8/3

Sorry I haven’t been updating lately!! Today we left the university and took a trip to a city called Kumasi for a few days.  This was a lot of fun and a  nice little get away that they planned for us.  On the way there we stopped for a restroom break in a  little town….the restroom was literally a small open cubicle outside with a door on it and no hole in the ground.  It was definitely an experience.  The people here were so friendly and when they saw my camera, they asked for their pictures to be taken.  We left and went to the Kente Cloth factory and got to see how all the cloth was made and we were able to purchase some.  I bought a head scarf to wear.  It was quite overwhelming however because everyone who was selling their cloth had their own section along the wall and as you’d walk by they’d stop you and say “I give you good deal, I know you are student”.  Every single person said this exact same thing.  Then we went to another village where we were able to see how the ink was made to put designs on the kente cloth.  We had the opportunity to put designs on cloth.  I also learned how to use the machine that makes the kente cloth.  Then we went to our hotel in Kumasi for the rest of the night

8/4

Today we went and toured Manhyia Palace Museum and also saw the outside of where the current king lives.  Then we drove to lake Bosomtwe and visited the little village that was there.  We took a ride in a boat out on the lake and then socialized for awhile with the local people of this village.  One little boy came up to me immediately, his name was Junior and he told me he was in school studying English.  He stayed with me the entire time we were there and taught me some words in Twi.  He told me he has 9 brothers and sisters..WOW! Junior and some of his friends wanted me to take pictures of them, so I did and they just loved being able to see the pictures on my camera!  When we left the lake I was really sad because I loved being around these little kids.  They are so happy and excited to be around you and it was refreshing not to be asked for money to give to them.  All they wanted was to talk and be your friend.   It started pouring at night so we all just stayed in the hotel for the night and didn’t go out.

8/5

This morning we packed up to leave Kumasi and head back to the university.  We stopped at a market to go shopping and I was looking for a specific carving.  I found one that I loved and the guy was asking for 20 cedis  and after a LOT of bargaining and walking away I got it for 12 cedis J.  When I walked away he came and found me and started talking to me.  I seriously thought I was about to get a marriage proposal because he mentioned how he was looking for a white woman to marry and take him back to the United States.  He asked me if I was married and and also asked me for my email address.  I told him im sorry I just don’t see a point in giving it to you, but he was persistent.  Eventually he gave up haha.  On our way back to Accra we made a rest stop in a small little town called Nkawkaw.  I got out to buy a snack at a stand that a young boy and girl were selling things at.  They were so happy and full of spirit.  They talked to me and asked if they could have my address in the USA.  At first I was a little thrown off and hesitant so I asked them why. They said they wanted to write to me.  So I gave them mine and asked for theirs so I could send them the pictures we took together along with some letters.   I thought this was so sweet and im hoping that it works out!

8/6

Today we had our first free day away from orientation! I must say that this was very much needed!  A group of us took a taxi down to Oxford Street which is basically like a downtown area where you can find pretty much anything you need or want.  We went inside the mall and it was very nice, just like a mall back home, but wayyyy overpriced.  We all decided to go to Medina market, a huge outside market within Accra.  We took a tro tro for the first time and the process of getting one was really difficult! Its like a bus stop with a bunch of people waiting and tryin to get on one of these tro tros.  They look like small buses, kind of like a Volkswagen bus.  We FINALLY got on one and it was MUCH  cheaper than a taxi.  It was only 40 pesewas  (~25 cents) whereas a taxi would have been about 10 cedis (7 dollars) for 4 people.  It’s a good way to get around town but not for traveling outside of the city.  The market was an interesting place full of culture.  I really loved it minus all of the mud, trash, and unpleasant smells.  You definitely can get things for super cheap.  I bought a pair of nice sandals for about 6 dollars.  At night a bunch of our group went out to a club in Osu called Epos.  At first there weren’t a lot of people and it was somewhat awkward but after awhile there were a lot of people and it was super fun!  They played all Ghanaian music which I loved!  I had a lot of fun and am glad I went out to experience more things outside of the university. 

8/7

Today we had another free day and it wasn’t very exciting. I went out and bought some of the necessities.  I bought 2 buckets so I could finallyyyyy start doing my laundry.  I spent over an hour handwashing my clothes.  Let me just say this is hard work and I am much more appreciative of having a washer and dryer back home!!!  I still didn’t get through all of my laundry, I just got so tired I had to call it a day.  I rested and worked on my resume for the rest of the day.  I don’t think I mentioned before that I will be doing an independent study project here for academic credit.  I am going to do an internship at a local hospital where ill get a lot more experience than I would back home.  Talking to the director she told me how past students did this and it was a great experience. They witnessed the birth of a child and got to experience a lot of different departments and in the end received letters of recommendation for medical school. 

8/8

Today we had our first day of the international students orientation where we learned how to go about registering for classes.  It requires going to every single department and giving a passport photo to sign up for classes.  It’s so much more of a confusing and difficult process here than in the states and I just cant wait to get it over with and have my classes.  Also, you don’t know if the finals in the classes you chose will overlap in times until a couple weeks in to school so its sort of a gamble on picking classes.  Hopefully none of mine will overlap but if not I can add different courses before the deadline.  Later we walked through the botanical gardens which is a huge stretch of land off the university campus full of flowers and trees and animals.  We saw a couple of donkeys up close.  It didn’t even phase them that we were walking through, they were too occupied with eating.    

8/9

I had another day of orientation today and tomorrow we register for classes which I know is going to be stressful.  I got a big bit on my leg…it definitely is a spider bite and it itches like craaaazyyy!  We moved in to Volta Hall this afternoon FINALLY .  I really love it!  Its SO much better than the International Student’s Hostel that most everyone else is staying at.  The grounds are so beautiful and our room is so clean and pretty and we have a guard that sits 24/7 to the entrance of our hall.  This makes me feel way safer!

8/10

Today was a long day of walking around campus to see the timetables for classes and then at 2pm was our groups registration time.  Its so stressful because you have to go to each individual department you want to take classes in and register with them.  I had some difficulty at the psychology department but other than that I was able to register for all of my classes relatively easily. 

8/11

We went to a market today called Makola Market in Accra.  A big group of us went with a couple of the student leaders from orientation.  We took a tro tro there and when we got there it was INSANE! There were people everywhere and stands of stuff everywhere.  I really loved the atmosphere and even though it was so hot out, it was enjoyable and I was able to get a lot of things for super cheap.  It was both an inside and outside market and there was stuff everywhere.  When we were walking outside along the street there were a bunch of people sitting on the sidewalk selling food.  There was lots of fish, which I found disguisting, I saw bags of what looked like insides to some kind of animal, and lastly I saw HUGE snails in a bowl.  I was so grossed out and steered clear of this stuff haha.  We stayed here for a few hours and by the end of it I was so drained from walking and being out in the sun for so long.  The rainy season is definitely ending and the past couple of days have been much hotter than the first week here.   Tomorrow we are leaving at 7am and taking a day trip to the central region.  We are going to do the Kakum Canopy Walk at Kakum National Park.  It’s a 350 meter long wood and rope walkway about 40m high suspended between 7 trees.  All the tourists do this and from the pictures ive seen it looks amazing!! Im so exited.  Then after we will visit the Elmina Castle.  It was built by the Portuguese in 1482 and used for trading purposes.  This is the oldest built European structure in Africa and was also another transport center for slaves.