Connections

I have made a lot of awesome connections with people while I have been on this trip. Sadly I have not had the same luck with our internet connection on campus. On a daily basis at least one of the dorms does not have water or power so you can only imagine what the internet is like. I have been journaling like crazy and I hope to dedicate some more time to updating everyone on my goals for the rest of my trip and what I have accomplished.

In the meantime I love and miss you all!

Pictures!!!

ISEP group picture outside the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial

Rhiannon and I

(Sooo excited to be in Accra)

The first big storm
(My roommates sang "The Thunder Rolls" as the storm came in)

University Library and Gardens

Two Theresa's doing Laundry for the first time in buckets

(There are 3 Theresa's studying abroad through ISEP and I have met 2 more...crazy!)

The view from my room during the sunset

Yes, that is a giant ant hill behind me!

Volunteer Work

While I am studying abroad I have the opportunity to volunteer. I wanted to focus on environmental (clean water) education and helping drill wells for rural towns. Tomorrow I will have my first chance to start some of the projects I have been dreaming of doing for the past year. A group of us will be heading to a Liberian Refugee Camp, about a two hour Tro-Tro ride from the University. Water is such a vital part of life and so many people get sick because of unclean drinking water. I hope to decrease the numbers during my lifetime and tomorrow will be the first day of a long battle to accomplish that. I will keep everyone informed of ways you can help the cause.

~Theresa

The Handshake

In Ghana you greet everyone you see. This has become one of my favorite things to do. I would be miserable if I didn't enjoy it because I shake people's hands about 25-50 times a day, no joke. It starts with the regular hand shake and then moves into something spectacular. You slide your hand across theirs and as you get to their finger tips you both snap your fingers against each other. This move is also done if you agree with someone, if you just feel the need to show your friendship or if you are departing from the conversation. Sometimes the snap fails and normally disappointment instantly goes across the other person's face. I have become pretty good at it and I get mad when someone doesn't try to snap my fingers because they think I am a silly Obruni (white girl).

While I was signing up for my classes the head of the Geology Department greeted me and I snapped his fingers. He told me he can feel that I am already a true Ghanian!! What a great day!

"Should I Stand In The Bucket?"

WHERE TO START?

We have lost power, water and wait for it...


they evacuated my building last night at 4:00 am. The security guards kept screaming everyone out there has been an earthquake!!!! DON'T WORRY! It was a Country-wide prank. News spread fast over the radio and the whole country was freaking out thinking there was an earthquake in Accra. Silly Ghanians :)

I had my first bucket shower today. It felt amazing to just be clean after three days of intense heat and no power. I am now a proud owner of a hand woven fan. Having no air conditioning this summer, in NC, was definitely not enough training for the heavy humid heat of equatorial Ghana!

LOVE AND THE HOPE FOR ALL TO HAVE WATER,

Theresa aka "Yaa" (Thursday Born)

Did I really just take a plane to Africa?

I am here safe in Legon, Ghana. I arrived late Monday evening to a hostel with no running water. I have been eating nothing but rice and I feel like a real contestant on survivor, except there are no fun games to play, no million dollars, and no one to vote me off so I can go home to Josh and my puppy. This will be a short post just to let the world know I am here and I am reaching within myself to figure out what drove me to make this journey. I know my foundation is sound but questions I never asked myself about who I truely am have been popping up by the millions since I arrived.

On a weird side not I saw a giant monkey chilling on a leash in someone's yard, during my walk yesterday. Hugs to everyone who is reading and I hope to have some good stories and pictures for you soon

Love from the other side of the globe,

Theresa

Hello World!

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!"
-Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I have spent my time trying to transform myself into a peaceful being and along the way I derailed. I fell down a hole of lies where not offending anyone was my way to inner peace. I thought if everyone likes me, they will listen to what I have to say, and we can change the world together. Sunshine, glitter, unicorns, holding hands and all the delusions that go along with it. . . (What was I thinking?) The product was a sad, quiet and unsure Theresa. Luckily after many tries my best friend Roxanne was able to catch my lost soul and bring me back to my senses. I am still Theresa. I still want to promote a peaceful way of living. I am just a little more fearless, active, bold, and sassy about it! Sooo. . .

HELLO WORLD! My name is Theresa and I am here to love everything about you with an enduring passion. It will probably be a messy adventure full of skinned knees and awkward moments, but I am ready. First stop:

GHANA

My adventure begins in the beautiful nation of Ghana, and when I say beautiful I mean BEAUTIFUL! I hope to be able to do this country justice, through my posts, during the five months that I will be living there. I have been giving myself a crash course in Ghanian culture by reading every travel journal I can get my hands on. I am looking forward to the tight knit family structure, the dancing and of course a good game of futball. I have one week until I leave and I am scurrying around finalizing my packing and giving my last hugs before I go. This week will be a tour of all my favorite things before I depart on a 24 hour flight to Accra, Ghana.


Stay Tuned For Life's Next Commercial Break
~Tree

**This commercial brought to you by the undying support of Josh "pish posh" Athey and my fabulous family.