Friday, August 29, 2008

Akwaaba!!!!

Hello all! Well, we made it and are safe (just in case you are wondering). Let's see. The first day we arrived at 5:30 GMT t and proceeded to our hotel outside of Accra in Medina Estates and spent about an hour in stop and go traffic, but we have come to learn that this is just what it is like to get around at any time in Accra. The next day we went to the Embassy, met up with Andrea's (another fulbrighter) friend Yaw (pronounced Ya-ow). He is AWESOME. He runs this SIT program for american/international art students to spend a semester in Ghana. He knows everyone! Andrea did that program and that is how she knows him as well. Anyway...we met Yaw and went to a football game (aka soccer game) of Kumasi's Kotoko team versus the local Accra team. Unfortunately, Kotoko lost (it's our new favorite team!). Then we drove back in a taxi in, you guessed it, traffic. Yesterday (Thursday) we slept all morning (soooo nice) and then ran errands all afternoon in the pouring rain! But we got plug converters, washcloths, and malaria pills (in case we get malaria). then, oh my, the tro-tro ride back to Medina was CRAZY. It took over an hour...maybe two, in the pouring rain. We were off-roading in this tro-tro...it was nuts. The rain finally stopped this morning and we are out running errands again, but this time without Yaw, but we know the area we are going to so it is ok. He has been like our babysitter!

We have tried several times to get PLAIN Jolof rice...only to be told ok and to find pieces of chicken in it....I think they are worried about us so they throw it in....silly obruni, you could not possibly want NO meat!!!

But all in all...so far so good. Just trying to catch a ride out of Accra. More updates to come.

3 comments:

Chris said...

I'm laughing here in Brooklyn b/c I know that the off-roading tro tro ride had Mo busting up the same way he did when he discovered Elizabeth sticks her tongue out when disgusted, a knee-jerk reaction to having bird droppings raining down on her from the heavens.

Chris said...

I'm thinking the chicken in your rice makes your African friends much like your Italian deli friends - what do you mean no meat? You are misunderstood!

Jesse and Taisha said...

Hey crazies! So you went with the blogspot. Who gave you that idea. Really enjoying your posts. Wish we were there with you, but I guess we will have to be on the other side this time. Bummer. Take care of yourselfs. We will be checking the blog periodically.