Posts (page 2)
So, our adventure to the Cape Coast was quite amazing. It was African Union day so we had Friday off, and a very long weekend. After a long night of partying on Thursday night (Champs-Monsoon-Makumba) we made a not-so-early start for the Cape around 12pm. Arjan, Alex, Nichola, and I drove off in Arjan's limegreen jeep to pick up Lori at the Budaburam camp. We got lost a few times on the way there but finally picked her up and headed to the Cape Coast.
When we reached the Cape Coast I was surprised about a couple things. First of all, the place was really small, and really rural looking. -It is a small fishing town. I was also amazed at all of the attention we were getting. All of the kids were waving at us, or especially they obrunis - their colloquial word for "white person"- in the jeep. They would wave and sing: " Hello Obruni. How are you? I am fine. Thank you. Nichola explained that this was one of the phrases they used to learn English. After getting to our accommodation, the Savoy Hotel, we took a walk down to the Cape Coast Castle. All eyes were on us. Kids were running up to our group. Shaking hands. Or waving from a distant. I guess either not as many tourists actually visited the area, or not as large of a group. Or maybe we're just that special.
We had a large dinner at the Cape Coast Restaurant, and by 7:40pm I was done for and passed out in our hotel room. The other hung out in the hotel's restaurant for the rest of the night. The next morning I woke up early and to my pleasant surprise A. wanted to go for an early tour of the Cape Coast castle. But it was only 6:30am when I woke up and he would be sleeping till 8. But my waking up also caused Lori to wake. So, I ended up taking a walk with her around the Cape Coast, and then we picked him up later.
The Castle was impressive and depressing at the same time. I was incredibly beautiful, but I couldn't get over the reality of what happened there. Our tour-guide took us to the male dungeon. Stronger males were kept in a seperate gated cell. Otherwise about a thousand men were kept in a beehive or cells. He also showed us the layers over layers (maybe about a foot high in some places) of feces from centuries of men having to live in those conditions. I was glad we went.
After breakfast at the Cape Coast Castle we got in the truck and headed to Elmina. Elmina is one of the oldest and largest slave castles. First owned by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, then the Brits, and now Ghanaians. Once again a beautiful location, with an unbelievable view, where unspeakable things occurred.
That night we stayed at Hans Hotel, famous for it's crocodile pit and talapia fish. The hotel's entire restaurant was built over the pit, which makes it convenient to feed the animals as you eat. I got a fright earlier in the evening as when we first got settled in our cottage/hotel room. A little mouse, that was frightingly loud to me ran into the room and a straight under the bed I was sitting on. Alex suggested that we catch it, and my heart was in it until I saw the thing climbing up the bed rail. Are mice supposed to be able to do that? Anyway, I left her to her own devices and went to take a shower. Me no like strange animals, me don't know where it from. As I was taking my shower I could hear giggling between Nichola and Alex. I felt so relieved that the things had been done away with. But not quite. As I walk out of the shower and back into my room I see the mouse running straight across the wall above the window. I screamed. Alex screamed. At the same time she reached and by some miracle or the other was able to capture the mouse under an ashtray. This time, I believed, we had him for sure. As they were trying to take it out of the cottage, I heard loud screaming. Apparently the mouse had managed to make its way out of the ashtray and hid himself in the huge livingroom. Eek.
Well "what can you do" we thought and headed to dinner at the hotel restaurant. But our paths were to cross again. That night, for most of the night, the stupid mouse decided to bite a huge hole into our bedroom closet door. I'm not sure how it had gotten in there in the first place, but it caused me not to be able to sleep all night.
(this post was written a couple of weeks ago, and I promise to finish it at some point in my life :) )
Funny. Charles Taylor's trial at the Hague starts today, the day I go to visit the Liberian Refugee Camp Budanuram. So very excited to go an talk to people.
Today I had my first ride in the tro-tro - an independently-run bus service that is a lot cheaper than the taxis. Mohammed and I went for lunch at Nkurmah circle. We also went there yesterday for dinner, but walked that time. It was a tiring, but good walk. Although we did decide to leave around 6 when everyone wsa heading from work. It was dark and people very speeding their way along the pavement. Traffic was equally crazy, so it wasn't the safest time to walk. We made it safely though. The market wasn't too bad at all. Aside from the open sewage line (which didn't smell too bad) it was pretty decent. Earlier Dinah took us for a loca meal in Osu. We ate fufu and ground pea soup. She also bought a taste of palm nut soup and light soup with banku for us to taste. Yum yum good. The electricity was out again so there wasn't too much that could be done at the house. Weird. I wonder how much possible work hours go to waste that way. Then again I hope that most businesses have generators. But that doesn't really cover school children. They probably have to use flashlights and candles.
Ghana is quite expensive if you want to live as a tourist. Restaurant meals are just a little bit cheaper than American prices and the same goes for drinks.
The people are very friendly (Not including those who make a living by pestering tourists to buy stuff).
Whose turning the electricity off and how much does that hurt the economy?
Why was my stomach hurting even though I was eating the most blandest of tourist foods, say chicken & fries. Is there something in the oil?
One can never drink too much water. I find my self drinking just to stay healthy, even though I don't feel like it (thank God for Gatorade powder).
A lot of Ghanaian taxis carry an American flag. One day I will start up a conversation by asking them why.
