Time's A Ticking

I have many many many untold stories I need to be sharing, but time is money, and I have little of both. The reason I am posting this rushed entry is to let you know what I promise to write about in two weeks, and that way you can hold me to it....and to tell you what I am doing for the next two weeks and beyond. So, the stories I owe you, and keep me an girl of my world, harass me day and night, but here they are:
1) My first little solo trip up to the mountains in Aburi.
2) Research in Accra, hectic tro-tros, and the near brawl I got into with a man harassing me...
3) Finishing up volunteering at the local primary school, I have some pretty cute pics.
4) An AMAZING trip to Kumasi, the heart and soul of Ghana.
5) A dance and drumming final....both results questionable.
6) My week from hell that almost sent me packing, including unfortunate flirting with government officials from Togo and Benin to get visas, having to change a travel plans around five million times, amazing lightning storms, Internet shortages, getting sick, getting even sicker when the electricity was out...very bad visuals there.

I have been running a marathon, and I feel like this is the final stretch. I am 21 pages into my research paper, and probably have another 21 to go. I have finals coming up, on what, who knows! Classes are still the biggest mystery to me, one that will be forever unsolved considering today was the last day of classes. But, despite all the stress of these final weeks, I have some amazing adventures planned I would like to share with you. Here's the itinerary:

1) Tomorrow, May 16th at 5am, I depart for Benin for four days, and back track to Togo for a few days, returning May 25th. So look for that blog update! Togo and Benin are both French speaking countries, and Benin's official religion is Voodoo, yes Voodoo, so look out for more creepy stories.
2) So I get back Sunday the 25th, and I leave the 26th with my future neighbor in Davis, the lovely Jess, for the Western region of Ghana, hitting up a village that is built on STILTS! I'll be returning from that journey either the 29th or the 30th. Again expect another email.
3) After three days dedicated to writing my paper, yes only three, I will be taking off yet again, not completely set on the destination, but I'll figure something out.
4) FINALS from the June 9th to the 14th.
NOW for the crazy trip, and I am not sure how many of you are aware of my big plans. I am calling this my trip around the world, even though it will cover only four countries outside Ghana, it is going to feel like a trip around the world. From details I've gathered from others who have made the journey, it is a hard core trek. So here's the plan:
We are going up through Northern Ghana to Burkina Faso, then to Mali, all around Mali, onto Senegal, flying from Senegal to Ivory Coast (or what my Mom likes to call the rebel country), and then busing it back to Accra in order to catch my flight on July 15th.
It is going to be the trip of a lifetime, I can hardly wait. I feel like this is one of those defining moments, one of those few opportunities that come around that you just have to go for, having no clue how things will turn out. Unfortunately we are traveling during rainy season, making conditions completely unpredictable. However, I am completely optimistic. I am traveling with two other fabulous girls, Katie and Elaine, whom both attend Berkeley, and together I think we will make quite a team. I mean, this is the real thing, we are roughing it, backpacking, sleeping in a tent, trying to get to Timbuktu! I suggest that those with a touch of curiosity check out something like the Lonely Planet guide and read about these places, I wonder if it will intrigue you as much as it has me.
Also, I have a favor of those who take time out of there busy days to check up on me, to get me through this whirlwind two months, I would love to hear from you, especially before June 15th, I would love the boost. I mean who know, I might getting stuck in Timbuktu.
Okay, so sorry for this cheating you this time around, but I am sure in the end I will not disappoint any of you!

-Ali (or as I have been recently renamed, Sticks)
(HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY CARLY ROSE!!!!!)