In love with Africa!

Sorry I have been so bad with keeping up with the whole blog thing! We have been so busy this passed little while that internet has not been a top priority! But I will catch you guys up on what's been going on here.

When I wrote last we were in Accra, the countries capital. We spent two nights there and then travelled a few hours west to Cape Coast. There we visited an old slave castle that the English had built to house their slaves before they were shipped out. We did a tour of the castle and it was crazy how such horrific and disgusting things took place in what is now such an aesthetically beautiful place. I took lots of pictures which I will post when I get the chance.

After one night in Cape Coast we travelled north to Kumasi where we spent two nights. We took an air conditioned bus, and at 23 degrees celsius some people were putting on jackets! There we visited the market which is apparently one of the biggest in the world. It was a crazy experience! Basically little alleyways/streets completely packed with people walking in both directions, often with bowls of something balancing on their heads. On either side of the jam-packed path are vendors selling everything from lentils to gorgeous African fabrics to raw mystery meat. There was so much going on, all the sights and smells, and I definitely felt overwhelmed! Even though it was a neat experience, after an hour of pushing my way through the market, I was ready to have some personal space again!

After 2 nights in Kumasi, we travelled 8 hrs north to Tamale where we have been for 4 nights so far. We are staying at a guesthouse which is a 35 pesewas (probably around 20-25 cents Canadian) taxi ride to downtown. We have done so many amazing things here already! On Thursday we had the privilege of going to visit three different rural villages. A guide named Walisu (like Wally-Sue) first took us to visit a village called Kulaa. As soon as we stepped out of the van we were swarmed by children who wanted to touch us and hold our hands. One little girl, Nasiba, grabbed my hand and refused to leave my side the entire time we were at the village. If we managed to get separated, she would somehow find me! The children were all sooo beautiful and I just wanted to take them home. Even though we definitely saw plenty of sick, thirsty, and malnourished children there, they all had so much love and joy. It's not all as sad as those World Vision commercials, and there's no Sarah Mclachlan playing in the background. The women in the village showed us how they take ground up shea nuts and beat them with one hand in water for hours until it evenutally separates to make shea butter which they sell to provide income for them and their village. We got to try as well! Way harder than it looks. After that the men in the village performed som traditional drumming and dancing for us and even brought some of us up to dance with them! I guess my 13 years of dance training really paid off, as I was able to pick up the steps fairly quickly, but my hips sure don't move like theirs do! One of the elders told me he liked my dancing and that he wanted to "friend me". A few days later he gave Walisu 6 guinea fowl eggs to bring to me as a gift. This is a big deal, as that is a decent amount of food for someone to just give away here. I felt so honoured that this community would welcome us into their culture and their homes so openly and lovingly. My face hurt from smiling so much all day and I definitely teared up a bit more than once!

We then went to a second village called Gbalahi where we got to watch an older woman spinning loose cotton into tight balls of thread that they use to make their garments. We wanted to support her so some of us bought some spools.

After that we went to a final village, Kbawmo, where we got to meet the chief of the village. When you meet a chief you squat, slowly/quietly clap your hands and hum "naaaahhh, naaaah". It's a really good leg workout! Then we got to see the master pottery maker making clay pots and even got to try our hand at it too. After we visited the villages Walisu invited us back to his home where he prepared a traditional dish "pete pete" for us (like pet-a-pet-a). It was kind of like a mashed up yam base with a delicious tomato/fish/spicy sauce on top. I am loving the traditional food here but my stomach is definitely paying the price for it!

Tomorrow is our first day in the hospital here in Tamale and I am really looking forward to getting into some nursey things here. It's been really great to spend time getting introduced to and familiar with the culture first before we dive into the medical realm. Not too sure which area of the hospital I will be working in but I will fill you guys in once I have started!

I am really loving in here in Ghana and feel that I have settled in nicely. It is just so amazing to me how the people here all have so little, materially speaking, but are so joyful and loving and want to give you so much. It is truly incredible. And I want to snatch up all the children and bring them all home with me!

I love you all and miss you very much! Hope you all are well.

-Kels

PS - I am hoping to post pictures soon! HEre is a link to the group blog which has some pics up...