Obruni!!!

Geales and Anne made it through the first day! Today around 5 they walked to Appra, which is about 15 minutes from their village. Here they found an internet cafe. Geales didn't have much time there, but she was able to send me an email. And this is what she had to say:

Hello from Ghana! It's been a long 48 hours or so, and I don't have much time, but I'll write what I can! When we landed Friday morning, Anne and I befriended a guy named Brad from unc, who actually knew one of anne's friends from home--random! Everything went pretty smoothly through customs and the passport/visa check, but Anne got questioned at the passport checkpoint--apparently it was sketchy when we said we were just staying with a man named Lawrence. But we got through fine, found our luggage, and met a very nice man, Nii, who had been sent to pick us up by Albi, a friend of Lawrence. He took us via taxi ride from the plane to the train station, where he bought our tickets for us and stayed with us until we got on the bus, talking about his favorite places in Ghana. He even negotiated with some of the workers to get us on an earlier bus! As we were boarding the bus, the ticket lady stopped me because my ticket was technically for the 2:30pm bus, but then the worker gestured to anne and me, saying "these are my people" and so we were able to get on! As we were leaving, Nii said, "I hope to see you, my sisters, again!" The bus ride was pretty uneventful, an air conditioned bus with lots of nice people. When we got off the bus, i called Lawrence and he came to meet us. it was so heartwarming because he was just so excited to see us. he then took us to our flat, which, as grace wrote, has some running water and flickery electricity, but it is VERY nice by Ghana standards and we are so thankful to be staying in such a nice place. We feel so safe--you have to lock like three doors to get into our bedroom, and all of the windows have very thick bars covering them. it has a gorgeous view, too, because it is a bit outside of the main village. there are roosters and chickens everywhere and the most beautiful plants. After relaxing for an hour or so, Lawrence brought over the administrators of the school and talked about what we'll be doing. He also told us about the history of CEJOCEP. Lawrence is such a kind, genuine person and is just so inspiring to talk with. CEJOCEP was started in 2003 with fewer than 60 students, but has now grown to over 430 students with 26 fully employed teachers. CEJOCEP International School is one of the most affordable schools in the area. The students can even get a full lunch for 30 pesues per day, which is about 25 cents. CEJOCEP also encourages and assists teachers in continuing their own education at the University in Cape Coast. On Monday, we'll go to school, where we'll spend the first day learning African traditions, like drumming and Fante (the local language) and traditional dress. After that, we'll be able to choose the age and subject we'd like to teach. Anne's sooo excited she'll be able to teach French! I'm not sure what I'm going to teach yet but I'm very excited all the same! After we met with the administrators, Anne and I hung around the apartment because we thought they were coming back to take us to dinner, and even though we were starving, not having eaten since breakfast on the plane, we didn't want them to come to the flat and us not be there! So around 8pm we started getting scared that we weren't going to be able to eat until the next day, but luckily John showed up around this time and took us to a great little restaurant called Tina's Tavern in the next village. The food was warm and delicious, although interesting. anne and i both got fried rice, which was delicious, but when i looked at my fish i saw it was... a fish head, haha. ohhh man. but i DID try some, trying to be adventurous. It was so cheap too, just 5 centi for dinner and a bottle of water, which comes out to about four dollars. Afterwards, we walked around the village and John walked us home. It's so beautiful here, especially at night when it cools down. The vegetation is very lush, and when it's dark it's DARK. Like pitch black. We're quickly seeing why so many people have referred to it as "Sweet, sweet Africa." When Anne and I got home we quickly fell asleep on top of the mattress and sheet that are our bed--I don't think we'll use any sheets or blankets the whole time we're here.

Today, Anne and I slept in till about 9, although we were woken up by roosters squaking outside our window a bit before 6. there are goats and chickens and roosters and pigs EVERYWHERE even throughout the city, just wandering around. we both slept very well, thanks to some Tylenol PM (Good call, Mrs. Crumbley). We're planning on getting a fan for the room soon, though, but we're really fine. we're getting used to the humidity. anyways, today lawrence, the head of cejocep, and john, the headmaster of cejocep international school, where we'll be teaching, came and took us around cape coast, which is about a 15 or 20 minute taxi ride from kakumdo. these two men have been so kind and willing to take care of us. we walked around the cape coast and the marketplace and saw the castles, and anne and i got some groceries so we don't have to go out for every meal. we don't really have a place to cook so we stuck with cereal and cookies. we're hoping to get a kettle so that we can make pasta. well come back very well nourished, haha. there's so much i want to tell you and explain but i feel like i can't put it into words! i can't wait to show you pictures. everyone here is so nice, especially the people who lawrence introduces us to. the kids are hilarious and so adorable, every time they see us they get so excited and chant 'obruni, obruni, how are you.' on our way to the internet cafe, which is the first place we've been alone, a group of about 10 just started following us. it's so funny.

I absolutely love it here, especially the people. They're so happy, and life is so simple and beautiful! I love you all and I'll see you when I return!