I Love to See the Temple and Akwaaba Margaret!

Traveling to Accra this past weekend was especially fun because we got to go to the temple!  It was absolutely beautiful and a great experience.  Because there are so few temples in Africa, Ghana is lucky to have one. 

After going to the temple, we spent many many hours in the largest market in Accra.  Blocks of bargaining!  “I give you good price”, “I have something special for you”, “Oh beautiful Obroni, come”, “Sweet baby girl, come”, and on and on…but the game of bargaining is very fun!  And standing in the block of fabric shop after shop in a small alley I thought I had died and gone to heaven. 

We were also able to go to the beach again!  Or should I say fried at the beach.  But, we had a great time playing futbol, swimming in the ocean, collecting shells, getting buried in the sand, and even building a sandcastle with some children. 

At church on Sunday we happened to run into a couple missionary from Utah State!  They were so kind and invited us over to dinner.  It was really fun to meet them.  Even here in Ghana it’s a small world and the Lord is blessing us with miracles!  They are actually coming out to Abomosu with some students in May so we are very excited for them to experience the bush! 

To finish off the trip, we welcomed Mama Abu back from her travel to the US!!!  We are so so happy to have finally met Margaret.  She is the sweetest lady and her and Stephen together just make me smile.  They truly are the most charitable individuals. 

Here’s to the last week of being in my teens!

Cape Coast Traveling Extravaganza!

The adventures just get more and more exciting!  Last week traveling to Cape Coast and Cape Three Point- we enjoyed so much!

Journey to the Center of the Earth at Cape Three Point:

Wednesday night we took the midnight bus out of Abomosu to travel to Cape Three Point.  13 hours later, 2 buses and 2 tro tros we were dropped in paradise on the beach!  Let me paint the picture for the last tro tro…me on the 3^rd bench pressed up against the side that although the whole thing is steel is wobbling and I’m pretty sure the tro tro was disinigrating…the woman next to me chomping on banku and then fell asleep with the chewing stick in her mouth on me, our knee caps jammed on the seat, my feet got real hot on the 13 hour journey and swelled lots, our backpacks on our laps, heads to the roof and the road REALLY rough…struggling up every hill.  We couldn’t stop laughing.  And couldn’t believe this so called resort on the beach was close…but alas!  It was! 

Yes.  I did take this photo.  A shot of Cape Three Point from Green Turtle Lodge!

Green Turtle Lodge was really nice, on the private beach at Cape Three Point, the closest to the center of the earth you can get (I think it was 4 degrees and 2 degrees).   The food was British/Ghanaian and delicious!  We stayed in a small hut on the beach, literally though ON THE BEACH for 2 nights.  We took a morning canoe ride from the small village 20 min walk down the beach on a river, and played in the ocean all day.  I even convinced them to build a sandcastle and I can now check off my list being buried by sand.  The next night Ashley and I decided to take the so called turtle night hike.  So for 2 hours we walked on the beach to find the turtles with the guide but there were no turtles…we should have named it the crab hike because there were hundreds of crabs EVERYWHERE.  Only if we should be lucky we would have seen turtles…but of course they didn’t tell us that before we went on the hike…haha All in all though, we had a great time!

Self timer FINALLY worked!

 

Morning Canoe Ride!

Our hut at Green Turtle Lodge

Green Turtle Lodge

Cape Coast:

Cape Coast Castle

Saturday after leaving Cape Three Point we came back to Cape Coast where we would meet Karson and Chelsea that had been at the temple with the young adults all over Ghana with Karsons companions.  We got to Cape Coast earlier than they arrived so we decided to explore the markets and go to the famous Cape Coast castle. The castle has a lot of history we learned with the tour as it was where they kept all of the slaves.  Obama came there a couple years ago, and everyone here loves Obama so they told us when he came they all had shops all over that were Obama shops.  Anyways, we got to do a bit of shopping or should I say bargaining! 

Sunday Dinner on the Beach

Some of the group at Kakum, (the ones that weren't scared and already finished)!

