i'm back

hello again,

yay! Internet! I'm in "the town" now for the next four weeks! One of the first things on the agenda? Find an internet cafe within walking distance. I'm reminding myself to be thankful for the access, in spite of the fact that it is soooo s...l...o...w. It's taken me twelve minutes to get on, read last post's comments, and open this page now. So I HOPE you all appreciate it! haha Can I make another complaint? I didn't realize every inch of my body had sweat glands until this moment ... enough said.

So this last week I was in Mampong with Michael and Suzanne. It was a great week, and my homesickness quickly disappeared. I got really comfortable there, having fun with the girls and having many hours of great conversation with Michael and Suzanne. Everything ranging from relationships to church to politics to lame jokes ... It was good. Michael made some interesting comments about the church that I may share later on ... Suzanne also introduced me to different Ghanaian foods, and I hung out with her in the kitchen a lot.

The food is different, yes. Some of the textures and spices are hard for me to swallow (ha-ha). BUT I think I'm really going to miss it. Everything is homemade with real ingredients -- there's always a pot going on the stove. It reminds me of my Baba's house or something. I tried fufu yesterday --- it was good. My attempt to eat it with my fingers wasn't very successful, though, so I went back to the spoon. I like the variations of porridge they have here (Dad, you would too -- you're also a cream of wheat fan), and of course the fried foods are good. Suzanne and Michael did give me some more familiar potatoes, apples and spaghetti.

Last Sunday we went to the Accra mall and it looked like Florida -- shining SUVs in the parking lot, ritzy shops, palm trees. On Monday I went to the PENTSOS office to touch base with the people there and eat lunch. From the second level you could see the ocean! My driver (one of Michael's assistants -- coincidentally, also named Michael) noticed my interest and so when we were done he said, "Would you like to go to the sea?" Yes! It was beautiful, and it's amazing how just watching the waves come in can make time go by so quickly. Before i knew it, 45 minutes had passed.

Later in the week, I spent two days observing in two different schools -- a public secondary school and a private primary school. It was interesting to compare that public and private. I made friends with teachers and classmates, and was especially impressed by the headmaster of the private school. I rode the crowded, bouncing bus back with Suzanne's daughter Aba. While we waited for a taxi home, I had to help her "wee-wee" behind a shop, which was kind of humorous ... Also, while we waited, many people passed by and I got called "obroni" probably a dozen times. It just means "white person" -- "Obroni, how are you?" haha It's mostly children that call me obroni -- adults walk by and say "good morning/afternoon/evening". It's kind of nice. Different from North America, where when strangers are passing you fix your eyes ahead of you -- here, everyone greets each other and asks how you're doing, how is your family, etc.

And now I am in the town. In my big empty guest rooms. They painted them before I came, which was nice of them. Upon arriving Belinda (Auntie Jo's granddaughter) and Kwayko (the houseboy?) and I struggled to set up my mosquito net. Poor Kwayko was teetering on a stool on the bedboards while Belinda and I held up the mattress. But -- it's up and so hopefully I won't get eaten by mosquitoes. After they left, I wandered about the rooms by myself. I killed a giant spider that was on the wall, and hope that will be the last encounter with any little housemates I may have? haha.

Then Felicia, the pastor's daughter, came over. She's around my age with good English -- she's going to be my "right hand woman". We talked about the literacy workshops and how we should prepare for the first leaders' meeting. And now ... we're at the cafe.

So now that I know where the cafe is, the updates should keep coming. I can walk here often (in the MORNING - NOT the heat of the day!), and it's only around 60cents an hour. I see they have skype with webcam and headsets, so I'll have to try that out at some point ...

Love you all,

Erica

PS: I was so happy to read your comments -- thank you for your encouragement!