OBURONI

So two entries in two days, I must say I am on quite a roll! Something I omitted from my last entry is that we are currently and for the next two weeks participating in an orientation. I have to say that I would be completely lost without this help. Some Ghanaian students have basically been our guides, friends and mothers and fathers, because we would be completely lost without them. They are the kindest people I have met. For example Nii, a student in Legon, gave up his ticket to the HUGE futball match on sunday so that we could go, even though this is his country and his team. So I am really indebted to them all, Nii, Angie, Irene, Elizabeth and many more. But, because this is a very busy orientation, my blog will be minimal, especially after Thursday because we leave for Kumasi and Tamale in Northen Ghana. I am so thrilled as we are the first group to have been able to visit the north! I've heard Northern Ghana is very different from Accra, so I can't wait and when I get back, once I figure out registration, I will tell you all about it.
So, to fill you all in, and forgive me because I cannot remember where I have let off, but every night we have been having African music and Dance lessons, mind you in 90 degree heat. Despite the fact that I have seen people, including myself sweatier then I have ever witnessed in my life, this has been soooooo much fun. I have learned so much, and I think I am convinced that I will take an African Dance class now. I'll have to show you all my stuff when I get back.
On Saturday, we ventured into Accra, and let me tell you this was a very heavy expierience. First we were viewing some historical monuements, including St. James Fort, a British fort on the Ivory Coast. Seeing this was a huge reminder of Ghana's colonial past, and it is insane for me to think that they only obtained their independence by 1957! Reminence of their colonial past are everywhere, from various Euro-style churches to banks to the language. This has been really difficult for me and others to process, we feel guilty for such abuse of western power, even through we do not carry the fault of their past, we sort of remind people of such struggles. Also, it was very rough whitnessing all the contradictions within Accra. For example, driving through one street in Accra, on one side of the road was the Royal Palm Hotel and the other was something akin to a shanty town, complete with horrible living conditions and sewage just dumped in the streets. So, obviously we are all trying to process the living conditions here, the injustices, and just figure out how and where we fit into the whole scheme of things.
Later that day, we also went to Accra's old port, where we were surrounded by children and locals currious about all of us obruni's (white people) were doing there, where most opted to take their "children in Africa picture" I was astounded by the Ocean shore that was covered wholey by waste, wondering if this could ever happed in the US. Despite conditions, I do not pitty anyone because they do not pitty themselves. Every single Ghanaian I have met is in love with their country and desire a better future, by their own hands. So far, when not in the context of economic transactions, I have met some of the kindest people here. Southern hospitallity has NOTHING on Ghana!
Moving ON. Sunday was the best day yet. Also, just for your frame of reference, each day litterally feels like three shoved into one. They start at around 630am and end well after 12am for me. Sunday was no exception. For the first half of the day, most people attended church. I opted not to go because church services are notoriously two hours to many more, and some of my new friends to me to a hang out on campus called Bonjour, to celebrate my 21st birthday. I do intend to go in the name of cultural explorations, because Ghana is the MOST religious society I have ever encountered. Everything in the County has to do with religion. For example, I saw a "Jesus Loves Me Hair Salon" and a "God Is Great Phone Shop" in La. Ghana is truly a trip! After those returned from church, we ventured out to the beach by that five star hotel I mentioned. It was stange because it was like a different world, clean and white, and let me tell you, the whole fake front it put on was not likeable at all. I perfer real Ghana much more. But from the beach we went to the Ghana vs. Nigeria futboll match. This was a semi-final match in the African cup, and let me tell you if you don't already know this was a HUGE deal. This was the event of the decade for Ghana because they were playing their rivals on their home turf, and we got to be apart of it! The crowd was insane, the largest I have ever seen at any sporting event, which was fun because the energy was insane but it was equally as intimidating as we stood out in a crowed of tens of thousands of Ghanians. We sat at the top level, and I got some insane photos of the event that I will certainly be sharing once I figure that process out. Of course Ghana won, two to one, strangley as many Ghanaians predicted. And when they did, they took their celebration to the streets and so did we. Standing outside the stadium we were surrounded in celebration with Ghanaians, taking pictures of us, because I guess we were some sight to see, in all of our yellow, green and red get-up. I also find it humerous that we were at this big game when in the US the super bowl must have been on several people's agendas. We all had the best time there, and we walked out in some sort of euphoric state, not really believing what we just whitnessed. Sorry if I am dwelling on this expierience, but it was certainly one for the records books!!!!
So, I must be off for I have launry I need to do, and hearing from others it is apparently a whole ordeal. As always I miss you and love you. I hope I can create better structure in my blog entries in the future so I am not jumping all over the place. and PLEASE email me and keep me up on everything!

-Ali (aka world traveler!)

Now, note to dad, yes I did recieve my luggage, I was able to pick it up on my fourth time to the airport sunday morning. So do not worry, although I do wish I had packed more DEET because I am going through it so quickly!!!! Also, I will post my mailing address tomorrow!