Wren again: After a very long, tiring bus ride, we are back in Kumasi. We left Cape Coast on Saturday at 1:30 and at about 5 the bus began smoking so we had to stop and wait on the side of the road. While we waited we made friends with some little kids who watched us intently from across the road. After a while we noticed that two of the boys were copying our movements, crossing their arms when we did and putting their hands on their hips when we did. Then one of the littlest boys put both his hands [View Full Entry]

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Wren writing: This morning we experienced what will probably be the most exhilarating breakfast of our lives. It had rained all night the night before and was still pouring when we reached the restaurant. The restaurant is located in the little lake (that contains the crocodiles!) and the bridges that connect it to the shore were already flooded with about 3 inches of water. And as we stood in line for the breakfast buffet, water began to flow into the restaurant and swell around our ankles. So we went to the upper level to eat and by the time we came [View Full Entry]

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Wren writing: Today we got in touch with the natural side of Ghana. We took off for Kakum National Park with a bus full of Cape Coast University students and Sam’s professor friend, Peter. They are doing very interesting research about stingless bees which can produce honey that has been used for years by the local medicine men to cure diseases, heal wounds, etc. Peter and his PhD student, Rafela, showed us around all the different nests and told us the many, many uses for their honey, wax, and sticky stuff they make called propolis. It was actually very interesting. And [View Full Entry]

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Wren writing: Rachel had a nice surprise this morning when she found a large bite out of one of her sneakers. Ralph comforted her by saying, “Oh yeah, that’s rats. For sure.” She was not so happy. And then, as I was walking to breakfast, I stepped over a short wall and because of rain, my foot slipped which caused my other foot to smash into the rock wall (ouch!). “A scar to remember Africa by,” said Ralph. Good thing he’s always here to cheer us up! After breakfast we went to see Elmina Castle, where the Dutch held slaves that [View Full Entry]

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Wren here: Today, after accomplishing the feat of eating five whole mangoes for breakfast, we left Kumasi for Cape Coast. Before our bumpy five hour bus ride to Cape Coast, though, we had the pleasure of a 40 minute car ride to the bus station with Ralph, Rachel, Wren, and Anna all crammed into the back seat, intensley humid, 90 degree weather, Ralph and Wren in long pants, and... windows that couldn't open!! The smell in the car was quite potent and, combined with the heat, it made for a tough ride. Anna was quite close to fainting I think. By [View Full Entry]

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Hey guys, its Rachel. As always, don’t know where to start. I made makeshift french toast today for breakfast and it actually turned out, although just after I’d started Ralph returned with more oil for cooking and said “no! what you put on top of the toast is salt not sugar!!” after I’d sprinkled it with what I swear looked and smelled like powdered sugar haha. We saved them though and no one was horribly surprised by a plate full of salt drenched french toast. I seem to have been chosen as the cook, I think maybe because I volunteered to [View Full Entry]

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Hello Family and Friends!! We (Wren writing) come to you, happy and sweaty, from Kumasi, Ghana. We arrived in Kumasi this afternoon on a bus from Accra, the capital city, and were picked up by Ralph, the Liberian man (and friend of Renee) who will show us around Kumasi and Cape Coast (more on that later). On Thursday, we arrived in Accra around 6 and met George, a friend of Renee who had come to pick us up for the second time (he thought we were supposed to arrive Wednesday). We then had a filling dinner of fried rice and potato [View Full Entry]

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We're finishing up the last of our preparations today. Running endless errands to get the right clothing, presents for our new friends, and general necessities. So far it sounds like our itinerary will be something like this: -Fly into Accra on Wednesday or Thursday (we leave Wed. at 5 pm) -Be picked up by our new hero's* friend -Stay at a guest house in town somewhere -Spend a few days in Accra (the capital by the way) - go to markets, meet some of Renee's local friends, and go salsa dancing -Travel 6 or 7 hours to Kumasi where Renee has [View Full Entry]

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