Hello friends and family! Yesterday we ventured to the "beautiful" beach resort at Labadi Beach. Now I may have been spoiled by spending three weeks at the beautiful beaches of Miami, but the beaches here are just plain aweful (at least in and around Accra). I mean, these beaches make Ocean City, New Jersey look like the white sand, crystal clear blue water beaches you see in travel agencies' windows. There were plastic bags and empty soda/beer bottles floating in the water, a terrible rip tide, and while the sand was relatively clean at low tide, high tide covers the beach with cigarette butts and garbage. Although it was not the most ideal location, it was still very relaxing listening to traditional African music, watching the dancers, reading in the beautiful sun, and sharing a Star (beer) with friends. There are also tons of vendors that come around and try to sell you neat little trinkets from the comfort of your beach chair. Sometimes they can be a bit aggressive and overbearing, but if you just ignore them they move on. There was one guy walking around trying to sell a python and another a little puppy. All in all, it wasn't really worth the GH 3 cedi that we paid to get in, so hopefully we'll be able to find a nicer beach for future outings. Yesterday was the first day that my skin got noticeably darker (even while wearing my SPF 45 sunscreen). After we came back from the beach, we showered and went up to Desparados (a bar/restaurant in the northern part of campus (and if you're reading this Rafik I apologize for all the parenthesis usage)), only to find that it doesn't serve food on Sundays. So, we all walked down to Bonjour, a gas station just off campus that caters to foreign students by serving pizza, burgers, and chicken. Afterwards, we all came back and played Apples to Apples in Becca's room.
Today was the first day of classes! Luckily, I don't have any classes on Monday or Friday! I know that you're all jealous. The classes here only meet once a week for 2 hours. I have 3 classes Tuesday, a class Wednesday evening, and another Thursday morning. It's going to be incredible when it comes to traveling. I'll be able to leave Thursday afternoon and return Monday evening and not miss a single class. In fact, I'm going to be doing just that this weekend. A couple people that I've met from UNC, California, and a few from our Penn State group are going to Ada. It's a couple hours east of Accra. We're going to be staying in huts on a beach that sea turtles come to lay their eggs on. Some of the other foreign students in our hostel went this past weekend and said it was amazing, so I'm really looking forward to that. Back to classes, I'm taking two history classes (one about European Colonialism in Africa and another on "Early Modern" European History...not really sure what early modern entails but it sounded interesting), two political science classes (one is called "Refugees and International Relations" and the other "International Conflict and Conflict Resolution"), and my last class is an introductory-level Reasearch Methods for the field of sociology (this was the one class that we are required to take as part of our program).
So now, a note on some miscellaneous items that I've encountered during the early part of my trip to Ghana. Everybody here loves Obama! I mean everybody! Vendors sell Obama bracelets, t-shirts, etc. When we were at Reggae Night last Wednesday, Andrew (one of the kids from the Penn State program) and myself had a conversation with one of the local Ghanians. He said that everybody in Ghana was excited to see a black man as president of the U.S., since it's always been white men, which I can understand. However, the fallacy in thought here, at least in my interpretation, is that they all believe that Obama is going to radically change Africa. They think that Obama is going to bring the money and technology to Africa so that it can "catch up" (as one local put it) with the United States. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I doubt there will be much change, other than maybe an increase in aid of a few million dollars, let alone that I wasn't even an Obama supporter...Come on Ron (Paul)!
Next, (and I think this will make Poppy pretty happy to hear), all the cabs have Gideon Bibles on their dashboards. I ask all the drivers if they read them and they all say yes. Then my next question is, "what's youre favorite verse" and the response is immediately "John 3:16." 80% of the population of Ghana is Christian, the other 20% is mostly Muslims in the North. And believe me, they make it known that they're Christian. Most of the taxis have "God Bless" bumper stickers or magnets of Jesus on the back of their cars. Ophelia, a local Ghanian who is serving as our "RA" told us that while most people claim Christianity, very few actually practice it. But, those who do are very committed. For those who don't, it's merely a facade to lure people into their cabs or tro-tros. Although I've been here two Sundays, I've yet to attend a church service, which I've heard can reach upwards of 3 hours long.
Now, for some really random things, just for you to get a feel for what Ghana is truly like. Full laundry services (wash, dry, fold) costs about GH 4 cedi (a little less than $4) for a "large load" of about 10 pounds. A liter and a half of water only costs 60 pesewas (cents). A nice meal at a sit-down restaurant costs between $3 and $4. A mosquito net for around your bed which would cost roughly $60 back in the States, only costs $7.50 here (I'm sure largely in part of subsidized programs by NGOs). Nobody wears t-shirts around campus. All the local students wear very nice button-up, collared shirts to classes (which makes me regret not having any short sleeve button-up dress shirts like Mr. Pegg). This one's for Dr. Tenedious (and I apologize if I spelled that incorrectly)...the women here are beautiful and the beer is dirt cheap. I think we should re-think our investment in renting an apartment in State College and possibly re-locate to Accra. Plus, it's nicer weather than in Happy Valley! Unfortunately, there are not Hooter's, but I think we could manage without one. Back to the random information. They have a ShopRite in Accra, which has everything a Westerner would ever need at an incredibly inflated price. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way in Ghana!! I've seen so many people almost get hit. The cars just simply do not stop (except the taxis occasionally because they want you to get in). Every African child is incredibly cute! I think it helps that you're usually one of the first white people that they've ever seen so they are just drawn to you and act very friendly. I already have some really cute photos, and I'm sure there will be more to come. Some of us were thinking about bringing one back home with us as a souvenir (I know that sounds terrible and I assure you that we're just joking, but they are just that cute).
Alright, I have used way too many (parenthesis...and I know that's not the correct plural form of that word, but I don't feel like taking the time to look it up) and I'm almost out of time at the Afronet Internet Cafe. Don't really have plans for the rest of the day but I'm sure I'll find something to do, as always.
Until next time...
Greg
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