cape coast, we love you.

I feel like so much has happened since the last time I blogged but I’ll try to keep this too the point and not write a novel. The end of my first work week was very busy, I’m now treated as any other staff member at the hospital and have daily duties to attend to. We tried to switch our schedules around so this might be my last week in the children’s ward before going to the emergency room but my every day tasks this week will be; doing laundry, changing bed sheets, getting prescriptions filled, administering medications through IVs, tending to patients during my shift (if their having problems with their IV lines or their babies wont stop crying and they can’t figure out why), and doing rounds with the doctor. Rounds are still, and probably always will be, my favorite part of the day. It takes 2-3 hours since we have so many patients and he really loves to teach me about the diseases and share his knowledge of general medicine. He usually gives me homework with a bunch of things to look up and learn about before returning to work the next day. I’m now best friends with the workers in the pharmacy even though they like to make fun of me at all times, so it’s a nice place to go when I need a comedic break. Working at the hospital is already a thousand times harder, busier, hotter, and physically draining than I thought but my body is slowly getting adjusted so I should be a pro by the end of this week.

This weekend we returned to the ProWorld bunkhouse which is in Cape Coast where the rest of the Americans have their homestays and project sites. After arriving here we felt like we were in paradise since they have a fully stocked kitchen and pillows to sleep with. Friday started bright and early and we went to Kakum National Park where we walked across tiny bridges suspended over huge forests. It was amazing and beautiful and we got to hike a little bit before and after as well. After the walk we went to Han’s cottage a restaurant/hotel/crocodile sanctuary so we got to see a lady feed a crocodile and then had lunch on the water.  We pretty much all made the mistake of getting burgers and fries since we starve most of the week and were really craving American food. Unfortunately, our bodies already forgot what it’s like to eat food like that and none of us felt very well for the rest of the day. In the late afternoon we got Ghanaian drumming and dancing lessons, which was quite interesting to watch. We were all much better at drumming than dancing but acquired a huge crowd of little children around us who pointed and laughed the ENTIRE time.

On Saturday we were taken to Assin Mansu and Cape Coast Castle, two huge landmarks in the history of slave trading that I wish more people knew about and came to visit. Black men and women were chosen from the Northern region and forced to walk 400 miles to Assin Mansu where they were hardly fed but supposed to “bulk up” before actually being sold. The masters here would make them do cruel activities like giving them a rock and telling them they couldn’t eat unless they dug a hole in it with the finger (which is clearly a mean way to let them know they’ll be starving that night). After having their “last bath” at Assin Mansu the slaves walked 36 miles to Cape Coast Castle where they were thrown in dungeons until countries bought them. We got to walk in the dungeons and tunnels where the slaves we chained and had to eat, sleep, deficate and vomit before they were sold. Needless to say, most died before even making it out. Brazil bought 1/3 of the slaves that came through Cape Coast Castle and North and South American took the second third. These tours were mind-blowing to all of us and the castle is definitely a sight to see.

Now it’s Sunday and Ashley, Christina, Skyler and I have to roadtrip back to Asikuma around 3:30 pm. We’re trying to wait as long as possible because this bunkhouse and city of Cape Coast are way more exciting than the isolated village that hosts a long week of work ahead. The four of us have already become best friends so it’s reallyyyyy nice to have people to laugh and hangout with during our crazy weeks. (in the picture below, christinas to the left, ashleys on right and skylers closest to the camera, and yes, that's a traditional african scarf that our leader put on my head) 

Just some more fun facts: at my homestay I now co-habitate with tiny ants, we share a bed and room so I should probably just start naming them at this point. Our homestay family wants to learn how to play beer pong, so we’re in the process of gathering the proper materials. We also learned that if you get hit by a car (even just a tap) while using a crosswalk, which they refer to as “zebra crossing”, the government will give you a lot of money. So naturally, the four of us are planning on distracting the locals and shoving Skyler into the street to get some extra cash.

…..totally kidding, not funny.

talk to you again soon!