Togo, food poisoning, lecturer strike and Kumasi

   So I've been really busy these past couple of weeks and as a result time has flown by. It makes me so sad because I'm having so much fun that I don't want time to pass at all. Traveling around has been such a crazy adventure and has definitely taught me that no matter how much you plan out something, something will always throw you for a loop.
  First of all I traveled to Lome, Togo with some friends one weekend. Lome is the capital of Togo and is a beautiful beach town. It's about a 4 hour trotro ride from Accra but believe me, it was a different world. They speak French in Togo and I unfortunately do not. Luckily I had some friends along with me who were actually pretty fluent and were able to translate everything. Also instead of using car taxis they used motorcycle taxis. Crazy, and yet so much fun. It is a little daunting at first to be riding on the back of a motorcycle with some random driver but then you look around and realize that you are on the back of a motorcycle riding along the oceanside while in Togo. 
  I had so much fun in Togo swimming, walking around, riding motorcycles, etc. that was until I got food poisoning from a "Togolese salad" that I ate while there. It didn't hit me until Sunday night as soon as I returned to Accra. The next couple of days were let's just say, not fun. Even so the trip to Togo was amazing and I was able to renew my Ghanaian visa and get a really cool visa stamp from Togo in my passport. I want to go back so badly. I may have to stop over again before I leave (but this time be sure to avoid the salad). :)

Oceanside road in Lome, Togo

  I have also been stressing a little bit over the lecturer strike. It's now the third week that the professors have been on strike. Some professors have agreed to teach international students so that we may receive credit for our classes but others have refused to do this. And since the student body has found out about this agreement there is now talk of a student protest since they feel it's unfair that international students be taught and not them. While I agree with their point, I'm just really ready for things to go back to normal and for classes to resume (with the Ghanaian students). Class is not as much fun when it's just two "oburonis" for two hours with the professor. Slightly weird.


  This past weekend we went to Kumasi. While there I was able to visit what is thought to be the "largest market in West Africa". It was huge and I believe deserves the title of the "largest market". You could literally buy anything there. I saw everything from snails, okra, adapters, clothes, soap, dvds, clothes, etc. It was so chaotic and yet functioned perfectly well at the same time. While there I bought some beautiful fabric that I plan to get a dress made out of as well as a bag. Every time I see batik fabric I can't help myself, I have to buy some because it is so beautiful. You guys can be sure that you are receiving some once I return. :)

Storefronts on the outskirts of the market

Crossing the road in front of the Kumasi Market

  Time has literally flown by here. It's so crazy that I've been able to see so many things in such a little time and I'm sad that the semester is going by so quickly. Everyday I learn something new be it language, culture, customs, etc. As a result I've begun to pick up some of the Ghanaian mannerisms and sayings. I have often thought about how strange I'm going to sound back in the US using things like "Chale!" (equivalent of "dude" or "bro") or trying to bargain for prices. I think I'm even going to miss hearing "Oburoni!" whenever I walk by a group of people. Anyhow I'm beginning to ramble a bit so I think I'll end here. :) Nante yie.

P.S. Vivian, think about going to Togo. Beautiful beaches. Hahaha. :)

I swear not all I'm doing here is seeing waterfalls...

   My weekends usually consist of traveling throughout the country trying to visit as much as possible before I have to leave this amazing country. It is  fun to get out of the hustle and bustle of Accra every so often and see some of the beautiful sights that Ghana has to offer. In particular Ghanaians have been telling me that I need to visit the Volta Region. I would always question why but they could never give me a clear answer as to why I should visit this particular region. Finally I had the opportunity to do so this past weekend. And let me just tell you, everyone should visit the Volta Region. 

     Before visiting the Volta Region I traveled on Friday with some of my friends to a festival in Aburi, about an hour's trotro ride from campus. This festival consisted of many different chiefs and sub-chiefs coming together in a show of unity to promote development in Ghana. It was very interesting to see the similarities between this festival and some Mardi Gras parades that I have seen before with the festive colors, use of parasols, bands, etc. The fabrics worn throughout the parade/festival were absolutely gorgeous and everyone was dressed up singing and dancing throughout the streets. I was even able to join in the procession at one point. 

     Over the weekend I finally had the chance to travel to the Volta Region and I was not disappointed. We climbed to the summit of Mt. Afadjato, the tallest mountain in Ghana. The guide book stated that round trip the hike would only take 2 hours. This however was untrue, especially when you have to hike up a mountain in the pouring rain. At first I was disappointed that it had started to pour and but once I took a step back and evaluated again I realized that I was in the middle of a thunderstorm in a rainforest in Ghana climbing the tallest summit in the country. It was a once in a lifetime experience and was well worth traversing in the rain simply for the views and the feeling of accomplishment felt once reaching the top. The views were absolutely breathtaking and in no way do these pictures capture just how amazing the views truly were. In addition to this while on the summit we were even able to hear drums playing in a village in the valley. 

Notice the English?

Overlooking Togo

    In the same day we were able to visit another truly breathtaking sight, Wli Falls.  These falls are the tallest in West Africa (1000 ft) and are fed by the Agumatsa River. You have to cross 11 wooden bridges that span the river during the hike through the forest. You could hear this loud sound during the hike and once we realized that it was the sound of the falls we had been hearing we became so excited that we ran the rest of the hike to see it. Once we were there we just stood there in awe and all just started laughing and screaming "Oh my gosh! DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?!". Wli Falls is the most gorgeous sight I have ever seen in my entire life with the Swiss Alps being a close second. We  swam in the falls' waters and it felt like we were in a hurricane because of the deafening sound, the wind, the being pelted with water and the incredible power the falls were generating. Even so it was so much fun and I cannot wait until I return. I intend on visiting again during my time here because it was just that spectacular. Again the pictures come no where even close to expressing the magnificence of the falls.

 

  I am so glad that I was able to visit the Volta Region. Not only did I get to see incredible sights but the people there were so unbelievably nice. It was a different side of Ghana and I am so happy I had the chance to see it. If I was to live in Ghana I would definitely live in the Volta Region because of the spectacular natural sights, the friendly people and overall atmosphere. 

  Focusing on campus now, this week the professors are on strike. All the lecturers (what they call professors) of public universities in the country are on strike for better pay.  This of course means there are no classes this week. Hopefully they resume next week because if the strike continues for too long I can miss out on school credit. I believe things will work out; apparently this has happened before and is a normal occurrence. Even so it is just one more thing that I would not have expected to encounter in the US where I take it for granted that professors will actually show up to their own lectures. This week then I plan on catching up on sleep, work and planning the rest of the side trips I intend to take this semester. 

  Anyway I hope everyone is doing well. If any of you ever come to Ghana don't forget to visit the Volta Region. :) I heard that Ghana was featured on "The Amazing Race". Mom told me that they went to Makola Market, a giant market in downtown Accra and that you guys noticed how busy traffic and everything else was there. While Accra is a lot like this you must remember that Ghana is not just Accra, just like the United States is not just New York City but really so much more. I hope this blog has been able to show you some of the more relaxed, beautiful, less stressful sides of Ghana (probably like Vivian's Conde Nast article displayed). :) Nante yie.

Hill overlooking Legon (where campus is)