Finally Writing!
Trip Start
Jan 12, 2009
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4
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Trip End
May 17, 2009
Legon, Ghana
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Things here are going much better. I found out that the anti-malarial
drug I was taking, Larium, was giving me nasty mental side-effects
(sorry for not listening to your warning, Lindsay!) and that was the
main cause of my severe depression and negative attitude for the first
few weeks I was here. Now I am taking a different preventative and am
feeling much much better mentally and emotionally. It is still
difficult to be so far away, and without a whole lot of communication
with you at home. But I'm nearly half way done with this adventure,
and so the bright side is knowing I do get to come home and sleep in my
comfortable bed and see or talk to all of you once again.
I went back to the Volta region, to the Tafiti Monkey Sanctuary, about
three weeks ago and it was wonderful. The monkeys were super cute, and
so happy to be running around in the trees and on the ground. There
were a ton of them, everywhere, and I was in heaven! I managed to
separate myself from the group to go sit on a bench in the woods.
After a few minutes the monkeys got used to my being there and began to
play with each other, and some were brave and approached me, though I
never tried to touch them. I took so many pictures and a short video
that I can't wait to share with you. This little adventure nearly got
me left behind, though, as the bus left without me and started down the
road when someone finally noticed I wasn't there (there were over 37 of
us crammed into a bus built for 20, which is another story in itself!)
and came back for me. I wouldn't have minded much, though, if they had
just kept going. I do plan to go back on the weekend of March 21, and
will be staying the night there.
I also spent Sunday on Labadi beach, where I collected shells, looked
for sand dollars, and got really really sunburned! There was a soccer
game going on on the beach, and lots of guys riding horses (you could
ride too, for a fee) and the Rastas were walking around, singing and
playing their drums. There was also a drum and dance group making the
rounds. It was a great, relaxing time. Later that night we met up at
a new friend's house, where we cooked enchilada's and made guacamole
and hummus...the tex-mex was from my friend Linda and the Hummus from
our new Lebanese friends (who owned the house). We were so happy to be
in air conditioning and with real furniture! We watched a movie and
stayed the night there in comfort. They were even kind enough to pay
for our cab ride home. The group was friendly, and open to great
conversation. We are going to get together again this Sunday to make
fajitas, and I'm so excited for familiar food once again.
I will finally be making my trip to Mole National Park this coming
Thursday (March 12) with my Wildlife Management class. We'll be
working in the park for two days, and I couldn't be more excited.
There are elephants, baboons, warthogs, antelope, crocodiles, and many
other exciting African animals to see. The best part is that they are
FREE animals...no cages, no boundaries. It will be an experience for
sure. After that is the Volta trip, and then my friends and I are
planning an adventure starting at Lake Volta, taking a ferry up the
lake for 6 hours, then trekking the rest of the way to Mole to spend a
few relaxing days with the animals. Then driving back, stopping at a
hippo sanctuary, then Kumasi for the markets, and maybe Cape Coast for
some nicer shells from the beach. That is the trip I'm most looking
forward to, so I will be sure to fill everyone in as the plans solidify.
I miss you all, so much more than I can express with words. And I am
learning a lot about how much you all mean to me, and what you mean to
me. Goodbye, for now!
