jhopcian

Cape Coast Traveled west of Accra down to Cape Coast with two other medical students, Jenny and JJ. Cape Coast has an interesting history beginning. Beginnin in the 15th century, Europeans (Portugese, followed by Dutch and British) were trading Gold with the people occupying present day Ghana. Eventually this became an official British Colony known as "Gold Coast". Despite this name, gold was soon replaced as the chief export of the region by human cargo meant for European slavery, earning the unofficial historical name, the Slave Coast. The region containing present day "Cape Coast" and "Accra" is part of the Ashanti region of Ghana and the Ashanti people were middle men for the slave trade... capturing other Africans and selling them to European traders who'd set up forts along the coastline. These European traders constructed massive ... read more

Dining in Ghana was tricky for the first few days, mainly because I was trying to follow the advice of my guidebooks and eat only from upscale restaurants while keeping within a budget. Finally, I grew braver and started exploring more authentic cuisine from local eateries and even some street vendors. Looking like a true tourist... I've been photographing my food. Here are a few featured meals. Jollof Rice with Fish. Resembles Spanish rice in appearance but the spices are different. It's basically spiced with a combination of red pepper and garlic that Ghanaians seem to use in virtually all food. The fish was head, skin and fins still on. Lots of bones and little meat. Not particularly enjoyable for me. Plus... I kept worrying it came from the very polluted waters along the Accra shoreline. ... read more

Update from the hospital wards This first week, I've been tagging along with the medical students from the University of Ghana Medical School. They are "junior" medical students and are doing pediatrics for the first time... so most of their patient interaction is geared towards learning how to take a history and perform a physical exam. The faculty here know I'm almost done with school and mainly allow me to do what I want and at times have me help teach basic physical exam skills to the students. My interaction with patients is limited, of course, by language (see below) as many of the patients and parents speak only minimal English and I speak even less Twi. I've been able to distribute some of the toys Dr. Tom (thanks Dad!) provided. The kids are so ... read more

Irish Bar Well... after a long day of walking around Accra alone, I felt the need for a reminder of home. I made my way through the city by foot to a little Irish Bar started by some expats who live here. I met some other travelers and felt recharged. It's now safe to say that cheesy Irish-themed bars are quite literally everywhere :) Day 2 I am now set up in my student hostel near Korle Bu hospital. Korle Bu is just outside the city center (slightly too far to walk) and the hostel is even further away (about 1.5 miles from the hospital). Photos to come! There's a bus each morning that takes students to work. I live in a room with another medical student from Nigeria whom I've not yet met. Korle ... read more