Blogs from Volta, Ghana, Africa - page 14

Woke up and went to Christ Orphanage. I showed the kids pictures of Hailey, Hannah, Morgan, Madison, McKenna, and my grandpa and grandma. It was really funny; they couldn't understand why the twins weren't named "Achu" and "Achupe", which almost every set of twins are named here. After getting out, we went to Afrikiko Hotel on Lake Volta.... read more

I woke up early and got ready to go to the Ghana Consulate. Jen walked me to tram 9 which was the train to the embassy. I bought my ticket to Schipol before I left and found the embassy with ease. I met some very nice people in the waiting room, and two nuns gave me their breakfast when they found out I had coffee. I made my way to the tram to try and catch the 10:58 am bus/train but got lost and ended up taking a connection from Leiden to Schipol. When I was on a moving ramp in the airport, my luggage fell and caused a traffic accident. The people behind me all tripped and their luggage also toppled everywhere. Ahh...typical. While getting a new ticket the woman at the counter informed me ... read more

I woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel and left my luggage there to see the Van Gogh Museum. Rainy again, but only a five minute walk. Beatiful museum. Ate there and then did some window shopping (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabanna). Got my bags and checked into the hostel "The Bulldog". What an experience. The receptionist in the lobby was smoking pot, and the whole place smells like it. I met two girls, Dorothea and Desiree, from Germany and I went out with them. It was crazy; we went out to supper and then visited the "Red Light District", which was an AWFUL place. They have prostitutes in every window, etc. I have decided one thing I won't miss about Amsterdam is the creepy men catcalling, whistling, yelling from their car windows, and ... read more

Woke up at 3:00am for a 7:00am flight to JFK. Flight is scheduled to leave on time. I was already a little homesick when I was sitting by myself in the airport, but then I watched parent trap, and Lindsay Lohan's characters are at camp for 8 weeks, and then I thought, "Wait, they're 11 years old...why can't I leave for 8 weeks?" The woman who checked in my bagges was from Africa (not Ghana) and warned me of how hot it would be there. I arrived at JFK on time. Flight to Amsterdam leaves at 5:50pm. My seat was upgraded to JFK. Looks like they know how to treat their high-rollers around here :) I sat by a family from Farmington on the way to JFK. When I arrived I ate at the Sam Adams ... read more

I came to realize today that I haven't really told any of you too much about the orphanage, and what it is we (try) to do there. I realized this today as I was sitting on the floor, three children on my lap, two playing with my hair, and one searching my pockets. Several thoughts went through my head: 1.) White people hair really is strange. 2.) I had no idea it would be like this. 3.) Get out of my f*&^* pockets! To that end, I thought I would give all of you back at home an idea of a normal day at Ahado Christian Orphanage. After about a 25 minute walk through town, shouts of "yevu!" coming at us from all sides (we can dodge them now, matrix style) we arrive at Ahado. A ... read more