Everything works out for the best

The next day started early as we boarded the bus to visit the new agency. Once we got there, to my surprise it looked almost identical to Today’s Choices. It turns out that the agency does essentially the same thing but with a few tweaks. The agency helps people from the slums by providing all kinds of vocational training. The only differences are that they do not primary deal with girls from the sex trade industry; they take in people from various situations. I am extremely relieved because everything that my group had prepared is still relevant and only a few changes will have to be made. However, I still can’t help but worry about the other girls that were abandoned from Today’s Choices.

That night we went to a fancy hotel to eat dinner. The program coordinator, Kwame, figured that we had been exposed enough to indigenous foods for a while. At the hotel we were comforted with familiar tastes. I have never appreciated mashed potatoes and shrimp so much. We had a mountain of desserts too. This is especially a treat because Ghanaians hardly eat any sugar in their diets. I completely pigged out, and though afterwards I was miserable I do not regret it!

Ups & Downs

Today we went to Aburi Botanical Gardens. The drive was about an hour, but the scenery on the way was beautiful. We have been in Accra, which is relatively flat. However, it didn’t take long to find the mountains. The whole way to Aburi was uphill. The drive was a bit scary because it was on the side of the mountain, we could look down and see all of Accra. Before we got to the gardens we stopped to buy authentic wood carvings. I went to the back of the shops to look at the scenery, but instead I found the actual building where the men where carving the masks and figures. It amazed me to see the artwork they could create with a tree trunk, a chisel, and a hammer. Everything was beautiful and had a rich meaning. I got quite a few masks. I think they will look good in my room.

At the gardens we got to see so many plants. I got to smell the leaves of the cinnamon tree, which are ground to make cinnamon powder. I saw cocoa trees, 100 year old palm trees, trees planted by famous people, a tree over 300 years old, trees that are used to make gin J, and so much more. The most interesting thing to me was a tree called to strangler tree. This tree grows by attaching itself to the trunk of another strong tall tree. From there the “free loader” tree grows around the other tree. It actually wraps around the base tree so tightly that you cannot see the base tree through the strangler’s roots. Once the strangler grows higher than the other tree it slowly grows its roots into the base trees trunk. This act kills the base tree. After the tree is dead it slowly rots away and the strangler is left standing. I thought this was such a sad story. Because the base tree is in the middle of the strangler once the base rots away the strangler is hollow inside. We actually got to see a strangler that had killed its base tree. We could even walk through the tree because it had no middle.

really big old tree and me :)

Group looking at Cinnamon Tree

Palm trees that are over 100 years old

After we returned from the gardens a few of us went to the beach. The beaches in Accra are not the nicest but nonetheless they were still fun and packed with people. The ocean had trash in it and wasn’t extremely blue, but hey it’s a beach. I didn’t get to enjoy it much because we had a writing assignment to do that was due later that night. I keep forgetting I’m taking a class here. I started to complain about doing the assignment but then I realized that writing a two page lecture summary on the beach wasn’t so bad.

Later that night we went to Professor Gilbert’s (the main maymester professor) house to have discussion and eat. The discussion was insightful and the food was pizza! The day was coming to a good end. Then my group got bad news about our project. We were going to be working with an NGO called Today’s Choices, which rescued girls from sex trafficking. All my group members, myself included, were deeply vested in the organization. However, Dr. Gilbert called us into her office to inform us that Today’s Choices completely lost all funds and had disbanded. When I heard the news, my heart sunk. The worst of it all is that no one knows what happened to the girls that were in the program. After the bad news, Dr. Gilbert gave us the some good news: she found another very similar organization for us to work with, called Self-Help Initiative Support Services. To get re-grouped we would be meeting with the director the next day. My group and I left disheartened and stressed about the next day.

Amazingness

Atisan? (how are you? in Twi)

Mi ye ojogbaa. (I’m fine)

We went to museums yesterday morning. The history here is so rich. While we were there I saw elementary children learning the things we were learning as well. They were so CUTE (and we all know how I feel about kids)!! At first I was trying to be discrete about taking pictures of them because I’m a creeper. However, to my surprise they wanted pictures with the brune (foreigner/white person) because many of them had never seen one.

After the museums we had lunch on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and then headed to the cultural market center. This place was insane! It looks like a giant flea market with small booths that go on for rows and rows. The people selling goods are so aggressive, but it is not in a mean or scary way. They are just hustlers. Haha. I learned very quickly that the price the merchants quote you is NEVER final. When they see a tourist walking through the sellers automatically add 10-15 cedi to the price of goods. Luckily, I had Frank! Frank is a Ghanaian Professor and he is awesome. To thank him for all of his help I will have to name my first born after him, or maybe my next pet. Frank was my middleman, anytime I got quoted a “final” price I would call Frank over and have him talk to the merchant. Instantly the price dropped at least 10 cedi. The market was overwhelming but I enjoyed the challenge of negotiating (well watching Frank negotiated at least).

