DO NOT URINATE HERE!

Day 3 in Accra and I feel almost able to give you my first impressions. I was worried about it just being another crowded city with people hissing to get your attention, taxis and trotros (large vans used as buses) driving so close to pedestrians on the side of the road that you're lucky if the side mirror is the only thing to hit you on its way by. I feared the endless calls of Abruuni (not sure how you spell it, but it means "white person") and "come into my shop". There's the issue of garbage lining the side of the road, as people toss their empty bags of water and food to the side of the road. That's the other issue, we drink water from 500 mL bags and when you order food on the street it comes in a bag! I also wondered about a city that feels the need to put up large signs instructing people not to urinate in certain areas.

Seriously, I was dodging a taxi the other day and nearly crashed into a man who was peeing on the corner.

Beyond all that, Accra could really grow on someone. I am continually amazed at the way that women and young girls carry massive amounts on their head while walking with the utmost of grace, aside from the hissing, people are very willing to help out if they can. With one sentence of "please, can you tell me how to get here" you are given direction and sometimes shown the way. If you're reading this, you're more than likely a friend who is all too aware of how clumsy I am and can understand how I managed to fall up the stairs at a market only to be caught and rescued by a few Ghanaians...NOT EVEN MY OWN GROUP! haha! As a total side note, I'm told by groupmates who watch the Amazing Race, that this particular market we visited (Kaneshie Market) was featured on the Amazing Race :). There there's those food bags, I don't know what it is but sometimes there's also something strangely satisfying and enjoyable about biting off a small corner and eating out of a bag.

Today, we went down to the beach and the 'cultural centre'. The cultural centre is basically a large market selling things that are part of the Ghanaian culture. Immediately upon arriving at the centre, we were greeted by some young fellows who were drum makers and each of us were ushered into a different drum shop, where we were given some lessons about drum making and then actual drum lessons. We told them up front that we weren't there to buy drums and had not money/intention of buying anything and the response (still not sure I believe it) was "its not about the money, let's have some fun!".

While sitting in the drum shop, we heard a lot of screams and saw a bunch of people take off running. I knew immediately what was happening and felt a little sick. My first version of Ghana's mob justice. I had seen/heard of this one other time while travelling, but have heard that its much more common in Ghana. Basically, if someone robs you and you yell or make some kind of fuss, the crowd around you will chase after this thief and beat him/her, sometimes until bloody or even to death. It can be for taking something as simple as a notebook, or something much more serious - it doesn't really matter. The guys in the drum shop were making some interesting comments and justifications for why people do it, saying that "we don't want tourists to go home and say that Ghana is full of thieves".

Those would be my first impressions of Accra, crowded, noisy, joyful, exuberant, friendly and vast.

We are leaving Accra for Nkawkaw tomorrow to begin our language lessons and following that, our village stays with our families. Its nice to know that while I'm excited to get out of the city and start learning the language that will certainly help me upon my return to Accra, I'm still excited to come back to this city and to begin exploring things that I only caught glimpses of over the past few days.

The sad news is that mangoes aren't in season for another month or so. I am anxiously awaiting my first bite! The bananas, pineapples and oranges are flavourful enough to hold me over until then :).

I will be able to write before heading to my village, so until then!

Get Me Some Mangoooooes!!

After two sleepless flights, a few movies and episodes of tv shows later, we arrived in Accra!!
Our flight landed earlier than expected. When the plane door opened and I walked out, the hot, humid air hit me like a slap in the face! It was wonderful!
My first thought upon landing?

Where are the Mangoooooes???

Some friends picked us up at the airport and it was glorious to have some familiar faces waiting for us.

Piling into two taxis, we headed out to our hostel where we'll stay for the next few days.

Arriving at night is always a bit more of a challenge and we didn't really do much last night other than grab a small bite to eat, unpack and take a quick walk around with the promise of new day just a sleep away.

Today was a day of 'the necessities': cashing traveller's cheques, checking in with the Canadian High commission, getting some kind of sense of the city and figuring out how/where to get food and manoeuvre the trotro (bus) system.

Accra, at first impression seems to be a place that I think I will really come to appreciate. We stand out for sure, walking down the street in single file like we're herded sheep. Hopefully that will only last a short time longer until we're more acquainted with the city and all its happenings.

Food report:
So far so good! Deliciously spicy! About to get some dinner now!

Nothing really to update, as it has only been 48 hours since leaving Canada!

We are leaving on Thursday for our villages, so I will hopefully be able to give a better idea of what's going on/impressions then!

Cheers

PS. Please email me your mailing addresses should you want some snail mail!

Join the Movement!

October. This year, October means a couple of things for me. One of them is that my flight to Ghana is a mere four days away. The other is that GuluWalk activities are in full swing right now!

There are still walks happening in many cities around the world so I encourage you to check out www.guluwalk.com to find a walk or event close to you.

For those in the Toronto area, there are lots of cool events that will be happening over the next couple of weeks, so you should definitely check it out.

I also invite you to take a peek at these mini documentaries to give you a sense of what life in Gulu is like today.

http://www.guluwalk.com/footsteps/

This will be my first year not directly involved in the planning and undertaking of a GuluWalk event, so I'm relying on you all to take in one for me!

Join the movement!

Jumping in my Shoes of Peace!

With less than a week before boarding the plane for my next adventure, I sit here and go over my mental list of what needs to get done, packed, who needs to be seen and the ever important question of 'to blog or not to blog'. After much deliberation, blogging it is, then.

During our last week of prep month, while we were staying at a lovely cottage in Southampton, I was inspired with the blog name. A groupmate was recounting a dream she had and mentioned that her defense against her predator in this dream was to put on her 'Armour of God'. But, in the heat of the moment in the dream, all she could remember were her 'shoes of peace'. While this explanation does not do justice to the hilarity of the actual moment, it did lead me to think about what it means to wear 'shoes of peace'. To me, and for purposes of my upcoming trip to Ghana, shoes of peace are an important thing to be both packed and worn.

For those who are unfamiliar with this trip, allow me to explain. The first part of my stay in Ghana will be with a host family in the cocoa region, where I will will live simply and in solidarity with my family and the cocoa farmers in the region. Following my village stay, I will then make the move to the capital, Accra to work with the Centre for Popular Education on Human Rights Ghana (CEPHERG).

Part of our preparation as a group was to create a group myth, which sparked debates on proper punctuation, that's how seriously we took it. Ultimately, we decided on a group myth of jump.

I won't get into the details of the reasons, other than to sum it up that jumping - to us - symbolizes immersing ourselves fully, enjoying our time and being present, and remembering to jump again.

Shoes of peace, jumping and Ghana. Here we go. Here I go. What does it mean to jump into something? What does it mean to walk with shoes of peace? It means change. Change of environment, of people, culture, everything. It means that I will walk humbly, openly and with acceptance. It also means excitement! Looking back on the times I've jumped; whether it be in a puddle, into a lake, off a cliff, its exciting.

So, once again, I'm packing my privilege in my backpack, wearing my shoes of peace and ready to jump into a new adventure.