Our orientation continued last week mostly with lectures from professors, heads of departments and local reverends. Topics ranged from the history of Ghana to gender roles and inequalities to linguistics ("flirt" here means "have an affair with" and there are about a million other differences in Ghanain English), music, Twi (pronounced Tchwee a language spoken by almost everybody in the nation. Some think it should replace English as the national language), and descriptions of various festivals and celebrations (which include funerals). We have, however, partaken in some exciting outside activities. 
For example, to the left you will see all of us piled in a van to tour Accra. We looked at the different neighborhoods and identified a we (pronounced like "whey") which is a collection of families who gather at celebrations or to make political decisions. This was amid the modern era Koala supermarket, but they say Ghana is the land of contradictions. There were also some fantastic store names of a religious nature such as "Almighty God Loves You Hair Salon". We saw landmarks such as Independence Square, Kwameh Nkrumah's masuoleum and the Seat of the Government Castle. There are not more pictures because 1) I'm a bad photographer and 2) Pictures of "government property" are forbidden. We were pulled over by a military man in full uniform because one of the girls took a digital picture of the castle. He had a large gun and almost confiscated her camera, but was satisfied when she deleted the picture. Nuts!
For example, to the left you will see all of us piled in a van to tour Accra. We looked at the different neighborhoods and identified a we (pronounced like "whey") which is a collection of families who gather at celebrations or to make political decisions. This was amid the modern era Koala supermarket, but they say Ghana is the land of contradictions. There were also some fantastic store names of a religious nature such as "Almighty God Loves You Hair Salon". We saw landmarks such as Independence Square, Kwameh Nkrumah's masuoleum and the Seat of the Government Castle. There are not more pictures because 1) I'm a bad photographer and 2) Pictures of "government property" are forbidden. We were pulled over by a military man in full uniform because one of the girls took a digital picture of the castle. He had a large gun and almost confiscated her camera, but was satisfied when she deleted the picture. Nuts!
Our other excursion was to Makola Market. It was insane. It's a huge outdoor market that spans several city blocks with crowds of people and a string of 20 white kids in single file line looking around timidly. I only made two purchases- the bucket which I am attempting lamely to balance on my head on the left (for storing water, doing laundry and for the imminent bucket showers when the water shuts off) and some clothespins. Quite an experience in a big group, but I would feel comfortable going back with one other person. Now I just have to work on my feeble bargaining skills
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