUNftI5qK5WVdnl1609FmQ-YwfZxbRzv_jSgI2RKpW65b6_yc-yWiDT3CHdsV1-Qbz2-y3PScZeJPVuTc6vYS3AY8rg6T5-MWuC1/s1600-h/IMG_0737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGnE9sppPX9as6GYY2Dj-_Iao3pKzwQgVQH6W6gmwdUNftI5qK5WVdnl1609FmQ-YwfZxbRzv_jSgI2RKpW65b6_yc-yWiDT3CHdsV1-Qbz2-y3PScZeJPVuTc6vYS3AY8rg6T5-MWuC1/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188073072818225906" border="0" /></a>The top of Wli falls<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKmnTKOdsdM-PCHDbEENAMjSsH-txEyOP10EdKrieiOqx169waTF8cneWcmL06HvduaLkC6U0X8rOZ7Qu1fEzzLIlH62u4s7raS-jPeNYxoxj0zPLVs5OttXaq8RJxlUI57IByFyjrDv8/s1600-h/IMG_0713.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKmnTKOdsdM-PCHDbEENAMjSsH-txEyOP10EdKrieiOqx169waTF8cneWcmL06HvduaLkC6U0X8rOZ7Qu1fEzzLIlH62u4s7raS-jPeNYxoxj0zPLVs5OttXaq8RJxlUI57IByFyjrDv8/s320/IMG_0713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188073077113193218" border="0" /></a>This was the view from our hike- the surrounding areas were so green!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpWCnlgHCXBcaGsOR7Rxgr_WlIF-E_RgttooBgR9Bj0dUhfQu6o5LsZftPOSlZWvchKj91xcIcXjFvfuMAWo1NC39uzjbHFNvH83y7cD4WlQa7rpEzEqY9C0iiycn3OU6MMKXnlXdXUzh/s1600-h/IMG_0746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpWCnlgHCXBcaGsOR7Rxgr_WlIF-E_RgttooBgR9Bj0dUhfQu6o5LsZftPOSlZWvchKj91xcIcXjFvfuMAWo1NC39uzjbHFNvH83y7cD4WlQa7rpEzEqY9C0iiycn3OU6MMKXnlXdXUzh/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188073081408160530" border="0" /></a>Wli falls<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYKic71nJw0Q3-t2OvWt1zmeptQK5D_ecpTE7HK6DPWXcSDX7tbjrk9j0dQTBF2KuaI_t-pIKQoASuFDdvtMUSAVHrsAsZRP2y26F0wVpkKX-YJzwY1vM9uDbq_a5sc-wOolzD8hk3tD3/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYKic71nJw0Q3-t2OvWt1zmeptQK5D_ecpTE7HK6DPWXcSDX7tbjrk9j0dQTBF2KuaI_t-pIKQoASuFDdvtMUSAVHrsAsZRP2y26F0wVpkKX-YJzwY1vM9uDbq_a5sc-wOolzD8hk3tD3/s320/lindsay's+pics+350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188073089998095138" border="0" /></a>Hikers extraordinaire :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvjuLekaw5P3dIeZ1MdeOp2oV8gbETFUuc5hyphenhyphenZqpEGKB9I4H9HAjxfKm9Ukgd_Nl5NwmUnB8yHLCb4ug6c4M-7qLdF8wK9Jy83coONTCMFLT1TWkynyvijRfNQXtCO12FSFB3Su2AA7Qb/s1600-h/IMG_0760.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvjuLekaw5P3dIeZ1MdeOp2oV8gbETFUuc5hyphenhyphenZqpEGKB9I4H9HAjxfKm9Ukgd_Nl5NwmUnB8yHLCb4ug6c4M-7qLdF8wK9Jy83coONTCMFLT1TWkynyvijRfNQXtCO12FSFB3Su2AA7Qb/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188073089998095154" border="0" /></a>A Mama monkey with her baby at the Atome Tofi Sanctuary<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvNf5MjKp6E8GiqH-D-z_7K0fEnxtnb7aikXYNTXs3qdYVmL_JVkSiGLJBZGaRibSNxfiQYSnRMDW1xVT5oGKVbyJmh5KUhPT74jhmxUQdmkWBRMbvsLMViG0ccP8sryM0KfaivF__tW3/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+583.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvNf5MjKp6E8GiqH-D-z_7K0fEnxtnb7aikXYNTXs3qdYVmL_JVkSiGLJBZGaRibSNxfiQYSnRMDW1xVT5oGKVbyJmh5KUhPT74jhmxUQdmkWBRMbvsLMViG0ccP8sryM0KfaivF__tW3/s320/lindsay's+pics+583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188071294701765282" border="0" /></a>The rains approaching on our boat ride to Togoville<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMlUzmCRdfAfdbzsezCgCrWlUTgqFcW4w8v28hqSegshms4Pv6vrxWaw10pjfZN7WffsOaf7jkauQ0tJeMQnR6WHIUp8ZaHh2aKrDAM86Y1v6pUsKgrHHIZCLwqNrFs5jYN_9y1k8EQkH/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMlUzmCRdfAfdbzsezCgCrWlUTgqFcW4w8v28hqSegshms4Pv6vrxWaw10pjfZN7WffsOaf7jkauQ0tJeMQnR6WHIUp8ZaHh2aKrDAM86Y1v6pUsKgrHHIZCLwqNrFs5jYN_9y1k8EQkH/s320/lindsay's+pics+569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188071303291699890" border="0" /></a>Our sweet ride :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIaFCgqPwbMNg6dQfevpQ12QF5qT9D0P9n8Gord88JJIEVdGJUuGUANty0duIA-SjOChMpuolMnKPdiLcQUhyUy-d0E951a0W9Pe3vcViHjNSfz_xCfAkNhcFxGO_T-Oqg4Qp6x6kh2eP/s1600-h/IMG_0871.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIaFCgqPwbMNg6dQfevpQ12QF5qT9D0P9n8Gord88JJIEVdGJUuGUANty0duIA-SjOChMpuolMnKPdiLcQUhyUy-d0E951a0W9Pe3vcViHjNSfz_xCfAkNhcFxGO_T-Oqg4Qp6x6kh2eP/s320/IMG_0871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188071307586667202" border="0" /></a>A voo-doo fetish in Togoville<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcAcOo1fX1jPeXbdHfk7Mja0dh_hg6xQ8JDsxAT7HzZR5gtTnQmU3Mges80bWSS0yIpLLyNnVZKYRBlD0coFeCvWyDL3k60B-w8OenhETF9rYXaQMIhGHl9y-bY6wFanOxSEpeuJx3W4T/s1600-h/IMG_0880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcAcOo1fX1jPeXbdHfk7Mja0dh_hg6xQ8JDsxAT7HzZR5gtTnQmU3Mges80bWSS0yIpLLyNnVZKYRBlD0coFeCvWyDL3k60B-w8OenhETF9rYXaQMIhGHl9y-bY6wFanOxSEpeuJx3W4T/s320/IMG_0880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188071311881634514" border="0" /></a>The glorious streets of Lome!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmdb-xyW6wEjQcvlBmX7zJmtBrmUWXE0pjCh2lYlY0Rpx_XoGQ7t5RoQA6C4QjNfqEWBIp9OjmXuDorqIEYCP0FFqrqJ5eLB0H8MPpm_XPvGz8iZ6MIbvfZNijleFJ2sGQTqn9UJyQN96/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+555.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmdb-xyW6wEjQcvlBmX7zJmtBrmUWXE0pjCh2lYlY0Rpx_XoGQ7t5RoQA6C4QjNfqEWBIp9OjmXuDorqIEYCP0FFqrqJ5eLB0H8MPpm_XPvGz8iZ6MIbvfZNijleFJ2sGQTqn9UJyQN96/s320/lindsay's+pics+555.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188069314721841746" border="0" /></a>Pure bliss on my moto ride!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjMimIBjcEAE3H-DVLW9PmOBMSuMSrxtyvRDlXHhoVxZJPvY-YbByKWhJh_Px8pVUw6WYyA6-ORWrWlBwY36i7ND4IrUH6_Jl7HRkTgoXhlrFVtHQiOMfjxOSUqlGJ5frIqVqfYkzX2ho/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjMimIBjcEAE3H-DVLW9PmOBMSuMSrxtyvRDlXHhoVxZJPvY-YbByKWhJh_Px8pVUw6WYyA6-ORWrWlBwY36i7ND4IrUH6_Jl7HRkTgoXhlrFVtHQiOMfjxOSUqlGJ5frIqVqfYkzX2ho/s320/lindsay's+pics+557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188069319016809058" border="0" /></a>Moto-ing it to a delicious bakery<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHYiavIyKy1krUMtBc0-dtIrOFJtx5NlsAnkeIZQt5Bej_C9STvbM5hoyTbvXjf51_e5hsWQB7QjKF4CLWM3T7FpZmA9YIH5i-gcixDCdwHTtBk7skhDmxKJFtgglpCLKmjYFHE8j8hqL/s1600-h/IMG_0828.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHYiavIyKy1krUMtBc0-dtIrOFJtx5NlsAnkeIZQt5Bej_C9STvbM5hoyTbvXjf51_e5hsWQB7QjKF4CLWM3T7FpZmA9YIH5i-gcixDCdwHTtBk7skhDmxKJFtgglpCLKmjYFHE8j8hqL/s320/IMG_0828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188069323311776370" border="0" /></a>These guys were pulling in a load of fish from the shore- it took about 30 of them<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtHRyd7fD9FvWazsTM7Og0U3mQd6GFn7JjZPc6vWNsns_6wCJD3mH0HNfZk-zr_-__KRoCZYcvuSJplssQfHeK4VbOqKfiqmh8NP_NHIbg410c-oYhTZI40QRythx7z5dFEYcogyLfjDr/s1600-h/IMG_0850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtHRyd7fD9FvWazsTM7Og0U3mQd6GFn7JjZPc6vWNsns_6wCJD3mH0HNfZk-zr_-__KRoCZYcvuSJplssQfHeK4VbOqKfiqmh8NP_NHIbg410c-oYhTZI40QRythx7z5dFEYcogyLfjDr/s320/IMG_0850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188069323311776386" border="0" /></a>Wes contemplating life on the ride to Togoville<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxIW8HF2jcmtdspuE7rczgZM5OV4XkKsWYscIoJty6m4VAm6Qm2zZ6HNPrG3Wsc-YS1Vu2bSgyK-kKIa0O2vcJolssmeTbMDi8VmkOdT9XmvydHag5bSKXCLjhCFpLD6KYe4oMoqL5Dde/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+579.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxIW8HF2jcmtdspuE7rczgZM5OV4XkKsWYscIoJty6m4VAm6Qm2zZ6HNPrG3Wsc-YS1Vu2bSgyK-kKIa0O2vcJolssmeTbMDi8VmkOdT9XmvydHag5bSKXCLjhCFpLD6KYe4oMoqL5Dde/s320/lindsay's+pics+579.