Akwaaba!

Hello everyone!

So I am in Accra, Ghana. One of the first things I noticed from the plane was how red (not grey) the streets are and how green the trees are. Even in the city most roads are dirt (clay) so it takes forever for us all to be picked up by the bus in the morning to go to the Aya Centre where our lectures are even though we all live relatively close to one another.

Yesterday, I moved into my homestay and met my host, Auntie Vic (Victoria Dei Tutu), who is so sweet and friendly. She says that she wants us to be fat by the time we go home, so that everyone in the States will see that people in Ghana have plenty of food. Both because the food is delicious and it is an insult to turn down a gift, she will probably succeed. Auntie and the other members of the compound (there are two houses and a courtyard within a walled area) are starting to call me Augua because I was born on a Monday and Ghana has a naming system based upon the day of the week one is born on and one's gender (there are websites where you can find out what day of the week you were born on and the Ghana naming system). My homestay has electricity (but due to a re-circuting or something we frequently have "lights off" or a power outage. Unlike some homstays, we also have working showers (some have to take bucket showers) though app. the tank tends to run out of water and then we too are forced to take a bucket shower (there is no plumbing system like in the US: people have polytanks which sit on platforms outside the house, higher than the house, that provide water for showers that need the help of gravity-- as a result showers are cold- which is great since its so hot- and a lot like standing under a waterfall.) Unlike some homsetays we do not have air conditioning or a PS3 but I think this makes the experience more authentic.

Children on the street frequently yell out "Abruni" when I walk by which means white person. Unlike in the US people openly call each other "white" "dark" "fat" "skinny" but it's not at all rude, it's actually quite heart-felt and warm.

Ok, well we are about to leave for lunch. . .