Two weekends ago, my study abroad group went to Cape Coast, home of beautiful beaches, bustling little towns and old slave forts. We stayed in little circular villas near the beach and took a tour of Cape Coast Castle, one of the slave forts used by Europeans to hold slaves in before they were shipped to the Americas. As beautiful as the scenery from the castle was, the interior was dark and suffocating--no place for any human to be held in. 

Of course, my camera died right before we got to the castle so I will hopefully be borrowing photos from someone else. In the meantime, here are some other photos from the trip!

 Beach we stayed at

 Sand made of tiny pieces of sea glass.

 So happy to be at the beach!

 These little guys are all over the place here. One came near us at my drumming class today and was doing these weird push-up things that made it look like it was dancing.

  rawr! I got to touch one of these crocs.

 Canopy tour! Possibly my favorite part of the trip.

WATER!

We have water! For the past day or two we didn't have running water in the hostel. Yes, it seems like a short period of time, but if you consider the fact that the temperature is in the 80's or 90's and it's so humid you feel like you're walking in a dog's mouth...it's a long time.

I had to play basketball with my acting class Tuesday morning at 7 and was really looking forward to that cold shower, but alas, no agua. Later that day I had dance--also a sweaty affaire--and still no water. Luckily there is water that comes out of a pipe outside (from a rain barrel I think?) I took a few showers from a bucket and they weren't bad. Yesterday the water finally came back only to shut off again this morning. Most Ghanaian students in the hostel don't seem to make a big deal about it. It's not too uncommon and occurrence. I just think about what the reaction would be in the U.S. if there was no water in the dorm for a few days. Wow.

Ada Beach!

Last weekend the USAC group went to Ada Beach, about an hour and a half east of Accra. We took a boat ride to the beach, which was a sort of peninsula with river on one side and ocean on the other. 

little huts on the beach

party trees!

boat ride back

We're Not in America Anymore.

Ghana doesn't enjoy a lot of the privileges that the U.S. does. In the hostel and in most public places, there is no toilet paper or soap. Internet is slooooww. Some mosquitoes carry malaria. Many women carry their babies on their backs to work--while carrying things on their heads. Despite all this, everyone I've met--in the markets, on the street, on campus--has been friendly and helpful, always smiling or willing to help you find your way around.

Bags of water. Most people drink out of these. They're cheaper than buying water bottles. This whole bag was 1.5 cedis--about 50 cents in the States.

Trash outside the hostel. Open sewers line the streets so you have to be careful not to step in one! I've seen people picking up trash occasionally. There is so much though! I'm taking a theatre for development course where we will focus on improving sanitation in Accra through theatre.

First bug bite...I've had plenty since.