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188069327606743698" border="0" /></a>The motor of our boat :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtryWtBbr9MXj7blrA227NKsMtrFJRQSxuxYkk9VySRf0rsAhgK2Xu0rltL6_IEqw2KykGm8914S7PJKiD7rNES62c1Vp3w67gGSkXBbZD743F6WttllGorN9XNnfLz8eTibN0Y3Wu16KN/s1600-h/IMG_0676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtryWtBbr9MXj7blrA227NKsMtrFJRQSxuxYkk9VySRf0rsAhgK2Xu0rltL6_IEqw2KykGm8914S7PJKiD7rNES62c1Vp3w67gGSkXBbZD743F6WttllGorN9XNnfLz8eTibN0Y3Wu16KN/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188068043411522050" border="0" /></a>This is Ophelia and her newly made bracelet- she's one of the girls at Today's Choices<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRv711IR3UMldSuy5ympYKru8xNTR7cChPZiE_SHXdiTvvLQqcwIBedZ5R526gOSnIRgMBlIeWM-aCfPjhWOAW2g5dK0RPRQDzzcCq8L7sfI1pihuroOP5h1F1lgYeXGdHPF_rTwTdQKC/s1600-h/IMG_0681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRv711IR3UMldSuy5ympYKru8xNTR7cChPZiE_SHXdiTvvLQqcwIBedZ5R526gOSnIRgMBlIeWM-aCfPjhWOAW2g5dK0RPRQDzzcCq8L7sfI1pihuroOP5h1F1lgYeXGdHPF_rTwTdQKC/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188068052001456658" border="0" /></a>The baking class making their jewelry at Today's Choices<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaCfZVt1TrUKwD3ZwRdddYCnR5cVah3evn7iLKfRQK362nVxlhqqBoNCzAPle4OfAqtC-Zoa4wlK2ceV9d_SZPDVsJGcbn47RTgPAKy_GRMhRI_u9Vl8d8R3cqgR7aoe6hEHYhMi5GWX-/s1600-h/IMG_0803.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaCfZVt1TrUKwD3ZwRdddYCnR5cVah3evn7iLKfRQK362nVxlhqqBoNCzAPle4OfAqtC-Zoa4wlK2ceV9d_SZPDVsJGcbn47RTgPAKy_GRMhRI_u9Vl8d8R3cqgR7aoe6hEHYhMi5GWX-/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188068052001456674" border="0" /></a>Lindsay and I rejoicing in the goodness of baguettes and cheese in Togo!!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn44W26UaCXt5g0pGUlUjyiUOplQXx-ZxYktSsV8hhiSH3yfn84aDgo7Szzysz9xYcSq-njf59gG-6F01c1ODKX-PBIaxCMeBUE4Tb2Z6EAgbgqaeFrPxbiosN2xthHa23eGnlC917y3r/s1600-h/IMG_0808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn44W26UaCXt5g0pGUlUjyiUOplQXx-ZxYktSsV8hhiSH3yfn84aDgo7Szzysz9xYcSq-njf59gG-6F01c1ODKX-PBIaxCMeBUE4Tb2Z6EAgbgqaeFrPxbiosN2xthHa23eGnlC917y3r/s320/IMG_0808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188068056296423986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC95ECJVS27Caz2tlyAKS-6UyiRcg0mNxipPmm7W_AyMz_JMgDmCrRzOhLgAPqqhx8FooWaDuJ1JlLrdpS_Kk-x6tlgSJaw2ezW-0fvq7t7mYC2ywL-BAEiJBiMwL7ncNwlltxqgLVd3dO/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+528.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC95ECJVS27Caz2tlyAKS-6UyiRcg0mNxipPmm7W_AyMz_JMgDmCrRzOhLgAPqqhx8FooWaDuJ1JlLrdpS_Kk-x6tlgSJaw2ezW-0fvq7t7mYC2ywL-BAEiJBiMwL7ncNwlltxqgLVd3dO/s320/lindsay's+pics+528.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188068060591391298" border="0" /></a>Our delicious dinner in Lome our first night- something other than rice! I was so incredibly happy!! yummmm...<br /></div><br />My past couple weekends here in Ghana have probably been some of my favorite. I've been able to travel and see more of Ghana and West Africa and I just love it so much! West Africa holds so many different cultures and climates and scenery, that I'm really glad I could experience just a taste of it.<br /><br />Each time I feel like I write about the heat and how it's getting really hot, because every time I don't think it will get any hotter...and then it does. So let's just leave it at the fact that it is really freaking hot here and I sweat a ridiculous amount but it's okay because so does everyone else. Last time it will be mentioned.<br /><br />Two weeks ago my program divided us up into two groups and half of us went to the Volta Region (Eastern Ghana) and the other half went to Cape Coast (which is the western coast). This weekend we will switch and go to the other place, but my group went to the Volta Region and visited Wli Falls and the Atome Tofi Monkey Sanctuary. My group was the smaller of the two and I really enjoyed the people I went with. We left early Saturday morning and it was about a 3 hour bus ride to the falls. The Eastern region is much more tropical and green and it was great to have such a beautiful change of scenery. We went to the falls in Wli first (which is near Ho, a city in the Volta region) which consisted of about a 45 minute walk to the base. The jungle/forest was so green and simply gorgeous- I had to keep reminding myself that I was walking through a jungle/forest in Africa and not somewhere in America. It is still so crazy for me to wrap my mind around everything I'm seeing and doing sometimes I feel that it's hard to soak in. But none the less, the falls were amazing and the water was so cool and it felt incredible! I had never been in/under a waterfall before and it was a really neat experience. After a much enjoyed hike back to the bus, we had lunch at a nearby hostel and it was delicious. Since being here I have absolutely fallen in love with plantains in any way, shape, or form and if they are in any meal I have I am a happy camper :)<br /><br />We then drove another hour to the monkey sanctuary and didn't stay too long but it was still really cool to see monkeys upclose and even get to feed them! There was only one type of monkey there, and I can't remember what they are called, but they were cute all the same. After that, we went to our hotel. All these activities took place pretty much in the middle of nowhere (ie not near a city) and out hotel was no exception. It was perched on the side of a mountain and was absolutely perfect! The rooms were so nice and the bathroom was HUGE! It was clean, with soft sheets, and above all... AIR CONDITIONING!!! It was the best nights sleep I've had while I've been here. We were all pretty tired, so after eating dinner there we kind of hung out and hit the hay early. Sunday was nice and relaxing too and after lunch we headed back home. I guess I loved it so much because even though it was action packed, we saw some beautiful places and but had fun and were able to relax.<br /><br />But this past weekend was the kicker. We were going to have to turn in our passports this Monday to get renewed authorization and wouldn't be getting them back for a while. Therefore some friends and I decided to carpe diem and take a weekend trip to Togo (the country East of Ghana) before we had to hand them in. It only took us about 4 hours to get there. We took tro-tros going both ways and it was a straight shot in and out of Accra. The tros took us to the border town of Aflao, and there we exchanged some money and crossed the border, purchasing a visa as we went. It was one of the craziest feelings crossing that border, because never have I ever experienced such a drastic change of culture happening only with in 100 feet or so. They speak French in Togo, which I do not speak a lick of, and it very soon came to my attention that tro-tros and taxis are not the main form of place to place transportation- motorcycles are! At first I thought there was a hog rally going on, African style. But then I realized (as two pulled up to Lindsey and asked where we wanted to go), that this is how people get from place to place. I can't tell you how free and wonderful I felt riding around on one! haha. I guess I never really thought I'd like to ride one but now I want one! Or at least someone to drive me places on one :) I just loved it so much and couldn't stop smiling when I was on one!