Christmas is coming....

Well I've heard that there's snow on the ground in Jersey and more to come. All I can say is, at least it's always beach season here! Ahh, but I do like the thought of snow, the serenity in waking up and seeing everything covered in white and the sky that beautiful pink. The smell of wood burning and cookies baking, Christmas carols on the radio. Makes me smile. Currently I'm sleeping with blankets in an air conditioned room, so I can almost imagine feeling cold. I'm in Accra on medical leave for at least a week. I had a bug bite on my leg that went wild, and got a staph infection within 2 days, to the point that I could barely walk. So I called the Doctor and they rushed me in and sent me to a specialist. I went to bed after a dose of some VERY strong antibiotics and woke up feeling almost as good as new! They just want to keep me here to see if I'll be able to keep my leg. Hahahaha, just Kidding! It's healing nicely and I'm feeling better. PC takes GREAT care of us. So, no need to worry. I just have stupid skin. Always something goin wrong with it.

Last weekend I was able to go to a concert! It was real cheap, only like $2, and there were 6 performers. The headliner was Samini- he's currently the most popular African artist, and a winner of all kinds of awards. So for $2, I got to spend the night dancing to reggae and hip-life. Can't beat that!

I was planning on sending Christmas gifts or at least cards home, but it seems it's not gonna happen til next year. So sorry, I am still tryin to figure out how things work here.

I saw pictures from Nathan's birthday party, looked like a lot of fun. I can't believe he's 3!!! Wish I could've been there for him.

Thanks for the birthday packages! Ash I got yours, and I love you it was amazing. And Mom and Dad I got yours, also amazing! If you sent something to the address for Takoradi, it will probably be awhile before I get it, so I suggest just sending all mails to the Accra address.

That's it for now. I'm planning to go to Nkwanta for Christmas to hang out with some people up there. Should be a good one. Ok, love you.

Thanksgiving

Late Happy Thanksgiving to all!

So the US Ambassador to Ghana invited all PCV's in Ghana to his house for Thanksgiving. I and about 60 others went to Accra where he lives by the Embassy to eat his food and drink his wine. It was great! I was able to see all my friends that I haven't seen in about 3 months. We swapped stories and caught up, and noted on everyone's weight loss/weight gains. We swam in the pool, drank sangria, and ate plenty of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, SALAD, and finished off a great meal with pecan pie and pumpkin pie. It was really nice to relax and take our minds off missing home and family. After the Ambassador kicked us out, (he literally had to, because no one wanted to leave!) we went out for some football and margaritas at Champs. Surprisingly, the football game we were watching was actually 2 weeks old, but we didn't care. It was the Pats/Colts game. We were all able to stay for free that night, thanks to American families living near the embassy offering us their houses. The woman who hosted me was the Director of Voice of America for West Africa, and she was very sweet. I took a hot shower, and then cranked the air conditioner down to 70 degrees and cuddled up with blankets. Wow. It felt great. Air conditioning is really a cool thing. The next day I went home and decided to move my mattress outside to my porch to sleep. I set up my mosquito net so I have a little camp site goin on. It is by far the best idea I've had since coming to Ghana. I sleep so well now. :)

I've been heading down to the beach a lot, hangin out with friends, and overall just really been enjoying myself. It's hard to believe I've been here 6 months already. 2 years is gonna fly right on by.

I got a tattoo on my right leg just above my ankle. I'd post pics of it but I can't find the USB cord for my camera, so I'll just paste the link to what I got. It's a traditional African Adinkra symbol called Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu, which literally means 'Siamese Crocodiles'. It represents unity in diversity. It hurt, but I really like it. http://www.adinkra.org/htmls/adinkra/funt.htm

OK, that's all for now. I'm gonna go eat some fufu for lunch. Love you and miss you all.

Quick Update!

"Yooo Chalay!! How be it??!!!" ( That's my new ghanaian slang for wats up friend)

I have been busy, and otherwise complacent so sorry for not writing in a while. I celebrated my first birthday in Ghana! 24( jeez im getting old!), and it was a good one. My nearest PCV neighbor came and spent a few days with me, and we went out and bought some new crazy clothes and jewelry for my birthday/halloween celebration. No one in Ghana celebrates Halloween, so they just thought we were weird all dressed up, but it was fun. My new and very cool friend took us out around town, and we started out the night at a 'rasta' bar and drank some palm wine and danced. It's a chill little hangout, very well hidden, and the whole place is made out of bamboo. It's one of my favorite places to go here. Next we went to a Lebanese owned pool bar(like billiards, not swimming pool), and it has air conditioning. (very exciting to us). From there we went to a sports bar called Champps, kinda like the one at home, in hopes of catching some of the world series. No luck, but there was karaoke and lots of crazy dancing. I was still wanting to see some Phillies, though, so we went to another place that they call a casino (I think theres a slot machine, and pool tables), and after a lot of convincing, I got them to show the world series. I was the only one interested, but it was fun! Who'da thought I'd be watching the Phillies play in the world series in a casino in Ghana??? My life is crazy. And it was a great birthday. Minus the fact that they lost.

