GHANA!

Yesterday, we reached GHANA! We are docked in an industrial port which is actually located in TEMA not too far from Accra. We arrived a little late and were told that clearing the ship which means going through passports, papers, etc would take 2-3hrs. Well, thankfully it only took 1 hour and I waited in line for EVER to board the bus for my FDP for my International Law class called United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees Office and Camp. First, we left the city of TEMA and headed to Accra to go to the UNHCR office. There we met with representative of UNHCR and they gave us a great presentation on Refugees. Basically it was an outline of how you become a refugee, what are your rights and obligations, and the international and domestic laws that apply. When the presentation concluded we got back on the bus and ate our boxed lunches provided by Semester At Sea. This consisted of a sandwich, Capri sun, apple, some sort of cake, and chicken legs. Probably the most random lunch I have ever eaten. Guess who ate the apple? I was starving what can I say. Haha I did however sit there with my oh so sharp (NOT) plastic knife and cut the skin off.  But, don’t I still get credit because I ate it?? We arrived a little late to the Refugee Camp and a couple of things we were suppose to see were closed. Anyway, we were briefed by the Manager of the Camp, Educational Managers, among other important figures that work the Refugee Camp. Then, we went and took a tour of the grounds. We stopped by the doctors office, the welfare office, the police station, the disabled school, passed many elementary schools, and finally came to stop at the top of the hill at an elementary school. We were asked to donate books if we had them, but all I had was stickers. Every kid loves stickers don’t they? After everyone was done donating a classmate and I were approached by a man who helped run the school. He asked to exchange information because he said he needed help here at the Refugee Camp. He had over 900 orphans and limited supplies. So, hopefully I will be in touch with him and can help send stuff from the US to this particular Refugee Camp in Ghana. The atmosphere at the camp made us feel a little uncomfortable. After all we are entering their territory. Some waved at us and smiled, while others just had a blank stare. After the tour we got back on the bus and we were running late because of the late start. We were scheduled to be back at 5pm. It took us over 2 and a half hours of traffic through Accra to get back to TEMA. I was exhausted, dehydrated, and hungry. I ate dinner, went to my room, turned on the TV and got into bed.
Today, I had to be up at 6am. Since, I went to bed so early last night I slept like crap. We were told to be down in the dining room at 630 and to the buses by 7am. We were being served a “continental breakfast” which consisted of croissants, croissants, and guess what? MORE CROISSANTS! It was basically like eating thin air and since the line was out the door you could only get as much as you could carry. I made my way toward to the bus and it wasn’t until then I found out how long the bus ride was to the place we were going. Apparently, people were saying it was a 4 ½ hour ride to the Waterfalls. We all couldn’t believe it, no way it could be true. We asked the tour guide and he confirmed. Everyone was pretty angry when we left. The ride was absolutely horrible. I don’t think I have or will ever in my entire lifetime go over that many speed bumps in my life. I am so happy I do not get motion sickness because I would have gotten sick within the first 5 minutes. It eventually gave me an awful headache. We asked to have a bathroom stop along the way and well that was an hour into the trip. I didn’t have to go then so I didn’t and not until we start moving do I find out when the next stop is. The tour guide told a girl that we are “bushing it.” Translation: pop a squat behind a bush when the bus pulls over. I did not partake in this either.  But, what was I to expect this is AFRICA I am in. Well, after 4 and a half hours we arrive at the welcome center of the Waterfalls. Starving as ever they tell us “hopefully” lunch will be here AFTER you do you hour and a half hike. Great, just what we wanted to hear. So, we go through this trail in which we cross 9 bridges and the same river each time.  It was actually really cool. The trail was really interesting it was home to Cocoa, Plantains, and Coffee Beans. After the hike we finally reached the waterfall. It was absolutely gorgeous. The water was spraying all over the place though. Many people went swimming; I opted out because I didn’t want to be wet the rest of the day. We spent about a half hour there and then made the same hike back. Thankfully, our lunch was waiting for us on the bus. Now, it was 2pm and we haven’t eaten or had anything to drink really since 630am. So, we engulfed out sandwiches. I think I ate chicken or so that’s what the label told me. After lunch on the bus we were headed to see the Sacred Monkeys. Reminder our trip time to be back is 5pm. So we drive another hour and a half to see the monkeys. We learned a lot about how they became sacred and took some trails through the woods. The highlight of my day was when we were each given a banana and were told we could feed the monkeys. At first we were all a little confused. Then, the guide showed us. All you had to do was squat down and these little monkeys would come over to you and peel the banana in your hand and pull a chunk of it off with their little hands and run away. You would have multiple ones at the same time. It was such an awesome experience. We boarded the bus after and were on our way back to TEMA to the ship. We arrived 3 hours late and thank god they kept the food open for us. I had some dinner and now I am relaxing for the rest of the night. I figured instead of one long post I’ll share my first two days with you and then my last two days. Don’t get me wrong I loved the sights we got to see, but the bus ride was just awful. All in all I can say it was worth it.