So, my accommodations are not exactly everything I’d hoped. Between the oversized bed that leaves no room for a desk, the intermittent water supply, and the large larvae found in my food last night (my first such experience in Ghana, and not something I think most people would find acceptable here either), I’m looking into other options.

I haven’t really gotten very far with any research yet… I’m mostly just trying to get settled in and figure out the basics of where and how I’m living. However, clvrmnky and I went on a nice walk yesterday (although in the middle of it we reflected that the 11-1pm block was probably the most insane time to attempt such a thing) and the little town we are in is actually quite nice. My cousin has suggested that staying in the city proper would be quite problematic in terms of water availability and cost, so we are in a small town that was once separate from Kumasi but is now pretty much a part of it. It’s about 4km from the city center, and one can get a taxi for about $4, or cheaper if you get a shared taxi or tro-tro.

Although it’s been over a year since my language course, I’m finding that I remember more than I thought, and some vocabulary is coming back to me spontaneously (although not usually when I’m reaching for it). I can sometimes catch the jist of conversations, or at least when they are doing the “how are you/where are you/goodbye” parts of the conversations. And I got it the other day when someone told me that I should take her home with me (to Canada, not to the place I’m staying). I have high hopes that I can get up to speed quickly with some lessons, although it does seem daunting whenever people move off the subjects with which I have some familiarity.

I haven’t really sent any emails yet… I’m still sorting a bunch of stuff out, but once I have an address and a phone number, I’ll send out an email to anyone who is interested.

Filed under: Ghana Travel