Moseh if you do ever find my blog, I think you're awesome. Are you really going to be the savior of the world ( think My Chemical Romance).
All you guys at the hostel are cool, btw.
Accra is a real city, including crap on the streets. Kinda reminded me of San Francisco in that aspect.
There are tons of tourist around here. I wonder what all brought them here. Will start those conversations eventually too?
There are awesome clothes and wood carvings to be found.
Does bargaining really matter if you wouldn't even get as nice of a price wherever you're from? Don't bargain people out of money they deserve, or you think they deserve. Don't be taken for a fool either, 'cos they will try you.
Tourists walk around quite annoyed sometimes.
Some Ghanaian can be a little annoying sometimes.
Will add more later.
Most Ghanaians have been very friendly to me.
Eating with your fingers makes the food taste better, or so I'm told.
The weekend started off a little slow. The electricity was off during the day again so I ended up spending most of the day taking walks around the block with Quarshie and reading. Of course I really wanted to go out that night, but Nichola was invited to a movie premiere and Arjan was tired.But then we got a couple new hostelmates. Well, actually two who had already been there, but they work at the refugee camp during the week and come by on weekends. Moseh and Shamir, coincidently both from Toronto Canada. Moseh has been here for about 4 months, while Samir just started on Monday. Earlier that day Mohammed from Somali via Canada joined the troupe.
We had a fun weekend between playing cards, going out to eat, and chit-chatting. We got to go to the pool at a fancy hotel(Shangri-La), we visited labadi beach, and we went to Champs Sports bar for dinner & a movie.
Phew. It's been a crazy past couple days, and I think that I was surprised that it didn't take as much getting used to as I had imagined. Maybe it's because I've lived in African, and (well used to) travel to the Caribbean a lot.
BUT
On Thursday I arrived and was probably the 10th person going through border control ( a very good thing). My name was almost immediately called over the loud speakers. I was to go to the information desk. There I met Dinah. She manages the hostel and adjacent office. She greeted me and told me that my luggage hadn't arrived. And I wasn't really surprised because our flight was delayed in New York, and I along with hundreds of others had to sprint to catch my flight. She suggested that we wait a little longer just to see what happens, and guess what pops up. I was relieved to know that I would at least have the comfort of my stuff for the first couple of days. As we were getting into the taxi outside my name was announced over the loud speaker again. This time to tell me that my bag hadn't arrived. Oh well, I hope they got that sorted out.
The city was interesting. A mix of old and new I guess. The hostel is in the middle of the city around the police station and different embassies and such, and so I guess in a good part of town. We got there around 11-something and I was greeted by Nicola from London. She kind of introduced me to the house and wanted to know about my plan while I was there. I met Quarshie, a young guy who helps to take care of the house. I got water and tuna sandwiches, and during that time Arjan, from Holland came down to say hi. Both him and Nicola were on their way to their respective internships-which both are quite impressive. Arjan does marketing, I believe, Nicola is working on a bird flu prevention progam and has even met the Minister of Health. After that I had to take a couple naps to get attuned. After doing some grocery shopping with Dinah, we went out for drinks and dinner with Alex, Laura's sister. Laura runs Ikando. We took a cab to Venus, a cutew little restaurant in the Osu district. The first night was bad since I couldn't sleep at all. The fan was on but I was still feeling somewhat congested from the plane. Well, I only got a couple hours rest and had planned on starting up for work the next morning, but I luckily electricity was out, and they took some pity on me so that I was able to get a little more rest.
Book: Show us a book that you like to give as a gift.
Submitted by Ross.
The Diligent by Robert Harms
So, I finally received my Visa yesterday. It's hard to believe that everything has fallen into place, and I will be ready to leave in a few days. I'm excited and nervous at the same time, but luckily the excitement is taking over.
So it looks like it's actually going to happen. I will be making my way to West Africa this summer. Not to Liberia, as originally planned, but to Ghana instead. I received a volunteer opportunity with the Ikando organization. It seems that they are in desperate need for web designer, and so I was offered a free placement.
Planning is going alright I guess. I booked my flight last night. Now I'm just very worried about getting the Visa on time. I also made an appointment to get my shots and stuff. When I go home today, I will have to figure out where I can pick up a couple of mosquito nets for cheap.
Luckily another student from m program is going to be in Accra at the same time, so hopefully we will be able to hang out during the down time.
I'm so looking forward to the experience!
I had a talk with one of my professors the other day. I was telling her about the opportunity I had to work in Liberia for a year. I also told her about my trepidations: I'm loving school, just got a new condo (which is turning out totally awesome!), and feel at home with my boyfriend and doggy. It was crazy how much she understood where I was coming from, how I still looked to make a difference; that I wasn't yet "settled down or comfortable". On the other hand she understood that I had experienced a lot of displacement in my life and that this would be another step in that direction. She ensureed it was ok to want to stay in a place where I finally feel at home. She pointed out that this was one of life's great gifts. She really did open my eyes.
Opportunities will come up, and this isn't the last one. I'm awesome and I will end up wherever I choose to. But I'm happy here and now and I need to take hold of what I have here. Because it may not always be this way.
I thank her for her kind words. I'm still embarrassed for crying in front of her.-Thank God she had Kleenex. I will always be appreciative for what she taught me in that quick meeting.
