#blue kitabu

Day 4

Adjusting to life in Asuansi was becoming easier as we all were settling into our new abode and spending more time with each other. Setting a routine for the remainder of our stay was also very helpful.

Our mornings consist of waking up at 6:30am doing morning chores including making breakfast for the group, washing dishes with buckets, washing clothes by hand, taking a bucket shower or morning exercise. Soon thereafter we leave around 8:30am to do our on site independent research.

As Colin exemplifies, we pack all necessities prior to departure ie shades, a hankerchief, sandals. (he's ready for anything)

We walk into town which is about a mile from where we stay and wait for a tro tro to scoop us up. Every village station has a Station Master who keeps tabs on how many tro tros pass throughout the day collecting tolls used for the betterment of the village. This man is quite the comedian, no one quite understands what he says but he always ends his sentences with a "yeeaaaaaaaaaaa man". 

Goats roam the streets like stray dogs. 

They are everywhereee.

After going to the District Offices to gain approval of our proposed research projects by the Deputy of Education, we headed back home. No driving rules are regulated in Ghana hence Meg and Jessie sharing the front seat of the taxi without a seatbelt, yes they are risk takers.

The weather is extremely fickle, you can never tell how the weather will play out despite the weather forecast. One minute you are blazing under the painful rays from the sun, and the next rain clouds appear from nowhere surprising one with a downpour. Luckily we were in our taxi when the rain started pounding down on the villages.

The tropical climate is perfect for the endless palm trees that bare delicious coconuts. I have yet to have one, but I definitely plan on it before I leave Ghana.

Little girl who was waiting at the tro tro stop.

This afternoon we were graced with the presence of a few local kids who attend the primary school near the farm. They gladly stuck around and exchanged a few words in fante (the native language) and our english.

Once everyone returns in the late afternoon we settle down before our group dinner where we discuss the events in our days followed by more house chores. 

The remainder of the night is left up to us. We either chit chat, play games, make friendship bracelets or if we are in the mood to be studious, we continue the progress of our research.

The purpose of my research seek the importance of art educational programs both within the education system ranging from primary school to advanced education as well as within the Ghanaian community. I want to see how an art education can help the developmental learning growth of a student and also see how it is implemented within the communities.

Day 3

The morning was quite eventful. Woke up to a man singing Hallelujah at the top of his lungs (there is a church on the farm just feet away from our dorms), brushed my teeth and found a frog above the sink and I took my first bucket shower (which was ice cold). Intense, yes, I know.

This is the tiny frog that startled me (take note of the water bag to the right, we brush our teeth with this water just to stay on the safe end of things avoiding any possibility of contracting an illness from the unclean water gathered in the water cisterns).

Our new home is set up in such a way where an outdoor hallway connects all our dorm rooms.

Breakfast. . . Nutella x Skippy Peanut Butter on fresh local bread which tastes just like Hawaiian bread.

Our location is near two schools, a lower primary and upper primary institute. School children walk passed our home with curious eyes and large smiles. Jonathan, being his social self, went right up and chatted with a group of kids. They were elated when he unveiled his camera.

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Home sweet home <3

Our day excursion composed of a group trip to Cape Coast, an hour from our village, Yamadom.

Cape Coast was booming with life. Small shacks lined up the main street that was with bustling the honking of taxis and tro tro’s (buses). Trinkets of all sorts were being marketed from native fabrics to fanta soda pop. 

A few of the fellows displaying their new purchases (Meg, Jonathan and Sydni)

While in Ghana I decided to purchase a cellular device to keep in touch with the parentals and the other fellows as we do our on-site research.

Bet you haven’t seen one of these in a long while. Old school Nokia >>>>>>> iPhone

A few native beverages. All the branding and product design is so bright and captivating (good sales tactic in my opinion)

Street food is EVERYWHERE. These are the notorious meat pies, they are said to be ridiculously tasty, but you never know if at the end of the day, your tummy will be extremely upset with your decision of consumption.

