JANUARY 22- 25, 2004
January 22 , 2004
Today was definitely the hottest day thus far. The haze was cleared away and blue skies were around all day. Plus it rained yesterday. So, with all the moisture and the hot African sun, you can imagine that it was quite warm.
Today was spent in our Twi class and then running around the campus trying to register for classes. And just so you have an idea of how much of a pain it is to register here: I was on campus for most of the day and I am officially registered for NO classes. So, I guess I have some work to do. And classes are supposed to start Monday (but they probably won't). Every one keeps saying not to stress about registration because this is the way it works. So I am not worried about it.
Tomorrow we are taking an overnight trip to cape coast to visit some of the old slave castles and the nice beach area that is around there. I am really looking forward to visiting these depressing yet important pieces of history (slave castles) built by the settlers to export captured slaves. And maybe the next day I can find a board and some waves for a few hours.
Yesterday we went to some amazing botanical gardens in the mountains of Ghana. I think this was the most beautiful landscape I have seen here in Ghana yet. The trees were HUGE and our tour guide was very informative. So many new kinds of trees and plants to look at. I was really enjoying myself. It also rained a little on and off which we were welcoming since it was hot. so everything looked very beautiful. After the garden we stopped alongside a road and looked through all these peoples carvings they had for sale. We made some friends, tried their palm wine (which is actual wine made from palm trees....very good) and bought some carvings. I gat a beautiful woman holding a bucket on her head and it is a candle holder about a foot tall for 3 dollars. NICE.
We also visited a different market the other day which was a little less crowded and crazy that the first. I just can't believe the things the sell there. A lot of it doesn't look appetizing at all, but that is just my perception because to the Ghanaians it is dinner. Maybe I will get the courage up to try new things.......someday.
Well, off to find some dinner somewhere. It should be an adventure just like it is everytime we try to eat somewhere. Sorry I don't have time to write back individually, the internet cost a fair amount of money here. But I appreciate those who do write and I will try to answer any questions in these letters.
Take care and talk to you soon, Nate
January 25, 2004
hello! our weekend proved to be quite exciting and allowed us to see much more of Ghana, but I�m still craving for more.
our group went to cape coast, 3 hours east of Accra, and visited the slave castles. this was very depressing, entering the male / female slave dungeons where thousands of people were held without food, water or light. we walked through many parts of it, and they have a very informative and helpful museum to explain much of the history, the stories of people, and where they are now. The pain of this place is in the air, you can feel it. I left with more questions than I came with.
that night we stayed at a remarkable place farther inland in the jungly parts, with 25 alligators, and a restaurant on a pond , and a live band playing various music. Marina (my roomie) and I jumped in as the African drum players, since they were short on members :) It was a gorgeous night with the moon out, the frogs croaking through the whole night, and hanging out with our two Ghanaian friends that came with us. Yaw and Teddy (they go to the university also) teddy and I were playing checkers and apparently the rules are different in America and Ghana, it was quite funny, so we decided to arm wrestle to see who the real champion would be. he won. Nathan also showed them how to play pool, it was so funny and cute. Yaw kept making several balls jump off the table, hilarious.
Kakum National Park was our next stop, with 7 long narrow rope bridges at the canopy of the rainforest. It was gorgeous, gorgeous!! Yaw was a little scared of the height (it was really high) and was yelling "teddy!!! teddy!! I�m falling from the canopy!!" as he is hanging on with both hands sooo tight!
We went to an amazing deserted beach after this. not a single person, except way down on one side was a village of people pulling huge fishing nets in from the ocean, I mean everyone, kids, elderly, young, everyone helping. quite a site. The waves were amazing here, and it felt like heaven! It was Yaw and Teddy's first time in the ocean, as they do not know how to swim, but we convinced them it was okay, you can just stand up to your waist and be fine! Well, they loved it, and it was beautiful. They were laying in the sand with the water coming over their bodies and with the biggest smiles on their faces! Yaw is quite tall and very thin and kept getting knocked over by the waves!
Travelling to these parts, the reality of a developing country is beginning to sink in more and more, it seems everywhere, the villages or "towns" are just mud walls, some cement, with tin roofs. people everywhere selling things. we drive by and the children smile and wave frantically and point! I�m not sure what to make of all of it, its so much poverty. but I know the people are so kind, and friendly.
We did our first "load" of wash today. In our bucket given to us when we checked in. Hahaha. It is quite funny, and definitely makes you think three times about what you put in the dirty pile, and you start to question "what is dirty" , a few spots, just sand on it, or spillage of something, and "how dirty til I won't wear it again?" they are drying in the sun right now, so we'll see how clean they came! the buckets are not that large, so it takes a few "loads" to wash.
I have tons of bites all over me, but no sign of malaria yet. sometimes I wake up with ants crawling on me, but after a refreshing shower, at the all-time setting of "cold", I feel much better and ready to conquer the day in whatever adventures it may bring. This next week should bring more attempts at registering for classes.
All my love, and smiles from the small African children, Kathleen