Hey lady, stop taking my picture when I'm eating my breakfast. 

Which Country

Listening to Atlantis Radio. All Country, all the time. Most radio stations here interrupt songs with 5 second promo spots for the station or with the DJ prattling on.

This is how the station is described: "The identity of Atlantis Radio is reinforced by a policy of consistency in programming to achieve that relaxed and receptive ambience." 

Tim McGraw's latest on now. Fab.

Sorry; the website isn't working. 

UPDATE: I stand corrected. It plays smooth jazz as well as country. 

Think About It

A sign in Osu

Another Day, Another 100 Cedis

An email from an American friend. Subject line: "Yet another interesting day in Ghana."

I have a crazy story to share...I was sound asleep last night and was woken up by 2 screaming men around 2am.  There was alot of cursing in English mixed with Twe (the local language).  I eventually fell back to sleep then started dreaming (actually it was more of a nightmare) about fighting because of what I heard.  Turns out a tenant that lives on the top floor of my building came home around 1am with a "commerical worker" (thats what they call prostitutes here) and then because he hadn't paid his electricity bill he didn't have any power in his apt so he got into an argument with the prostitute because she said she couldn't "work" without any lights, so the tenant went and woke up the landlord yelling at him to get the power back on.  Note every tenant pays their own electricity bill.  So the landlord and the drunk tenant go into a screaming fit and meanwhile the prostitute left without servicing the tenant and everyone in the building was disturbed by the noise and commotion.  I'm quite tired today as a result but it makes for a great story and another adventure here in Ghana!

The first week I was here I saw several very attractive women sitting alone at the restaurant of a hotel frequented by expats. Thought they might be travelers from other parts of Africa. Another evening I saw several more young women dressed in nice, albeit short dresses at a restaurant. Took me months and confirmation from a saavy friend to figure out they're working girls.  

The Big Six

The Big Six heroes of Ghana, on all the bills. Can you name them? A hint: the traffic circles in Accra are named after them.
Give up? Nkrumah, Danquah, Ako Adjei. And the three other guys.

Actually, they're not on the 2 cedi bill, which is fairly new. Some rumors about the current president (Atta Mills) not wanting to put the father (Edward Akufo-Addo) of his rival (Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo) on the bill. 

The Center of the World

 Last weekend I trekked from Green Turtle Lodge 6 kilometers to Cape Three Points, the closest land to 0 longitude/0 latitude. I guess I don't know how many miles 6 kilometers is. We traveled on the beach, over land, up hill, through woods, over rocks, through a flooded, uncleared path and finally arrived. Emily sprained her ankle yet kept on hiking with nary a complaint. Linden went ahead to recon the rocks but was turned back.

Lush

Emily and Milyeri on the trek

The beach along the way

Up hill both ways

Emily on the rocks

God Bless Our Homeland Ghana

The Lighthouse, closed for the evening

The view of the center of the world

We passed through several small villages and found folks who were kind enough to guide us.  After four hours, we made it.

Unluckily, the lighthouse keeper wasn't there. Luckily, Haroon and five friends in an SUV picked us up for the return trip. THAT 6 kilometers took an hour and a half, not including the stop for gas and goat kabobs.

Changes

Sorry for the radio silence. Lots of changes here in the past month. In short, I have left the organization I came to work for and the apartment I was living in. I have a new job and am staying with Martin and his gracious roommates until I get settled in a new apartment (hopefully this coming weekend).

Things on the ground look very different than they do from 6,000 miles away and people are often not what they seem; true no matter where you are. My situation is not uncommon here.

Some of the gang at the beach

Despite the challenges, I'm still really enjoying it here. I have a wonderful...and expanding...group of friends, many of whom have had similar experiences and who have been so supportive. The best advice I would give anyone moving to a new country: find friends fast.