Julia waiting patiently for me to get my phone activated. Funny story, I received my first marriage proposal at this cell phone stand. Not only was I caught of guard, but I had no idea how to react. I just stuck out my left hand which bore a ring on my marriage finger and claimed that I have a boyfriend back at the homeland (close call ey?). Spontaneous marriage proposals are very common in Ghana, or so we’ve been warned. I don’t think my mother would be very happy with me if I came back to the States as a married woman :P

We had lunch at a quaint café called Baobob Café. The café gave donations to a non profit art educator/environmentally sustainable organization. 

Natalie and Jessie were quite ecstatic.

Red Red x Fried Plantains, a staple in Ghanaian cuisine.

Children walk the streets selling water bags and miscellaneous items to wandering customers. This little girl lingered around us fiddling with the decor.

Something that I picked up was all the fresh tropical fruit available, talk about YUMMY.

The heat is a little unbearable, shade is the haven as you can tell from the photo.

Speculating the architecture I noticed the plumbing systems. The main water valve is an open trench that runs on the main streets. People not only use this for plumbing but they also use it for everyday tasks such as bathing or drinking water.

What astounded the majority of us fellows was the ability that many people could balance buckets, bowls, platters, etc. on their heads. It looks impossible to do, but they walk around with such ease and poise.

Day 2

The overnight stay at the Rising Phoenix was an enjoyable one. Bonding with the other 6 fellows making friendship bracelets and sharing laughs was very pleasant. We all vibed very well together.  I was able to sleep to the sound of waves crashing onto the coastal rocks and wake up to a soothing and refreshing breeze.

  The ocean was literally outside our doorstep.

To start the day I had to make sure I kept myself hydrated.

  These are the water packs which is our source of fresh drinking water (yes they look very much like those milk packs from grade school)

  Pup next door. It was so mini!

We all met up to have breakfast together prior to our departure to Cape Coast and from there to Asuansi Farm Institute (our home to be for the next couple of weeks)

  Fellows, Jonathan and Sidni (both recent grads from USC)

My first breakfast, Plantain Pancakes (deeeerishous)

Fun story, the owner of The Rising Phoenix Hotel was a Cal grad back in the day (boo bears!) lived in London and he became a born again Christian, came to Ghana and made it his mission to open this hotel.

This village sat behind the hotel where hordes of impoverished people lived. They all filled the dirt area going about their daily routines with live chickens, dogs and goats roaming freely. They all sleep under this dilapidating warehouse that spans half the distance of a football field. While we were leaving, groups of people were trash picking through trash dumped by a garbage truck.

Our trip to Cape Coast began.

Let me introduce my roommate, Julia! 

Side note: driving is a nightmare, lanes basically don’t exist and the streets are ALWAYS congested. Angry, aggravated drivers + no traffic lights = not good.

The land is filled with rich soils, the clay like red color indicates the soil is extremely fertile as well as oxidized, as I learned in my Crisis of a Planet GE last semester (thanks Prof. Davis!)

Last year this village area was hit with a plague that affected the palm trees. Result: The tops of palm trees would fall off (the two to the left, case and point)

Once we arrived to cape coast we took a side street that would take us to the AFI (Asuansi Farm Institute. . another 40 mins drive) Almost immediately the hovering clouds showered us.

Julia and Lorenzo took one for the team and unloaded our luggages, they were both drenched from head to toe.

My new digs. Basically it is a simple square room with two beds and two windows on either end for cross ventilation and a high ceiling so the heat can rise up (although there is no escape for it). And plenty of little wandering critters.

We had a family style dinner our first night to break in our new dining room.  It was not only cozy but a nice way to bond together (and what better way to bond than to bond over food)

Our mentors on this trip, Megan and Lorenzo.

Vegetable curry and white rice! Most meals in Ghana are vegetarian on account that meat is not only a bit more scarce but also because it is quite expensive . . no t-bone steaks for us anytime soon ☹

Day 1

I left on my trip early in the morning. Packed some last minute items yet of course I forgot some essentials (a hat, a watch (this one I’m kicking myself in the butt for), an alarm clock, a USB . . . just to name a few of the quite many). Two bags to check in my trusty Jansport and a pillow for my carry on.

