Heyyyy Everyone! It has been just about a little over three weeks since I arrived in Ghana! I can't believe it! If I had only stayed for a month, I would be coming home this weekend! It is weird because a lot of the volunteers did just stay for month, so they are all leaving me. I'm glad I did decide to stay for 2 months because I can't imagine leaving now. I feel like I have finally overcome the culture shock and have adjusted to the Ghanian lifestyle.

This weekend was pretty uneventful. I just stayed in Kumasi, but I went to a slumber party at one of the other volunteers' houses and watched Harry Potter :) And their host families house is like a mansion for Ghana. OMG! Boy am I jealous of them. They have a big flat skin TV. Running water. A Really nice shower. Actual tile floors. I mean they are so living the life right now. They really have no idea how lucky they are. Don't get me wrong though I really like my host family, but I just sometimes wish it was more centrally located and it had running water. 

I also went to a lake that is pretty close by on Sunday, but it ended up being a real disappointment. The locals there kept hassling the other volunteers and I. They basically told us that because we are white we have to pay more. It was terrible. We stayed for about 30 minutes and then left.

Teaching at the orphanage is getting better and better everyday now. The kids (for the most part) all call me Rachel and no longer "Obruni" (white person), which is nice. And I also feel like I am starting to get through to some of them. We have been learning the colors, and the majority of the kids all have pretty much mastered it. Every time I ask one of them what color is blahblah, and they get it right, I feel so proud, and you can tell they do to because their face just lights up. 

Well, I think my hour is about to end, so I best be going, but I will try to post again soon. I am going to cape coast this weekend, so it will most likely be next week. Love and miss everyone!

 Milli and Me

 Host Brothers

 The Lake

 Obama Biscuits! Apparently Ghanians love Obama. I tried some, but they aren't very good... The funny thing is most Ghanaians are so into American politics. I was talking to two guys at the beach, and they gave me a big lecture about different American presidents. They knew me than me, but I guess that really isn't saying much. 

 Milli and another little boy (I don't know his name)

Me with some other volunteers at a nice restraunt

Finally made it back to the internet cafe! And this time I found it all by myself! I feel like such a pro now :) I navigated myself and some other new volunteers all around downtown Kumasi, and I did not get us loss. I feel so proud of myself right now! By the end of my two months here, I am totally going to be like a native Ghanian.

This past weekend as been pretty eventful. I went to the Monkey sanctuary on Saturday, and it was well worth 4 hour trotro drive there and back. I got to feed wild monkeys right out of my hand! It was the neatest thing. I really badly just wanted to grab one and cuddle it, but the guide said that if I did they would attack... so I decided to scratch that idea. The story behind why these monkeys are so tame and friendly is that a long time a go when the African village that is now inside the sanctuary was built made some sort of pack with them that as long as they treated the monkeys has human beings, the monkeys in return would treat with respect. Or at least it was something a long those lines. So the village within the sanctuary will feed the monkeys breakfast and dinner, and also when ever one of the monkeys dies, they will give it a proper burial. I took tons of pictures, which I will post real soon.

Also this weekend I finally got a roommate. Her name is Charlie, and she is from London. She recently just got back from India and Thailand with Projects Abroad, so she has been all over the place. I am really happy I finally have a roommate, so now I don't have to go everywhere all by myself anymore! 

Also I now have a new favorite at the orphanage. I really ate saying that, but I can't help it. Her name is Milli, and she is about 2 years old (I think). Today, immediately when I arrived, she ran on over to me with this huge grin, wanting me to just hold here all day. In addition, during break, she will always beg me to just pick her, and then literally in about a minute she will fall asleep in my arms. She is the cutest thing ever. 

I have totally given up trying to look decent here. I have just accepted the fact that I will always be covered in a layer of dirt until a get home. Also I forget to mention in my last post that there are no mirrors at my host families house, so every morning when I live, I have no idea what I look like. I think I am going to try and get my hair braided at some point too just because I think it would be a lot easier to deal with and I wouldn't have to wash it must. The problem is bargaining the price for it... I just feel so bad haggling because I know I'm so well off compared to some of these people and I can totally afford it, but I can't let that allow people to take advantage of me I guess.

