Hey all!

OK so I think I emailed you last on Thursday. Sorry if I make lots of mistakes but internet is slow and this silly keyboard is really stiff and I can't be bothered to go back and correct it all.

So on Friday we went out and about in Accra. We visited the main market, the first president's tomb and also the cultural market (more for tourists!). The main market was amazing. The new president had been sworn in like the day before (we saw it all on tv) and everyone was celebrating. It was really funny because the kept pointing at his picture and then saying Obama... like he was their Barack Obama. His name is John Atta Mills and they seem very upbeat about the future with him. Let's hope it works out!

Th market was so colourful and vibrant.. so much to see as soon as we stepped of the bus. People selling all sorts. Tomatoes, Carrots, Spices, dried fish, Pigs feet (Ew!) and these little tiny crabs which were still alive and crawling in the dishes. All the men and women here have that wonderful skill of being able to balance their shopping and just about anything else on their heads as they walk. I remember there was one woman walking around with a whole bowl of sanitary towels on her head... carefully arranged for sale. haha! Can you imagine that in the UK?

At one point we got caught up in the celebrations... lots of dancing just blocking the small passage which you walked through the market on.. Jon got grabbed by some woman and made to dance... so funny! They seem to realise that I have limits as I am Muslim... . There seems to be a balance here unlike any other place I have ever been, no conflict between Christian or Muslim... they live together, respect each other and still have the same African traditions.

The Cultural Market was fun... met a couple of muslim guys one with my favourite name "Haroon". Everyone is very friendly but they do hassle you a bit too much. At the same time you meet some really interesting people. Even the children are overflowing with confidence. At the hostel in the evening, this little boy called Isaac just came up, sat himself down and started chatting to us. A couple of us were trying to write a song about Ghana and Lara had her guitar out and he started lecturing us on what to sing about and how NOT to use the drums etc. He was such a little man. so funny an bossy and full of fun. He started teaching them drumming and then dance... but couldnt stop cracking up so they didn't get very far and then he got completely obsessed with Emma's voice recorder on her phone! so funny!

Anyway so on Saturday morning we left for Kasapin, our village. Had to be up at 5 am as the journey took all day. We traveled up to Kumasi which took like 5 hours and then to Kasapin frm there... travelling all day in a little bus but was quite fun. Had good company and the countryside was vry interesting. As soon as you left the atrocious traffic, dust and hustle of Accra, the countryside is lush and green.

Quite unexpected! We got to Kasapin around 5pm had dinner, hung around. Met a shed load of kids... they are so friendly. Took lots of pictures... I swear some of them look like an advert for the UN or something... so typical but that is exactly what it is like!

Yesterday we went into the village to see the site on which we will be building... we will have to clear the ground first! Machetes here we come! lol.

We also went into a church service. Very different from the UK... lots of dancng and clapping an singing... crazy fun! It was hilarious when the others joined in but they were all so friendly and welcoming.

Went to visit the chief and the elders in the palace later... we were so unsure of ourselves. All these traditions to go through and follow and we had no idea what we were doing! They had to give us drink and food... but we had just had lunch and it was so difficult to down. You had to finish it according to tradition.

The palace is actually only small but it was interesting to see and see them in the traditional clothes and ask about the culture etc.

There is a small mosque here too and the police chief is a Muslim! Anyway, today we are out and about the region visiting different towns and getting to know the place.

From sunny Ghana!
Lamees