I*N*D*E*P*E*N*D*E*N*T

The title of the post is supposed to evoke an image of me singing that song, “I got my own house, I got my own car”, etc... I apologize if that doesn't register with you.

Today marked a big day for my program friends and I. For our first week here, the program provided three meals each day. Now, we are on our own. We have access to a few very finicky hot plates, so we went to a store yesterday to stock up on some necessities like a pot, utensils, stirring spoon, sponges, and soap. I don't imagine we will do much more than make rice/pasta and grill vegetables when we cook for ourselves.

The program provides our first week of meals in part to insure we are eating nutritious, sanitary meals. It also helps us get a sense of what to eat, where to eat, and how much we should be paying.

Unfortunately, in spite of this, I am feeling a little sick today... #wompwomp. Really not so fun. I think my system is starting (or trying) to adapt to the different bacteria here and what not. I am hoping some medicine, lots of water, and a good night of sleep will help.

Here is what I manged on my own...

 

Breakfast: two of my friends and I bought the makings for a fruit salad

Pineapple, mango, and apple. The pineapple and mango were incredible; I could easily eat an entire pineapple in one sitting. I also must add that I cut a pineapple like a pro.

Lunch: a grilled plantain and ground nuts

Dinner: fried rice

I'm not a particularly picky eater, but I love food and I've had the opportunity to enjoy some truly amazing meals throughout my life. While there are some great dishes here, my day to day meals will be pretty basic. I think it is going to be a challenge for me to eat this way for four months. Variety is definitely something I take for granted.

In other news, I did my first load of laundry today, washing everything by hand. I manged to string my clothes line up, although it only hangs about two feet off the ground. My clothes aren't quite dry, and I'm not sure how much cleaner I actually made them. That being said, I feel virtuous.

My program is venturing to the Cape Coast for the weekend.

P.S. Today is Thomas' 21^st birthday, send some love and birthday wishes his way!