So I've been busy at work, going out into some of the communities we are working with. I have been helping with the trainings, teaching record keeping, crisis management, and conflict resolution so far. I have a translator at each of the meetings, so I don't really know, but I assume they are doing a good job translating. I've also been making some new friends and hanging out a bit more.

I received Dom's birth announcement last week, so I'm guessing it will be some time before I get my birthday cards, but no worries. They'll come when they come, if they come at all. I hope all is well at home. Bummer to hear bout the Phils, but I must say I'm glad I got to be home when they won last year. I miss you and love you.

"Byebye yooooo" :)

On the subject of Friendship...

I like to think that I have made some friends here. Ghanaians are very friendly, and go out of their way to say hello. But yesterday I had a very upsetting experience. I have a friend, let's call him Nana Kojo, and he is one of the few people here I feel somewhat normal around. We were having a conversation yesterday, and he started bringing up how he wants me to help him. By this he means, help him get to America. Apparently, someone from America came to Ghana, and married a Ghanaian to get them into America, then divorced them. But the visa was good, and now that person is now living it up in America. Well, that American was evil, because now every Ghanaian believes that all Americans owe this to them. For two hours I argued with him that I was NOT going to marry him, and that I would like to help him, but it will not be with my ring finger. He was angry, and confused, as to why I wouldn't do him this small small favor, since he was willing to pay for all of it, and said that I was not his friend if I do not want to help him. I countered, that marriage, even if done strictly as a business matter, is not small small, and I do not have to take him back to America with me to be a good friend. I explained that if and when I marry someone, it will be someone I love, and that I do not want to be divorced. Now it's not like I haven't been proposed to before, I'd say I've racked up well over 200 marriage proposals, from men AND women. But that my intelligent, young friend, was willing to sit in my house and argue with me about it for two hours is very upsetting. I asked him why he wanted to go to America, when he has a good job in Ghana. He said America is where he can get rich, even if it is by mopping floors. I also suggested that instead of leaving his country, why not stay and help build Ghana into the country he wants it to be? He kept repeating the phrase 'there are many ways to kill a goat', and I'm still not sure if he was referring to the many ways to go about getting him to America, or a threat of the many ways of killing my dog, Nala. It makes me wonder if I will ever be able to develop a completely genuine friendship with anyone here; one where they are not expecting something in return. Sad.

Word Pictures...

Since I can't find a way to post my pictures, I figured I'd try to descibe in words the scenery here. I recently traveled to the Eastern Region to visit a friend. It's easy to forget how beautiful the country is outside of the cities. Traveling in Ghana sucks, but it is a visually rewarding experience. Here is the romantic version of my 10 hour trip:

Red dirt roads flanked on either side by pink hibiscus trees and bushes dotted with yellow, purple, and magenta flowers lead you out of town. Palm trees full of coconuts and the magical fan trees guide you through a tropical paradise. Dense rainforests full of lush green ferns, thick palms, and rolling hills of bush hide an unknown world. Pass along the coast and smell the salty air, and white sand beaches with leaning palms on the rocky coastline. Brightly painted fishing boats bob in the lagoons in rhythm with the swells, waves crash on the beach. Soon the forests thin and the land flattens, resembling a savanna. Rocky plateaus emerge on either side, reminiscent of Pride Rock, overlooking a vast valley, with tall grasses swaying in the wind and scattered trees. Eventually the tall, green mountains, can be seen in the distance. Winding roads scale the sides, and looking down below only the umbrella trees and massive timber trees reaching to heaven can be seen. They appear to be guarding their mountains, for hundreds of years, demanding awe and respect. Mango trees dot the horizon, with fruit hanging from the branches. Blue skies give way to twinkling stars.
The beauty of this place far exceeds that of any other I've seen.
And I've only seen the southern half, can't wait to go north to the desert!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are mine entirely and do not reflect those of the United States Peace Corps.

I realize I have a romantic view of the world, it is the consequence of being an idealist. Nevertheless, I decided to share this essay after it sparked several interesting conversations between friends. I wrote it a couple weeks ago, and hope none take offense. No, I'm not becoming a liberal ;) I claim neither side. I just try to think my own thoughts.


