Air conditioning....it's great but I'm frozen!

well I found a computer spot just out of town that has a fast(er) internet connection, so I thought I'd try to upload some photos well I can. This one is Accra, and a line of tro-tros next to market vendors.

This one is from my first day arriving in Swedru, when we went to a small village outside of town to watch a ceremony that I didn't understand at all! Once I pulled out the camera, kids started gathering, and I had a hoard around me in no time!

"You're camera is beautiful, give it to me". That was the second thing the kids sitting beside me said to me, following a pause after "where are you from?" I'm getting used to that around here.

Went to Cape Coast this weekend, lots of history but a busy city. Cape Coast Castle was one of several forts housing slaves before they were shipped overseas. We joined a tour through the fort, hard to imagine..

Highlights, hmm... saw a crocodile! Beside a restaurant, thought about wrestling it but when I saw how fast another one jumped I changed my mind. Walking back to our guesthouse around 7:00 pm a man came up and said "sir, please, get inside, it's night" It was more friendly advice then a warning, but made me think, especially since we were in a group! Taking some traditional drumming lessons, that's fun.

I'll try to post some more pictures later, as it's slowing down now...

Swedru!

slow computer, not much time left so I'll be quick!

Jocelyn finally arrived on tuesday night, and we spent the next few days in Accra with her doing her orientation. We left on Saturday to Swedru, a smaller town (100 - 200 000) west of Accra.

Staying with a family outside of town, several brothers / sisters around, all older (19 +)

Water shortages are no longer an issue, as there's no running water in the house. A tap near the school gives water to bath, and a hole nearby for, well, everything else. It's quite a neat place, lizards running all over the place.

There's a school next door, sat in on a class today, and got up and talked about Canada. Kids in North America are spoiled, I'll say that for sure.

Slow computer, blurring screen, I'll put pics up when I find a better one. Hope all is well, I'll be in touch!

Start work tomorrow....

O'Brunei!

O'Brunei!

the Ghanain equivalent of 'farang' or 'gringo', meaning white person, sometimes it is all you hear when people are shouting at you. It's not derogatory, more the announcement of a fact.

Still in Accra, a city full of noise. Taxi drivers communicate by blowing their horns to clear people out of their way. Pictured are 'tro-tros', pretty much any kind of vehicle that you can cram a lot of people into, a great (and cheap) way to get around. Most are old vans with various seating configurations, driven by a fearless driver racing through traffic as the 'mate' hangs out the window / door announcing the next stop.

Plans changed, I will now be hanging out for another week. Lots of markets to explore, always an interesting and great way to converse with locals and practice my 'twi'. "Wo ho te sen?" (How are you) "Me ho ye, na hon te swe" (I'm fine, how are you). I only know a bit more, enough for a basic repetitive conversation, but people get so excited.

Hope everyone is well, I'll keep in touch. Oh, and I have a favor to ask of everyone. Next time you're taking a shower, brushing your teeth or simply doing the dishes, think about how fortunate we are to be able to turn on the tap and have a clean, reliable source or water. I say this because we are now on day 3 of no water, and even the city well close by is dry now. This morning someone from the house had to take a taxi to the next district to fill a green garbage bin and several 5 gallon containers, paying both for the cab ride and for the water (A luxury most people in this town cannot afford). Conserving that water is a priority (last night I washed myself with a faceclothe, a bar of soap, and about two cups of water), as we still have several weeks before the dry season is over....

Food for though, but I know I'll think long and hard next time I can drink out of a tap....

Internet is too slow, I'll upload pics later.

Made it to Ghana

Halifax-New York-Germany-Dubai-Accra, that was my flight route to get here. After several days in airports and on planes, a day spent around Dubai (not a fan, too expensive and you have to pay for everything, including the beach! And the islands they're building for homes and hotels; it's a very rich city), I got into Accra friday afternoon.

The country is great, albeit very different living conditions. Accra is 2 million people, the capital of Ghana, and there are 'lights-off' once every 5 days (2 since I've been here), random water shortages (we ran out of water today in the tank, so we're rationning it now for bathing, toilets, etc.) and open sewars along the streets that drain into, you guessed it, the Atlantic! The food is unique, lots of rice dishes, some interesting doughy stuff you swallow without chewing (hard not to gag I find!), and the other day supper included a bowl of fish heads, tails, and bodys. Lots of chicken, and with the amount on the streets you know it's fresh (though I watched a hen and her chicks walking / eating in the sewar drain this morning!).

The people are great so far, and I've met some cool locals. I'm here for another few days before heading of to my work placement in a town not far from here, although the town doesn't show up on most maps so....

I'll post pictures when I get a chance, and a fast computer with a good internet connection and a reliable power supply...

Continuing on...

What can I say, it's a new year. The Christmas holidays are over, and it's time to move along. Tomorrow (Jan. 2nd) I fly overseas, stopping along the way in New York, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and then onto Ghana.

I'll be in Ghana for about 6 weeks before heading to Tanzania (though I still havn't booked that ticket yet). In Ghana I'll be volunteering with a conservation organization, they tell me I'll be planting trees and teaching computer skills. I'm looking forward to living with a host family there, and getting to experience the culture first-hand.

Once I get to Tanzania I'm meeting up with Jocelyn (that photo was taken on the ferry between Halifax and Dartmouth), where we're going to spend the rest of the trip touring around and climbing in both Tanzania and Kenya. The return trip is up in the air due to uncertain start up dates for the next fire season

I'll be updating this site whenever I can, so keep checking back. Happy New Year to everyone!