African Cowboy

Took this picture a few days ago. That's a real, live crocodile I'm touching in Cape Coast right next to where we eat our meals. There was a lot going through my head in this pic. I was really excited to touch a crocodile, but also freaking out because its a crocodile and everything in me tells me I'm an idiot for getting close to it. Totally worth it.

Ride 'em Cowboy

Off to Kumasi, the heart of Asante country.

Elmina Castle

Today we explored Elmina, site of the biggest slave castle in Ghana. Historical sites always interest me, but it was unnerving walking through the old, cramped dungeons where tens of thousands of Africans were captive for several months before they were taken away across the Atlantic into slavery. My experience here has added a new perspective to encounters at sites like this. Not only was I thinking about the terrible things that happened there, but what went on at this castle took Africa from Africans forever. There are a lot of descendants of slaves who struggle with not belonging anywhere, and that problem can be traced back to the beaches of Elmina a few hundred years ago.

Top of the Castle

Door of No Return

Enough with the heavy stuff. There were some great views of Elmina from the castle, and walking around the town was a tiring but good way to see some more great views of an African fishing village.

Elmina from a hill

Soccer game

Eating with Crocodiles

This really feels like summer vacation! Had a great meal prepared for me that WASN’T rice and beans, my room has its own private shower—and there are crocodiles in the lagoon twenty feet away.

We arrived at Han’s Cottage Botel in Cape Coast, about 150 miles due west of Accra. This is the start of our big stretch of time away from campus where we tour the country as a group.

We got more exposure to African wildlife than we have yet on this trip. This place is actually right on a lagoon. There are crocs (the sign says they’re “friendly”), weaver birds, cranes, and lots of night noises made by God knows what. It reminds me of an Africa I’ve seen before—and know I love.

I went to a Nature Reserve that had a canopy tour where we walked on wobbly wooden-plank bridges 40 meters in the air. It was so awesome. Hard to explain, so I’ll have to let the pictures do the rest.

40 meters in the air

Chill view

Don't slip!

Off tomorrow to Elmina castle!

Blog update: Pics of hanging with Rastas

Will's took some sweet pics of our friends Cujoe and Kofi playing music for us. Seriously, some of the coolest people I'll ever meet.

Whenever the want, they just pick up the drums and sing songs they've made up. Cujoe on the right sings the main line and Kofi and the left harmonizes.

These pictures were taken right after we had lunch together. Typical meal includes a healthy serving of beans, rice, and Cujoe telling a great story about why everyone needs to work together to make things work.

Thanks again to Will for the pictures!

The Rastas? They're Hiplife Stars

That's right. Kofi and Cujoe have found the time to become musicians on top of running an elementary school. That was the big event of my day--heading to a recording studio with these guys. I woke up early and headed back out to their school where Will and I were greeted by a bunch of the kids that we had met on Monday. Even on a Saturday, these kids came to the schoolhouse to hang out with their three teachers and have a nice hearty lunch of beans and rice. It's great to see that these guys have built something that has become such a staple of the community.

The idea was that we would get to their school, cook some food, then head to the recording studio, but Africa time kicked in again. We ended up kicking back and hanging out at their school from 11 am to 3 pm. We played drums, ate vegetable stew, told some stories--just relaxing. Even though it wasn't the most productive day, it was great to get out and spend the day with some people I got lucky enough to meet on a basketball court one day.

Link to Kofi and Cujoe during their "hiplife" days: http://bit.ly/jfdp4V
On the djembe drum. Music similar to what they play for us all the time: http://bit.ly/kNwkjP

Daily Chores

I settled into a rhythm this week. Here is a list of things I do most days:

·      Have an incredible egg and cheese sandwich from a lady with missing teeth at the nearby market for breakfast. The sandwich is a great dinner sometimes—like tonight, for instance.

·      Pop some pills.

·      Complain about my internet connection then do nothing all that important once it starts to work.

·      Take a nap.

·      Play basketball at the university courts. Regulars: Cavs jersey kid, Rasta guy, old man, Dr. J look-alike, pot belly man.

·      Drink a coke from a glass bottle. The low price and the glass make it taste extra good.

·      Play “Bounce” on my cell phone. Current level: 11.

·      Shower in the hottest water I can find.

·      Lose my breath for a few seconds because the hottest water I can find is always really cold.

·      Pretend my bed net gives me the canopy bed I’ve always dreamed of.

Most of these things are pretty great, but what makes days special are the things that happen in between. I'll do my best to let you know what those things are.

Jammin'

Check out this video recorded by my classmate during our trip to "Children of God" yesterday. The scene is the Rastafarian teachers dancing for the kids, and me rocking out on the drums.