We stayed in Cape Coast at the University of Cape Coast with members as that is where Karson’s past mission companion is attending school.  It was just like being back home at school except Ghanaian style!  Each of us stayed with someone different and so we all had different experiences.  I stayed with Tasha in a very nice hostel.  Right after arriving that night to Tasha’s, we went to a party at one of the hostels!  They had a fashion show, I had ice cream for the first time in Ghana!, danced, fireworks, and met lots of her friends.  Sunday we all went to church and it was so enjoyable.  Tasha loves the children so some sit on her lap during church so the cutest little boy John sat on my lap for part of church.  He was one of the most energetic little African boys I have met, but talking with his mother she told me the miracle story behind him that was very humbling.  After church Gwen cooked all afternoon for a big group of us to go to the beach in the evening.  We played on the beach and ate dinner and had a great time!  Monday we went to Kakum National Park, rope bridges in the jungle that are about 100 feet up that you can walk through.  We took a whole tro tro full between the students and us and I couldn’t stop laughing.  That driver has probably never been on that kind of an adventure with everyone that knew each other joking the whole time.  To top it off, Karson proposed to Chelsea on one of the rope bridges!  Monday night we traveled back to Accra to stay the night until the morning when we continued to the bush (Abomosu) before class.

It was such a great extra-long weekend and full of so many stories, but the part that is hard to write about is the people, the best part.  That is why I like traveling.  Every day I am grateful for the opportunity I have been blessed with to come here.   It really has changed my life and given me a perspective I would not otherwise had.  One man told us, it’s ironic that Ghana is considered an underdeveloped country because it’s the developed countries that have lost traditions such as religion and family.  Not just saying prayers, or going to church once and a while, but literally everything is because of God.  Even in the extreme levels of poverty they are experiencing they are happy, really happy.  They are truly genuine people, real people.    And that is the culture of Ghana!

Traditional Wedding Adventure!

waiting to load up tro tro number two...

After attending Ghanaian funerals I didn’t think it would get more exciting but oh yes it does…Last weekend we were invited to a traditional engagement (wedding) of one of the teachers at the primary school we volunteer for.  We traveled with two of the teachers to the grooms house on Friday night on the bus to stay in his compound until the morning when we would travel to Tema (just outside the capital) where the wedding would be.  The bus ride was a blast and I told Dennis, a teacher, he was experiencing a rollercoaster because he was telling me that he had never been on one.  We went to bed not really knowing what town we were in because we forgot the name but somehow slept for a few hours before waking up at 4am.  We half showered in a bucket with the warm water they were so kind to warm up for us Obronis.  We were supposed to leave at 4:30 but instead waited until about 6am…that’s GMT for you (Ghana man time).  Then we went to the road where one tro tro and taxi were and his family was all gathering for the journey.  All of us got in the taxi and awhile later we finally took off.  We stopped to get the rest of the people in another tro tro and taxi which took about another hour at least and then stopped about 30 more times (bathroom breaks on the side of the road, oil ran out, lost…really really lost x25 times, tires pumped up, you name it…).  At one point the driver (the grooms brother) stopped on a road and said “We are waiting for them” but we knew we were way way lost and they were trying to find us.  We were kind of glad for the break from the blasting Twi radio though.  Good thing white people stand out or I don’t think they would have seen us and found us.  I pinched myself just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. 

Finally we arrived about 10:30am and although the invitation said 6am, we were EARLY at 10:30am.  That’s GMT for you…The bride’s family fed us delicious and spicy food and we think goat in a back room and Dennis said that he wanted us to help with the program.  There is so much tradition in the engagement ceremony that was really fun to watch.  So I learned to say the Reverend and Vice’s names and then announced them.  We all got to sit behind the bride and groom as guests of honor and then we did a dance after the bride and grooms dance.  After the last funeral we all decided the next time we danced we would all do the Macarena so we got up and did that and then broke into freestyle dance.  Some of the family got up to join us in the dance, especially Aunti, party woman!  Then they had a dance competition and Chelsea won against Aunti and another Aunt, but we decided to not take the alcohol she won even though the drunk reverend said it was nonalcoholic.  

