A Visual Summary, vol. 1

Seth asked me to post some additional shots of our trip. Here's a small sampling of the 400+ photo album.

This is Farmer Charles with some of his bounty. This casava was uprooted in the recent heavy rains. Later it was our dinner.

It's surprizing you can't see more children in this shot, as we were surrounded. Both extreemly shy and very curious the kids alone form quite the welcome wagon.

Forming a greeting party in similar mob fashion, were the mona monkeys. Call this guy Mr. Photogenic.

Fifi doing his daily chores - mostly gathering water and usually with a silly grin on his face.

Poor little fishies at the market. So fresh, they're still gasping for...air?

The sourse of all those fish - Elmina's fishermen community.

Freedom!

After much toil, I have arranged to rent a car for next week. This will give me more freedom than I have ever experienced here in Ghana. This will be the first time I will not have to rely on Charles, a taxi or trotro to take me around. I will still be limited in where I can go because I wont be taking the car into the capital, Accra. There is a police barrier on the main road headed to town and they would likely pull me over and force me to pay them some money to let me go. (The police are notorious for taking kickbacks and a foreigner is a potential gold mine for them)

My friend Nathaniel, who arrived on Tuesday evening, will be splitting the cost of the car. It worked out to be a little under $15USD a day. This will allow me to drive out to the bush a bit more in search of school sites as well as let me drive to the beach at any time. I kinda wish I had the car starting today but we really don't have much use for it till Monday.

This weekend we have some fun things planned.

Friday night we are going to go to a club around Kasoa/Liberian Refugee Camp with Amos and his friends. (Amos is the head attendant at Zappo, Internet Cafe). Saturday we are going to go into Accra and explore. I have a few things I need to pick up and Nathaniel hasn't yet seen the Capital. On Saturday night we are thinking of finding a club in town to hang out at unless we are exhausted.

Sunday!! Sunday is Election Day here in Ghana. Nathaniel and I are going to try and stop by some of the campaign offices to see whats buzzing as well as view some of the local polling stations. Becky, Charles' wife is a National Prisons Officer and will be maintaining security at one of the polling stations so we will be able to have VIP access to watch as the votes come in. I am excited to see who wins the presidency. You can read a bit about the candidates on my earlier post: There is no escape

Morning Walks

Every morning I walk from my hotel to Charles house. It takes about 20-25 min but it is a nice way to get the blood flowing, unfortunately by the time I get to the house I am sweating like a Christmas chicken, as they say.

Today, as I walked to the main road from the hotel I had two encounters. The first was with a man who was talking to himself and decided that it might be more entertaining to talk to me. He said he lived in Minnesota at one point. He seemed a little off but who knows. The second encounter was with a woman who expressed her love for me. Its always nice to know that someone out there loves you :).

As I round the corner and head up the main road I immediately pass a sign on the right that warns passing traffic. It states: Overspending Kills! Over three people have died here. A big Toyota logo is just below the text. Advertise and advice in one stroke. Just opposite the Toyota sign is a rubbish heap that is usually burning (including a few truck tires).

I continue up the road towards a Liberian refugee camp. Along the way I see a swath of men with pickaxes digging a trench for phone lines. One of the men yell at me "Obruni." I turn and wave. The same man then asks how I am doing in the local language. When I respond in kind, he shouts and says "Hey! Obruni Te Twi" Or the white man can speak twi! I continue on my way thinking how nice it would be for them to have a ditch-witch, but then again, they wouldn't be able to employ such a large amount of locals that way.

my local bar

When I get to the Liberian refugee camp I cross the road and head south through the "neighborhoods" to Charles' house. There are plenty of children along the way calling me out and keeping my hands in the air waving in recognition. I round a few corners and pass by my "local spot" small bar/restaurant (its not mine but i like to patronize). A few hundred meters later, I arrive at the house and start searching for the coolest location to hang out.

Charles' House