Akwaaba!

Hello!!

I will be using this blog to update everyone about what I'm doing while spending a semester abroad at the University of Ghana in Legon.

After a six hour flight from JFK, and an eight hour flight from Frankfurt, Germany, I arrived in Accra, Ghana Wednesday evening. We took a bus to campus, and soon encountered the unique driving experience of Ghana. As far as I can tell, there are absolutely no right-of-way laws here. People just turn out in front of other cars, swerve in and out of lanes, and do NOT yield to pedestrians. Also, there are dozens of people walking in between cars selling anything from bottled water to soccer balls.

We spent most of the next few days orienting ourselves on campus, and learning how to get around using taxis and tro tros (large VW vans which travel from station to station). Hardly anything here has a set price,and it is essential to haggle when buying anything from food to taxis to clothing. I am staying in a dorm for international students, and the rooms are very nice and spacious. The downside is that there is no hot water in the showers. On the humorous side, my door was getting stuck along the frame, so a maintenance man came and literally sawed off an inch from the bottom using a rusty tool.

The local fare is mainly a mixture of meat (which is generally fried),rice and plantains (which is basically a cross between a banana and a potato). Generally everything comes with a spicy sauce on the side. I have not encountered any cheese or milk in any Ghanaian restaurant, and I find myself daydreaming about nachos, quesadillas, grilled cheese, milk, etc. However, the tropical fruits here are delicious! The pineapples, mangoes and bananas are all very sweet and cheap.

All of the Ghanaians I have met so far have been very friendly and helpful. I have also been experiencing a taste of the local culture by attending a local funeral and festivals.

I have much more to write, but my time at the internet cafe is running out. I will update more later!!