<br /><br /><br />But we stayed at this little hotel called Hotel le Galion near the beach. We stayed in Lome, which is right next to the border and is the capital city. It was neat because not only did the language change, but the entire culture. I didn't get called 'oboruni' or any other name that seperated me, there were baguettes being sold on the street, the architecture was different, and it was right next to the freaking beach! It was all in all so wonderful. We had amazing food that night which included hummus and tabouleh (I thought of you, Jor) and this really neat, funky place with live music. The next day (Saturday) my friends Lindsay, Wes and Grace and I traveled to Lake Togo and Togoville. We soon discovered that to get to Togoville we had to cross Lake Togo, and therefore we experienced a fun, gondola-type boat ride across the lake. We barely missed the down pour that occurred nearly after we got a shore, but it was much needed. Togoville had some interesting history, but it was mostly nice to just see some different towns landscapes. We returned back to Lome that evening and just relaxed at the hotel and headed out to try some Togo street food. I had some delicious cous cous, and experienced a new flavor of Fanta- Fanta Citron. It was incredible, but the sadly don't sell it in Ghana :( It was a pretty low key night and we just got up early that morning and hit the markets. Bargaining in Togo is much more of a workout and you definitely have to earn the good deals you get with them. Lindsey and I literally spent 20 minutes sitting with this man going back and forth over some silly bracelets- but we were victorious in the end. They have nice leather there too, so I spoiled myself with some new sandals :) That afternoon (Sunday) we headed back to Accra and to good ol' Ghanian culture.<br /><br />This week was also great because Thursday at my internship we had a special Domestic Violence and Rape Education day. Lindsay came in and spoke and we all pitched in about various topics. The girls all repsonded so well, asked a lot of questions and I couldn't have been happier with it all. And last week on Thursday (Thursdays tend to be our activities/non-teaching days there) or friend Lizzie came in and taught bracelet/necklace making with beads. They all really loved it and it was neat to see them making something on their own and be proud of it. Everything is still going great there, and it's just a day to day learning, challenging and growing experience.<br /><br />I know this has been a long one- sorry for my long-windedness! I hope everyone is doing well and you know that I miss you all dearly. Take care!!<br /><br />ps- sorry the pictures are a little out of order- I'm still getting used to this blogger thing!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-37702762580998934452008-03-12T11:38:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:09:01.698-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnVvn3stBHGNkcpsZbewNkJ5YJbk-x2j12efFo4_MY5zFqEnwXnde8Hw7zfhGNrYsVNJKX81FoNAs9qat_VziUGmjlnK5IFHCt2gvbDts-dwHSPCe4FMsM3KCTQmmYANXFka_nT8Uwhqk/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+140.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnVvn3stBHGNkcpsZbewNkJ5YJbk-x2j12efFo4_MY5zFqEnwXnde8Hw7zfhGNrYsVNJKX81FoNAs9qat_VziUGmjlnK5IFHCt2gvbDts-dwHSPCe4FMsM3KCTQmmYANXFka_nT8Uwhqk/s320/lindsay's+pics+140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180648531033917074" border="0" /></a>Rachel bundled on the floor in Winneba<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvk-mfC4Cvlu646UAe1yCrQQQkoR9HXV7BwOFyzGH30LIWw4kk2I6X5R1B6iWcccPjYwHWdSKdOtsO2yihAOtGcACz9Zhrv0rGjQQevIWa9KKFcDxI5ObDLEBNQANGLkGKkRLHXuuvGzB/s1600-h/lindsay's+pics+150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvk-mfC4Cvlu646UAe1yCrQQQkoR9HXV7BwOFyzGH30LIWw4kk2I6X5R1B6iWcccPjYwHWdSKdOtsO2yihAOtGcACz9Zhrv0rGjQQevIWa9KKFcDxI5ObDLEBNQANGLkGKkRLHXuuvGzB/s320/lindsay's+pics+150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180648539623851682" border="0" /></a>Royal Beach<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c2rqI5qYUgXNXZJEcQ1zNP5wzjA42oNPHBRBe2VtWD9Floy8eTwplP5Pe_8GaZE87F7rH1TUKY3ZKolQUQGgBk8BNosWTydw44d1vRv_fP5HAK65DKKK3Nrvp_TeVFO906sghWxw3QEW/s1600-h/rachel+b%27s+pictures+550.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c2rqI5qYUgXNXZJEcQ1zNP5wzjA42oNPHBRBe2VtWD9Floy8eTwplP5Pe_8GaZE87F7rH1TUKY3ZKolQUQGgBk8BNosWTydw44d1vRv_fP5HAK65DKKK3Nrvp_TeVFO906sghWxw3QEW/s320/rachel+b%27s+pictures+550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180648548213786290" border="0" /></a>Darling Nonja<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxErsyWoFzM2oMNScb74Y5YeAEEZrC-STteXUf4tDWbXxVvBMfarBUUouOpVfXHiGa9sF19WY_nVjwCfikS_HnTkGm232k_L1_vfEYCcU7h36N0WQ6NdopQi7KreuG_EekqS4L5dSBxhR/s1600-h/rachel+b%27s+pictures+540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxErsyWoFzM2oMNScb74Y5YeAEEZrC-STteXUf4tDWbXxVvBMfarBUUouOpVfXHiGa9sF19WY_nVjwCfikS_HnTkGm232k_L1_vfEYCcU7h36N0WQ6NdopQi7KreuG_EekqS4L5dSBxhR/s320/rachel+b%27s+pictures+540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180648556803720898" border="0" /></a>Pounding of the fufu (pounded boiled yam to a gooey substance = Ghanian staple)<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxHPcP_WnLmeSF665n83ntR7i3YYBzsbe-i4OLl3UsIyVTYoDj-YOYtmWfG41l-SuQnG91Z7-VIjh7hEA-VofnidRtjYswn2cl8mN6_Ej_r6xahuaiky4oZEYCA5DIwd0cYQxdsb0tD8X/s1600-h/rachel+b%27s+pictures+538.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxHPcP_WnLmeSF665n83ntR7i3YYBzsbe-i4OLl3UsIyVTYoDj-YOYtmWfG41l-SuQnG91Z7-VIjh7hEA-VofnidRtjYswn2cl8mN6_Ej_r6xahuaiky4oZEYCA5DIwd0cYQxdsb0tD8X/s320/rachel+b%27s+pictures+538.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180648565393655506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4EOyVBvNmYJrkkp4NrQP5nDGfuGX0FB-dQf8l3Ek_gEW-X3PLrVuxkIwngOY3S0wfCq4kE1Hl0PAEBHa8AH5W4JBlBzO3HWdwZciOBGQ05Bqh-SvxEESwt3ym3FJaL1zNdPYY5_8gu2M/s1600-h/IMG_0420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4EOyVBvNmYJrkkp4NrQP5nDGfuGX0FB-dQf8l3Ek_gEW-X3PLrVuxkIwngOY3S0wfCq4kE1Hl0PAEBHa8AH5W4JBlBzO3HWdwZciOBGQ05Bqh-SvxEESwt3ym3FJaL1zNdPYY5_8gu2M/s320/IMG_0420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180644248951522898" border="0" /></a>At the Independence Day Parade<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dHuGBwBuplqFi_zzZpPT73lY6Bhonbc5Vxfp4g5NFNkyfFBFK6C54EN_Io23LV5IZCvvs9_-HefLn-ySN0Z4jA_CeG7yVAWGPEWS34QPqvLUDP0moF9joDnKr3aNgIiw_GLyaHTPlCp6/s1600-h/IMG_0422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dHuGBwBuplqFi_zzZpPT73lY6Bhonbc5Vxfp4g5NFNkyfFBFK6C54EN_Io23LV5IZCvvs9_-HefLn-ySN0Z4jA_CeG7yVAWGPEWS34QPqvLUDP0moF9joDnKr3aNgIiw_GLyaHTPlCp6/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180644266131392098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlpxrc7CdyBOJQH5aLYZj1z5SU7hayXAVxbs9TLtK794aX_WnJV5yaeeVMkv1nDjv71b5p8aMrgfBVVVvKbzMmrtyJzdkWl-hnLbX6hc05gbFhBc2Igiy-d2O1Q2UshT9NX2Zm707m8sb/s1600-h/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlpxrc7CdyBOJQH5aLYZj1z5SU7hayXAVxbs9TLtK794aX_WnJV5yaeeVMkv1nDjv71b5p8aMrgfBVVVvKbzMmrtyJzdkWl-hnLbX6hc05gbFhBc2Igiy-d2O1Q2UshT9NX2Zm707m8sb/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180644270426359410" border="0" /></a>Fanta's for life<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEokTwtDGlx38SdxIPHl7WNQe1qeqIoHNZ2ODusS9mIVX0wfTj1ugsxrcDvH_sLaoD5Tri6ujAj3EzckeBnG-P9pINMxDJkVCTQoN5aTI9tilFA1YKb31WqX15BGzPLF42pfi4X8E6t-8/s1600-h/IMG_0438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEokTwtDGlx38SdxIPHl7WNQe1qeqIoHNZ2ODusS9mIVX0wfTj1ugsxrcDvH_sLaoD5Tri6ujAj3EzckeBnG-P9pINMxDJkVCTQoN5aTI9tilFA1YKb31WqX15BGzPLF42pfi4X8E6t-8/s320/IMG_0438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180644291901195906" border="0" /></a><br />Winneba Beach<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86zTcfPBM9JcyH1LOolu8Bf5a1noaqMaFrIZh2r8DwmMrgZdIaF2eZiCvotLn1Y8ZgjrjNeL3JYrHld5kzOkdBm-_RbGKZRZY-D2rEZBDy_I2J-6FttI9cy1u7dOCPPkMKYMxnV8jLfjz/s1600-h/IMG_0648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86zTcfPBM9JcyH1LOolu8Bf5a1noaqMaFrIZh2r8DwmMrgZdIaF2eZiCvotLn1Y8ZgjrjNeL3JYrHld5kzOkdBm-_RbGKZRZY-D2rEZBDy_I2J-6FttI9cy1u7dOCPPkMKYMxnV8jLfjz/s320/IMG_0648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180642934691530226" border="0" /></a>Baboons at Shai Hills<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFT1KlZvznzT5nF0e95ZAPirCi2r7FOhfX_fe5Z_Mp85IKjqsZxRBo3Q_MwyE0nnonnRqOAlGgePn4lwrOKiTvlw8w7NENtODwHmZbJ2gjBxCj0yyhEOO6ZtDLFHWnNWUyiqDoCgVVsoK/s1600-h/IMG_0650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFT1KlZvznzT5nF0e95ZAPirCi2r7FOhfX_fe5Z_Mp85IKjqsZxRBo3Q_MwyE0nnonnRqOAlGgePn4lwrOKiTvlw8w7NENtODwHmZbJ2gjBxCj0yyhEOO6ZtDLFHWnNWUyiqDoCgVVsoK/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180642947576432130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSDjtYgKKdfg51fuKq2uRZ5PvvYZTAzVBVyTQMAgaNclkznPcXz9psChxtpPg2VrxwFcVEFbC7L8Is18m2LPeSHXyMukJFO-jN-WbouUwrT4St_AzsAe5w3cIWo6WWOVCeEq66X5_c3Fl/s1600-h/IMG_0653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSDjtYgKKdfg51fuKq2uRZ5PvvYZTAzVBVyTQMAgaNclkznPcXz9psChxtpPg2VrxwFcVEFbC7L8Is18m2LPeSHXyMukJFO-jN-WbouUwrT4St_AzsAe5w3cIWo6WWOVCeEq66X5_c3Fl/s320/IMG_0653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180642964756301330" border="0" /></a>Our hiking adventure<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi0GaBDQ9GX5xH33D6ccr8HTCs1cZYcMU4LDI4cgzQupb20PTBP5jZ9qTJ7mmk4DISlGPxUZ_zCBs1VvToT-wf-IibXhMxQcxiQi3T49Cr-ZZj6dC-RMQdJl8AVSAtJuM1SylsgV17ND9/s1600-h/IMG_0665.