I forgot to mention: All I've been listening to for the past 3/4 weeks, which I will always associate in my memory as the soundtrack to this trip, is:
The new Regina Spektor album, "Far"
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band's new album "Outer South"
Campaign's H1N1 EP
Taking Back Sunday's new record "New Again" (which is definitely their best album since "Tell All Your Friends")
Attila's "Soundtrack To A Party"
A Day To Remember's "Homesick"
Li'l Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (classic)
and an array of local Ghanaian songs that are very popular and are playing everywhere we go.
ok, I just had to document this playlist.
LOVE.
Paul.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sweet sweet dissapointment
I'm totally dissapointed in myself. I have completely failed my mission to catalog this incredible trip "one blog at a time" (this dissapointment is completely overshadowed however by my undying LOVE for this country). My internet connection has been sparse and unreliable, making blogging inconvenient and posting pictures pretty much impossible. On that note I will say that where I have lacked in blogging I have excelled in picture taking (which is incredible for a non-picture-taker such as myself), so when I get home and can actually post pictures there will be PLENTY, hopefully enough to replace 5 weeks worth of blogging. I have been having the most amazing time here, and if I could just move everyone worth seeing again from the states to right here in Cape Coast, I absolutely would (omitting those who wouldn't be coming along willingly of course).
I have less than 2 weeks left here and I am pretty un-stoked about this. Granted, I will be happy to see everyone and enjoy the comforts of home (like not having random power/water outages).
Since the last time I wrote, I have:
been to the rain forest
canoed out to a village on stilts (pictures will explain this one better)
stood in a crowd of at least 10,000 people trying (successfully) to get a glimpse of President Barack Obama
Obama's visit was such a testament to his global influence. It constituted an entire weekend of celebration and millions of dollars worth of promotion. Even still you can't go anywhere in Cape Coast without seeing his face on a poster or some sort of remanance of his visit (just about every storefront still says "Akwaaba President Obama," 'Akwaaba' meaning 'welcome'). I believe he recognized that his visit was well recieved, but I can't imagine he grasped how appreciative the people of West Africa were to have him here. There was also "Obama Night" the night before he arrived which involved a concert of Ghanaian artists and another crowd of thousands of people.
Visited the Ghana Military History museum, along with the Kumasi Cultural Center and the Ashanti King's old palace
The Ashanti are an incredible tribe, they were one of the only tribes in West Africa to respond to colonialism with military action. It's also worth mentioning that this military response was led by their 60+ year old Queen Mother (the Matriarch of the tribe).
Visited the Wli Falls (I think that's the name) in the Volta Region
This trip was cool because it wasn't a trip planned out by our program. A fellow student's host family invited us to join their Church's youth group on their excursion. Only 5 of the 8 of us went,and thanks to my "I'm only in Africa once" attitude and being the opportunist that I am, I was, of course, down to go. The falls were absolutely beautiful as was the hike up to them. What was not beautiful was the PACKED 8 hour bus ride to the Volta region, the 45 minute hike back from the falls in a complete downpour, and then the 8 hour bus ride back to Cape Coast, equally as packed and twice as wet.
All of these noteworthy excursions have been the "highlights" of the trip, but that's almost unfair to label them as such. The everyday interactions with my amazing host family, the walk to school every day, the local culture, the FOOD, the internship program at Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, the beer, the new Ghanaian friends I've made, the companionship and leadership provided by Dr. Abaidoo and Dr. Amouah, and the comradary with my 7 class mates have all been "highlights" in and of themselves.
Anyone reading, feel free to drop me a line at hotwaterlife@gmail.com
see you all soon.
Paul aka Kojo
I have less than 2 weeks left here and I am pretty un-stoked about this. Granted, I will be happy to see everyone and enjoy the comforts of home (like not having random power/water outages).
Since the last time I wrote, I have:
been to the rain forest
canoed out to a village on stilts (pictures will explain this one better)
stood in a crowd of at least 10,000 people trying (successfully) to get a glimpse of President Barack Obama
Obama's visit was such a testament to his global influence. It constituted an entire weekend of celebration and millions of dollars worth of promotion. Even still you can't go anywhere in Cape Coast without seeing his face on a poster or some sort of remanance of his visit (just about every storefront still says "Akwaaba President Obama," 'Akwaaba' meaning 'welcome'). I believe he recognized that his visit was well recieved, but I can't imagine he grasped how appreciative the people of West Africa were to have him here. There was also "Obama Night" the night before he arrived which involved a concert of Ghanaian artists and another crowd of thousands of people.