Yvonne, one of the teachers was also continuing to travel since the teachers are on strike this week so she helped us get to the right tro tros to continue to Accra.  This time coming to Accra I felt like I was going back to a first world country, it seemed so nice compared to the first night we were there.  Amazing how our perception has changed after being out “in the bush”. 

Sunday we were able to attend church in one of the nicest wards in Ghana and they even spoke English most of the time!  It was great and wow, those members have such strong testimonies.  One of the interns that served his mission in Sierra Leone had a companion in the ward.  Funny enough, even Stephen Abu Sr’s brother was in the ward (We are living with them here in Abomosu) and we made many other connections.  It is such a small world…

We tro tro’d back and the first tro tro leg was great because it was more of a van and supposedly had A/C.  After being clocked at customs he convinced the police we were going to church so that’s why we were speeding so much.  And for some reason they believed him and let him go for cheap!

Also...prior to the trip we experienced our first flat taxi tire on only our third taxi ride in Ghana coming home from the high school in a far away village.  This was quite the set up they had and after seeing them fix the tire it made me feel real safe about them driving...haha  

So its back to work for a week and a half except the primary school for a few days since they are on strike until we are planning to travel to Cape Coast!  

Akwaba (Welcome) to Ghana Obroni (White man)!

After 30+ hours on a plane, and sleeping about 3 hours, meeting lots of new people, I stepped out of the plane and hello humidity, hello Ghana! 

The road to Asunafo!

We arrived in Abomosu the following day, a village, and I love it here!  We live “in the bush” as they say.  So if anyone ever offers you “bush meat”, you may want to think twice.  All the children shout “Obroni, Obroni” 24/7 because we are white and we say “Obebini” (Black man).  For the first couple of days, the noise at night was very different between the roosters, crickets, goats, birds, and who knows what else.  Nothing sleeps here as far as I can tell except maybe between 2am and 4am!  But now I can sleep no problem, especially after walking for 10 miles a day.  We are staying with the Abu’s, and only Stephen is here right now and Hannah and George cook for us.  They are the most charitable people, and our family. 

After about 1 week!

We have gotten the classes all set up and we taught last week even!  Our classes are about 1-1.5 hours away by walk and my Chaco lines are looking pretty good.  Sweat has taken on a whole new definition!  Except one time we took the “tro tro” (basically imagine a hippie bus jam packed with people cruising through a road with potholes everywhere…and me in the back seat of the 3 benches between 3 farmers) since Stephen was in and stopped even though I said "No ride, no ride" because I didn't know he was in there.  He got out and said, "Rachel, are you scared"?  When I saw him we said "Oh it is you!"  One village we are setting up the program for the first time so we met with the chiefs, elders, and all the people in the town hall last week.  I am pretty excited to teach them.  The only downside to the classes is Ghana time…2pm class to them means 3pm, 4pm, 5pm….but they are getting better. 

We are also teaching at the World Joy RC school to the kids.  I am teaching level four in the primary school, and after arriving I was told to teach so I asked for a book and 2 hours later…!  It was pretty good though because me and the teacher taught together so the kids could understand.  The teachers have a very good relationship with the interns though and so they came last week to invite us to the traditional wedding for the engagement of one of the teachers.  Next weekend we will travel with them to attend, I am excited! 

Visiting a school in one of the villages we teach business classes.  I will have to get a picture of the class we teach soon!

Yesterday we went to two funerals with Stephen.  When you come in you have to shake everyone’s hands, even if there is 100 people.  At one, we even danced!  Country swing.  They all went wild to say the LEAST and everyone dances because it is a celebration.  That was quite the experience, I had no idea what we were signing up for going to a funeral.  There are tons of funerals here as far as I can tell and everyone wears their black and red dresses so maybe we will get one of those. 

