Wrap it up like kenkey in plantain leaves

WLI

Ariel and I took a day trip to Wli waterfalls, West Africa's highest falls. It was really beautiful and fun because it was sunday so we were the only ones there (everyone goes to church). It's about an hour hike to the falls and our tour guide showed us cocoa trees and I got to each from a cocoa pod! It does not taste like nutella as I had originally hoped...more like a tropical fruit. The waterfall itself comes out of a cliff that is COVERED in bats. At first they look like part of the rock, and then you realize that the rock is made of thousands and thousands of bats. Getting to Wli falls involved a 4 hour trotro ride each way. I don't think I have adequately explained trotro rides, so I will do so:

TROTROS

Trotros are similar to a subway station in their function, but do you abide by any similar rules of personal space. A trotro is a 16 person van that has a few extra seats shoved into it and is forced to fit about 25 passengers. To get a trotro, you go to a huuuge station filled with them where the mates (driver's assistants) yell their destination at you as you walk through the main rows of vans. When you finally find your trotro, you climb into the hot interior and sit down next to a hot, smelly Ghanaian. The trotros don't leave the station until they are COMpleTely full (4 babies, half a zoo, and maybe some duct tape for good measure). Due to the romantic atmosphere, at least two Ghanaians usually ask to marry you. After waiting for 1/2 hour in the 90 degree weather, squished between 24 other passengers, you finally begin the trip. Since some of the seats were added to the vans and aren't actually meant to be there, each turn that the van takes tips over the seats and you fall onto your neighbor, whose baby is already screaming because you are white. Then, instead of heading towards your destination, the trotro decides to go get gas.

END OF THE PROGRAM

I finished my final project and my presentation went pretty well. Some students did really cool things such as learning African drum communication (you can speak to people using different beats) and learning how to live on $1 a week. We went to Accra a day before our flight and I met an artist who taught me how to repaint some traditional masks that I bought. I watched people constructing drums and wood carvings for a few hours. Also, I spent an afternoon in a batik studio and learned how to make the fabric!

The last night, our group had a final dinner together at a restuarant near the airport before our flight. We all ended up getting the chicken, because of course Ghanaian menus are just formalities and they usually don't have what the menu says they do. Then, as a last gift from Ghana, the food poisoning set in. Thankfully, I didn't get mine until I landed at Heathrow.

Buuut, now I feel MUCH better! And I am currently in PARIS with Ariel visiting Chantel!!!! It is beautiful here and I am busting out my french and eating many croissants. I will officially be home May 22nd :)

While Ghana was an extremely difficult experience, I am very glad that I did it. I don't think there is any way to adequately convey everything from my past 3 1/2 months, but hopefully you have a taste of it. When I get home I will put up manyyyy pictures and will post the link on this page and on facebook. Thanks for reading!