A Challenging Start = A Wonderful Outcome?

And so it began...

Jenn and I had diligently worked to get everything packed up and in the suitcases multiple times. We arrive at the airport and I am confident that my luggage weight overage would just be a minor setback to be remedied by a simple fee. Needless to say I was wrong. The bag weighed 80lbs and we had to frantically move stuff into both carry on bags and forego bringing a few things to ensure I was not charged the obscene amount of $400 for the bag.

Trying to get out of Dulles was a headache two with a delayed flight, overnight hotel stay, angry passengers, and rude United staff members. But we finally made it.

Adam and I got all checked into the hotel and met Antonia. We then headed to Auntie Dinah's Koffee Cafe for a wonderful lunch of chinese food followed by a visit to University of Ghana Legon to pick up our book of Twi. We intended to then moved forward with our exploration of the city but felt ourselves fading fast...so back to the hotel for a nap we went. After our five hour slumber we arose and went out for dinner at Chez Afrique and heard a local band play. Then we went to Chase in La Bonne for a DJ spinning American Rap/Hip Hop classics, Hookah, and Malibu with Pineapple!

George, the driver, and I took Adam and Antonia to the Cultural Center and they had an hour drum lesson from one of the shopkeepers. It was very cool to see them connecting. Quen arrived later on Saturday and he quickly added to our circle a new friend he met at the chicken place in the mall, May-Lin, and she joined us for our night out. She is from Canada here on internship for 6 months. We met Abigail out for pizza in Osu and then went to hear jazz at +233 Jazz Club. It was amazing. We ended our night dancing at a local dance club and having the best time.

Now I know this all seems like party time, but give us a break....we just arrived. Tomorrow marks the beginning of our mission. The reason we have traveled the miles across the ocean and sacrificed time with our families to experience life differently. I have missed the pace of life in Ghana. The rhythm in which time moves. You can see it when you look at the wind blow or in the interactions of two people on the street. It is refreshing. I am not speculating it does not exists around me in the states but I often keep myself too busy to notice. This I will seek to change while I am here.

I will try to keep the posts a mix of entertaining, insightful, and reflective...but most of all they will be personal.

Thank you all for being on this journey with me.
Lots of love,

me