Last night we went out to a Ghanaian fashion show and club for my roommate’s birthday. The fashion show was DOPE! The clothes and the models were beautiful. After each collection cultural dances were performed. These performances were conducted by gorgeous African men. Side note: Almost every man I have seen here is ripped to the maximum. During the fashion show we talked to the MC and told them it was Shomya’s birthday. When the last collection was shown, the MC called her on stage and we all sang to her and then she had to do a Ghanaian dance. It was priceless.

After the fashion show, we ate and headed to the club. I never thought I’d be partying in Africa, but I’m down. The music was a mix of American and African club music. I enjoyed the African music it had a great beat to it. I will bring some back for everyone to hear. We stayed there until about 2am, but the clubs here don’t close until 4am. On our way back we kept getting stopped by the national security guards that were stationed at various checkpoints. The car had to be searched twice, I guess because we looked suspicious.

Today we drove through “Old Accra.” This is the most ghetto part of Accra. I finally saw what I had been expecting: children playing soccer in the streets, people bathing outside, and goats running rampant. However, all the people that I saw looked happy. This confused me. Then Kwame (best on-site program coordinator ever) explained that the Ga people are very proud of their culture and what they have. The government had tried a few times to change things in old Accra, but the public rioted. I am amazed people in these conditions are content. It makes me realize just how ungrateful most Americans are.

I hope all is well with everyone else!

First 2 days

Wow.

It has been a crazy few days! I finally have time to sit down and update everyone. I’m not sure where to start, so I’ll start from the beginning.

The flight was loooong! I flew out of Houston to Amsterdam (9hrs), had a layover in Amsterdam (6hrs), and then flew to Ghana (6hrs). The trip wore me out but I was excited when we landed in Accra at 7pm. However, I was surprised to find that it was already dark outside. I didn’t think about how close Ghana was to the equator, but sunrises at 6am and sets at 6pm. Getting out of the airport was hectic and I was overwhelmed. When you walk out you are immediately surrounded by Ghanaians asking if you want a cab or help. They are looking for a tip. I kept my eyes forward and got real good at saying “no.”

After the airport, things got much better. I didn’t even have time to put my things away because as soon as I arrived at the Hostel everyone was getting ready to go out. We went to a bar on the beach. It was beautiful. We had to walk down stairs carved from the cliffs to sit on a high cliff/rock. The scenery was awesome. We watched the silvery waves crash against the cliffs and drank Star beer (there equivalent to Keystone/Lonestar, but much better).

The hostel is better than I expected. The room isabout as big as Irene’s, and I share it with another girl. We have a shower in the room, but there is no hot water. So I’ll be taking cold showers for the next 26 days (even in Ghana it’s still painful). On the bright side, we have air conditioning! What is weird it that we only have sheets, no comforters. I also only get to use the internet 1 hour a day.

Yesterday was the first official day of the program. Since I didn’t go to bed until 2am and had jet lag, l was exhausted! We started by going to the University of Ghana for an orientation. We met our Ghanaian peers that will help us with our service projects. The peers tried to teach us how to speak Twi, the indigenous language.

After the orientation, we went on a bus tour of Accra. I was most amazed by the people selling goods in the street. They walk up and down middle of the roads with goods to sell balanced on their heads. If you want what they are selling you simply look at them with interest and they will be on you like white on rice. If your car starts moving, they will run to catch up. They are selling any and EVERYTHING. I saw a tummy trimmer (as seen on TV), legos, toothbrushes, sunglasses, mangos, nuts, mentos, umbrellas, coat hangers, soccer jerseys, and so much more. It is like a drive through grocery store. I bought a laptop converter through the window for 5 cedi. I only had a 20 cedi bill so I gave it to the merchant for change right as the bus started to drive off. I just knew I would never see him again, but sure enough he chased us down to give me change. The honestly of the people here is refreshing (most people, I’m sure there are bad ones). Their work ethic is badass too. Drag rats should definitely take lessons.

We saw many different areas of Accra on the tour. There are super nice houses, resembling something you would see back home, but across the street were the “slums.” The slums look almost identical to the slums in Slumdog Millionaire. My roommate is Indian and she said that Ghana and India are very similar.

Merchants have been stopping by the Hostel to sell their goods because they know it’s an easy sell. They’re right. I’ve already bought a painting, bracelet, necklace, and earrings. I got you ladies a present already! I plan on getting a Ghanaian dress made too.

The food is interesting. Not my cup of tea, but I’ve been eating it. I’m hoping I can lose some weight! We mostly have Ghanaian fried rice, white rice, chicken, fish, and plantains. This fish is crazy though because they do not scale it or take off the bones or head. So basically it’s a whole fish cut into pieces. Last night we had a BBQ with students from Moore House College which is in Atlanta. Tonight we ate at a restaurant that served American food. I have never been so happy to eat a pizza. Irene would have been proud it had artichoke and mushrooms on it!

We had lectures all day today from various UG (University of Ghana) Professors. They were pretty interesting but hard to understand. Thankfully, we only have 3 days of lecture and the rest is our projects, traveling, and sightseeing!

So far my trip has been amazing and it’s only the second day. I’m so glad I followed through with this. I was really nervous the whole plane ride. I kept wondering if I would like it or completely regret it. No worries though because it is awesome.

I love and miss you all!