Arrival

May 13, 2008

This study abroad trip is my first experience with airplanes, that I can remember. My dad was in the navy when I was little, but I don't remember flying anywhere because I was very young. Anyway the flight from Atlanta to New York and then from New York to Accra was OK, but not the most comfortable ever. What the flights lacked in comfort however they made up in speed.

My first day in Ghana, my first day in Accra has been nice. The people are friendly, but I still wonder what they really think of us. By us I mean Americans, and myself as an African-American. I am going to try not to be shy and ask someone. There was actually a Ghanaian woman next to me on the flight from New York. Her name was Gladys and she works for the women's ministry part of the government. She said I would enjoy myself and taought me 'Thank You' in Akan, but she was not very talkative.

Even after the plane landed and we arrived at the hotel, I did not really feel like 'I'm in Ghana!' I have said, I know it, but somehow even as I write I'm still not really processing it. When my camera started to malfunction earlier today, it did hit me that I am not close to home. The exchange rate bothered me as well. I lost almost $3, which is not bad but now I have to get money out of the ATM and it has an even worse exchange rate. Additionally, I feel really stupid that I did not bring more cash to exchange off-hand. It turns out that by the end of the week we might burn through $150. I did not come to Ghana to watch my pennies but I may have to pack more snacks!

I guess the topic I am really writing on at this point is first impressions, expectations, and the like. I did not expect for the hotel to be as nice as it i. There were chocolates on the the pillows and salsa dancing tomorrow. The food so far has been delicious. I've tried different kinds of rice an the cake I had at dinner was splendid. The weather is not unbearable.

Land Tours keeps the bus in air conditioning. The tour of the city (of Accra) made me feel a little outside, like a real tourist. We saw more poverty than affluence, which I hadn't expected in the major city as much. At least I am not sure exactly what I saw because the tour guide said they were building in some places, but then some buildings and houses looked like they could barely stand.

The people are all very well dressed here, with a few exceptions, which I hadn't expected. By well dressed I mean really nice casual (or traditional wear) to business wear, which is 180 degrees of the American jeans and t-shirts. In a way the Ghanaian people are showing their real pride in who they are by how they dress...