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi0GaBDQ9GX5xH33D6ccr8HTCs1cZYcMU4LDI4cgzQupb20PTBP5jZ9qTJ7mmk4DISlGPxUZ_zCBs1VvToT-wf-IibXhMxQcxiQi3T49Cr-ZZj6dC-RMQdJl8AVSAtJuM1SylsgV17ND9/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180642969051268642" border="0" /></a>Boabob Tree (?)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxle8G-sjwfjlh4cD_3QcSBTRWzTol9vflMuUeIweW5g8xacIYT69-pa8_l9e7eZUlqikBmXkIB0DPpl_MRgpTRQSIwSCio7ienqtaZBZAcvzND0qnNPTYxHCEm4gSW_T1M2RZloKXUFzC/s1600-h/IMG_0661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxle8G-sjwfjlh4cD_3QcSBTRWzTol9vflMuUeIweW5g8xacIYT69-pa8_l9e7eZUlqikBmXkIB0DPpl_MRgpTRQSIwSCio7ienqtaZBZAcvzND0qnNPTYxHCEm4gSW_T1M2RZloKXUFzC/s320/IMG_0661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180642986231137842" border="0" /></a>Shai Hills<br /><br /></div>I apologize for the long time that has past in between my posts (particularly to my wonderful mother... :) Life just gets a little crazy and sporatic, you know? But I will try to summarize the past three'ish weeks in some way shape or form.<br /><br />To start, the saying that March is the hottest month here is not a lie... not even slightly. I don't think I ever stop sweating, let's just put it that way. And there are random power outages here and that means no fan at night which means...torture. haha Ventilation has a whole new appreciation in my mind. The sun is also causing me to get some pretty funky tan lines just from walking back and forth from school etc.- my feet look like I'm wearing my Chacos even when I've taken them off... real cute.<br /><br />School has finally picked up and I've been enjoying a full load of activities. This week is my third complete week of all the daily happenings I have in my schedule- internship, classes, Twi, and all the other random bits life in Ghana loves to throw at you. I have been going to my internship three days a week and the past couple times have been absolutely wonderful. Last week was a low-key week there so I was able to just spend some time with the girls and they taught me 5 different ways to braid hair! haha. I'm thinking of starting my own business when I get back :)<br /><br />I don't know if I mentioned this, but the place is called Today's Choices and it's a center/school for girls coming from abusive or poorer backgrounds and the center has three different sections of skills it teaches. It teaches hair braiding/cutting, etc., baking, and dress making and sewing. These are all skills that the girls learn so they can go out after they graduate from the program and have skills to work. Counseling is also available for the girls and the director/founder is really great and I've enjoyed working for him a lot. Two other girls from my program were placed with me this past week and its been such a relief working with them because we were given the task of teaching English lessons. This week started off better than I expected and they know quite a bit. We just went over the basics, and most of them speak it fairly well, but understanding the nitty-gritty stuff is a whole other adventure- we're up for it though.<br /><br />Three weeks ago was Ghana's 51st Independence Day celebration. A group of us went into Accra in the morning to watch the alleged parade. But evidently there is a difference in the American meaning of parade and the Ghanian meaning. The Ghanian meaning is for groups of military, different school children etc. to march around in a circle in the Independence square. We sat in the stands and watched, and it was neat to be a part of all of it, just not a 4th of July celebration I'm used to. There were some cool planes that passed over spraying Ghanian colors and the president was there too so that was fun. It was weird to celebrate Independence day without burgers and potato salad though!<br /><br />Two weekends ago some friends and I traveled around to several fishing villages and it was incredible. It just continues tp knock me off my feet everyday with the simple fact that I am here. It is so beautiful and wonderful!! We stayed at a place on the beach and walked along this long beautiful beach and just hung out and somehow managed to find our way around.<br />It is becoming more apparent to me though, or maybe the funny-factor of it is wearing off, but that people give a lot more attention to me because of my skin than I would like. You will find a lot of kind people here who simply want to help you, but you also find a lot of people who want to take advantage of you and not necessarily help. It's good to be on the ball all the time though, and I've learned a lot about safety and become much more firm and not as timid when it comes to dealing with people (in a good way :).<br /><br />My family here is still absolutely wonderful and I have so much fun with them all the time. I was just telling my roommate how lucky we are to be with them, because they seriously are such a blessing and we all get along so well. We all went dancing again last Friday and we tore it up as usual... woo! Oh, and it rained here!!! Alleluia!! It was three weeks ago and it rained twice, three days apart. It was a definite tease and has left us wanting more but was so wonderful because it cooled things off for...half a day. haha. But what a wonderful half-a-day it was.<br />Last weekend was fairly uneventful besides the dancing. Out program has some tours set up at a local museum, the Dubois center, and the Nkrumah Mausoleum. It was interesting to learn a little more about Ghana's history and influences.<br /><br />And finally this weekend has been just perfect. We had Good Friday off from school and I went to church which was long, but very good. It was interesting because most everyone wore black or dark colors to mourn Jesus' death which I hadn't seen observed in that way before. A group of us then went to a nearby hotel and used the pool and it was HEAVEN!!! A body of water has never felt that sensational, haha. And then today Rachel, Lindsay and I ventured out to the Shai Hills and did a little hiking. It took slightly longer than we thought and we ended up hiking at the hottest part of the day, but it was so beautiful we didn't care. I think we were all just glad to be out of the city atmosphere and have clean air! The land was pretty dry because of the season but we got to climb up to the top of this hill and look out at the land and it was so crazy. It was crazy because I was sitting on this gorgegous rock looking out onto the African savannah that God freaking made...wow!!!! I still can't believe I'm here. I don't know if it'll ever really sink in. gah.<br /><br />But tomorrow is Easter and I'm looking forward to celebrating it. I hear that women get up at the crack of dawn and walk in the streets singing and looking for Jesus, like the women in the bible. That should be interesting to wake up to :) But anyways, happy Easter to all!!!<br /><br />Well, dinner calls. I'm praying it's not rice because my system can only take so much. I got a mango the size of a dinosaur egg today, though. And I look forward to the joy that will come from its consumption, :) Take care to all and know that you are missed!