Cacracacra in Accra (small small in Accra)

Maadwo madanfo(s)! --> good evening friend(s)!

I've been in Accra since Monday and I've been having a really awesome time. I came to visit a friend and to settle the details of my flight. I'll give you the day by day, play by play:

Monday: Carly was really sick so she decided to come to Accra with me, rather than going back to Kumasi. We left Takoradi by tro tro because the STC bus staff were being very difficult. Long story short, there are occasions where being white in Africa is really NOT fun! When we got to the Volunteer Abroad house in Accra, I felt so glad to be 'home'. The comforts of a fridge, running water, and fans are amazing. After being in Banko, and even Kumasi (the second largest city in Ghana), Accra feels incredibly western. Its a really strange feeling - like a twinge of reverse culture shock. Walking in to Koala, the most western grocery store, is overwhelming. I think I've said it before, but each time I go there I am like a kid who wants to buy, buy, buy, everything in sight.

Later that night I met my friend Solomon at '37 on the run' which is a local hang out spot. They serve pizza, ice cream and drinks. All in all, a really fun night.

Tuesday: I went to see Solomon's house. INCREDIBLE!!! I have now seen some of the poorest houses in Ghana, and definately the richest houses in Ghana. He lives in a part of Accra called airport residential, the part where the business elite live. His house is all fenced off, you have to pass through a gate and meet the security guard before you can go in. Then the driveway loops around an immaculate garden, kept tidy by their gardener. The house itself is huge, perfectly white, which is a strange phenomenon in Ghana, and gorgeous. Everything in the house is top notch. Their cook makes the best food I've tasted in Ghana. She made my my favourite: omo tua (rice balls) and if I had the opportunity to have it daily, I would willingly do it.

Wednesday: I went with Solomon to meet some of his friends. One of his friends is a t-shirt designer and he is designing me a special shirt. I'm very interested to see what it will look like. I saw some of his work and it was incredible, but they were speaking in Twi when they were discussing how my shirt should look. One major accomplishment, I understood enough Twi to know that they were discussing a 'gift' for me and that they were making me a surprise shirt. Maybe I can't speak the language, but I can sometimes pick out enough to know when I'm being talked about - which is often.

Later that day Solomon and I went with Poppo to Labadi beach to 'swim' in the waves. (Any facebookers out there will notice that I changed my profile picture. That is a shot of Poppo and I at Labadi beach. Note the TAN and the PLAITS.)

That evening, I went with Kersten to watch her boyfriend, Adams, perform in his dance group. There is this huge venue called Alliance Francais, created by the French Embassy. They have a bar, and a stage, amongst other buildings. Every Wednesday night they have some sort of cultural performance. This time it was Afrikana, a group that I watched during my orientation week and I had been dying to see them again. It was absolutely incredible! One of the best things I've done in Ghana. The performers are mostly rastas but they have performed all over Ghana and have won numerous awards. I wish everyone could see them.

Thursday: Solomon and I went around Accra searching for the tickets to the Ghana music awards which I am definately going to. For 5GHC we get to see the top Ghanaian superstars and JaRule. Its all day Saturday on the beach and I am PUMPED! In fact, I changed my whole weekend so that I could go. Originally Jessi and Sophie were supposed to meet me in Accra Friday so we could go back to Ada for our last relaxing weekend together. Buuuut since I found out about Ja Rule and my favourite Ghanaian band, I decided I couldn't miss it. Luckily Jessi and Sophie were in to this plan to so we're just going to Ada for Sunday night and heading back to Banko on Monday.

That night, everyone in the house pooled our money together to make fajitas. We made guacamole, peppe (a runnier, HOTTER version of salsa - amazing and I'm going to make it often at home), and we used 'wraps' from Togo. It was such a feast and a really great time.

Friday, today: Carly and I went to a sports bar called Champs. We had nachos and it was absolutely divine. That's one food I've really been missing from home so it was great to indulge. And indulge we did, because it was really expensive - probably the same as in Canada. The prices match the crowd though because its mostly expats that hang out there.

After this, we went to the Accra mall. They have a Puma store, a Nike store, a store like Superstore, a huge, western grocery store, clothing stores, salons, you name it. Yet again, completely overwhelming. Poppo has been teaching me some more Twi - some good and some funny. Tonight we're making pasta for 10. I'm going with Solomon and his friends to a few clubs. Jessi, Sophie and Romeo will be arriving late and then tomorrow is the concert. I will let everyone know how it goes after I'm back from Ada.

Take care all.

-Akosua

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