Abstract
Imagine if the world were white and black.
The same, but the opposite.
Ruled by a strong, united Africa,
Central in the world, extending their reach to all other nations.
A land rich in natural resources and beauty,
With a people just as rich in diversity and culture.
What if the black African had colonized white Europe, instead of the other way around?
Would they have laid claims on the land as their own,
Dividing it among themselves, disregarding the borders of the people?
Would they have come in the name of their god to spread civilization and convert the lost?
Would the 'dark', have been the 'light?'
Could it have been so
That they would have taken the white man from his home
To build their nations on his back?
Would Europe be plagued with disease, poverty, war, and corrupt leaders
Puppets used by others to play in a bigger world game?
Imagine a people so reliant on aid that
That they've lost the will to help themselves.
I cannot understand, you see, why it was one way and not the other.
For I could have been living in a nation indebted for eternity,
Or celebrating the triumph of the first White President!
Why is one continent, rich in all ways except money,
So far behind the rest?

I believe the only solution that will heal Africa, is one yet to be determined
By Africans.

Just thinkin to clear my head

The things i miss about home:

-the smells and sounds of fall- it’s crisp, refreshing
- baking and making my favorite apple dishes(pie, cobbler, sauce)
- the excitement in knowing Halloween, my birthday, and Christmas are coming
-seeing my nephews dressed up in their Halloween costumes
- Wawa hazelnut coffee- and not sweating when I drink it
- driving down to college through the valley and seeing the colors of the leaves change on the mountains
- football, eagles, homecoming, marching band shows, bleachers, hot cocoa
- warm, fuzzy, socks
- watching Christmas movies while making cookies
- going for a jog or a walk on a cold day and feeling your lungs burn
- driving
- being able to walk around and feel normal


The things that keep me here:

- the music
-the genuine smiles on people’s faces when they say hello
- the response I get when I say something in the local language. You’d think I just solved global warming!
- the chiseled bodies of gorgeous men that just happen to be EVERYWHERE
- the laughs I give to people when I buy a coconut and eat it the right way
- the little girl that walks me to my taxi everyday
- the breeze
- the crazy lady who walks around the city screaming at nobody and everybody, and seeing a man stop what he’s doing and escort her safely across the street, all the while screaming her head off
- knowing that if I’m lost, or confused, there’s always someone willing to walk me to where I’m going, without asking anything in return
- the coca-cola. made with real sugar, and i'm pretty sure cocaine, cuz its addicting!
-wearing flip-flops everyday and never having cold toes
- fufu and groundnut soup. Mmmm!
- seeing some kid in a vintage 81 T.O. eagles jersey
- being able to buy fish, toilet paper, water, rice, sunglasses, perfume, markers, clothes, towels, yams, bananas, and anything else you can think of off of some girls head on my way home
- the pineapple!!! You buy it on the street and it’s served in a bag peeled, chopped, and with a toothpick all for less than 50 cents!!!!

I went to the doctor last week in Accra to see if I am sick. It took me 8 hours to get there. (It should've taken 3-4). Travel in ghana is always an adventure. While there I was able to meet up with a friend and we went to the mall (!) and saw a movie. The movie was awesome (it's called UP), and what made it cooler is that we were the only ones in the movie theater. For two whole hours I completely forgot where I was. When we walked out into the lobby, reality set in, that yea, i am still in ghana. But this was not in a bad way, it was just a strange feeling. It's going to be even weirder to come back home after living here for two years. But I have plenty of time before I have to think about that.
I am still waiting for the results of the test, so when I find out if i'm sick i'll let you know.
Nala has at least doubled in size in the past two weeks, and everyone has been noticing and asking me what I'm feeding her. I just laugh. It's probably because I'm finally feeding HER and not her worms!! So she's happy and healthy and makes me laugh.
If you want to send parmesan cheese, that'd be amazing. Since I eat spaghetti for dinner EVERY night, it'd be greatly appreciated.
Please keep me up to date with eagles info. Love.

9/11

We will never forget.

So this morning while I was trying to tune my radio to find a station that broadcasts BBC, I noticed that there was some ants crawling around on my ipod. Well i kept seeing more and more, so I began to pay attention. I realized that they were crawling OUT of my ipod, and going inside of it through the headphone jack. This was very disturbing because its my favorite thing here. And what were they doing inside there anyway??? So I grabbed my ipod and started shaking and slamming it, and within 15 minutes i must've gotten about 100 ants out of it. They came out of both ends. And they are these awful, tiny little red ants with black sacks that sting like crazy when they bite you. I still don't know what they were doing in there, but as far as i can see they haven't caused any damage, so I guess it's just one of those things that you have to laugh at. Life is funny here.