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-10005392750780788412008-03-02T06:53:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:09:03.506-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7q1r0Muuh5LFhp4xKZgcuPV7PJy_zzG5S9XbQnkkp3wYmaj2aIWgblDyxTqP8B55_ykcjsAKqJpkTvK7swCZIHTpdv5CoizKCYroGnYsovx4MZWuT5ZCg6O8DEiPYN46i3rtunLGAFCz/s1600-h/IMG_0405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7q1r0Muuh5LFhp4xKZgcuPV7PJy_zzG5S9XbQnkkp3wYmaj2aIWgblDyxTqP8B55_ykcjsAKqJpkTvK7swCZIHTpdv5CoizKCYroGnYsovx4MZWuT5ZCg6O8DEiPYN46i3rtunLGAFCz/s320/IMG_0405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173172180100325954" border="0" /></a>A boy at Kokrobite on one of the fishing boats.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Lindsay, Rachel and Tamu tro-troing it<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1laD9IkfF-hf47mCd6IA7BwI2ZasAphdvf8QBfnJeiPcAdYfe5-BJMgHunOH0GjtGDr0Oou_Up0gmsi3QexmSFr7NVals7X3wk6_10Bkb_9-bx3q1RwslKIUNfglo2AFx5zCgLLJyIsLM/s1600-h/IMG_0352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1laD9IkfF-hf47mCd6IA7BwI2ZasAphdvf8QBfnJeiPcAdYfe5-BJMgHunOH0GjtGDr0Oou_Up0gmsi3QexmSFr7NVals7X3wk6_10Bkb_9-bx3q1RwslKIUNfglo2AFx5zCgLLJyIsLM/s320/IMG_0352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173172192985227874" border="0" /></a><br />Chinese food in Africa?...yes please!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8BX-RDTS0eGa2-zPMd_DyiMYz3vu7G82lDaz_EfKObFRGm463wsns56UFyaA5EU5AjmCTGVtq9pJr7hQ7VfokW5NFydxtrDM69xocjlubJPbTc7bg2hhk6huK-c-wUFkPUw_yikigszi/s1600-h/IMG_0355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8BX-RDTS0eGa2-zPMd_DyiMYz3vu7G82lDaz_EfKObFRGm463wsns56UFyaA5EU5AjmCTGVtq9pJr7hQ7VfokW5NFydxtrDM69xocjlubJPbTc7bg2hhk6huK-c-wUFkPUw_yikigszi/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173172201575162482" border="0" /></a>Everyone on the tro-tro :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawCtqYb0OxuaxR4vBlw7Pu27BeiPQkxXdaYsUxxB2_BDP79oZ8lp4HjYFnsGHQpvg_iYBLVPx7XM6VQr7FmSEDCXQR2vzybC-HrDTbsRdySzk9WyErOAzYvstV4oD5n6qhPkiso4PEPKr/s1600-h/IMG_0361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawCtqYb0OxuaxR4vBlw7Pu27BeiPQkxXdaYsUxxB2_BDP79oZ8lp4HjYFnsGHQpvg_iYBLVPx7XM6VQr7FmSEDCXQR2vzybC-HrDTbsRdySzk9WyErOAzYvstV4oD5n6qhPkiso4PEPKr/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173170831480594930" border="0" /></a><br />Rachel, Awenyeh, Stephanie and Me- I wake up to this each morning!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKv8cJvozVI4z8GcXQd9s9hfg2n7iTX30PEc4p3n5HEo4R89o0PbAOX8ITW2r6ygJxojPkXbZ6qZtqXE6z6WqXXrVNlwXMMOdga5M4qNT2JGhnkX6TXkFaa1xyJUlykYFx3tJW5_4sNRgZ/s1600-h/IMG_0363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKv8cJvozVI4z8GcXQd9s9hfg2n7iTX30PEc4p3n5HEo4R89o0PbAOX8ITW2r6ygJxojPkXbZ6qZtqXE6z6WqXXrVNlwXMMOdga5M4qNT2JGhnkX6TXkFaa1xyJUlykYFx3tJW5_4sNRgZ/s320/IMG_0363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173170921674908162" border="0" /></a><br />These were the friends we made at the beach.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a6cVj-REWi_8Oq1eqR_CPQqWrleARvLY70xZp2WjnEgheT_ixzKpfNWcuxutB6dm1cS9jjqal8V5Co-QWmr-3fdWjKPiqOLdtKTATOaDLX0kWxpk9EQJvAz5uIgZsihxzFiUc8dbOpfl/s1600-h/IMG_0400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a6cVj-REWi_8Oq1eqR_CPQqWrleARvLY70xZp2WjnEgheT_ixzKpfNWcuxutB6dm1cS9jjqal8V5Co-QWmr-3fdWjKPiqOLdtKTATOaDLX0kWxpk9EQJvAz5uIgZsihxzFiUc8dbOpfl/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173170964624581138" border="0" /></a><br />Lindsay, me and Isabel at Kokrobite<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lrQ7CMymR8dANy1sCTWp7y8yNxZjAdnYmmsapeHpHmuDxMkVQ_FIsndjCSHVeVRWOQmf80OKRFDlcgpL-ARE4GkENJWPBG1nsh0Eo78ssX5cHlqIeASWOdqo4Tbi_K1cug5VdP6a5fa5/s1600-h/IMG_0402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lrQ7CMymR8dANy1sCTWp7y8yNxZjAdnYmmsapeHpHmuDxMkVQ_FIsndjCSHVeVRWOQmf80OKRFDlcgpL-ARE4GkENJWPBG1nsh0Eo78ssX5cHlqIeASWOdqo4Tbi_K1cug5VdP6a5fa5/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173171020459156018" border="0" /></a>These are some fishing boats at Kokrobite<br /><br /></div><br />It's Gettin' Hott Here...<br /><br />So this week has been yet another adventure. Every time my roommate Rachel and I leave the house to go somewhere that is not school, we always tell our family we're going on an adventure- which is for the most part VERY true because we're going someplace new and foreign, and will most likely be exciting in some form or fashion.<br />It kind of had its low points though because on Monday I started having some chest pain that I thought would go away but it got progressively worse so I finally went to the doctor on Friday. It wasn't bad enough to stop me from doing anything, just painful enough. I was joking the whole week with some friends, though, that my malaria pill had bruised my xiphiod process which in turn hurt the sphincter near the bottom of my throat and therefore caused acid reflux. And oddly enough, I was partially correct!! haha. The doctor's experience here is a whole other story in itself, but let's just say that the doctor said it was most likely acid reflux. Why in the world I would get acid reflux in a third world country is besides me, but yet of course, it has happened. So all in all it's quite humorous, and after some meds I'm slowly feeling much better. Oh Ghana.<br /><br />For being my second week of school, it has still been very chill. I found out more about my internship though, and am going to visit it tomorrow (Monday), and am very excited about that. I had my first Development Studies class as well as my first drumming class this week. I love both of them and can't wait for everything to get into full swing. Next week really will start to pick up more (I promise) and I finally get to start my Twi class- which is the local language here.<br /><br /><br />On Tuesday, Rachel, Tamu, Lindsay and I, all ventured out to this place near Accra called Osu. It was pretty interesting and a little cleaner and well kept than almost anywhere I've been here. There were lots of stands and places to buy things of course, and we decided to spoil ourselves and go eat at this Chinese Restaurant for lunch. We were WAY under dressed, looking like total obruni-Americans, but it was a nice change of pace all this same. I will definitely note that it was not worth what we paid for, but delicious all the same- sweet and sour chicken never tasted that good :) Walking along the streets, fabric can be found all over the place and it is all so beautiful. I bought my first dress and feel like I could fit in a little more...for about one day. Being constantly stared at I don't think I will ever get used to. The attention is bittersweet but it has really made me think about how it feels to look and live so differently from others in a foreign place. I don't think I can adequately describe all the feelings and thoughts I go through in regards to this, it's just a lot to chew on; all the cultural differences too. They all are so wonderful, just so much to think about!<br /><br />The rest of the week was pretty low key, just hanging out and spending time with my family. A group of us went to that shopping centre with the soy-ice cream, because many of them had not been. I know I have said it before, but I am feeling closer with my family each week. I love how we can just sit in the kitchen after a meal and talk like real sisters. I've never had sisters before (besides my Schroomies in Austin) and it's really neat to have this family experience with them. It was truly bonding when I undid my sister-Rachel's (not my roommate) cornrows and fake hair. It took me forever and I was sweating in that blasted hot room with the smallest fan ever, haha, but I felt like it was just another thing that made us more comfortable with each other. She said thank you and I said, 'I know you'll undo mine when I get my hair cornrowed'. She laughed, but I was actually being serious.