The church here is growing so fast and the members are very humble.  Usually half is in English so that makes it easier to understand.  The singing this week with the piano sounded much better than acapella last week, but some do not know English so we are just happy for them to sing!  We just help wherever they need each week for the most part, the primary kids are big fans of Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam even though we sing and they just jump and say BEAM!

So I am an African Woman!  Akosua is my name since I was born on Sunday, my hair is African (after 6 hours of braiding) and weighs about 10 pounds more, I drank my first coconut, drink oranges, eat plenty pineapple, Red Red, Fufu (even with our hands), dream the way they speak, and say Medasi (Thank you)! 

After 6 hours, apparently to finish they put some sort of wax or oil and then torch your hair!

Life of Laughter

Everyone has moments of humiliation, exposing weaknesses and  the funny and weird quirks.  After receiving a great Christmas present from my dear roommate Jacy, highlighting just a portion of these moments, I got thinking about my never ending list of humiliating moments...

1.  Missing the Halloween Party because I stole Bath and Body Works lotion and had to go pay for it...

2.  In 2nd grade I got playing "Concentration 64" with Jon Morey and we both got in trouble and I had to move my clip!  I almost broke down in tears and never moved a clip again.

3.  Throwing rocks at the neighbors house outside until the neighbor yelled at us, coming in looking guilty and our parents found out and we had to go apologize.  I don't know how I didn't wet my pants walking to the door.

4.  In 3rd grade I thought the two 5th grade boys coming out of the creek at recess were going to kidnap all the kids at recess because they scared me so much so I ran to the principals office and told them that some boys were coming to kidnap us.  It seemed heroic at the moment, but after being sent back to class and the Vice Principal coming to talk to me to see if I was alright I was completely embarrassed.  I never told anyone until just a few years ago!

5.  Also in 3rd grade getting in a food fight, throwing croutons at the lunch monitor...lucky for me the other guy got caught and I didn't have to tell my mom.

6.  In 5th grade I brought a lunch box with a special juice that day.  I didn't finish it but also left the cap undone so it leaked all over while we were playing.  When we brought the lunch crate in that day, my lunch box was full of ants and they went all over the classroom corner.  I volunteered to go clean it out and then my friend and I flooded the janitors closet in the hallway.  Nothing like opening the janiors closet to two 5th grade girls playing on the ladder and water and soap everywhere.

7.  In 6th grade because I did homework during the very important class movie Robin Hood I had to pass out papers for a couple of months.  MONTHS.

8.  Learning to drive and learning stick all at the same time...without a starter...in old blue.  Nothing like killing the truck at an intersection, getting out, pushing the truck until it fires up again, in the city!

9.  Singing in front of the class a song I made up for a presentation in English at about 2am.  "Just a spoonful of sugar" was the tune...But hey, I got an A I guess...
Also in the same English class, after putting together a video presentation, and presenting it, my teacher put her head down for a few minutes without clapping.  (Thats how bad it was I guess)

10.  First semester of college getting a paper back that usually would have one page of comments but instead says, "Dear Rachel, I think you can write a better paper than this.  Dr. Shapiro".

11.  Working at the bike shop the first few weeks was quite humiliating because I didn't know anything it seemed!

12.  Getting a concussion the week before I go to Africa on my sisters bunk bed after hitting a board and nail...really REALLY hard in the middle of the night.  Good news is because I didn't fall asleep and read the WSJ instead, apparently that helped!

This is just a portion of these moments, but it makes me laugh just looking back (except maybe the concussion...maybe when I recover...).  Afterall, "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter" -EE Cummings

"It is thankful people who are happy"

Friday, after a long, busy, stressful week I walked into my last exam and came out feeling worse.  I feel guilty admitting this but it seriously seemed for a moment the world was crashing down.  After listening to an inspiring story at Religion in Life of a family where their sixth son of twelve kids has had two heart transplants and they are just humbled he will make it past his teenage years, I thought to myself...there is nothing to be stressed about.  

My daily Pinterest quote search led me to these two quotes I have been thinking about latley.

"It is not happy people who are thankful.  It is thankful people who are happy".  