A recent update: I have to go see the doctor next week to get some tests done to see if i have worms. On Wednesday, my puppy Nala had some worms, and it was traumatic for both of us. I had to pull them out of her. But she's ok, I took her to the vet and she is dewormed, but there is still a possibility that because of her I have worms. Should be fun!

I'll let ya know how it turns out.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?!?!
-yes!!!

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! Go birds.

what do i want...

well, since you all keep asking me what i would like to have sent, i will make a list:

-yoga dvd
-any dvd
- cheese for mac n cheese
-magazines
-books
-a brush (round brush)
-burberry london
- sharpies
-pictures
-letters
-m&ms
-jolly ranchers
-skittles
-spices
-those little seasoning packets for chili, italian dressing, soups, alfredo...
-dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, apricots)
-nuts (not peanuts- plenty of those around. cashews and almonds would be marvelous)
- granola
-chocolate
- drink mixes (the little powder kind)
- dryer sheets (they smell clean!)
- Q-tips
- Maybelline Great Lash mascara in blackest black (not waterproof)
- newspapers (even old ones, theyre news to me)
- burts bees chapstick
- chew toys for puppy
- dog treats, bones, etc..
-money
-gladware (this is good to put food in for mailing, plus i can use it)
-laptop :)

thats all i can think of.

Now that i found out i have internet at my office, im going to be getting online more often. That is, if they can get the internet to work. SO i had a computer on my desk for the last three weeks, and everytime I'd ask if i could use it, i was told we were waiting for some cable that was vital to getting it to work. Then, mysteriously, yesterday i plugged it in, and it worked! so now i have a computer, but i don't have a username so i can't get on it. so we'll see how long that one takes to fix. but i am lucky.
i can't believe nathans goin into pre-school! that's not right, he's just a baby! it's hard to know im missing my nephews growin up... keep postin pics please!
tonight i get to go to the crazy church that meets everynight in my compound. hopefully i dont get a lady having a 'god' seizure fall on me, or have my feet kissed and prayed over.
the other night i couldn't sleep. i had taken my malaria pill that day, which usually makes me have really fun, trippy dreams (i look forward to monday nights). So when i was laying in my bed, i thought maybe i was sleeping/ dreaming and having a really scary dream that this huge bug was crawling all over me and biting me. i was sweating, and itching, and it was a terrible night. well when i got up the next day i had 17 bites all over my body- including fingers, nose, legs, arms, torso, and feet. and they're extra big, not like regular mosquito bites. so maybe i wasn't dreaming about that bug... which is a scary thought! today when i get home i'm putting up my mosquito net.
i have a couple really cute lizards in my house, one in my bathroom and one in my living room. but i think nala ate the one in my living room yesterday. i had named him toto. it's sad..
she needs her protein tho.

i'm goin to the beach after work today. i am living in a port city and i havent even seen the ocean yet. so i recruited my friend to take me there. and then im gonna get chinese food. it's gonna be a good day.

peace.

been battiling a cold the last few days. feeling kinda better today. i am working on making the best of my job. i called my apcd today to ask him about it, but he never got back to me. i made a new friend tho, so thats cool. i love to look at pictures and remember my life before i came to ghana, it's funny, and bittersweet. i miss you guys, especially when i'm sick and not feeling well. my peace corps friends here tho are amazing. i wouldn't be here without them. still battling some internal issues of purpose, but that should be worked out once i can talk to my apcd. (that means associate peace corps director, my REAL boss.) i didn't go to work today, cuz i am sick. got some new dvd's- including forrest gump and a tom hanks collection, a pixar collection, and a sylvester stallone collection. so on saturday i laid on the couch coughing and sniffling and watching a rocky marathon. nothing can lift my spirits when im sick like rocky...

i posted my new phone number and mailing address for all those interested. the takoradi address is only for letters tho, please send packages to the accra address. it has to do with postage... i dont know.

i miss you guys, hope you are all doing well. love you.

Obruni

My newest least favorite word in the world: Obruni. Although when screamed by a young child, comes out like, OBROOOONI. It is like nails on a chalkboard. Sometimes, when Im in a good mood, ill turn around and wave, or even smile, but sometimes, I just want to turn around and smack that person so hard that they fly across the street. :) But in better news, Nala is becoming much better, and shes soo cute. I'll try next time to put up some pictures. My house is almost finished, just need to buy a few more things. I've made some friends, so life is ok most of the time. It's just overwhelming, and I get tired in like 6 hours of being out of my house. I guess this is as close as i'll get to feeling how a celebrity feels, but it sucks. I can't go anywhere or do anything without being stared at, screamed at, grabbed, and sometimes chased. But in the same vein, I get extra help when I need it

no longer PCT, im a PCV now!