<br /><br />On Saturday Rachel, Isabel, Lindsay, and I took the biggest adventure yet to Kokrobite Beach. We had very little guidance to go on (Bradt Guidebook can only take you so far) but we got there like pros. We took three different tro-tros there and had three little angels help us on the way. One angel helped us from not getting ripped off from this one guy who wouldn't give us our change, another angel guided us to the second tro-tro station that would have been so hard to find otherwise, and then the last one guided us to the beach through this neighborhood and cut the time in half. Thank you, Lord! :) It took us two hours to go each way but it's so nice to travel by tro-tro (besides being stuck in a van like sardines) because it's cheap, and it allows you to see the scenery and just enjoy the ride. On the way back, we found it even easier and it was great. The beach itself was absolutely beautiful, but I got my first taste of an African sunburn. It wasn't too bad, but the weather is definitely starting to get warmer here. March is the hottest month and I am not looking forward to it at all. The water at Kokrobite was so wonderful (and safe :) and it was nice to just sit and relax for awhile. I feel like I'm vacation half the time here! The beach also had some really neat shells, and I always love that.<br /><br />And today (Sunday) has just been a day of laundry and I enjoyed my first mango! I know I talk about fruit all the time, but it's just so darn AMAZING here. I had apple for the first time yesterday, and mango season is just beginning. Evidently it doesn't last very long so I'm going to enjoy it in bliss while I can.<br /><br />So all in all, not too much more to report on but know that all is well. Thursday is Ghana's Independence Day so I'm looking forward to that. Until next week!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-31248620499707193892008-02-25T02:08:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:09:05.582-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz9Uw_ShGEfzX8xGpa9C10GDj-yR7QjPHUkaHraDaInREWoERm1t_tVzQg2qhBPj4cDiPVuOflJnJE2BXnPvfaXInVr262wABQfWNMEuKKC9NZpaxvXrlWbx8mwi-Ejyw1Zl7twoh4edr/s1600-h/IMG_0330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz9Uw_ShGEfzX8xGpa9C10GDj-yR7QjPHUkaHraDaInREWoERm1t_tVzQg2qhBPj4cDiPVuOflJnJE2BXnPvfaXInVr262wABQfWNMEuKKC9NZpaxvXrlWbx8mwi-Ejyw1Zl7twoh4edr/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170882199794173794" border="0" /></a>This is inside the tree-eating tree (see below). It was huge.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhD4HcN24N-pmWQLskRc5gqEGkywSwySahyOQenPVQW6l4xNTED7swmlWGhSQyAq7cLRIkAzK4hIurnq8CHYOmmkNNxqQ3zfy7MIZJ2sYa7nUltGUGoVsxuZWxjMFlvKeEf57sRFPuZle/s1600-h/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhD4HcN24N-pmWQLskRc5gqEGkywSwySahyOQenPVQW6l4xNTED7swmlWGhSQyAq7cLRIkAzK4hIurnq8CHYOmmkNNxqQ3zfy7MIZJ2sYa7nUltGUGoVsxuZWxjMFlvKeEf57sRFPuZle/s320/IMG_0338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170882208384108402" border="0" /></a>Doing laundry. So domesticated :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm449MfeGq23nh9_9wJg4Ahl9Vl1J3qNT6z6n9Yl95vkpyeP-WE7fUswVw_Qd1sNlPeHcvOGdYTZg92BAILLLsXwYW7l3BZh_ahd7DI0p10kC79TXXImrentkxv5J3DhoxlLilJffB5qZ4/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm449MfeGq23nh9_9wJg4Ahl9Vl1J3qNT6z6n9Yl95vkpyeP-WE7fUswVw_Qd1sNlPeHcvOGdYTZg92BAILLLsXwYW7l3BZh_ahd7DI0p10kC79TXXImrentkxv5J3DhoxlLilJffB5qZ4/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170882208384108418" border="0" /></a>A lot of sweating = a lot of laundry.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBtCDMXJZPzLSOV6-lEbgZ43kH1eRWgfquKMn-4-h-qUQ6Fx9mqsIHaoqPvnk4CyxVhMToL27GA0k1zbpkiVpSJY-ehng8aQ4gkbYG1pNoAXVbIfMp2cSXBzbaDe1NI_jpfa0TlkRHc2A/s1600-h/IMG_0347.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBtCDMXJZPzLSOV6-lEbgZ43kH1eRWgfquKMn-4-h-qUQ6Fx9mqsIHaoqPvnk4CyxVhMToL27GA0k1zbpkiVpSJY-ehng8aQ4gkbYG1pNoAXVbIfMp2cSXBzbaDe1NI_jpfa0TlkRHc2A/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170882212679075730" border="0" /></a>Still slaving away...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4Rb5spSmZF8vKPoYhKYtpBVV7nz0ohd05Kh9B7fCnLG1ANpU0WudHHm-r1hCAlOSAOKOy82_9qMoSdC-svI2KGgEdI7eZyYLomb5gWIKR6bJjdtT0GSUdNu6YJEuRxbINFjkFZEh9wP2/s1600-h/IMG_0349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4Rb5spSmZF8vKPoYhKYtpBVV7nz0ohd05Kh9B7fCnLG1ANpU0WudHHm-r1hCAlOSAOKOy82_9qMoSdC-svI2KGgEdI7eZyYLomb5gWIKR6bJjdtT0GSUdNu6YJEuRxbINFjkFZEh9wP2/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170882216974043042" border="0" /></a><br />This is the little cutie who makes me smile A LOT. He laughs so much and it makes me happy! His name is Awenyeh.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM-elrWhPR_B4_EpBPEPA70mab1WPiupe-K9auhkfZjANLhMLfq5HQ0rvP3IMetANC7bGsiIBhoN1fKOXKWzBovc4uiMRdLb6naIThkagn7UnTDAUVLg0eNrUK0G1Eclk7uyZTUOeayHZ/s1600-h/IMG_0178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM-elrWhPR_B4_EpBPEPA70mab1WPiupe-K9auhkfZjANLhMLfq5HQ0rvP3IMetANC7bGsiIBhoN1fKOXKWzBovc4uiMRdLb6naIThkagn7UnTDAUVLg0eNrUK0G1Eclk7uyZTUOeayHZ/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170879725893011218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the Balme Library on campus. It pretty much all is the white buildings with brown tiles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-0hZJ5RqsDaWRf0ndZzvbUadoRJJmU-NFD6lbF5H-ATMa2wO_AxzwQ_VKth7xyEtxSaJGpQO3vS4jNXB7FxYHDfeaacIuz-CXBN7sSmPKFZMFgyGE74vO2xlWVjt2RxXFlxJ0G_jTYb6/s1600-h/IMG_0287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-0hZJ5RqsDaWRf0ndZzvbUadoRJJmU-NFD6lbF5H-ATMa2wO_AxzwQ_VKth7xyEtxSaJGpQO3vS4jNXB7FxYHDfeaacIuz-CXBN7sSmPKFZMFgyGE74vO2xlWVjt2RxXFlxJ0G_jTYb6/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170879730187978530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is some traditional food from a dinner one night. A lot of rice is eaten here, as well as fried plaintains, stir fry veggies and some meat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi8L2OyOMiMp3U1qhyphenhyphenYxpHqkxlhgUSxEo70D50BLc9quXbrE5_R22zci7C6rHzCwqLYqvnZJnyKvL2i3bCQA4YlswoaIPf4OVYb5qZDL2QgvIZgtWOT2qPbHqiTK469KCkQ2XSmTxQ3sq/s1600-h/IMG_0322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi8L2OyOMiMp3U1qhyphenhyphenYxpHqkxlhgUSxEo70D50BLc9quXbrE5_R22zci7C6rHzCwqLYqvnZJnyKvL2i3bCQA4YlswoaIPf4OVYb5qZDL2QgvIZgtWOT2qPbHqiTK469KCkQ2XSmTxQ3sq/s320/IMG_0322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170879734482945842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Botannical Gardens- palm trees<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8StCEL2PfysJSqPzKKFe5EEvV6Lhva8Fb-IlI5k_jJ7E5K1fXVwu3IfcJP9AwUZ7OeDlLk1oxt5dqeGoBxCD2ERnk3FAWaS9S9OTerHduZJxC8TQ5vkHUSOtDwy4FkwqHfp41fJxVfsV7/s1600-h/IMG_0323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8StCEL2PfysJSqPzKKFe5EEvV6Lhva8Fb-IlI5k_jJ7E5K1fXVwu3IfcJP9AwUZ7OeDlLk1oxt5dqeGoBxCD2ERnk3FAWaS9S9OTerHduZJxC8TQ5vkHUSOtDwy4FkwqHfp41fJxVfsV7/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170879738777913154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was at the Botannical Gardens but these flowers are around my house too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity898KawOst7H4Y4Wz_c0xo_Sd1P38F3VEbkoQIp-g9P3LU1owQH9X17rrUC6OTYX7s2n-xMs90uR9unxQu_I1DBRroxbuIA598piP4-9Fb2ENdE6qKSbS3GDMKx03Y-HkLxHQpMdZOcu/s1600-h/IMG_0328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity898KawOst7H4Y4Wz_c0xo_Sd1P38F3VEbkoQIp-g9P3LU1owQH9X17rrUC6OTYX7s2n-xMs90uR9unxQu_I1DBRroxbuIA598piP4-9Fb2ENdE6qKSbS3GDMKx03Y-HkLxHQpMdZOcu/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170879743072880466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This tree ate another tree and now it's hollow inside. It was incredible. That's my friend Isabel.