We got the the JFK airport with a 5 hour layover. Rachel and I booked it over to the gate where out connecting flight would be taking off and waited for the group so we can have them watch ourstuff. As soon as they got there they were trying to pull us into a game of Scrabble....that was our cue
It was about a 12 hour flight from NYC to Accra. I boarded to plane eager to switch seats and sit next to Rachel, there was no way I was going 12 hours sitting next to 'crazy eyes','glasses','hippy chick','weed head','New Hampshire',or 'biggie' with out a comedic buffer. I mean I didnt know that much about any of them to not like them so to me they were just random people I was stuck with...
'New Hampshire' gave me attitude as soon as I opened my mouth....I knew there might be a clash with this one....aw man, I was not trying to deal with American bullshit in -AFRICA-..
"Im not switching unless I get a window seat" she said all snoody
-New flash dummy- NONE of us have window seats....I had an isle seat the closest thing she was going to get to a window seat. but i guess she was still too good for that so i kept it moving.
.....
Fresh off the plane::
Prof. Panford had to sort out some luggage issues.
A group of school kid were on a field trip visiting the airport and instead of taking pictures of
them from the bus like the rest of the group, I decided to hop out and go talk to them. After all, this was not a trip to the zoo, you dont just point and laugh waiting for them to do tricks.
I introduces my self to their teacher and
borrowed a soccer ball from 'hippie chick'. Every one worked up the nerve to get off the bus aswell but instead of interacting they
stood there and order the kids to sing and dance for them....
1/2 hour later we hit the road. Accra didnt really seem like it was meant to be a city. Lots of low rise building and dirt road high ways. People lining the streets walking through traffic selling anything they could carry on their heads. National geographic or CNN would have you thing African countries are all still underdeveloped but on the way to the hotel we passed car dealerships, five star hotels, banks, government buildings, bars, clubs, restaurant, and stopped at the mall to
change money. It was just like the upper class malls at home. All designer stuff, too expensive for my taste so I went to the groshiery store and grabbed some rice water and a bottle of 8pm Rum.
......
Next stop was the Cristal Plam hotel.
I didnt sleep that whole slight plus the night before I was up late so I was ready to pass out.
It didnt seem like anyone took these things into account cause we were put right back on the bus after an awkward orientation given to us by our TA Ebenezer; every one was half sleep through the whole thing..
Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum::
Kwame Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana, this was a memorial park where his final remands were placed aswell as those of his Egyptian wife Fathia Nkrumah.
The park was beautiful, lots of cultural elements were tossed in so you get a distinctly African feel. All of the architecture was by Africans. On the other side of the mausoleum were fountains with sculptures of African dancers that used to play instruments in the celebration welcoming kings and chiefs.
The Nkrumah museum itself was kind eerie. I know he was a big guy and all, I mean people loved him and he did a hell of alot for his country but these people kept EVERYTHING. Stuff he himself probably didnt even care that much about; old coats, college dorm furniture...
Once we left the museum. We stopped to eat at a this gas station franchise with Pizza of all things on the menu. The group was already starting to form clicks so I had no problem leaving to explore what was around the town. I bought so local fruits and vegetables that I could cut up with my pocket knife and eat when ever. I ended up buying a Black Star jersey too.
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