Blogs from Cape Coast, Central, Ghana, Africa - page 8

Not to be critical, but the office building where we went to have our visas extended looks like they filmed part of "12 Monkeys" there. This is probably mostly due to my cranky mood, but it does make one a little anxious to leave ones passport there for a week... The look of the building was honestly a little suprising, the rest of Cape Coast is open and sunny and friendly. If I had been feeling better I would have gone to the market with Johana and Anna after we finished at the immigration office. The market is refered to as "the women's market" or "the walled market" and is an experiance in itself. Cars have the right of way here, so walking on the street is a little unnerving at times, but once you duck ... read more

Here are the players- Ruby a.k.a. Akosua Bibini- GVSU student off on her big adventure in Ghana. Anna a.k.a Speedy Chicken- Also GVSU student. Roommate of mine. Lets me decorate however I want as long as I keep things tidy. Sherry- GVSU staff. Currently teaching Computers and Society to a bunch of Ghanian students who have a hard time understanding her accent. Also plays the part of "mom" to us young'uns. Lyndsey- Student from Iowa doing her internship in Health Studies. Lives in a room with both air conditioning and running water (hot and cold!) which is a good hang-out spot. Johanna a.k.a. Johanna Nakita- Austrian student. Fearless, independant, and resident expert on all things Austrian, German or European. She is currently teaching Anna and I useless german words. Jim- GVSU professor of English Lit. teaching ... read more

I WENT TO CAPE COAST TO VISIT ONE OF THE FAMOUS CASTLES WHICH HELD AND TORMENTED THE SLAVES BEFORE SENDING THEM OFF TO THE AMERICAS..... THE PICTURES ARE SELF EXPLANITORY..... I MUST ADMIT I LITERALLY HELD BACK TEARS AND WAS ASTOUNDED TO HEAR THE STORIES OF HOW THEY MADE SURE THE LOCAL VILLAGERS HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CASTLE.... IF THEY KNEW THEY WOULD HAVE BOMBARDED AND TORN THE CASTLES DOWN.... THE NATIVES ONLY KNEW THAT ONCE YOU WENT IN, YOU DIDNT COME OUT..... THEY ONLY TELL THE STORY OF TAKING SLAVES OVER AGE 12.... BUT WE KNOW THERE IS TOO MUCH DOCUMENTARY IN AMERICA OF THEM BRINGING OVER CHILDREN....THAT PART OF THE STORY THEY REFUSE TO REVEAL..... I MADE IT A POINT TO ASK EACH GUIDE WHERE THEY KEPT THE CHILDREN ... read more

hello everyone! so sorry that i have not updated in a while. i just got back from a week in komenda, the "rural village" component of the semester. first off - komenda was not nearly as rural as i expected - more like the suburbs ;) i lived in a house (with electricity, but no running water) right on the beach which was awesome. there was sand right outside our door and you could hear the waves from the ocean through the window. i stayed with fiona (univ. of redlands) and jackie (umass amherst) which was so much fun. we seriously talked about every possible subject you could imagine (EVERYTHING lol) and i can basically recite their life stories, as they can mine. komenda was definitely more like a little vacation than school (as though all ... read more

Sooooo I am HERE!! It is ridiculous - I still feel like the full gravity of the fact that I am in Ghana has not yet hit me. So quick run through of what I have been up to: arrived in Accra on Friday night (it is dark outside by 6:30 pm each night) and made it through customs easily to be greeted by Aunty Nana, our academic director. Then we went to a hostel in Accra for food and introductions and sleep. The very next morning we loaded up on a bus (about 16 of us) and drove the 3 hours to Cape Coast, our home away from home. The first few nights in Cape Coast we stayed at Jacaranda Guest House which was... interesting. My roomie (Jocelyn from Carleton) and I picked out what ... read more