yup, thats right. got sworn in aug 14th in a not-very-exciting ceremony. i'm the real deal now, i travel alone, live alone, and have a job. life's good. i'm in takoradi now and for the next two years. big news, i got a puppy!!!!! her name is nala, and shes the most adorable puppy in the whole wide world and the love of my life. she was free from one of my neighbors in maase. i picked her out of 5, becuase she was so cuddly when i'd go to visit. shes super tiny, and fits in my two hands put together. shes tan and white, and i don't know how big she will get but most dogs in ghana are on the small side. she keeps me company.

i'm doing fantasy football to get my eagles fix. o yea, what is this i hear about the birds taking vick??!?! please tell me i've been misinformed. anyway, keep me up to date with the season, cuz i don't think ill be able to find a place to watch it.

k ppl keep askin me wat i need. i'm pretty hooked up with my housing so i don't really need things, but i want them. these include....

-shampoo (insanely expensive here)
-gossip magazines, or any magazine really
-travel packs of snacks. i.e., candy, juice mixes, easy mac,
-big item here: Burberry london perfume. mine ran out as soon as i got here and i just always seem to smell
-PICTURES!!!
thats all i can think of for now. love you all and miss you.

Almost done

So this past week has been the end of my pre-service training. On Thursday I took my Language Proficiency Test for the Ghanaian language Fante. I was really nervous that I didn't do well, but I found out yesterday that I passed! I scored Intermediate-Mid, which is the requirement for us to pass. I also have to take my technical evaluation today. this is just a test on everything that we've been learning for my sector- Small Enterprise Development. We have our draft for fantasy football tomorrow, and then Monday is our SED party. Thursday is swearing in and celebration! I bought some really gorgeous jewelry from the local bead market, and some nice white sandals. My host mother bought me fabric to be made into a dress for swearing in. I went to the seamstress last night and picked out my pattern. I think its gonna look really good! It's gonna be really hard to leave all my friends, but we're already planning our IST, Birthday parties, thanksgiving, christmas, and New Years Parties. (I'm hosting new years!!!!) Hope everything is goin alright at home. Once football starts you gotta keep me updated. Ok, love you. bye.

Site Visit

Soo, I am in Takoradi right now in the Western Region of Ghana. I am staying here for one week on what PC calls Site Visit. I am living in what will be my house for the next 2 years, and may i say, i have got the HOOK UP! I traveled from Kukurantumi Saturday with my Supervisor and Counterpart to Kwesimintim (the suburb of Takoradi where my house is specifically). Of course, as is the way in Ghana, we made a stop at a wedding in Accra, and didn't get to my house until 9pm. (we should've arrived at 2 or 3 at the latest.) There was no power, so I was a little weirded out that first night, but the next morning it was worth it. I have a 2 bedroom house on the 2nd story in a compound house. I have a flush toilet, a shower (!), a kitchen with a sink and a propane stove and a fridge ( tho i havent gotten the fridge to work yet and i don't have gas for the stove). I have my own bedroom with a queen size bed, and a living room with a couch, 4 chairs, a desk, a tv and a dvd player... Unbelievable. But my fave part of the house is the balcony! It opens from my bedroom and the living room and its got a great view. It's wayy more than i ever expected, and i won't mind living here for two years. The office is a 30 min cab ride but thats not too bad. I was at the office this morning and met everyone, just still trying to decide where I can be used and how i will be of the most help. Also working on figuring out some of my own projects. And I have FULL phone service here so that is soo nice. I am only here until friday, then i travel back to Maase and stay 2 more weeks with my host family. I swear-in as an official PCV on August 13th. Then i move back here and stay for 2 years. Crazy! Anyway, I've only been here one day so I still have a lot to see and i"m just trying to find my way around and get comfortable. But i made friends with a neighbor so she's been fun and great in helping me out.
I miss you and it was great to be able to talk to you last night. Hope you can set up that skype thing. I'll let you know if i find out more.