Visited the Ghana Military History museum, along with the Kumasi Cultural Center and the Ashanti King's old palace
The Ashanti are an incredible tribe, they were one of the only tribes in West Africa to respond to colonialism with military action. It's also worth mentioning that this military response was led by their 60+ year old Queen Mother (the Matriarch of the tribe).
Visited the Wli Falls (I think that's the name) in the Volta Region
This trip was cool because it wasn't a trip planned out by our program. A fellow student's host family invited us to join their Church's youth group on their excursion. Only 5 of the 8 of us went,and thanks to my "I'm only in Africa once" attitude and being the opportunist that I am, I was, of course, down to go. The falls were absolutely beautiful as was the hike up to them. What was not beautiful was the PACKED 8 hour bus ride to the Volta region, the 45 minute hike back from the falls in a complete downpour, and then the 8 hour bus ride back to Cape Coast, equally as packed and twice as wet.
All of these noteworthy excursions have been the "highlights" of the trip, but that's almost unfair to label them as such. The everyday interactions with my amazing host family, the walk to school every day, the local culture, the FOOD, the internship program at Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, the beer, the new Ghanaian friends I've made, the companionship and leadership provided by Dr. Abaidoo and Dr. Amouah, and the comradary with my 7 class mates have all been "highlights" in and of themselves.
Anyone reading, feel free to drop me a line at hotwaterlife@gmail.com
see you all soon.
Paul aka Kojo
Thursday, July 2, 2009
PICS!!!
here is the link to some pics of my first day in Ghana. It's late so I will post some more from the second and third day soon. Enjoy!
Paul.
day 2
holy crap. i'm fucking trashed in Accra, Ghana. We all took advantage of the hotel bar tonight and had some bonding experiences. I will most certainly update on the goings on of today as well as the pictures i took yesterday and today to accompany the stories I have told/will tell.
LOVE!
Paul.
LOVE!
Paul.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
"Embarkment"
I've never known the feeling of "jet lag" before now. The 11 hour flight that lead me to find myself in Accra, Ghana has also lead to this feeling. Needless to say, it's been a long day. Upon arrival we:
made our way through customs
dodged some folks who really wanted our money in exchange for carrying our bags (and by "dodged" I mean Dr. Aimuah yelled at them and told them to put down our stuff)
drove on a highway which is under contruction for what is to be called the "Bush Highway" (yes, as in George W.)
found our hotel/home for the next 2 nights
took the WEAKEST shower of my life
ate the biggest plate of fish and chips ever at a place called Frankies (FULL of white folks)
went to what I think was called independence square? anyway, big square where all government/political parades are held, and guess what, today was Republic Day. more on this to come.
Saw where the president of Ghana lives, but wasn't allowed to take pictures of it. ;) may have done it anyway...
Saw the Atlantic Ocean and had to call it the west coast, that was odd
Then came back to the hotel and slept for about an hour.
I'm now waiting in the lobby for my fellow students to go to dinner.
and here they come! gotta run! Pictures to come soon!
made our way through customs
dodged some folks who really wanted our money in exchange for carrying our bags (and by "dodged" I mean Dr. Aimuah yelled at them and told them to put down our stuff)
drove on a highway which is under contruction for what is to be called the "Bush Highway" (yes, as in George W.)
found our hotel/home for the next 2 nights
took the WEAKEST shower of my life
ate the biggest plate of fish and chips ever at a place called Frankies (FULL of white folks)
went to what I think was called independence square? anyway, big square where all government/political parades are held, and guess what, today was Republic Day. more on this to come.
Saw where the president of Ghana lives, but wasn't allowed to take pictures of it. ;) may have done it anyway...
Saw the Atlantic Ocean and had to call it the west coast, that was odd
Then came back to the hotel and slept for about an hour.
I'm now waiting in the lobby for my fellow students to go to dinner.
and here they come! gotta run! Pictures to come soon!
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