end of round one...difficult start, strong finish

The first semester is over and the last of the students on my program left last night. I am the only one staying for two semesters. I have to admit that is was a bit hard to see them go, eventhough I was not close with most of them. Most of all I think I was a bit jealous listening to them talking about all the things they were planning to do when they got back to the US. I am over that now and really can't think of anything I really want from the US, honestly. I am just glad that I made a point to make friends with people off campus, otherwise I think I would not be in very good shape right now.

I have been busy this week thinking about cleaning. I think I will actually begin today since I have to move out of the hostel on Friday. I am also planning a trip with my friend Drew. We leave on Friday morning and we will be going to northern Ghana, meeting up with Peace Corps friends of ours along the way. Both of us are pretty strapped for cash, so we plan to keep it cheap. We will be taking tro tros the whoel way and I foresee a meltdown on my part. Tro tros can be trying (overcrowded, hot, unreliable and sometimes occupied by one or two goats or chickens) but they are the cheapest way to travel. You can get a few hundred miles for less than 3 dollars. We will also be eating cheaply, trying to keep the meals down to less than 50 cents per meal. We will be heading to Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa (were will will spend Christmas with some Peace Corps people and then making a trip to a hippo sanctuary for a canoe trip), then to Mole National Park where I hope to see some elephants. For New Year's we will be heading to Green Turtle Lodge in Busua for a beach party with more Peace Corps people. I will be sleeping on the beach while there.

I have been really bad about taking pictures, but hope to change that soon. When I do have new pics I will be sure to post them here.

I was a little worried about finding a place to live for next semester since I won't get my housing stipend until Mid January, but I lucked out again and have been offered another house sitting gig. Awesome place and the guy insists that I have the cook cook for me. I won't argue this time. I went there last night for dinner and had lobster. The guy is from Brazil, so the cook makes mainly Brazilian food. I can handle that.

Other than all that, I have been eating better and gaining some weight, but if anyone out there has size 28 shorts/pants send them my way. I am looking like a clown with my oversized pants. I am also glad that I did not return to the US early. By the way thanks for the emails of support during that time.

On a scary note...a friend of mine got a really bad case of malaria, developed pnemonia and is now on life support here in Ghana. They want to airlift him to France, but can't until his condition improves. Personally, I think that he should be taken to South Africa where they have more experience treating tropical diseases. He was taking his malaria meds regularly, but did not seem to make a difference.

At any rate, I probably not have much access to email or phone while on this trip up north, but will be giving some contact information out to my travel partner Drew in case anything goes wrong...not that I expect it to.

Check back here for updates in Mid January. Until then, Happy Holidays everyone!!!! I will be thinking of you all while I am at the beach enjoying 90 degree weather.