Obama!!!

i'm currently trying to watch the youtube videos and i can only see the first 4 seconds but it's so cute! they are getting soo big!

so not too much news, except that....
I GOT TO STAND 2 FEET FROM OBAMA AND I SHOOK MICHELLE's HAND !!!!!!!!!!!!
yup. it was unreal. all of us trainees and some of the current pcvs went to the embassy in ghana and took busses over to kotoka international airport where airforce one was waiting on the runway. Obama and the fam came to ghana on friday night and spent saturday touring elmina castle in cape coast where the slaves were shipped from. then he spoke at parliament and then before he left ghana he gave a small speech at the airport. since we are in peace corps we were allowed to stand in the VIP area on the tarmac. we were set up about 6 feet from the podium. around 6pm he arrived in a helicopter and got into a car and was driven up to the podium. the president of ghana was there to introduce him, John Atta Mills. Then Obama gave a 30 minute speech in which he mentioned Peace Corps 3 times!!! We all cheered when he said it. I have some amazing pics! After the speech he went and shook hands with us in the VIP section. I couldn't get to him, but I saw him 1 foot from where i was standing. Then Michele went around and in the midst of chaos she shook my hand!!!!!! she had a light grip, and her hand was cold and skinny! I LOVE michele, wayy more than i like obama, so it was perfect! Several of my other trainees actually got to shake his hand and say something to him. SO then they boarded Air Force One and waved goodbye and we watched the plane fly away. It was epic!

i'll try to get my pics up, but its like trying to break into fort knox. im working on it tho.
and i still havent been able to see my new nephew! facebook is a hassle. could you possibly email them to me at my gmail account? maybe that would be better.

in other news, all is well in ghana. im thinking i could get a new cell provider and maybe then verizon would be able to contact me. or you could just try calling cards. or skype.

one of the families in maase has puppies and i went to go play with them today. they're only 2 weeks old and theyre soooo adorable. when i go to site visit im going to scope it out and see if it would be possible for me to have a pet. if so, then im gonna take this one thats a girl, shes white, brown and white and shes my favorite of the litter. im so excited! ive never had a dog!!!

ok, my hour is up. much love.

YAY!

Dominic is here! yay!!! i wish i could see him! im so glad everything went ok and you're both healthy. you'll have to send me some pics asap. (thanks julz for lettin me know.) i really hope you guys figure out how to call me! i want to call but im broke... im livin on less than $2/day. so please please please call me! everyone here is very happy about my new nephew and send their blessings to you!!

today is the last day of field trip. it was such a great time and im sad its over. it was nice just to get away from things and not be assaulted with twi and obruni calls 24/7. we stayed at a really beautiful place in volta region called mt. paradise resort. and it was paradise!! it was on top of a mountain and it was quiet and relaxing and gorgeous. we went on a hike one morning and i was expecting it to be a little challenging but it was 4 hours of scaling a mountain on slippery wet cliffs. needless to say i was scared. but it was worth it. we hiked down to a waterfall with a swimming hole, but to get there you had to rappelle off of a rockface down 10 meters. so here i am scared to death holding onto a rope and rapelling down a cliff. but omg it was worth it. it looked like the scene of an herbal essence commercial. the waterfall flowing down in a mountain paradise. we all stood under the waterfall and went swimming. it was definitely something i'll remember for the rest of my life. and then i was able to climb back up so it was even better! that hike was the hardest hike ive ever been on and especially hard in the african sun in the middle of the day. but im glad i did it. later that night we had some palm wine and i had a lesson on how to play djembes (drums) by our guide for the hike. he was a good teacher and it was so much fun!

we are halfway done with training now and only 2 and a half weeks to go until site visit!! so then ill get to see where ill be living and what ill be doing for the next two years.

so it's back to maase, and back to homestay for now. peace and love.

Hellooo!! my cell phone seems to be more of a tease than a useful device. Reception is very limited so if the calls arent going through thats probably why. in any case, please keep trying! i miss you guys and want to hear your voices!

last night while i was bathing outside i heard some scary animal noises rooting round outside where i was standing. then just when i peeked out 3 little piglets ran in and surrounded me. i had to chase them out!

ghana is cool. i was walking the other day and passed a mosque and an apostolic church right next to eachother. living in harmony. gotta love that.

i was discussing politics with my 17 year old sister. gotta love that too. in a country where girls don't go to school in some areas, she not only speaks great english but she wants to be a nurse or an actress.
i asked her what she thought would happen when ghana starts to make money off their offshore oil. she said the country will only see 10% of the profits. the other 90% will go to the company drilling it. i asked if she thought people would get mad and start to fight, like in nigeria and so many other countries. she said "NOO. ghanaians think war is a dirty game and we are a peaceful country. we do not want to fight. we will instead have discussions." Amazing. no wonder Obama picked Ghana to be his first african country to visit, rather than his fathers country Kenya, or Nigeria.

i'm trying to post some pics right now. ill let you know how that goes.

ok, if you want to send some things id like shampoo, proactiv cleanser, books, magazines, candy, anything really.

PLEASE try to call me when Dom is born!!!! wish i could be there. i leave for fieldtrip this weekend until weds so i might have service! miss you. peace.