<br /><br /><br /><br />Sooooo... this past week was amazing. School has not quite kicked up yet so I only had two classes last week. And even though I am getting 3 credits per class, they only meet for two hours once a week. It's very interesting. So I'm taking 3 University classes (Human Rights in Africa, Geography of Development in Africa, and a Drumming class) in addition to a Twi language class that is taken with other kids from my program. I'm also in a Development Studies track through my program which includes a Development Studies class and puts me into an internship as well. I found out that I am placed at a skills learning center called Today's Choice for my internship- I don't know any specific details but I'll know more later on this week. I have a feeling, though, that whatever I'll be doing will be great so I'm excited to start that next week.<br /><br />So because of my lack of classes last week I was able to do a little exploring. A couple of us went to Medina market one day (and took the tro-tro, which is definitely growing on me because it's so cheap, I just have to be sure and ask where they are going). It was one of the craziest things I've seen. There was just row, upon row, upon row, of everything you could ever imagine being bought and sold. We're talking everything from clothes, to shoes, to phones, to fabric, to TONS of dried fish (that smell awful), to live crabs, to fruit and vegetables, to notebooks and beyond. It was just madness. I needed a towel and some notebooks, so that's all I purchased but you could go there for anything. It's been really interesting to see that although there are a lot of poor people here and the quality of living may be considered low to most, the majority of what I witness everyday is people buying and selling. I mean, I know that may sound weird because we all need things etc., but if you don't work in a 'formal' work place, how you survive is by selling things to other people who have little to no money as well. It's very interesting. Again, I'm not complaining because the fruit that is so widely sold here is absolutely delicious. I now enjoy pineapple quite often, for the lovely price of 80 pesewas (about 80 cents). Yes please!<br /><br />Then on Thursday a couple of us were going to go explore the beach but then decided to venture into town and use this hotel's pool. It's crazy because we've only been here two weeks, but sometimes it feels like months because of the things we miss- like AC, certain foods, and other random everyday things I think we tend to take for granted back home. It was a nice treat though, that's for sure. Getting out of the pool was pretty much the first time I felt clean this whole time though, due to the chlorine- haha. It seems that whenever I get out of the bucket bath, I'm right back sweating again, so I enjoyed that.<br /><br />Wednesday was a kid on my program's 21st birthday (Tony) so pretty much everyone with CIEE went to Lebodi beach and there was music and such. Of course it ended up being a giant Rasta celebration night, and let's just say the natives there were feelin' the love. It was pretty funny and a very 'cultural' experience to say the least. haha. And of course I danced like a mad woman, it was wonderful. I can't say how much I really enjoy the people on this program. Of course we have our little cliques and there are people you get along with better than others, but it's so non-constraining all the same. Everyone talks to each other and looks out for each other. It's really great.<br /><br />Then on Friday Rachel and my friend Tamu and I went exploring around our neighborhood and found a little shopping center. It had a fair amount of American products (and was air conditioned...holla!!!) but the best part was that on the top level there was an ice cream shop. I was jealously watching while Rachel and Tamu get there double scoops (due to my lactose intolerance) BUT then I read this little sign saying that it didn't have any milk product in it. I was like WHAT?! How is that possible? So I asked and it was a soy based product!! I then enjoyed a very refreshing and cool double scoop of chocolate and coconut ice cream. yesssss.<br />Later that night the women in my family (Mama, Rachel and Ayawo), as well as Mama's brother Doe, went to Chez Afrique. It ended up that a lot of kids from the program were there too and it was so much fun. My family LOVES to dance so I'm pretty sure that of the 3 hours we were there, we were dancing for 2 and a half. I was soaked with sweat by the end of the night, but I'm getting used to it :)<br /><br />My family is doing so wonderful and we are getting more and more comfortable each day. The family construct is very different here though. Because Auntie Grace and Charlie are the head of the households and we don't see them very much, but Ayawo, Mama, Rachel, Alex, and the others take care of the house and anything that they need them to do. They sweep every morning and the women are pretty much always cooking or cleaning. They are incredible. But all in all I love them so much and am so blessed to be living there. Wow. There are just so many interesting people always coming in and out of the house and I love how family and hospitality is so important to them. It's wonderful.<br /><br />This weekend was great too. Saturday our group went to the Abouri Botannical Gardens and explored that area. It was about an hour away and was very beautiful. I would like to go back after the rainy season though, because it seemed a little dry. It was a lot of fun and saw a lot of neat plants. I also got a djembe for 20 cedis!!! That's like 20 dollars!! It is big and wonderful and sounds like a choir of angels. I almost cried I was so excited! woooooo!! We went to church again this Sunday. I was really hot the whole time which made it slightly hard to concentrate but it was wonderful all the same. I love the singing and just hearing God being praised with all different kinds of languages, hearts, and minds- truly the way it should be. After church, I did my laundry for the first time!!! It pretty much took me all day but I did it all by hand. It was quite the experience and I was thoroughly exhausted- I'm such a pansy. Oh well, I'll get used to it, but all the while it was great to just sit and think and in a way it was relaxing...to my mind at least.<br /><br />I miss everyone dearly, but I don't think it's hit me quite fully that I'm really here. I'm just waiting to burst into tears at some point, because I feel that's what I should do but I'm still feeling so comfortable. I guess it's a good thing because I know how much I love those who are not here with me and am comforted by that. I think that's it- it's all a good thing.<br />Ok, I'm off and wish everyone the best.<br /><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwlnUeXyfWIM9yeO57jzAjXhT2K5heuOpiBKvwap6Hjw1tCvvGP2xXGs4jli326Z0zOWzrgJeY85fMci_pV8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-59935910580549051502008-02-16T07:15:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:09:06.372-08:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwNnAsJfD7hErptPf4eAwj36zQqewxq92qQNSDfkW7GVSepev4l2933JEU85CN_skZrXolpAxk9KMJUQWLc-MwxARDxOQif0twqLgc8zlecXOea_pAI8g9wrHBiVzm7jpIVvcAfT7Weu6/s1600-h/IMG_0282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167598796080629442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwNnAsJfD7hErptPf4eAwj36zQqewxq92qQNSDfkW7GVSepev4l2933JEU85CN_skZrXolpAxk9KMJUQWLc-MwxARDxOQif0twqLgc8zlecXOea_pAI8g9wrHBiVzm7jpIVvcAfT7Weu6/s320/IMG_0282.JPG" border="0" /></a>Little shops like this are all over but they have names like "God is my shepherd Bakery", </div><div align="center">or "Blessed Assurance Meat Shop", or like this one which is "Finger of God Mini-mart."<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EAgTICHkPpusxWLPdAo71vt0jWc6yIlI7aDcZN7r8mC9IyKmzlhU7gvD4_uRwgy09YAogWIgyO5WXgFcFPQ2DJ4i-jQ8oaGJ9uAHgs4tY9ygY_AQt8aTAcG_y-7FFwEiPYWvg73cjPF1/s1600-h/IMG_0283.