Field Trippin'

Graffiti photoshoot with Nicholas & Elizabeth!

Yesterday, the kids got to go on their first field trip with us for a free screening of Despicable Me 2 that was generously shown just to us by the local movie theater at the mall. The mall was pretty much like any other theater that I’ve been to, complete with stadium seating and a slightly overpriced popcorn stand. For some of the kids, it was their first trip to a movie theater, so I imagine the big screen left quite the impression. They also clapped whenever the good guys came out on top over the bad guys. While the theater experience itself was exciting, there was one other place that was really exciting for the kids… the bathroom.

Bathrooms are one of the things on my list that I will really appreciate when I get back to the States. There are some typical restrooms and there are also some places that are literally just floors. The floors are the most common/only bathrooms the kids use, so they were having a field day in these public ones (and the attendant wasn’t too happy). They were amazed at the liquid soap and how the hand dryer worked. As I was sitting trying to pay attention to the movie, I was wondering what these kids could have possible drank to run to the loo so many times because the slushie machine was out of ice (I tried to buy one and was kindly declined). Apparently, they just wanted to keep washing and drying their hands.

Reservoir at our house

Besides the foods I am adjusting to (I have somehow managed to consume 9 hamburgers and 13 servings of French fries thus far), there are many other things that have taken some time to get used to. Public works in most of the city don't seem to be at the top of the government's to-do list (but things are starting to change), so things like running water are hard to come by. At the school, there is a reservoir of water, about 5 feet or so tall, to use very sparingly for washing dishes (there is even a key!). Drinking bagged water was easy to get used to, and even easier knowing that you can buy a huge bag for less than $1 USD that will last 8 people an entire day.



One thing about living in Accra is the constant noise of roosters, honking cars, and music. But not even one hour outside of the city is an awesome botanical garden. For under $6 round trip, another volunteer and I, Lauren, ventured out to Aburi for a day. Within a few minutes, we were up in the mountains that overlooked the metropolis. And when we finally reached the gardens, there was peace and quiet... the only noise you could hear was that of crickets and me sipping my Coca-Cola. There was also a lot of cool fauna and this HUGE tree that is the park's oldest (at 150 years old).

The Aburi Botanical Gardens is probably the closest that you will get to a park in this city... unlike most of the other places I have been to, there is no "central park" to go to and the greenery can only been seen on the ride on the way out. And the peace & quiet was great preparation for the final week (!) of the Akosia project.