First real update - Jan 21

Pictures won't be coming up until I spend a day where the internet is free. But I have taken a lot of beautiful and interesting ones - mostly of the different bathrooms here.

I was lucky to sit beside a Ghanaian man named James on the plane from Washington to Accra. He is a pastor and he told me a lot about life in Ghana, things to look out for, and things to try. It was a really great way to enter the country, and he gave me his contact info and told me he would take me to meet his family and show me the city. I was really appreciative, and he was very generous.

Then, while waiting for my bags (which took forever!) a really HUGE Ghanaian man invited me to Labadi beach and told me he would buy me a drink. He is a graduate student in America, but did his Undergrad in Ghana and is visiting for the first time in years. He was full of energy.

I had no idea how I would possible get to that beach, or back, or whether it was a good idea. I decided not to go. Instead I met a couple of year-long students at the residence and hung out with them for a while. They told me they were going to Reggae night at Tawale beach and invited me. A wise man once said "Always do the crazy thing." So I went.

I hadn't really slept in over 30 hours, but I went. I felt drunk just from my tiredness. Ghanaian taxis are not rider friendly. Meagan, you would hate it. They are fast, bumpy, swerving, honking, and they are almost always hitting people and other cars. But they always pull through safely. The cars are always junkers but it suits the whole atmosphere.

My first night was spent on a beautiful beach, with waves washing up on shore, live reggae music, lamb kebabs and Ghanaian beer. It was the best entry into a country I could have asked for.

Last night, we went for dinner at a restaurant that was quite classy. I ordered a 5GHC (about $4) meal, but it ended up costing 20GHC ($16) because I didn't know how to properly order. I don't even spend that much for a meal in Canada! I was shocked. My lunch was 75 cents; my dinner 16 dollars. Prices really vary.

Then the crazy-inclined went to club downtown, even though we had to wake up at 8am the next morning. The bar was similar to clubs in Canada, except that the calibre of dancing was WAY higher. I kept looking at people grinding and telling myself I would fail miserably if I tried. Then a Ghanaian girl and I started dancing. We tried to dance, but I am really bad and we would bump awkwardly into each other, stop, laugh, and then she told me multiple times "you are really bad at this!" I know I am! But the club was not judgemental at all, and we had a great time. I am learning the Azonto. Look it up, because it is awesome and really popular here.

Leaving the club at 3am, there was a young Ghanaian boy who followed us to the car, holding my arm and asking for money. The rest of the people just ignored him and told me not to look in his eyes. But I did. It was heartbreaking. It is tough to know how to react in those situations.

Right now I am sitting in a room, watching the African Cup of Nations football (soccer) tournament on the TV with a bunch of my new Ghanaian and international friends. The past few days have been too much to take in a truly process. I am loving my time here and am so happy to be living in the moment.

Miss you all.