It's Raining Cotton Candy.

What's really real? So it is becoming more and more difficult to keep this updated because I have been so busy and Internet isn't like it is down in Californy' Way. So I don't even know where to start or where I left off last time so I'm just gonna give you what I got right now. A couple days ago we visited a school in a rough neighborhood in Accra. The one room building had over 80 children who performed for the group with dances, song and poetry reading. It was an incredible show and all the children were adorable. There are over 60,000 kids in Nima and something like only 30 percent are in school it is really sad, but the kids who are in school were so talented. After playing with the kids for a little while we went up some mountain outside of town to a botanical garden. There were the craziest trees and plants there and the tour guide was the man. He would just walk from tree to tree and be like smell this leaf and the group would try to guess what it was. It was crazy fun. Then after another meal of chicken and Jallaf rice we headed back to the house and went to the bar that is right across the street that we think is called Wasu (Cougars suck! Don't Front). The bar is just a shack with a grass roof and a couple chairs but the drinks are crazy cheap like 30 peswas (sp?) or cents for a double shot of liquor and one cedi 20 peswas for a giant Star beer. The bartender is a 14 yr old boy named Michael and we battle dance each other on the bar and he blows me and the group away. It is a great place to meet the local Ghanaians who are the friendliest people. Oh and H-bomb showed up and we've been having a killer time in Africa and you all should be jealous that we are here and you're not, so sucks for you, but we miss all of you. After that we went to Labadi beach for reggae night on the beach. It was unbelievable with a live band on the beach and little barrels of fire everywhere. I ran into Ghanaians who i had seen at the crafts market the day before and they still remembered my name, it was like something out of a movie. So moving forward a little this past weekend we went to Cape Coast to tour the old slave castles and kick it on the beach. The castle tours were intense as expected, it really is terrible how terrible people can be, but not to make this a negative nancy blog i say we focus on the fun, good? good. So,Leslie our program director kept a surprise for us after the 4 hour bus ride to Cape Coast where we pulled up to Coconut Grove Resort that is on the beach. The resort was ridiculous with A/C and some of the nicest rooms Ive ever stayed in. Kofi Anan, former UN secretary general and current Ghanaian, stays there when he goes on holiday. Will Smith also stay there when he shot "Ali." SO the place is pretty nice. I went swimming in the ocean with a terrifying rip tide, played on the swing on the beach, swam in the pool, sun baked, ate some bomb seafood, drank little devils that are just 4 different kinds of liquor in a glass but tastes pretty good, tried palm wine for the first time which was kinda gross but it gets the job done, played a couple holes at the 9 hole golf course until everyone else kept loosing their balls in the tall grass that cost 2 cedi to replace (it must have been all the tiger I drank before leaving for Ghana), went skinny dipping, went on a canopy walk 12 stories above the jungle, ate at a restaurant where you can pet giant crocodiles (i didn't pet them cause i watch 'most shocking videos' but a couple people did.) and that isn't even the exciting part. During dinner Leslie the program director introduced me to the
hotel manager, and to make a long story less long, we got to talking and he pretty much offered me a job at the resort starting a radio station and online newspaper. I'm still working out the details but I may be staying in Ghana longer than expected. Ok I think I'm done blogging now I just have so much to do. I start my internship tomorrow at Peace Fm and am so excited to figure out what the hell they are gonna do with me. I'm healthy, happy and regular. I miss you all and can't believe the Suns got Malik 'Panda Express' Hariston. Once he gets introduced to Pei Wei he'll be averaging a double double, no doubt. If you have any question, give me a holla. Go Ducks!

One Man No Chop

Hey friends! I'm gonna try to do this as quick as possible cause its hot here and I'm tired but I wanted to update you all on my first couple days in Ghana. The flight to Accra took 20 hours and would have been unbearable if it hadn't been for the free cocktails on the international flights. After a couple of G and T's at 30,000 feet you get a good buzz going and it makes sleeping while sitting up relatively easy. Once I landed in Ghana the heat surrounds you and the humidity is unreal. The first stop after getting my bags was to the house that I will be living at for the next 6 weeks with 12 other crazy characters. They are all really great and we have gotten close very quickly and rarely separate. It is a lot like camp I got the bottom bunk in a room with 3 other guys. The house is amazing its a huge mansion in East Legon in the burbs of Accra. The neighborhood has such juxtaposition between huge mansion houses and shacks and house that you can't tell if they are being built or demolished. There is a hole in the wall bar across the street from the house that we have frequented quite often. Anyway that first night i got in we went to a bar/restaurant with a live band and drank and danced our first night away in Ghana. The band was incredible playing songs by bob Marley and local music that sounded like Paul Simon's Graceland and shaggy mixed together. With all the travel and drinking I kinda got out of control and passed out back at the house. The next morning I had a terrible hangover and was booting anything that I ate. It was not the start to my African adventure that I wanted (sorry momma). Anyway I man'd up and the next day we went to a World Cup qualifying football match between Ghana and Gabon. We took the tro tro to the game which is a van that acts as a sort of bus service but is kinda sketch. While on the way to the game the driver cut off this group of scooterists that speed up to pass the giant van. As they were passing we hear a 'bang! bang!' I immediately ducked my head as my entire life flashed before my eyes. I thought for sue that I was involved in a drive by. Turns out their scooters were just backfiring but it was pretty terrifying. My bunk mate Scot swears he saw one of them pull out a gun and point it in the air so whether it was a gun or the scooters it is hard to say either way it is a hell of a way to start my first full day in Ghana. The game was incredible and the Ghanaians love football with the same passion that I have for the ducks. We got these tickets and just kinda walked to down to the third row and were so close to the action it was a riot. Near our seats we saw 3 fights between people and two huge Obibini's (locals) started throwing punches and the police had to get involved it was quite a show.The dancing and football crazy was awesome and when Agogo, a beast of a man, broke some fools ankles with some fancy footwork the place exploded. The Black Stars scored 2 goals taking the victory for Ghana. All right I can't type anymore I'm gonna take a nap. Ill give you some things to get excited for the next updates though: University of Ghana, Markets, Saddam and Gomorrah, lecturers, Hannah, Radio Universe, Peace FM, Touring Accra... I miss you all and hope you are doing well. "One man no chop" is a Ghanaian phrase that means one man no food, it supposed to mean that without the help of the community no one can survive really cool rasta stuff. Okay Go Ducks!

Akwaaba friends!

Sup sup. I don't have much time but I thought I would give you some teasers to look forward to. Ive only been in Ghana for a little over a day and am having a great time. I live in a mansion with some crazy characters . I went to a World Cup qualifying soccer game. I'm still getting adjusted to my surroundings but there are goats and the cutest little Ghanaian babies. I'm safe, happy and healthy, but I need to get moving cause we are touring Accra and I don't want to miss the bus. I miss you all. Go Ducks!