Well here are a few pictures!

        My Room

 My Bathroom

 Kokrobite Beach

 The kids!

 My Host Family's House

 The monkey Sanctuary

 The Monkey Cemetery

My host Family (Nana, Nathaniel, Jonathan (Both are the American way of spelling them). The only two were were not in the picture were my host dad and the youngest Aiya

Hey everyone! I am alive! I am sorry it has been two weeks, and I haven't posted anything. I have been having trouble getting to an internet cafe. I really have a hard time find my way around Kumasi. There are no street signs, so you have to purely memorize landmarks, etc in order to find your way around. Also I do not think I got a thorough enough orientation of the area, so most of time I am completely lost and have no idea were I am going. The only places I know how to get to are work and home, and even sometimes I end up screwing that up. The other day I thought I was on the right trotro (bus) home, and I ended up in a town 2 hours away! And I was all by myself, and it was at night! Lets just say I had on emotional breakdown on the bus... everyone kept staring at me and then yelling at each other Twi (I'm pretty sure they were talking about me). Luckily, I called my Project's abroad "mentor," and he worked everything out for me so I got home safely. It was an exhausting experience.
Overall though, I am having a good time. It is defiantly a culture shock. I am still getting use to the people, weather, lifestyle, etc. I must say I have new found appreciation for the US, and I do really miss it.
My host family is really nice though. I love my host mom. She is so sweet and caring. She really is like my mom here, and I love it. You better watch out merm! You might end up losing your "best mermer in the world" status. :) My host dad is really nice too, but he is not around that much. They also have 3 little boys, and boy are they a handful. The littlest one, who is 5, is a crazy mess. He doesn't really understand boundaries, but I guess shouldn't be really be surprised by that because most Ghanians don't. The oldest son, who is 9, is obsessed with all my electronics. He is constantly asking to use my laptop, which normally wouldn't be an issue but Ghanians don't wash there hands (not even after they use the bathroom), so when he uses my laptop, it is literally covered in dirt... I also forgot to mention I do not have running water at my house, so I have to use buckets of water to bath and flush a toilet. I must say this is worst part, especially since (I'm sorry if this is too much info) I now have diarrhea like everyday. A huge bucket full of water never seems to really flush it all the way.
The food here is pretty good though. Everything for the most part is really spicy. It is all mostly carbs, starches, and proteins. I really miss green vegetables. When I come home, I just want a big bowl of broccoli. Also, every time I eat I have to try to forget how the are cooking it because I am afraid there is no such thing of sanitary cooking conditions. For instance, they wash there dishes by putting them in a bucket full of soapy water, and that is it... Also the whole not washing your hands things before your cook makes me cringe too.
Volunteering at the orphanage is going well. It is very challenging because of the language barrier and the kids are so violent. However, now that I have been there for a while, they are starting to respect me more. I'm doing more teaching than care work though. I work with a 3-4 year old class (most are orphans but there are a few outsiders). I have to start coming up with lesson plans etc, which is really difficult because I really don't have a background in early-childhood teaching, and the language barrier really does help either. In addition, I have started to become attached to a few of the kids, which I know can not be good. I already want to take home some of them. Am I do young to adopt a child?
So far my favorite part about being here is the traveling part. We went to Kokrobite Beach last weekend, which was gorgeous, and tomorrow I plan on doing a day trip to Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sancturary. Apparently, at this place, the monkeys will eat food right out of your hand! I'm really pumped for it! 
While I better be going, I am meeting some volunteers at a bar to watch the soccer game. Most of the volunteers are from Europe, so they are all really into soccer. Ghanians are crazy about soccer, too. Hopefully, I will be able to get to the internet cafe again on Sunday or later in the week. I will try to bring my laptop next time, so I can post pictures! Miss everyone! And love you all!!!