a change for the better

As I said in the previous entry, I will soon be moving out of my wonderful host family's home, to a new home in a new part of Accra.

Here's the short version of why:
1. There is a guy from Sierra Leone who is a homeless drug addict, and who loiters around the trotro station in my area.
2. Consequently, that is the station that I have to use twice a day to get anywhere, whether to my internship, out, or anywhere.
4. He has been harrassing me verbally and, on one occasion, has assaulted me physically.
5. I reported it to the local police and they did nothing.

Unfortunately, because of some complications, my program was not able to move me out as quickly as they had planned. Unluckily for me, I encountered the guy on four separate occasions this past week. I did, however, finally move out of my host family's place yesterday. I am sad to leave them, but more than anything else I am relieved to be away from the guy.

I don't want everyone to think that this experience is representative of my time in Ghana--it's a great country. This guy isn't even a Ghanaian (he's from Sierra Leone). There are always bad nuts in the jar. And, now I will have the opportunity to experience another host family. This family is Ewe (my last family was Akan), which means they are from a different ethnic group in Ghana. They speak Twi (the language I have studied), Ewe, and English.

Alright, that's all for now...on Sunday I am going to the shelter, and after that I'm on spring break for two weeks...and during the second week, here I come Italy!!

moving out...

Well, my friends, I am officially moving out of my home tomorrow afternoon. This week I had to tell my family (ghanaian family) that I would be moving out, and I almost broke down when I did it. It was just me and Pastor sitting in the TV room, and we were both in a good mood and talking like normal. A silence came in the conversation, and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer, so I just breached the topic. He knew from my program staff already that they were looking for a place for me, but I was the one who had to tell him the official "I'll be moving out on Sunday." When he started to talk, his voice caught ever so slightly in his throat, and that's when I felt my own throat getting tight with emotion. He said that he is really sad to see me go, and that their home is still my home, so anytime I want to come over I am welcome.

To make things even harder, the next evening I was in the kitchen with my host mother, and the moving out topic came up. As we started talking about it, I realized that Pastor hadn't yet told her that I was moving out this Sunday...so I had to have that whole conversation for a second time. She too was saying how much they will miss me, and that it is still my home. Man, I really am going to miss living with them.

Other than that the only other update is that I officially have a plane ticket to Italy. I am planning to visit a friend, Caroline, who is studying there. We will spend time in both Italy and Switzerland. And let me tell you, I am SO FREAKING excited for the food there. Most of you know that I have a keen taste for Italian dishes...and to get the authentic Italian food will be next to paradise.

And Nana Yaw is doing well. I know I haven't mentioned him in a while, but he has become a large part of my daily life here since I started dating him last year. I've been learning a lot more about Ghanaian culture through him, which is great. But mostly, he's great to be around, because he is one of those human beings who is so full of happiness, energy, and wisdom that I walk away from every interaction with him feeling like I am lucky to know such a person.

I hope that you are all doing well. I love getting all your emails! I miss you all and can't wait to be back in May!

p.s. The entry before this has mysteriously disappeared...it had more updates on why exactly I am moving out...hopefully it can be recovered.