8:57 pm

So, its the night before I leave for Ghana, West Africa for Winter Session 2009. Toothbrush is packed, grandparents called, classes for Spring '09 picked (ahh!), calling card purchased, Malaria pills started (though the hallucinations have not yet), and now my Study Abroad blog begins.

There are four things that I would like to mention before this blog officially starts:

ONE. It should be noted that Ghana, in WEST AFRICA, is not to be confused with Guyana, South America, which is where the Bruynings live, and where I was this past summer working in an orphanage.

TWO. I'm sure that each of my entries will be lodged with tidbits and facts about Ghana's politics, culture, and history. Right now though, instead of boring you terribly with a complete history, and bunch of facts, I think I'll just refer you to the CIA's world factbook regarding Ghana at the following website if you are by chance interested:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html

I will briefly mention however, that Ghana was a very instrumental and active country in the slave trade. The first slave trading post of Sub-Saharan Africa was established in Elmina, Ghana in 1492 by the Portuguese. By the 18th century Ghana shipped tens of thousands of Africans a year through "the door of no return" to slave ships. Finally, as a result of anti-slavery activism led by people and politicians such as William Wilberforce, the slave trade from Africa was banned by Britain on March 25, 1807. This is one aspect of Ghana's history that interests me greatly, and that I will probably talk about a lot in the future.

THREE. It should also be noted that this trip is unlike any other trip abroad I've taken. Usually my trips are mission based, service trips during which furthering God's Kingdom and "caring for widows and orphans" in churches, orphanages, homeless shelters, rehabs, etc are the the sole purpose. Typically these trips involve bathing in buckets, using un-flushable toilets, gastrointestinal infections, occasional rats and maggots, and mosquito nets. While I'm sure that this trip will breed some of its own experiences previously un-experienced by my naive American self, I will be accomodated as a student tourist. And, while some of my time there will be spent on Habitat for Humanity projects and teaching in local schools, my purpose in Ghana involves my personal and educational furtherment.

FOUR. My final thought "of note" is simply a thought of my own pride. It considers the style of writing this blog will adopt. Typically my writing is revised, edited, and very specifically and carefully worded. It is also very typical that my writing takes looooong periods of time to be finished, precisely the way I want it, and perfectly reflecting my thoughts, concerns, and arguments. Honestly, I don't ever consider my work officially finished. Anyway, that being said, as someone who would like to think of herself as a writer, I apologize in advance for grammatical errors, run-on sentences, and statements that, quite frankly, make no sense whatsoever. I'll be updating in internet cafes whenever time and circumstance permit, so my entries will be rough. Basically, and I admit, arrogantly- this is not my typical modus operandi, a.k.a MO.

So, everything I have just said assumes that people will even take interest in this simple blog following my trip in Ghana. I'll talk about daily activities, conversations, people, class, missing home, missing people, new friends, and things that maybe only I will find even remotely interesting. So sit back, and enjoy... or endure (hehe)... my journey through Ghana, West Africa in Winter 2009...