Yes, I Am Alive!

I’m backkkkkkk J Here’s what I’ve been up to!

Travel

A few weeks ago, the crew and I decided to take a break from Accra and explore beaches a little further away. Accra is huge, but can seem so small at the same time. I know I was getting some cabin fever from always being in Legon/Accra/Campus so I needed a brief getaway. On impulse one Saturday morning, we decided to pack up and head to the Bojo Beach Resort. Not gonna lie, we were quite scared since we needed to tro-tro the hour and a half journey, but we definitely had help along the way. For one, Uncle Renny (aka Lorenzo—the 30 year old man that works in ISH’s internet café. Lorenzo insists on professing his love for me on the daily, and thinks it’s funny to run around telling people we go together. Never mind the fact that he’s casually dating 43% of the women in ISH lol) called one of his “bloods” [verbatim] and got more concrete directions for us. We only needed to take two tro-tros and a taxi to get there. Our friend Phillip (aka Uncle Phil) kept true to his name, and called to check in on us to make sure we arrived safely in true uncle fashion. The trip was much easier than I expected. Once we got out of the taxi, I was SO happy we decided to suck it up and go. Bojo Beach is amazing (and beautiful!) We got there around 10am so it was still quiet and serene. We drank, ate, laughed, chatted, swam, napped in the hours we were there. The beach turned into a huge party around 3pm, and in typical Ghanaian fashion, the smell of weed/alcohol occupied the air, music started blasting, and people were daggering. We left before things got to crazy, because we wanted to be back before sundown. The journey back was also pain free (well…besides the fact that our tro-tro broke down on the way back…I called it as soon as we got on at Circle! That thing looked like it was on its last leg. It was fine though…it broke down the equivalent of a block away from where we needed to get down so I think we still won.) I really think we had such a good day because prayer warrior Sydney blessed us with her powerful words…but I digress…

Our next trip was a CIEE excursion to the Eastern Region of Ghana. While there we went to the cocoa farm where all of the chocolate, cocoa butter, black soap, and cocoyams people around the world eat come from. It was hot, sticky, and buggy, so I barely paid attention. But it was interesting finding out how they process each and every part of the cocoa seed for production goods. For example, the shell of the cocoa seed is used to heal asthma and boiled to make black soap. The inner fruit of the cocoa can be eaten as a fresh fruity snack (it tasted like ginnips) or fermented naturally to make chocolate/coffee. Afterwards, we went to the wood carving region where I bargained the hell out of all my purchases. I ended up spending about 30USD on sculptures, jewelry, bags, and gifts. Shopping outside of Accra is always such a pleasant experience because it’s not too hectic/overwhelming. Out last stop was Aburi Botanical Gardens….again, I barely paid attention, but it was really pretty J

Taking Over Ghana

We’re going to be superstars soon lol. Shelbie and Sydney modeled a few pieces for an international award winning clothing line called “Clothing Qui Parle.” The designer ‘Milo’ is very kind, and asked them to walk in his fashion show during international students week. Now as I am no model, I decided to help out and do the makeup for the show. They were definitely on GMT (Ghana Man Time) so the show started about 2 hours late -_-. But we had a good time. There was some Biggie vs. Tupac type drama going on between the Nigerian and Ghanaian students. I don’t know all the details, but I know the Nigerians were mad that three “black Americans” were walking in Milo’s show and upstaged everyone *Kanye shrug*Regardless, the show went on, and everyone looked great in the clothes. Some other people “modeled” and performed, and…well….I’ll let you see for yourselves when I post the videos. Be prepared to DIE of laughter hahahaha.

We’ve also been stepping our entrepreneurial skills up in these past few weeks. Syd’s already booked for more photo shoots/fashion shows, I’m commissioned for makeup at events, and Shelbie is the mastermind behind party promotions. Our next big event is an American college themed party. Yet another friend Frances is helping us get the venue booked (he’s a god when it comes to party promotions. He’s working on getting one of the Ghana Black Stars’ mansions in East Legon for us. There’s also a good possibility that the event will be sponsored, so all the money we get from tickets can go to an orphanage called the Beacon House. Partying and humanitarian acts? That’s dope.) We have plenty other things in the works, but those need to stay hush. I don’t want anyone else stealing our ideas.

Life Otherwise…

Classes are still nothing superb. As a matter of fact, I won’t be updating on academics here anymore because you’d be bored, I’d be mad, and I don’t want to continuously throw shade on the entire UG educational system. That’s that. Social life is great. I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannnnnnottt do clubs in GH anymore. I barely like going to clubs in the US, and Ghana is that much more intense when they party, so I’m sticking to kick-backs/house parties for the rest of my time here. Although, to contradict myself, on Friday night I went out with a friend to this lounge in East Legon and had a blast. We partied to the latest Naija hits (the night was DJ’d/reserved for Nigerians. I’m starting to feel a riff between Naija students and GH ones. But we all know what team I’m on #IgboKwenu). His roommate’s sister knows my family in Nigeria, so they she loved me J It was good to finally spend time with women! We left the lounge around 2:30am for a house party in Madina. When we pulled up to the house, I could not believe it. First of all, it was a mansion…scratch that…super mansion! Fountains, waterfalls, a pool, basketball courts (yes courts) just astonishing! It was already 3am by then, and the party was still LIVE! Ended up staying there until about 6am (put this on everything, I left at 6 and people were stillllll partying. They have so much energy, I was done.) but left because I felt like I couldn’t go any longer. Got back to ish quarter to 7, saw Atsu off to his graduation and passed out.

We only have a little more than two months left in GH. It seems like a long time, but I know that at the rate the time’s been flying by here, May 27^th will be here before I know it. I feel like I still have so much to do here—mostly traveling. I’ll be going to Togo in 2 weeks, followed by Benin, then Nigeria for a week to visit family. It’s looking like South Africa won’t be until May, but that’s totally fine! Again, the time away from Accra will do me well, because I was too through with GH last week or so. I ate bad food from the Night Market, and felt like I was two feet away from death. Simply miserable. I should’ve known not to eat the “fresh” salad from there, but y’all know how stubborn/hard headed I am. I have definitely learned my lesson though. I still have PTSD from my week of bubble guts, so even the sight of produce turns me all the way off lol.

I think that’s all I have for now. I should probably go and do work since this week is full of exams, papers, and assignments due. Realistically though, I’ll be napping.

Miss you all!

xoxo

O