Global Connections: Accra

Our first full day here, we began with orientation. It's all a bit of a blur at this point, we've been getting our minds filled with information these past few days, but after learning about some of the general safety and basics of Ghanaian culture, the staff took us to a Bed and Breakfast for a buffet lunch (bed and breakfast shown below). We sat outside under a white tent, surrounded by trees, flowersbutterflies, and grass, something you don't see very often in New York City. We were immediately greeted warmly and our glasses were filled with delicious fresh juices. It had only been a few hours and everyone was already laughing and referring to our group as a family, with the staff as our parents, aunts and uncles, creating a completely welcoming and safe environment. I was already completely satisfied and content, and lunch still had yet to be served! A bunch of men filled the buffet table with hot trays and our program advisor, Krista (who is absolutely amazing) instructed us on the customs; elders serve themselves first, then vegetarians (to make sure they have enough food) and then everyone else. Although I was one of the last to eat, it was worth it. We were served a spicy peanut chicken soup, two completely different kinds of rice, chicken curry, fried plantains and a few spinach dishes (one with mushrooms, one with tuna). Everything was unbelievably delicious and topped off with fresh fruit. 

After lunch, we walked home. The whole walk was filled with beautiful greenery, small stands of fruit, clothing and jewelry and children walking home from school in uniform (which is oddly charming) and we came back and relaxed for a few hours before dinner.  (This is our housing complex, my house is to the right, but cut out of the picture. The haze in the sky is caused by Harmattan--the dry season, which ends in about 4 weeks, bringing extreme heat)

Dinner Monday was at Tanta Marie, a place our meal plan covers us to eat a group dinner at on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As soon as we got there, the host welcomed us into his family as his new brothers and sisters. He told us we were welcome to come to him for anything and on any day of the week (outside our meal plan too). With this, I think the entirety of our group was sold, but yet again, the food surpassed any and every expectation. 

Later that night, we went to a Ghanaian bar, but since we didn't really know where to go, we asked our security guard for advice/directions. He sent us on our way but within a few minutes, we realized we had gone the wrong way. Right when we started to turn around, a man ran up showing us his ID and telling us his name. We were really confused at first, but apparently our guard had sent him to help us not get lost, I'm not even entirely sure who this person was, but it worked! We found the bar eventually and after a nice evening, came back to get ready for orientation the next morning. 

Orientation Tuesday was much more productive, at least, in my mind. We learned a lot more about our course offerings and opportunities here. I'm really looking forward to all of my options, and I'll post more about those when they're secured. After we figured that out, former mayor of Accra and NYU in Accra professor, Nat Amarteifio gave us a lecture and a tour of Accra where we saw a beach:

 Lots of local stands, women with baskets on their heads, children playing superheroes and soccer...etc

 And a slave owner's home. With his home in the very back, the place where slaves were auctioned off in front. When we visited, inside one part the home, a religious ceremony was going on and in other parts, some mothers and children were packaging fruit, one mother was nursing and one man was urinating (which I guess explains the "Please do not urinate here" signs that lie under the "Post No Bills" signs around town.

All in all, it's been a fantastic past two days and I can't wait to see what's coming next (although I know we're seeing a live band, going to the market, and the beach within the next few days, so it seems like a golden plan to me--guess that's why I'm on the gold coast!)