How do I sum up the last 2 weeks?! I'll just try to break it down into bullet points :)

Trips: We spent 3 days (2 nights) in a small town called Akropong not last weekend but the weekend before. It was both relaxing and overwhelming. We learned SO MUCH new information through lectures and experience...about culture here, gender roles, language, spirituality. At that point, everything was so overwhelming that I felt really emotional much of the time. Since then, things are not so new and I have had more time to piece things together and not feel so bombarded by newness. On Friday we are going to Cape Coast to visit the slave castles and do a canopy walk. I'm really excited to take a nice air conditioned bus instead of little tro tros (rickety vans that are basically really cheap--as in less that a quarter to go a long way--taxi/buses) that make me carsick.

Classes: Class started last week Monday (so we are in our second week of classes). I am taking West African Literature; West African Politics and Development; Ghanaian Religion, Family and Human Services; Twi (the most widely spoken language in Ghana); African Drumming; African Dance; and Ghanaian Peoples and Cultures. We meet in a little room with a long table in the middle and our professors come to us. There has been a lot of good overlap in the different classes which has made getting a full picture of culture and history really exciting. I feel like I'm REALLY learning and grasping things because it is coming from so many different angles. You learn it in one class, it is mentioned in another, you see it when you walk back from class, your roommate explains it to you once you get back to your Hostel...THIS is the way to learn something so that is sticks :)

Living: I live in ISH2 (International Student Hostel II) and so far, it is going very well. My roommate finally moved in for good and she is so wonderful! Her name is Genevieve and she is such a respectful and sweet roommate. She took care of me while I was sick--went out and bought me Coke because she said it would settle my stomach :) It sounded awful but I drank it anyway :) We have had some great conversations and laughs. She's so pretty and I'll have to show you a picture of her soon! Genevieve's mom and my mom both turned 50 on August 28. SO GREAT! We had a moment laughing about that. She loves watching movies and does so almost every night. The Ghanaian way to relax I suppose!

Weather: It has not been THAT hot here yet. It's always warm and when the sun comes out, it burns. But, often it is slightly overcast for at least part of every day, which gives Ghana a break from the sun. Sometimes there is misty rain--like you are standing in line for a roller coaster. I haven't been uncomfortably hot that many times, but it is really humid. My hair does not cooperate here. And today I kindof missed my Chi :) I've heard that we needn't worry though--the sun WILL make its appearance and make us miserable eventually :)

Food: Ghana likes rice and chicken. It is definitely the staple here. We ate a lot of rice (I especially like jollof rice...it is seasoned with who knows what and is much better than fried rice or plain rice) the first few weeks and just recently have started venturing out. I had a local dish called fufu last week. It is a pounded dough that is plopped in a HUGE bowl of soup or stew (I had mine with big pieces of goat meat and "light goat soup") and is eaten with your hands (Just your right hand actually. It is culturally insensitive to do much with your left hand.) Then I got really sick for about five days and have just started feeling better. A few days ago, my roommate Genevieve took me to the Night Market (a market RIGHT outside our Hostel) to try some new foods. [We go there all the time for bananas, mango, toilet paper, cookies, juice, clothes hangers, bread, etc. However, we have been avoiding buying hot food (they sell all kinds of rice, skewers, local foods like fufu, noodles, etc.) at the Night Market for the first few weeks (for the sake of our tummies getting used to food here), but it is time to start eating there. It's very cheap (less than a dollar for a good meal) and so convenient.] Anyway, we got "bread and egg" which is basically a thin, yummy omlet with green pepper and onion (Yay! There are not many vegetables here!) on tea bread (which is like heaven to me!). Like a sandwhich. Made right in front of you. SO GOOD. Oh, there is also a little restaurant inside our hostel--open air and a great place to socialize--called Tasty Treats. They have cheap little omlettes, waffles, tea, coffee, and lunch/dinner food too. Some of our group almost always meets there for a light breakfast before class. It's a nice place to fall back on if we don't feel like walking to get our food.

Daily Life: It's really fun/interesting how the things that take up most of my time are figuring out how to get from place to place, where/what to eat, when to fit in washing my clothes by hand and giving them time to dry on the line, taking a shower not knowing if the water will be turned off in an hour, buying enough water/toilet paper so you don't run out...basic survival kind of things :) It has not been stressful at all--having to do things differently, that is--in fact, it has slowed me down in the best way. Putting effort into everyday activities has somehow helped me to find beauty in the process. Walking fifteen minutes to get dinner encourages conversation or comfortable silence. Washing clothes builds community...some of our best conversations with Calvin students, roommates, and new friends have been while scrubbing underwear. Sounds lofty, but it's true. I feel relaxed...not rushing from place to place is WONDERFUL. I hope I can take that back with me...

Final thoughts: Thanks for loving me from afar! I love you all so much and think of you often. Many of you must know that your faces are hanging by my bed in photographic format :)
--David Benjamin: I have especially been thinking about you since the hard news about Josh and settling into life in Portland with the boys (Hi Greggy and Atti!).
--CICW: I have also been thinking lots about all of you during this transition period into the new semester. Cindy, I love you and pray for you every day. Thank you for being an incredible influence in my life--like a second mom. I pray the MRI was clear and that surgery goes smoothly. God is in control! Thanks to Eric and Calvin for keeping me updated...I wish I could hug all of you. How is little Nathaniel and new office spaces? I feel like I am always talking about you...there's a group of people here who probably feel like they know you all by now :)
--Woodlawn and friends: I've been thinking of you lots as well! People moving in (Melissawoo) and out (Katiedear), Melissa doing orientation, basement girls getting ready for Africa (!!!!), classes starting at many different schools (Jonelle, Lorr, Mikey, Katie)... OH BABY. So much going on!! I LOVE YOU ALL AND EVERYONE HERE KNOWS HOW WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL YOU ALL ARE. Your faces come up in conversation and in pictures often :)

More later (with pictures hopefully). I LOVE THIS PLACE. And all of you.

Annica