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!