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.