The GRLP team arrived in Accra, Ghana this morning at 7 am. Kat and Megan met us at the airport. They have already been here for two weeks and have been staying with a woman named Evelyn in Wa, a northwestern city 13 hours from the capital. Evelyn does women's rights work and other community empowerment, and has been housing Kat and Megan since they got here. She has been gracious enough to invite the rest of the team to her home to see what she does as well as visit more of the country. We are staying the night in Accra tonight at Crystal House hostel. It's pretty nice considering the state of the rest of they city. Taking a bus from the airport to the hostel was an overload for our senses. The smells and colors were so vibrant and in your face. Everytime we stopped the van people trying to sell us anything would crowd the windows and practically throw their products into the car until we would buy it.
After getting settled in the hostel, I went out with Lorna to walk around the neighborhood for a couple of hours. It is very hot here, but not as hot as it can be. I was sweating almost immediately. Of course being the only white people around, people are curious. Everyone wanted to have a conversation with us or ask where we are from or what we are doing here. Ghanaians are incredibly friendly and willing to help with anything when we look the least bit distressed or confused. I bought some plantains, nuts and water all for about 2 cedis (almost 2 dollars). They drink water here out of 300 mL plastic bags. Just bite a small hole out of the top and drink!
While walking, we attracted a crowd of some young school kids who had just gotten out for the day. They stayed with us for a while asking all sorts of questions. Very cute, calling me madam and commenting on the whiteness of my skin. Surpisingly, people don't like it when I take their picture so I have to ask permission, which hinders the amount of photos I take. But hey I have 6 weeks.
We leave for Kumasi tomorrow morning on busses at 6 am and from there we'll get situated with our families.
1 comment:
Wow, Kate. That is beautiful. I love the fact they talk about the whiteness about your skin. How cool about the plastic water bags! Oh goodness I just can't wait to see pictures and how beautiful they are. I hope you are having fun and drinking it all in!
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