and we have arrived!! our visas made it to us by thursday, and the earliest flight all four us could get on was saturday night. then after 20 hours of travel (not including the difference in time), we arrived in accra sunday night. it was dark and pouring rain. we've been told that it's the end of rainy season but this season there has been very little rain, so the locals were all very excited about its arrival.
we have been staying in a guest house, sort of like a small, very simple condo. in the past couple of days we have been able to adventure and see a little bit of this lively city; it has been overwhelming but very exciting. the streets are teeming with people. they are walking (many women with bowls on top of their heads) and selling things in stands (clothes, food, jewelry, cell phone cards). there is also a ton of traffic. the development of the city is interesting; in many places you will see a mansion next to a simple house with no roof. and almost every home, despite its size, is surrounded by a tall wall.
the past two nights we have experienced traditional ghanaian food. it has consisted of rice balls (which are huge condensed balls of rice) or fufu (which is a wet play dough-like substance made of root and plantain) and a meat stew (chicken/goat/lamb) that is poured over the fufu and then the entire thing is eaten with your right hand (no silverware). the meals are okay, and are definitely going to take some getting used to.
tomorrow we are going northwest about three hours, for two weeks of culture orientation. then two of us will go east to ho (where i will be living for the year) for another two weeks of orientation, focusing mainly on language.
overall, the experience has been great. the people are welcoming and friendly, and i look forward to learning more about their culture as i build relationships.
i'll be in touch soon!
love,
nora
