Flights:

Hello all,
We have arrived in Accra on Friday night at about 1230 Am. Our flight was delayed in London for a few more hours, we were supposed to be arriving at 930pm

Originally I had thought I would handle the switch in cultures without too much stress. When we stepped off the plane we were immediately so wet, that you could see it on our hands. The humidity is very high, and its very very hot. I was very surpised when we left the airport doors. We were completely inundated with people. The culture is so unlike what we are used to. People are always trying to do things for you and are always asking for money or whatever you might have, they are very assertive and if you are not careful you are likely to be surrounded by many many more. We took two cabs from the airport and gave the directions to our drivers. It took about half an hour for them to decide where the address was. None of the building have numbers...We never did find our motel. We drove around in the cab for almost two hours. Eventually finding a hostel in the middle of town. In those two hours we saw some pretty rough areas of the city. It was like nothing I have ever seen before. The streets are littered with garbage and sleeping people without six inches to separate them. They are lined with shipping containers, I am not sure if people live in them or if they are for selling things, as often the street is turned into a market. I have to admit, I teared up more than once, it looked like the Vancouver Eastside X 10.

Clement and his son Quincey, who ran the hostel we ended up staying at, were very nice to us. We got two rooms with double beds and our own bathrooms (no bedbugs here, lol) Originally we paid 60 USdollars for our first cab ride to the hostel. The next day however, Clement drove us into a large gas station and showed us how to barter for our fares. We should have paid no more than ten dollars for the orignal fare. We also learned that you must decide on a price before getting into the car. This has saved us!

On Saturday we took a cab into town and bought cell phones, and bus tickets to Cape Coast, and we all met on the busy "Ring Road, or Circle Road as some of the locals call it. We had dinner at a local motel. So far Cherie and I have eaten mostly curry dishes, with lots of flavor, and lots of spice.

This morning we were up at 6am and traveled to the cape coast. The bus was hot and there was no air conditioning, but it was nice to have a little breeze!-Really, it was very welcomed! When we arrive on the Cape Coast we tried to buy bus tickets to Kumasi for tomorrow but were told we had to buy them in Accra. We have left money with the bus depot, and have been assured that they will have them stop at the bus depot at about 1300. Fingers crossed that they are true to their word!-I have faith! They haven't let us down yet!

Aften checking into our motel we took taxi's to the cape coast castle. One of the castles used for housing the slaves before transport to Europe or the America's. The castle was absolutely beautiful. The original fort was built in 1482 and switched hands about six times throughout the years. The actual structure took almost 300years to complete. It was a very "heavy" tour. I took lots of pictures, that I will post later. It's hard to believe that so many terrible things happened in such a beautiful place...

Tomorrow we go for a canopy tour in the morning and then we are on the bus to Kumasi.

I have absolutely fallen in love with this country! It is not all all what I am used to but I love the people and I love the landscape. It's a broken country, but it's healing...

TWO MORE SLEEPS!!!

Comparing Ghana and Canada:

• Canada gained independence from colonial power in 1867
• Ghana gained independence in 1957
• Life expectancy in Canada M/F -78/83 years
• Life expectancy in Ghana M/F -56/58
• The infant mortality rate in Canada is 5 deaths/1000 live births
• The infant mortality rate in Ghana is 208 deaths/1000 live births
• The top causes of death in Canada are circulatory diseases and cancer
• The top causes of death in ghana are AIDS 15% and malaria 11%
• Canada's population is 33, 979, 000
• Ghana's population is 23, 837, 000

Tentative Itinerary (See map posted below):

• Arrive in Accra January 29th 2130hrs (Stay for two nights, climatize buy cell phones, adaptors for computer.
• January 31st Arrive in Cape Coast-visit slave forts
• February 1st arrive Kumasi-visit largest tribe in ghana, the Ashanti tribe
• February 2nd travel to Tamale stay at Catholic guest house
• February 3rd Visit local village by Tamale and see traditional life, pottery and shea butter production
• February 4th Cultural dance in Tamale
• February 5th visit local farming village, seminar on life in Ghana
• February 7th my group (Katrina, Justin, Cherie) split from main group and travel to Enchi (bordering the Ivory Coast) A village with semi-rainforest conditions. We chose this location as it will give us a better understanding of rural nursing in Ghana. Also there is a lot of midwives in Enchi, who provide pre, post and ante natal care. This is my area of focus, and am completely interested in seeing this from a rural community prospective. Our group stays here for two weeks. We will communicate with the other groups and with our instructors by cell phones bought our first days spent in Accra.
• February 21st-return to Tamale
• February 22nd-hospital nursing in Tamale-hoping to do more maternity/labor and delivery!
• February 25th-tentative date we will be bestowing our friend Vida's village with a grain mill that we have raised the money to purchase. Until now, members of the village have been hand carrying their grain for 10km to have it milled. Once they arrive in the neighboring villages they may have to wait several days in line to have the grain milled as well as having to pay for the use of the mill. Having a mill of their own will not only help with the milling of their own grain but it will also provide the village with a source of income-as they rent it out to other villages.
• March 6th-Ghana's independence day! Celebration in Tamale
• March 10-March 15- Our own travel time, I'll keep you posted on what we decide!