I'm in Africa

I’m in Legon, Ghana! Finally, after all the planning and a twenty-two hour journey I am in Africa. It is amazingly beautiful! I love the winding, huge trees and ant (possibly termite) hills that are taller than me and the bright orange lizards and friendly people. I’ve even seen a monkey. I keep feeling as if I am living in the Lion King.

It’s been about five days since I’ve arrived and so far most of what the other exchange students and I have been doing is orientation related. There were a few mind-numbing presentations, but thankfully those are finished. Yesterday, we took a campus tour. It’s about a twenty-minute walk just to make it onto the main campus. I’m estimating we walk at least five miles everyday – no big deal. The campus is huge and sprawling and seems to be its own city, complete with hair salons, clinics, bars, markets, and cafes. It’s going to be an adventure to find my way around, let alone register for classes. The registration process here is bizarre and completely inefficient, and I’m absolutely dreading it.

Today we were finally able to leave campus and head into Medina Market, via tro tro (communal taxi buses). While I can’t understand what the drivers are yelling, this method of transportation is extremely inexpensive (about 15-20 cents a ride) and pretty much what I’ll be using for the rest of my time here. A tro tro is essentially a mini van fit for about twenty-five people. One of the girls with our group was proposed to by a Ghanaian on our ride back to campus, but she didn’t find it as humorous as I did. The market itself was huge and full of people yelling “Obruni (white girl) Come here!” almost every time we passed a new stand. A few Ghanaians even reached out to feel my white skin and compare it to their own. While I was prepared for chaos, I actually felt quite safe and comfortable the entire time.

Tomorrow we are headed to the Accra Mall. I’m not quite sure what I should expect. I’m told it’s just like America, but I highly doubt that. On Sunday we will all be heading to church (which I hear lasts around five hours) and then down into Accra to the beach.

Tonight I made a new friend, Lorenzo, at the Hostel’s computer lab. While he spent an hour trying to make the wireless Internet connect to my laptop (finally some success!) he told me of his passion for rap and gospel music. He then proceeded to play me a song about Obama (who seems to be very popular here) and sing a few verses of the lovely American rap song “I’m in love with a stripper.” We then discussed the Bible.

The fruit here puts American produce to shame.

I love and miss you all!