The University of Ghana

 This morning was our first orientation session through the University. Following the orientation a Ghanaian student took three of my fellow ISEP students and I on a campus tour. The campus is HUGE. I thought Virginia Tech was big...I think it is going to take me 30 minutes to get to class! I might allow even more time to try and avoid showing up sweaty, but I think that is inevitable. 

The U of G Registry

The Registry is atop a very large hill, you can see it at the very top of the map within the oval. ISH (the International Students Hostel) is not pictured on this map, we are way out in the boonies.

We walked around for a few hours. By the end I was a little sunburnt (Yes, I had applied sunscreen) and tired, but I felt like I was developing a sense of direction around campus. I will have the chance to test myself and see if I retained any information because I need to visit the department of each class I wish to take.

In other news, I am feeling significantly better today. The addition of a totally different environment and the absence of sleep and loved ones made for a slightly discouraged Emma. Alex and Thomas were the lucky ones to talk to me during this phase, many thanks to both of you for helping me through it.

I have a significantly more positive outlook today. I am feeling more comfortable and having more fun here by the minute. I have the tendency to be a perfectionist, and I like to excel at what I do. I briefly lost sight of why I came here. I didn't want to transplant my environment from home. I wanted something totally different, something with which I had no experience. It was unfair to expect perfection from myself at this time. Four months from now there will still be many things I don't know about Accra, Ghana, and Africa. However, all I can do while I am here is open myself up to experience as much as possible.

While I know my “Type-A” personality will bear it's somewhat ugly head again in the days to come, I am excited to work on embracing the organized chaos I have encountered here thus far.

A Paraphrased Two Days

 

We spent our first full day exploring Accra. We went to the mausoleum of the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He is a big deal in Africa. In fact, in Africa he is actually more celebrated than Nelson Mandela.

The following day (yesterday/Sunday) we went to Labadi Beach. I didn't take many pictures because it was extremely hazy. While Accra is on the coast, other areas of Ghana are more well known for their beaches. Apparently Labadi Beach is the Ocean City of Ghana...I hope a few people understand that reference.

Departure/Arrival

I'm hereeeeeeeeeeee!

 

Mom, Dad, and Thomas escorted me to the airport. My flight left IAD at 10:48 PM, and I landed in Accra at 1:50 PM local time. I watched Moneyball with Brad Pitt and then slept uncomfortably on and off for the remainder of the flight. Aside from the seemingly endless tossing and turning on the plane, it seemed like the almost ten hour flight flew by...flew by...you see what I did there? Hehe.

There were several other people from my program on my flight, but I didn't hook up with them until arrival. There are 13 people in my program, but many other international students are here as well.

By the time we all found our luggage, loaded it onto the top of a van, and got to the University of Ghana, it was almost 4:00 PM. After a few hours of unpacking it was time for my first meal in Ghana (see above). I enjoyed some type of fish, chicken, rice, a cabbage salad and fried plantains. 

By 8:00 PM almost all of us gave into our exhaustion and called it a night. I slept soundly until about 11:00 PM.

I spent most of the first day tired and sweaty, but I made it!

T-Minus One Hour

One hour until we depart for the airport, the bags are packed and ready to go!

The Beginning of the End

Packing has commenced! 

After a trip with my mom to Target, TJ Maxx, & REI, I have acquired almost everything I need for my trip...or at least almost everything I have anticipated needing. 

Now I have four days to put the things pictured above (as well towels, sheets, and a few other things that have not yet made it to the packing grounds in my room) into two duffle bags.

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Current weather conditions in Oakton, VA at 12:48 PM: Sunny and 30 degrees F

Current weather conditions in Accra (5 hours ahead): Sunny and 91 degrees F

Ten Days...

I chose to use a picture of one of my favorite baby animals (rather than an embarrassing picture of myself) to describe how I feel knowing I will be heading to the airport at this time in 10 days!

Christmas for one Traveling to Africa

Some months ago, I had my eye set on a $135 dollar watch. I assumed this would be the big ticket item on my Christmas list. However, that thought became rather silly when my plans finally gelled and I finalized my semester abroad. My upcoming trip (and I would also like to credit mature, adult thinking) yielded a short, practical Christmas list.

Here are some of the practical, fun, and...interesting things I unwrapped on Christmas morning.

 Thomas gave me a Canon PowerShot digital camera, EEK!!!

Mine is all black (very hip and happening), so the box does not show my exact camera. I was so surprised and obviously very excited as a series of unfortunate events lead to the demise of my previous digital camera and I will want to take pictures whilst I am away. THANK YOU, THOMAS!!!

TOMS! 

I have wanted a pair of these bad boys for quite some time. It is a little ironic that I will be traipsing around Africa in TOMS, but they are easy to pack, fairly durable, and good for hotter weather (...not to mention they are in my favorite color family, I love a good olive green).

A head lamp and laundry soap

 I have heard the power frequently cuts out, so I think a head lamp will come in handy. I am trying to pack lightly and I will be doing my own laundry, so the travel size laundry soap (fine print: that container holds 50 sheets!) was a clever gift that will be put to very good use.

Hand sanitizer, contraption that allows women to pee standing up, and moist towelettes for all of my bathroom needs

Hand sanitizer is self explanatory, the next item is not. Warning: It's about to get graphic and uncomfortable here folks. To quote the website the pink item in the picture is "a female urination device (sometimes called a FUD) that allows you to urinate while standing up. It's neat. It's discreet. It's hygienic." I encourage you to check out the website, http://www.go-girl.com/what-is-gogirl.asp, it is both educational and disturbing. Above all, I know that you all look forward to the blog post that chronicles my first experience using the contraption. 

It was another fantastic Christmas with just a few more laughs than usual.