15 Fun(ny) Facts About Ghana

(From an Obruni's Perspective)

1. It never gets old to scream "Obruni" over and over again- sometimes for five or more minutes. This applies to both children and adults.

2. Depending on the time of day, you will be greeted by these fun friends in the latrine:
Night- Cockroaches. And not the Jersey cockroaches, these are at least 4 ins. in length
Midday- Flies- you'll hear them buzzing from 10 ft. away
Dawn/Dusk- Lizards

3. It is not unusual to see a child as young as 3 carrying another child on their backs, while hauling a 20 lb. load of firewood on their heads.

4. Obama is a superhero to all Ghanaians. One fellow PCV was asked what Obama will do if he 'runs into' Osama Bin Laden while visiting Ghana... apparently they know something we don't!

5. Celine Dion is also a superhero from America. (I didn't bother with the Canada thing.)

6. Clothing is optional and breastfeeding is a public event. One day I saw a woman feeding twins- one on each breast! I proceeded to buy soap from her.

7. If a taxi is meant to hold 4 people, the driver won't leave until there are at least seven sweaty passengers crammed in. This applies to all transport in Ghana.

8. On a hot day (which is everyday) the windows in all vehicles are rolled up. Who needs to breathe?

9. There is a gang of roosters that has decided that I should not be allowed to sleep, and enjoy hanging out under my bedroom window. Also, roosters cock-a-doodle-doo at ALL hours, not just daybreak.

10. People spray paint their animals to tell which ones belong to them. It is not unusual to see pink chickens or blue goats wandering around town.

11. All food must be made into a sticky, tasteless mush before Ghanaians will eat it. Hours will be spent in this two person labor of pounding plantains, cassava, yams, corn, wheat, rice...EVERYTHING. And since there are no utensils it must be served boiling hot to burn your obrunis fingers and raise their already elevated body temperatures. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

12. There is no social etiquette to cell phones. Everyone has one and will answer in all situations, even church.

13. It's not unusual to be riding in a tro-tro that has a "Jesus Saves" sticker on the back window and a marijuana sticker on the front while listening to Akon blaring.

14. Although English is the national language and most Ghanaians can speak it, it is expected that all obrunis be fluent in whichever one of the 70+ languages your town speaks.

15. You have not lived until you've taken a cold bucket bath under a palm-fringed African sky and watched the stars twinkle.

just a quickie

ok so the big news is that i have a cell phone now!! yay! i wrote the number under contact info. so please please call/text me. ghana is 4 hours ahead, so keep that in mind.

also, if you want to send me things, stuff like cheese!!!! would be amazing. and em, don't even joke about the mcmills... i am slobbering on the keboard! so yea, some velveeta and shells would be amAzing! o how i miss cheese. and pictures!!!! please send me new pics of your fabulous luxurious lives in america. ok, my times up but i miss ya. peace.love.

you can send packages to the address listed. when i move to kwesimintin i'll give you that address but that won't be until august 13th. i am right on the beach, in the western region, so yea, it's gonna be awesome. you should definitely come visit. tonight is the first night of Ohum festival and ends the ban on music and general rambunctiousness so we are all going to gather in the middle of maase and shout. it should be fun. the chief is back from accra for the celebration and i got to meet him today. very cool.

o yea, internet cafes suck.

today is really hotttttt, and i cant wait because im going to koforidua tomorrow to buy a fan. YAY!!! and yay for electricity. i am lucky with my homestay. last night i was hangin out with the family outside. although i couldn't understand much of what was being said, it was fun.

my fante learning is going well, we had four hours of language class today. since it's similar to twi, i am getting well known in maase for being able to understand the first 45 seconds of a conversation by myself.

o yea, i will have a phone either by tomorrow or thursday, so this is how it will work. if i can figure it out. ill either text you or call you and ask you to call me back so youll have my number. its much cheaper to call ghana from the us than it is to call the us from ghana. it is free for me to receive texts and calls. i probably wont have very good service though so it might be easier to text.

ps- the bananas are wayyyy better here. :)

OK, so I wanted to add more to that last post because i was cut short. So Takoradi is on the beach, right near Cape Coast-which is the most touristy beach in Ghana. it will be very nice, so you guys should want to visit me! i will be living in a two room compound but i will be living with my counterpart. i have a fridge, and stove. my homestay family is soo nice to me. they treat me like a queen, and it's very embarrassing. i am currently living in a town called maase, in the eastern region. i will be here with my homestay family for 2 months. i am learning fante, and a lot of small business, microfinance classes. then, on aug 13, i swear in and move to takoradi for good! i am living well in maase, i have my own room, a TV!!!!!!!!, and get fed more than any 17 people could ever hope to eat! each day is a new world of learning, embarassment, and transition. i already feel more comfortable in ghana, and i'm sure by the time i get to my site i'll feel at home.

