Obruni Crossing

So- I was initiated into Africa this evening...myself and six of the other girls in the house (Obruni = white person and I walked around for 5 hours today without seeing another one, so imagine the commotion when six of us went out together) went to reggae night on the beach...needless to say, amazing. We just danced (all in our long skirts might I add) and laughed and yes, it was cheesy, but also yes, it was amazing. A man came up to me and said- you look so happy to be in my country- and I obviously just said yes.

I know I've only been here a couple days, and it is in so very many ways, scary, but it is also in so many ways I feel like exactly where I need to be. The girls here are amazingly diverse (culturally, experiences, emotionally, everything) yet we all somehow found ourselves here...also I feel like it's pertinent to add that it took me traveling over 5000 miles to have a girls night out ( a concept which is not as acceptable as an excuse to ward off men here as it is back home). Regardless...it was great. I head to the school tomorrow to actually begin what I came here to do, which should be exciting. Met some students at reggae night who are also volunteering there, so that will be fun to see them all again (also additionally...an additional addition if you will...I am the oldest one here?! Which never happens...)

I feel like so much of me can't get used to the idea that I am actually here, it is so different but in so many ways so so easy to be here- I mean, we still had to figure out who was going to pay whom for dinner and cabs, I've seen so many kids who are just the same as the kids back home, cab drivers are still terrifying...there are just goats and chickens in the roads at all times here...

Some fun facts for those who would like to know the nitty gritty  (which I know is everyone)

-I took my first hot shower a couple of minutes ago...glorious.
-We ride around (when not in a cab) in a gutted van with rows of seats called a tro-tro... you hop on and off and there is a man who jumps in and out and clicks at people from the side to let you know if there is room in there...
-I ate a coconut off the street, drank the water and used the coconut as a spoon
-I also ran INTO a tro-tro and have a quite gnarly scratch and bruise on my arm
-Saw the soccer stadium (the one from the World Cup)
-Did my first load of laundry by hand (here, not ever)
-It is very very hot and sticky- just what you'd expect Africa to be
-The volunteer coordinator (who lives in the house) finished 9th in the last Accra International Marathon and runs 3 HOURS every other morning starting at 3am...I may have to take up running just to say I did it

Ok- I also have to sleep. Love to all...

~Nicole

Arrival

24 hours later…

I don’t even know where to begin…the adventure began almost immediately, after I landed in Atlanta- where it was raining- I discovered that our connection to NYC was delayed, which meant our flight to Accra would leave without us…I say us because there were 36 of us who were supposed to catch the Accra flight...I met a Ghanaian man named Osei who was in Atlanta burying his son- which was super sad, it was his first time traveling and I felt so badly that all the delay shenanegens were his first experience with the US on top of the loss of his son. So we paired up and this incredibly kind Delta ramp agent named Terry who was actually off the clock but took care of Osei and I literally until we got on the plane. Atlanta to NYC was pretty uneventful, and we had to book it to the next gate- B22- and we got on the plane, I slept for an hour, and when I woke up we were still parked on the runway…super long story there was something wrong with the plane and they had to deplane everyone. There was a mini little mob at the ticket counter because there weren’t enough hotel rooms or something? So basically we had to sleep on the floor in the airport, which I did not do because I spent the whole night on the phone with my dad and the program to make sure someone would be there to pick me up since the flights were delayed…so bottom line we obviously made it on the plane…I have a row to myself, which was great because I just passed out for most of the flight. It will be 10:30pm when I get there…I think there’s something really weird and sad about flying through the whole day…not that it’s wasted, but it’s just odd....an odd way to spend the whole time that the sun is out in a chair- kind of reconciled with the idea that this is how you spend the time….I have watched an intense amount of Girls…starting to get close…only an hour left…it’s actually happening! 

Countdown: 15 Days

Almost there!!

Everything is starting to get real...even though I'm sure it won't really hit me until I am on the plane...on my way to teach and learn and serve and be almost completely on my own for the summer. Crazy!!!

I have to thank everyone for their generous donations! Beginning on the first day of the journey (June 24) I will be posting a Donor of the Day to highlight the donations and make sure people know I am thinking of them on my excursion.