Adalai

Adalai is one of our front desk clerks. She is the happiest person I have ever met. She always has a warm smile for everyone and looks out for the students here making sure they don't hook up with unsavory characters. Many days when I drag myself to the dorm, hot and tired, she has greeted me with a warm smile and a friendly wave.

Leticia, Martin and Me

Well, the dorms are almost empty and quiet. Most of the International students have gone home and are travelling. The Ghanaian students are taking finals and studying away. It feels weird that it is Christmas and it is so hot. All around holiday music is playing and decorations are up. Christmas Ghana style.

I'm leaving for vacation on Monday and really getting excited. Of course, packing is always a problem for me. Egypt is cool at this of year and I read very conservative so I'm trying to figure out what clothes to take. Will return to Ghana on January 3, 2011.

Wishing everyone a wonderful, peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Adwoa.

Four Months

Yesterday made four months since we've here. I had my last final and glad that it is over. I did pretty good, but I could have done better. Next semester I intend to do much better. Those students who are here for one semester are leaving next week. Will be sad to see some of them that I've made friends leave. Many parents and relatives are here visting their children that are here studying. The noise levels have gone up quite a bit in the dorm now that classes are over. The Ghanaian students don't take their exams until later in the month, so many are busy studying away. The international students will be all finished with exams by the end of this week allowing for student to catch flights home. I am so glad that I am staying. I would be very sad to be leaving now.

I've had my days when I wanted to leave and even spoke to my CSU coordinator about it. Of course, she made me rethink that decision and I know that I would regret it to leave now. So, with all this time off until classes start on January 26, 2011, I'm doing some Summer cleaning (it is Summer here), and getting ready for my trip to Egypt. I will be leaving on December 20th and I will be there until January 3, 2011. I will then return to Ghana for one week and then going on a road trip being sponsored by the French Club to Burkina Faso/Senegal/Mali and the Gambia. Also during my time off, intend to get to know Ghana a little better and take a couple of weekend trips to different parts of the country.

I'm becoming more confident at getting around the city alone and love taking tro tro around the city and taking in the sights and sounds of Africa. Feel like Ghana is home and while walking back to my dorm yesterday after exams, I saw a wedding reception that was being held on campus. When I looked at the people and how beautiful they looked in their traditional African clothes and all the culture that exists here, I get sad thinking about leaving this place. A part of me is eager to get back and get on with my life back in the States and then another bigger part of me wants the carefree, incredibly beautiful life that I have here. I've been entertaining the thought more and more of possibly coming back one day to live here. Not sure what the future holds for me so I'm trying to live more in the moment and just enjoy the place I'm in right now.