And the travels begin...

So we just got back to Cape today from our 10 day trip to the northern regions. The trip was incredible. We stayed in Kumasi, about 4 hours north of Cape Coast, the first night, then made the 7 hour drive up to Wa the next day. Wa was really cool, we saw into Burkina Faso (neighboring country) and saw evedince of how the locals resisted the Slave Raiders during the Slace Trade (Trans-Saharan and Trans-Atlantic). From Wa we went to Mole National Game Park where we went on a walking safari. We didn't see anything too exotic, just antelope, baboons, and warthogs. The elephants were hiding, unfortuanately. Then the next day we went to Tamale, which was an awesome town. We mostly chilled and talked about ideas for our ISP's, the big final research paper, and I hammered down a topic there, so that was productive. I'm going to be researching the Historical Development of Pan-Africanism as A Political Force in Ghana and Beyond...so we'll see how that goes. Then we go back to Kumasi, but on the way there, our bus hit a cow crossing the road, so we had to drive the rest of the way with the front windshield cracked and almost shattered and a cowq indent on the front. Anyways, we get to Kumasi, which the the cultural and arts cent of Ghana. Kumasi is an amazing city, the people are great, the food was amazing, and the market there was insanity but so much fun. Now we're back in Cape until Saturday, then we go to Accra, spend the night, then drive the 10 hours to Benin (two countries over) on Sunday, were we will find out if I know any French at all. Then we get back to Cape on November 6, then I move to Accra for ISP on November 11. So things are busy. But I am so happy and having a great time here, I can't wait for ISP time to begin, I think its going to be a lot of fun. Anyways, time is up, and I gotta run. Take care and I hope to talk to you all soon. (Oh, and PS, make sure Barack wins, I will be 6 hours ahead of the East Coast with no internet or TV access on the election day, so I will be freaking out.) Peace and Love!

Will - 1...Africa - 104

So things have been pretty busy. We had our rural visit to Komenda last week, during which Africa dominated me and the rest of the group. We were all having a lovely time exploring the village and getting another glimpse of what real life is like, when lo! I start feeling ill. This was Thursday. Friday, the group convinces me to go to the local clinic when my fever reaches 102. Okay, fine. SO it turns out I got malaria. Apparently our anti-malaria medicine isn't 100%. So I get the medicine and move on with life. But wait, then comes Saturday. So i'm feeling a little better in the morning...then the afternoon roles around. I decide it is time to go to the hospital in Cape Coast, a quick 1/2 hour taxi or tro-tro ride away, coincidentally because my current temperature is at 103.5. So a friend and I climb into a taxi and meet some of the SIT staff at the hospital...2 hours later, when the one doctor on staff has still seen 0 new patients since our arrival, we decide its time to find a private clinic. Long story short, we find a clinic, get the fever down, and now one week from the outbreak of malaria I am completely healthy and happy again.

On more exciting avenues, our Academic Director, Prof. Naana Jane Opuku-Agyemang (Aunty Naana) was made the Vice-Chancellor (aka President) of the University of Cape Coast this week. She is the first woman in Ghana to ever achieve this rank at any college or university. Simply put, Aunty Naana is awesome.

We had our Fante final today. A short written exam and an oral exam, and we are done with classroom Fante. So we are all excited about that. We leave for Accra on Sunday and get back on Thursday, so I am very excited to see what the capital city is like.

I still love Ghana. The people are friendly, the food is an adventure, I love the lecture topics, and my group is amazing. We are all starting to get to be very close and I can see a lot of these relationships lasting longer than just this semester. I am so happy here, it's a little ridiculous. Anyways, thats all for now, hopefully I can post again on the trip to Accra. Peace and Love to you.

Will