Coming back to the Homeland

Date: 15.01.2010
Time: 13:10
Location: Accra, Ghana

I am sitting in air-conditioned room, where everyone in the complex has wireless internet access, a television, sitting room, dining room and a kitchen. I sleep with two other Loyola students one of which I share a bunk bed with. From the days end we plonk onto our beds or desk chairs and try to decide if we can be bothered to take a shower. Now, everyone that knows me knows I have a problem with getting into bed when I am dirty, as I used to even make my boyfriend shower before getting into his own bed, but my strange habit...still holds true in a country where clean water is very limited! Some may say I am selfish- I say do you know how many diseases we learnt about that one can catch? None of them are funny unless I catch Rabies and according to Anthony that would be hilarious. But everyone I have news for you- it is not aids! As educated people we should know that Ghana’s aids prevalence is only 2.6%, and if one is so entitled to sleep around then be my guest but just know- safe sex should be practiced- and Christa would tell you how many condoms she bought back from the United States just for us students! How very kind of Christa. Now for those of you who do not know Christa, she is the NYU director on this side of the pond. Many refer to her as Tyra Banks. You will find that everyday her outfits are incredible with the modern day style with the beautiful African cloth. I don’t think we can ever go through an orientation discussion without her interrupting and adding a disaster story, or just putting her two cents as if she were Tyra, “but, you are still in the running to becoming Americas next top model, congratulations!” I will not go on talking about our director as some may say that I have a girl crush on her, which I may add I am pretty sure all 30 of us on this program do, so Boys wait in line. But people don’t worry Cheryl Cole is still my number one, with Christa and Stacey Solomon close behind!

As we on the subject of the great people of the NYU Ghana group- I must say NYU has some interesting kids! First let’s talk about the fantastic Loyola Kids. Now- overall, there were 11 brave students from Loyola that came for the “dangerous” ride. 3 of us though, decided to go through NYU and the rest of them went through CIEE. Liza Schreiner and Sara Hayward are my two roommates, and let’s just say we will all be having a fantastic semester together. As I am in a bunk bed and have not been since I was a little girl living in the country of kings and queens, there is still something magical about them. I don’t know if it is because of the story that Mr. LoPresto once told, or because I want to make a tree house out of it. For those of you who do not know Mr. LoPresto- one of the coolest lecturers I have had. When he was a little boy sharing a bunk bed with his little brother, his little brother put his feet up onto to the bottom of the top bunk and was pushing against it when all of a sudden he pushed too hard and the top bunk came off the hinges so he was holding the bed up with just his feet as the bed was swaying side to side. Everytime, I get into that top bunk, my mind just keeps on thinking, how would I react if Sara was holding the bed with her feet? Would I be laughing in true Sophie style, or would I just think, “What on earth possessed Sara to put her feet on my bunk bed?” Anyway, to stop the rambling I will say that we are a great trio as we have developed a small little group with the three of us and a few other s from the program.
We have BU Sara, Loyola Sara, myself, Liza, Lizzie, Melisa, Tess, and Eva. Something about the Heathrow group that is just inseparable. Oh the magic of Terminal 5 Heathrow airport. Not only did most of us meet at JFK and spend like 4 hours chatting because BA was delayed at JFK but we also spent 3 hours at Heathrow chatting about all sorts. The Journey that started on Saturday 9th January and ended Sunday 10th January at 11pm ended up being a fantastic travel time. Though, one question came across me whilst taking 2 7 hour journeys… What are people doing in the airplane toilets that they take so long? Seriously, all you need to do is do your business, wash your hands, perhaps your face quickly and get out of there! But, who knows what people are actually doing in there- do not want to even think about it!
5 days into Orientation and we are all absolutely pooped. On the subject of poop... thankfully I have not yet gotten sick from any of the food so all please do knock on wood for me. Most people have not yet, though today we had our first cases of not feeling too well with a few members of the NYU group. Orientation has been a whirlwind- Ms. Tyra likes to run an army regimen where there is no time to stop only one thing after the next. But, that is not to say that we are not having fun. We enjoy the company of lovely Justice- Yep his name is Justice- please do ask him the story behind his name…but I won’t as he may take a couple hours. A simple question asking about his African Necklace ended up in an hour and half Fraternity talk- but the thing is… I left after an hour and half and people told me he kept on going. Oh and just so you guys know- he knows he is coming home because he is black, but has no idea really where his origins come from- but he is black so it is okay! Now, do not even get me started on Lil’ Hustler and Drama teacher…if you really want to know just let me know.
Meba Accra, and menom insuo daa. That is right- look at my Twi skills. Twi= Ghanian language. In the 1 hour lesson I have managed to learn: I go to Lego, I come to Accra, I eat bread everyday, What is your name, My name is, I eat a lot of _______, How are you, where do you come from. As I sat there learning I decided that there was no language class that I have enjoyed more than this. I was learning an African language, but then I stopped to think, when on earth will I use it in later years? I could just marry one of the many guys that ask to marry you that way I would always be able to use it. As the US embassy says, “Ladies, you will receive A LOT of them, and be warned a lot of them are asking only because they want that United States visa”- Oh great, so you saying these lads don’t like me? I actually thought that they truly wanted me after a minute of meeting me. But, unfortunately for me long distance does not work which if I may add- sucks; some may be fortunate enough to carry the courageous act of carrying on a long distance relationship, but I seem to run scared- but you know what I say- we will get back together, he just does not know that yet! But I digress. Citizens of America do not be worried, as the United States of America has your back… but for everyone else- we are screwed. Who would have thought that after paying and going through the process of getting a Green card the United States will not help you out when outside of the country- I thought with a Green Card you had all the same rights? This is where I say- sorry to say Schroeder, Anthony, and Loftus, - God Save the Queen! Another question I have always had, Americans constantly say, PROUD TO BE AMERICAN, and sing the national anthem to innocent British girls as they enter the doorway to enjoy a night of partying. But, they constantly say… “I AM A 16TH THIS, AN 8TH THIS, PART THIS” And Justice just confirmed this observation of so called national pride by asking the embassy speaker… “So, because of the situation with America and the rest of the world, should we just pretend to be from the UK or a different country and not be American?”
It is amazing how spoilt we are over in the western cultures. Do you know how long registration takes over here? Those that are taking classes at University of Ghana have taken 2 days now to register, and it’s taken a good 5 hours each day- and they said that they considered this pretty fast compared to usual. It amazes me the amount we take for granted. Today the IT person came into to talk to us- and I have legitimate problem where it says that I am connected to the internet but then it does not let me online. But people were complaining that we get kicked off the wireless, and that it is slow. Hello people, we are in a developing country where it is a luxury to have internet! The common everyday things that we use I am using in a very different light. By the way… does anyone know how to take apart a Mac laptop put in all new parts and it will work all the same? Well, can I just say I am fully going to take an offer from a 22 year old girl who thinks that she can get all the computer parts here in Accra!

For now, this is where I end- But don’t you worry I will be back as I have much more to say about this 1st week in Ghana. Seems that I can take a few events and just completely elaborate on the events- Benjamin and Jack would completely agree as they both told me this past summer that I write essays to them not messages! But hopefully you all seem to sort of understand the great events that have been happening on this side of the pond.

Medasee.