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights." -Maya Angelou

I decided to make a list of 25 things that I am thankful for.  Some are simple and some are not, but I believe that if we do not find joy in the simple things in life, we will not be too happy.  

USU Basketball:  Even though we did lose earlier this week, there is nothing like doing the Scotsman   Or watching Reed dunk.  And being now top 25!!!

Hostess Donuts:  They always say when you don't have something you appreciate it more.  I'm not sure I can survive finals week without Hostess Donuts.  

No multiple choice tests: Seriously though.  This is more of a blessing than you would ever know.  I guess we will find out how much of a blessing though when I get my score back. 

The Wall Street Journal: Judge all you want.  

Library heaters:  I understand you may want to save on the heat bill.  But you think turning on the A/C in the winter is going to be cheaper?  Seriously.  Students do not need one more reason NOT to go to the library.  

Key Lime Pie Yogurt:  Anyday that includes Key Lime Pie Yogurt is happy.  

Spotify: Unlimited music!  Good for anytime of day.  5am.  2pm.  1am.  Anytime.  Parties.  Homework.  Getting ready.  Every Occasion.  

5 hours of sleep instead of 4:  Sadly I have thought this...no joke. What's really bad is when its 4 instead of 3!

I am only working 2 days this week:  First of all because I get to see my family!!!  I am stoked.  I miss them a lot.  But also because I will be losing less brain cells.  I mean after drawing thousands of small circles to entertain myself it starts to wear on you.  

Boots and scarfs: I had forgotten how cold it gets in the winter here in Logan!

Puzzle passes...when I had them:  I use to be able to read during work and I have never appreciated reading until then.  But now, I get scratch paper.  

Potatoes:  Cheap, delicious, can be eaten in so many different ways it seems like you are eating something new when you really arnt.  

My grandma's homemade quilt: My grandma is the best.  That blanket is good for any movie, homework at 5am, extra heat at night.  

Wheels.  That I don't have to pedal to move :) Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE biking.  But having a car this semester has saved my life!

Books:  I think I have taken forgranted education and reading all my life.  Learning is so great.  And if you haven't read The Help, read it.  

Internet Connection:  When Digis works, everyone celebrates.  Especially at 11:59pm when you are trying to submit your assignment.  

No registration this semester:  No stress over times, classes...its great.  And even better is the reason I don't have to register!

Front Row Parking: Like at church today, in the rain!  I literally cheer out loud when this happens!  A VERY rare occasion...especially at Pine View.   

Our Kitchen Table: My favorite aspect of our apartment.  That table holds so many memories.  Late night chats, game nights, sunday dinners, homework parties, pumpkin carving adventures, modge podge night...

Religion in Life: I'll be honest.  I had a very hard time making it to institute last year- maybe it was the class, me, I don't know.  But I do know that I have learned SO much this semester from going and wouldn't miss it for the world.  And Religion in Life!  Why did I not appreciate having so many great great people inspire my life.  

Safari Saturdays:  The best tradition in the world.  With the best people.  

Laughter:  They always say...you laugh or you cry.  Laughter just makes lifes problems seem like nothing.  I love laughter.  

Pianos:  As of last night I have started my grand piano fund.  That's right...someday I will buy a grand piano.  I miss playing so much.  There was nothing like just being able to sit down whenever and play to my hearts content.  Listening to piano is good, but playing piano is superb.  

Sundays:  I always though it was dumb that people didn't do homework on Sunday.  Like they were way too churchy or something.  A few weeks ago, I decided I would try it after being inspired by Kaitlin.  And its the only reason I am not in a coma, or in tears because of stress.  I look forward to Sunday all week long!  I can sleep in, eat breakfast, relax, go to church, make Sunday dinner, play games, write blogs, read, write letters, anything!  

People.  Genuine People. :  Over the past year I have come to appreciate people.  It fascinates me the way people think and act, and there is so much to be learned from people.  Before it just seemed if I had extra time I would spend it with people, but now I think people should be at the top of our list.  Spend time with the people you love, serve them, meet new people, and let them teach you things you have never thought of.  We are here together for a reason.  