Lowkey, I feel like I am way underpacked but we’ll see once I touchdown in Accra.

My key to perfect sleep on the 10 hour flight into Accra.

On the car ride to LAX I passed a few familiar places. Wanted to take one last good look before my scenery changed.

Good ol’ USC.

Lookin’ good LA. . . a little smoggy but lookin’ good.

Finally got to the airport and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I was nervous to say the least. Didn’t really exchange many words with my family, although their presence was very comforting. I said my goodbyes to my family across the glass window at the security check point and called a few people while waiting to board my plane.

21 hours later and two motion sickness relief pills later. . .

I had finally crossed the Atlantic Sea into Accra!

luckily on my flight I had my own individual television screen where I watched Beauty and the Beast twice in a row (gotta love them Disney animated movies. . definitely made time fly by! (pun))

I stepped off the plan onto a descending staircase and almost immediately was consumed by the humidity. I guess traveling with leggings wasn’t such a bright idea. . 82 degrees with a 70% chance of showers, and the cloudy weather definitely insinuated the forecast was on point.

Going through security getting my passport, visa and bags checked were a breeze (luckily).

I didn’t take many photos on the way to our hotel where most of the Blue Kitabu fellows were staying at for the night just so I can fully take in the surroundings: the people, new scents, the architecture, etc.

Left and right people were selling trinkets from clothes hangers to lottery scratchers; people selling fresh coconut (uhm delicious!) as well as plantains by the bunch. Cars bustled on the main streets emitting smoke from their exhausts, the honking of taxi drivers and loud motors of small single riding motorcycles. The buildings were mainly made of concrete, with CMU (cast masonry unit basically blocks) facades and I noticed many figure heads of I’m assuming prominent figures in Ghanaian history were scattered here and there. The national theater hall was exceptionally nice to look at

Those walking around looked like they had a sense of where they needed to go and what they needed to accomplish.

Some women were even balancing large (and I mean LARGE) buckets filled with a multitude of miscellaneous items.

“Ghana has been suffering” was the chorus of a catchy jingle on our cab drivers radio. It would be interrupted by the radio host who was ranting on his beliefs about Accra.

Once we arrived to our hotel, which overlooks the waves of the Atlantic ocean crashing onto the coastal rocks, I met the other three fellows, one who I’d be rooming with during our stay here.

We taxied over to a restaurant that sold native foods including fufu (a compressed dough like food), guinea foul, and a lot of goat. I played it safe and stuck with fish (yeah, yeah I know how boringggg). The cuisine was extremely flavorful, with aromas that tickled your nose upon entry. Back at our hotel we are blessed to have electricity and running water and this magnificent item!

INTERNET!

Tomorrow we leave to Cape Coast and then to the Asusani Farm (our main place of stay) with two other fellows that land in Accra tonight.

A little less than 13 hours before my flight to D.C. which will connect to Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Alas, I finished packing my bags (for the most part).

Sure it may not seem like much, well, that is because my luggage weighs in at a whopping total of 60 lbs. Not too shabby. Majority of the weight came from the plethora of books (as seen below) I'll be transporting to the the Asuansi Library, a project with the goal of refurbishing the existing yet dilapidating library. The books range from subjects on agriculture to general education.   

Naturally I had to pack just enough and follow the given Blue Kitabu checklist, although I mostly sort of winged it. Overall, I feel like I did a decent job.

Just a sneak peak of the items I'll be taking.

The most important item in my luggage, this bad boy will help protect me from virtually any insect with the intentions of attacking my skin (suckers don't know what's coming for them!).

Needed to spray down all of my apparel, can't take any chances!

DEET, also another necessity to avoid getting pricked! This stuff you apply to your skin twice a day. My momma wasn't joking when she told me she'd got me covered for the next whole year!

Yummies that my daddy snuck into my duffle (he knows me all too well).

The folks back at the office where I intern were kind enough to let take all necessary items for my trip :)

And lastly after much stress and anxiety, I finally received my visa!