Oh Ghana...

So the last post was from a different day I was typing, but didn't have time to post it, that's why there are two posts on the same day. So a lot has happened over the past few days. Fante lessons are starting to get intense, but I like it. We went to El Mina Castle yesterday, and that made me re-realize how evil the things the West have done are. But more on that later when I've processed it.

The highlight of this post is what happened on Wednesday. So me and another girl, Maria, live close together on the 3rd Ridge. Another friend of ours, Stephanie, was visiting Maria and decided to come by my house on her way to get a taxi. So I step out of our gate so Stephanie knows which house it is, and then we walk in the gate. About two seconds after we walk through the gate, one of our dogs decides to dart forward and lung at Stephanie. Me and my host mom yell at the dog and I try to kick it, then I turn to continue walking with Stephanie. Lo and behold, the dog had managed to bite her, neither me or Stephanie knew this until we both looked down and saw her left leg covered in blood. So we take her to the hospital, to Stephanie's unfortunate discovery that pain killers aren't used in this hospital. She is fine, the dogs have their shots and she got treated for anything possible just to be safe, but Stephanie is absolutely fine. So we've had our first Ghanaian hospital experience, and it is enough to last for quite some time, most likely forever. But we are all good today, we had our first Fante test today, and it went well. We're all going to the beach tomorrow so I'm very excited about that. Everyone stay safe and thank you for checking in with me. Peace.

PS: My description of the dog bite incident is very surface level and the basic facts. I can't express what a weird and surreal day that was and I can barely express it in person. If your curiosity persists, let me know and I will try to explain it, most likely when I get back, because in person is the only way it gets close to what it was like.

Update 2

Things have been ridiculously busy here. The jungle canopy walk was incredible, though a lot shorter than I expected it to be. My host family is very interesting. We don't really talk much yet, but after the initial awkwardness is over I expect things will get a lot better. There is also a girl from Ohio State living with us, so that has made things a lot easier to adjust to. Internet access is a lot less available than I expected, so I will probably just be checking my email a couple of times a week. We've been taking classes for a couple of days so far, and I am really enjoying what we are learning and how we are learning it. Our first rural trip will be in a few weeks, so that will be really cool. So far I've only been to the beach once, but it was awesome, and we're planning on going again for the day this Saturday, so I am excited about that. I think I accidentally left my spare memory card for my camera at home, so unless I come across one here, expect very few pictures. I am still loving things here, and initial speculations that my group was cool have been confirmed. I hope everyone is well and having fun.

In Ghana...

Things are good here so far. We left JFK around midnight Sunday, and all of the flights were good, British Airways flight attendants are really nice. We stayed in a Hostel in Accra the first night, then we drove to Cape Coast Tuesday morning. We're not going to stay with our families until this weekend. Until then we are in a hostel here in Cape Coast during orientation. I did find out that my family is a Dad who is a public servant, and mom who is a teacher, a daughter who will be going out of town for school next week, a younger daughter, and then I am sharing a room with a son of a family friend, and they have three dogs. We're going to a national park today and we get to go on a canopy tour, so that will be really cool. Besides that nothing really is going on, we're just starting to get to know each other, but so far a I really like everyone in my program.

I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I hope to at the National Park today. The only time I wish I had taken one was when I had a perfect few from the plane as we were approaching the Algerian coast from the Mediterranean. It was beautiful, after all the other build up I've had about AFIRCA, to finally see the continent, literally see the curvature and recognize it like I was looking at an over sized map. Also, the landscape as we flew over the Sahara was like flying over a golden ocean that was frozen.

It still doesn't seem real, and I certainly haven't realized how long I'm going to be here. I don't want this to turn into "My Great AFRICAN Adventure". That seems to superficial and stereotypical. And I knew coming into this that I have built up this ideal of what AFRICA is like. Hopefully recognizing it will make it easier to dispel the illusion of grandeur and I can just live, letting it all be what will be.

I am happy here, and I hope I will continue to be. I am anxious to meet my family and really get into a routine here, but I don't think a routine will be very likely, considering how sporadic our travels and even our daily schedules will be. I love you all and I hope you are all well.

Peace,
Will