So, the whole of this first week we have been in the Pink Hostel, doing orientation programs. We visited Makola Market, the biggest market in Accra, a couple days ago. It was so crowded that it was difficult to find places to step. People don’t even necessarily have stands where they set up their goods-they just lay them out on the sidewalk, so that you have to just about trip over them to get by. Also, people will just grab to get your attention as you’re walking by. I found that a little disconcerting-men grabbing my arm and holding me while my group walked ahead, unseeing…

Also, the day that we went to the market was HOT. I mean, we were walking around Accra for several hours, and let me tell you I probably lost a couple of pounds just from sweating. Also, I wore some shoes that gave me huge blisters on both of my feet. Well, more like raw spots than blisters.

Oh! And I have been eating Ghanaian dishes as much as possible. I have tried fufu-which is pounded plaintain and cassava, eaten in a soup with goat meat. You use your hands to eat it, so that takes some getting used to. I’ve tried at least one Ghanaian dish each day, and I have to say that the food is better than I expected.

The other piece of news is that today is the day that I move in with my host family! - Pastor Yamoah, Mrs. Florence Yamoah, Jemima (12), Emmanual (10), and Joseph (7). I’ve met them once already, but I’m a bit nervous of actually moving into their home. They live in an apartment in a town called Adenta-I guess you could call it a suburb of Accra. But don’t let the word "suburb" confuse you-it looks nothing like a suburb in the United States. Mostly dirt roads (African red dirt), very few trees, many gated homes (gates are very common here), some rubber trees and palm trees. Oh yes, and trash everywhere. There really are no trash cans anywhere-people just throw trash in the gutters or right onto the ground. But, my family’s apartment is really nice, and I’ll even have my own room…