1 week

Today marks 1 week since I have arrived. I will be learning about my internship today, which as far as I can tell I will be part of the West African Aids Foundation. What I will be doing is still unknown. Classes will start in two days, so after this week I should have a good idea of what to expect academically for the duration of the semester. I miss people back home, life, parties, bowling, not spicy food, hot water and other things but I am dealing accordingly here. I am having fun and getting a good experience out of it. Currently it is the coolest month here, and it is still always short weather, it will be getting progressively hotter. Essentially that entails me leaving Ghana on a hotter month to go to Michigan where it is one of the coldest months. There will be a good 70 or so degree change from the day I leave here to when I arive home. Yay. Yesterday we wenty to a mall. Overpriced (even by our standards back home) but it was the closest thing I found to stores like home. It also seemed most people there were not from the area, many arabic and whites were wandering around, so I was sure it was a tourist attraction or at least a place where many people there were new to the area or just exploring the 3rd worlds attempt at 1st world standards. They even have a movie theatre in there, 6 movies are offerted and they are not too far behind the US. I intend to see a few movies while here, it should be nice. Slowly but surely I am getting to know people. I want to meet more people in government but it seems people not only are not involved but have no political nature but to find someone who wont screw them over. perhaps its just the people ive met so far. In any case I must be off now, to learn of my internship. Take care everyone :)

Friday

I have now become used to seeing random goats and chickens wandering aimlessly throughout the streets. Horses as well and of courses random people. It seems the only other white people here are on the university grounds, or hang out at this arabic owned place called Frankies. The times I am able to use a computer are limited, likely 20 or 30 minutes a piece, so long posts will only be things I type in advance and get internet for later. This is one of those shorter times, as I try to e-mail professors and such as well as communicate through facebook and write on here. So far this seems boring but people know whats going on and they can be assured I am alive I guess. I am about to start my 3rd session of Asante Twi so I must be off, take care all.

Within The Country

I have been in Africa for a few days now and im getting used to it. There are walls, barbed wire and security guards in many areas, and it is not safe to go out at night. In short it is no too different from Detroit. So far here I have already seen a fight between locals, people begging for food and a man urinating in open public. This only assures me more that we are not so different. The house we stay at has all of the above secutiry precausitons as well, which it would appear seems greatly in our favor. We start classes next week, as for now we are part of a week long orientation process to the city and the local customs and language. We have a good deal of free time, and it seems the 9 of us are getting to know each other quite well. The staff still mixes up names, and we still mix up or totally destroy theirs so for now we are even. Well time is short so im off again, I feel as though I bored people as it would appear most of my friends and colleagues want me to capture or kill Rhino and I have not even yet seen one. Anywho take care all, you'll hear from me again soon.

Prior To Departure

There are things I do not know about this journey yet, one being my communication abilities with those back in the United States who may wonder what I am up to from time to time. So to try and easy the troubled woes of some people I decided to do this. My internet availability is more likely going to be extremely limited, as I am going to a place where more people have nothing on their feet unlike the minority of shoe-wearers. However, when i am able to have internet access I intend to post so people know what I am up to. Whether I am going on a mystic jungle safari, mingling with the locals or being mauled by a lion I intend to try and communicate as much as I can with the limited resources available. That being said as of now I am preparing myself, mentally and with with proper equipment for this endeavor. Thanks for reading, this is one of many.