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167598800375596754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EAgTICHkPpusxWLPdAo71vt0jWc6yIlI7aDcZN7r8mC9IyKmzlhU7gvD4_uRwgy09YAogWIgyO5WXgFcFPQ2DJ4i-jQ8oaGJ9uAHgs4tY9ygY_AQt8aTAcG_y-7FFwEiPYWvg73cjPF1/s320/IMG_0283.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> This is Rachel and my's room (my bed is on the right).<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CFm3Er6-Ecr4v-fe_swi8kwZyY3CaaDjy7N_hc-EkMiP0U0rC5EdGIRqtNDPjFcLFOpAq4smjzgW0a9cCmYTu7x39CuSl5M0s6imWrIlZA4JmgxAjG0lt907wimyayxkUzzw8B-IVh4F/s1600-h/IMG_0261.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167598808965531362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CFm3Er6-Ecr4v-fe_swi8kwZyY3CaaDjy7N_hc-EkMiP0U0rC5EdGIRqtNDPjFcLFOpAq4smjzgW0a9cCmYTu7x39CuSl5M0s6imWrIlZA4JmgxAjG0lt907wimyayxkUzzw8B-IVh4F/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Coconut juice is drunk straight from the shell and goes for 20-30 pesewas (about 30 US cents). yummmmm.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS02Vmr-X0YBAKYi5u3NiYvNdFIB1gLje8ElClrCfN1rCsOGNCVn1zbnwynTA3EvbrzrlDC1XAIIoBTzwRNj-xIxm-IzYZnVBltBQKsEBrKOag5ILB3idS-OubBtCvV7hWEkQs0Em6xfm/s1600-h/IMG_0267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167598813260498674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS02Vmr-X0YBAKYi5u3NiYvNdFIB1gLje8ElClrCfN1rCsOGNCVn1zbnwynTA3EvbrzrlDC1XAIIoBTzwRNj-xIxm-IzYZnVBltBQKsEBrKOag5ILB3idS-OubBtCvV7hWEkQs0Em6xfm/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Fresh fruit is found all over the place!! These are oranges, but my favorite thus far is papaya. They cut it right there for you and it's much sweeter than in the US. Again, about 20 pesewas.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJg107zDrOxv9GwuP2B-C_0xkUjMFfjHv-Ov9mUZ2fFhrsEj3uXrjyw-8QpkwFWqsxszJ8uxOrRu5uKRu4l3g3xlznVf1xBgF1tVYEYdGstXImT5oTI3q1vqAaMeGh8fmWBYlDdMtH2M7/s1600-h/IMG_0284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167598817555465986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="240" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJg107zDrOxv9GwuP2B-C_0xkUjMFfjHv-Ov9mUZ2fFhrsEj3uXrjyw-8QpkwFWqsxszJ8uxOrRu5uKRu4l3g3xlznVf1xBgF1tVYEYdGstXImT5oTI3q1vqAaMeGh8fmWBYlDdMtH2M7/s320/IMG_0284.JPG" width="316" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> This is a sideways picture of out shower (sorry!). You can see the smaller and bigger buckets we are given to shower with. Yay for conserving water!!<br /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Soooo... today is officially day 6 of my time here in Ghana. I can't believe I am actually here and how much I love it all already. It's everything I could have possibly imagined and so much more- and classes and the business of life hasn't even started yet! The culture of Ghana is very kind and welcoming, but all the same I stick out like a sore thumb and am treated very differently. The local word for foreigner (or white person) is 'obruni'. So as I walk to campus or just around town, little kids especially, but people trying to sell things, will get my attention with 'Hey obruni!' or 'Obruni! Obruni!' It's pretty harmless but I will have to get used to the fact that I will never officially fit in here :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I was placed with a homestay family and they seem to be welcoming me just fine though. I share a room with a girl named Rachel from my program. She is from Indiana and is so sweet and kind. It's perfect. I am so fortunate to live with them and it is so unique! There are too many family members to count, but my 'Mama' is Grace and she runs a fabric dying business there at the house. The factory is outside and the shop itself is right on the road. Charlie is my 'Papa' and he is in the construction business. But I think I am learning that he might just own the business or run it somehow because he never really seems to leave the house. Two little girls live there are well, named Stephanie (10) and Abigail (9), who keep us in constant conversation as well as provide entertainment of any High School Musical song you could think of. Alex also lives at the house, and is a young man who goes to the University too, and shares a room with Albert who is leaving to go to school in Kumasi (northern Ghana). The house is constantly bustling with people because of the business, but it is nice to meet and talk to everyone. It is customary that when you walk into a room, you must greet EVERYONE, so as you can imagine hands are constantly being shook and 'how are you?'s shared. It is a large house but basic in a lot of ways, I guess compared to American standards. But it is considered a very wealthy home here. And it is indeed very nice, but some of the things you would find in the US are not there- like shower heads, running water in the kitchen, AC, etc. But I love that! It makes it so obvious what is really necessary and what is not- and let's just say we as Americans are used to a lot of things that are NOT necessary. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The food here is excellent, but I think I may come back as big as a blimp if they don't stop feeding us giant-sized portions! Staying with a family, they serve us breakfast and dinner and then we are on our own for lunch. All the food is very spicy, but usually not too spicy for me not to enjoy it. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon. There is a lot of rice and chicken with spices, as well as starchy vegetables. Fresh fruit is rampant everywhere and absolutely delicious. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">School does not start until Monday but classes will probably not go into full swing for awhile. The school system here is a little crazy so it will be interesting. Classrooms with no AC and packed with people is going to be quite an experience. The weather is very hot and humid, and I hear it only gets worse before the rain comes in a month and a half. Oh boy. Like I said, AC is no where to be found, so just imagine a Texas summer with no AC and BAM!- you've got Ghana.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Last night was my first experience of Ghanian night life and it was so much fun!! We went to this restaurant/bar called Chez Afrique. There was an excellent live band, it was all outside, and not that crowded. The dancing was fun and just really relaxed and kind of goofy- and that's my kind of dancing :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Well, there is an internet cafe right across from house so it makes things a lot easier than I thought they would. I will try and update as much as possible. Ok, until later...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-76357861215955245082008-01-08T16:45:00.001-08:002008-12-10T02:09:06.545-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NLqBmnvkGmk12Apoi5RXs_AlsCM4pWEcc33tIQXAVxda39fpnG1u0d1EVRM851uhhKZL57Bt27qwdqde8B5FcyCGbr_VsEp_BeobqdBBKHJ1NVXG12ByF5F9nEpcO41hbzOPx9TUBfp7/s1600-h/familia+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NLqBmnvkGmk12Apoi5RXs_AlsCM4pWEcc33tIQXAVxda39fpnG1u0d1EVRM851uhhKZL57Bt27qwdqde8B5FcyCGbr_VsEp_BeobqdBBKHJ1NVXG12ByF5F9nEpcO41hbzOPx9TUBfp7/s320/familia+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153272174112873602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This is where I come from.<br /><br />:)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947755867927722680.post-81396795028709321712008-01-08T16:21:00.000-08:002008-01-08T16:40:15.724-08:00Testing. Testing. 1,2,3.I have never been much of a blogger myself, but the new year of 2008 will bring about many changes, and keeping this while I am away will be one of them.<br />I am still in the great Northwest and have approximately one month to go until my final destination of the next 7 months in Ghana, Africa. WOO!!! Talk about anticipation. It's okay though- I think it's all necessary. Scratch that. I know it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2