Just an ordinary day.

I'm still getting the hang of this whole blog thing.  I mean if people have enough time to read about my life, I might as well make it an interesting waste of time!  But I am stumped on how to complete this task.  So I've decided to just write about a day, an ordinary day, in my shoes.  (I just realized I ran two days together so I guess it will be two ordinary days!)  Maybe this will make whoever is reading this feel better about their day.  Or when I'm reading this 20 years down the road, I can laugh during my mid life crisis.
p.s.  The title reminds me of that song I used to listen to in middle school...just a day, just an ordinary day...

Thursday October 18th.

I wake up around 6:30AM to study for the Finance exam at 9:30AM.  I convince myself that if I get out of bed I can drink hot chocolate while studying.  After studying I head up to campus to take the exam, and surprisingly I think I might have done ok!  Knock on wood.  Of course I have to blow my nose yet again...I've been sick off and on for the last month, if not longer.  When people ask if I'm sick now, I have to think about it and remember that, oh ya I am still sick I guess.  Lately I just sound like a barking dog.  I go to pick up a Corporations, Partnerships, Estates and Trusts textbook to read over the weekend for a tax competition.  Another textbook...how exciting!  I head home and get a call from my dad to work out my ticket for Africa! Hopefully by this time next week the ticket will be set in stone :)  I told my dad not to worry because if I do die over there they will pay up to 50,000 to bring me back.  And if I am hospitalized or something he can get the joy of flying over to see me in Africa!  I'm sure that reassured him. I decided today was the day I was going to trim up my hair.  Not the bottom, but just relayer it!  Surprisingly Hollywood Clips didn't let me down and my hair is nice and refreshed to grow out before the measuring of the hair on 12/12/12 to see whose is longest.   I had a nice little chat with my brother and took a nice nap.  Waking up at 4:28pm I realized...shoot I have a meeting on campus at 4:30pm so I rushed up there real quick in my car and prayed I wouldn't get yet another parking ticket.  After the meeting I came home and got ready to go to the Pumpkin Walk with a guy in my marriage prep class.  The things people can do with pumpkins!  It was quite impressive.  It was good to get to know him and we even had some hot chocolate.  I thought his response to what child do you think I am in my family?  5 out of 6... was funny.  Usually people can guess I am the oldest, now whether that is a good thing or not...After calling Kelcey we decided we would just go to her aunts house and sleep on her floor since she pretty much lives on ours :)  We saw all her cute decorations for her friends bridal shower (Owl you need is love....ahhhhh), I relived my piano days playing mario,  and then went in the hot tub, a recent purchase of her aunt and uncle!  I slept like a rock on that floor and had quite the weird dream about Jacy that I do not wish to record.  

Friday October 19th.

After breakfast at their aunt and uncles, we head home and do some homework and such...pinterest...you know how that goes.  I actually got quite a bit done before our Fall Break adventure to the thrift shops!  Kelcey met us there on her lunch.  Oh man.  I am addicted to thrift shops now.  They have so many great things!  Kecley got a nice old sewing machine that weighs more than my backpack does some days...and that is saying something!  Jace and Kelc are teaching me to use that right side of my brain since sometimes I don't think it gets used all that much in accounting...imagine that.  We stopped by Little Ceasars and I discovered a new favorite Italian cheese bread.  It will probably take two years off my life but holy cow that stuff is good.  Jacy and I explore another thrift shop before I am doomed to work for the next 6 and a half hours, making call after call without a puzzle pass (don't worry I got a puzzle pass Saturday! Booya Grandpa as Melissa would say).  
After work Kelcey came over and we had the best night ever.  Milkshakes, popcorn, painted pumpkins and even carved one, enjoyed some tunes, and started...(keyword) a movie!  (I can never stay awake in those things...)  

Look the right side of my brain does work!

Well...that pretty much describes it.  And you know what...  I love it.  Life is great.