funny story- in ghana it is the worst thing that if you have a guest and they do not eat their full and have to ask for seconds. it means you are a terrible host and people will talk about you. so for this reason the families we stay with feed us enough food for 7 people at least, and we eat alone in our rooms. so i asked for a piece of fruit one morning, maybe a banana. well the next day i was brought a vat of porridge, a loaf of bread, and about 4 bunches of bananas. of course we never finish our food and give it back to the family. but seriously, i was too full to even eat the banana at that point. just another cultural faux pas among many in a day.

hoping to venture into koforidua tomorrow with my homestay sister to buy a cell phone.

Julz- got the package. Ur amazing!!!! and you totally made my week

Mom- you can copy the address at the top of the page. but i think it's www.lifesatrip-chickiebug08.blogspot.com

Please send me updates about everyone from home. I miss you all.

love,
chris

Great expectations

I am writing to you from Old Tafo at an incredibly slooow internet cafe. I am now in the homestay part of training. I met them yesterday after I found out my site assignment. For the next two years, I will be living in Kwesimintim, a suburb of Takoradi. I will be doing microfinance with an NGO..... just got proposed to by 4 guys in the internet cafe.... ok, so yea. So Takoradi is on the beach, in the western region. The language spoken there is Fante, so that is what i am learning. I will have running water, 24 hour electricity, and a flush toilet! i am really lucky. I was pretty upset when i found out becuase i reallly didnt want to be in a city. buttt, well give it a go. i have to leave now my host mothers waiting for me. love you and miss you!!!

Soo, this is Africa! I am sitting in an internet cafe in ho, in the Volta region. I am on my vision quest starting today until sunday. Ho is the regional capital of Volta, and it's slightly advanced. The landscape is like a tropical rain forest, lots of palms, lots of reggae, and lots of sweat. i rode here from accra on a tro-tro for 4 hours. A tro-tro is like an old minivan, like an astro or something realy ugly, that they converted and just squeeze as many ppl they can into. and then they drive worse than any nyc cabbie could ever dream of. but its the only way to get anywhere here. I bought fried plaintain chips from the market girls and a sweat rag. o yea, a vision quest is when we each go to a current volunteers site for 5 days and see what it's like. its the last bit of pre-training before training. last night we went to the US ambassador's house for a reception and i got to meet him. there was a band and i learned how to dance to 'highlife'. It's old-school ghanaian music with a lot of bassanova influence. im diggin the music here. i heard blame it on the a-a-a-alcohol blaring from a tro and i had to giggle. ;) anywhoo, i should be getting a phone soon (within 3 weeks) and then i will be able to text and you guys can call me. sweet! we find out our site placements next thursday. this is where we will be for the next 2 years. we've only lost one volunteer so far, our group seems to be pretty solid. i miss you all and hope ppl are actually reading this cuz it's much easier than writing a few emails. internet is slooooow. please send me letters, pictures, packages, anything! much love.

And away we go....

It's the night before I leave and I don't know how to feel. I'm anxious and uber-excited, but at the same time it's bittersweet and absolutely crushing to say goodbye to my friends and family. And it's not like, "bye, see ya in a month." It's "bye, see ya in two years." How does one say goodbye for two years? I still haven't quite figured it out... Anyways, I finished all my packing today, hope my luggage is within the weight restrictions. (still kinda up in the air about that.. i guess i'll see when i get to the airport) I think i remembered to do everything but i probably didn't. Tomorrow at noon I have to meet all 67 of my fellow Ghana volunteers in Philly and say bye to the rents for good. Then from there on out it's gonna be a whirlwind of new feelings, new sceneries, and new cultures! I can't wait!

I probably won't be able to post again for two weeks at least, but I'll try to let everyone know how it's going. If you don't hear from me, assume I'm doing well and livin life.

peace.

Running out of time!!!

I feel like I have so much to do! Between packing, and getting finances and paperwork in order, and all the stuff that I'm sure I'm forgetting to do.. And then hanging out with friends... Time is flying! I have been having the time of my life tho, it makes me sad to leave! At least I've been so distracted from thinking about leaving for two years I haven't had time to freak out about it. In fact, I feel calm, probably because even if I wanted to, I can't imagine how my life will change. Ambiguity seems to have the opposite effect on me as it does on everyone else I know. The less I know, the more willing I'll be to accept whatever Peace Corps Ghana is like. I'll just have to go with the flow!

One week to go!

Ok, this is the test run. I've got one week til G-day! Hopefully i'll be able to keep this going while I'm in Ghana.