Ete Sen!

Ete Sen! And hello from Ghana, Africa! I made it safely last Thursday and finally made my way to an Internet cafe.

First things first. A lot of you had inquired about my address while in Ghana and I just received it today, so here it is (you're going to need a HUGE shipping label because it's LONG):

Carly Brantmeyer
University of Ghana
c/o International Programs Office
International Student Housing II
Room #127
Legon, Accra, Ghana

Things are going well here so far, just a lot of adjustments. We have running water (although no hot water), as well as electricity (lights), but of course no A/C. The food is...well, a little tough to adjust to and to find (as we're still navigating our way around campus), but the people are so wonderful and friendly.

So far, we have been attending various orientations and have been registering for classes (and I thought Chapel Hill's registration process was difficult), which will probably take us the rest of the week.

McKenzie (Miller) and I are roomies and every night we have managed to find a different critter either in or outside of our room. First night, Lizzy the Lizard made herself at home in our room. Second night, a huge rat scurried outside of our room. Third morning, I woke up to McKenzie screaming, "No, no, ahhh, the ANTS got my O's"--her favorite cereal. Out of all of the crazy critters, we're just trying to stay away from the mosquitoes, as the majority of them carry Malaria. But no worries, every night our group reminds one another to take Malarone and gives the bug-spray down.

Time is running out on my Internet cafe computer, so I will be sure to send more updates soon.

Xoxo, Carly ;)

"BE THE CHANGE." (Thanks Collin.)

From my first journal entry...8*8*08
What a remarkable day I will always remember: my first day in Africa. It seems so surreal. Like a friend who had been here (in Ghana) once told me, "It's nothing I ever imagined, but more than anything I could have imagined." It's not so much that the geography is absolutely beautiful right here in Accra, where we're staying/going to school, but more than anything, it is the beauty in the people that is like nothing I have ever experienced.

Getting there (a few highlights):
-Kenz getting pushed through the Chicago airport in a wheelchair by "Abrodesiak", because our bags were too heavy to carry and because we pulled the "McKenzie's sick" card
-Flying over the Sahara desert-one of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen
-Kenz opening the overhead bin and a COMPAQ laptop almost falling on an African (grouchy) grandma's head
-Being one of about 5 Americans on the British Airways plane to Ghana
-"Seeing" London
-Staring at the most beautiful 2-year-old boy on the flight from London to Ghana

We made it to Ghana around 9:15 pm after traveling for about 24 hours-Kenz was off-and-on absolutely SICK (which we later found out was because she had and still has SHAGELLA).

Saying goodbyes: Saying goodbye back home was very difficult to do, especially saying goodbye to my family. But saying goodbye just means saying hello to a new, beautiful journey. I really cannot wait. The way of life is just a lot different here (more on that in a second and in entries to come). Goodbyes, however, have been eased with the "Joy Mail" Maddie sent with me. She painted an envelope so beautifully that said "Joy Mail...and a Lot of Love" and that is exactly what it is. It has already been a light and a rock for me here.

This afternoon, I had a lot of quiet time to relax and to be surrounded by the sweet whispering words of those I love back home, through the "Joy Mail" letters. Maddie packed 62 letters for me, from friends, family, and lots written by her. I am so thankful for each and every person that tucked away love in an envelope for me. Thank you.

First impressions/expectations: Let's start with expectations. First off, I had no idea what the water/electricity/housing situation would look like. I was hesitant about the food. I have never been out of the country for such a long period of time so I feared/fear homesickness. I fear malaria. I thought it would be so much hotter---it's beautiful 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit everyday. Good news is we have running water---it's just FREEEEZING cold and smells like rotten eggs (which is going to take a LONG getting use to). The food has pretty much been eggs, beans, rice, sketchy chicken and meat, etc. (Tonight at dinner our leader, Gabriel/Gabby said he had never heard of "frozen food" when we asked him about it--wow, how crazy. Fast food nation: America.)

We were immediately welcomed with "Akwaaba", which means "welcome" in Twi. Everyone always seems to have a huge smile on their face and everyone is so eager to help at any time.

God is good. God is so evident all around us here. He has already worked in many ways. Signs around town and campus remind me constantly of His presence-"Jesus is the Only Answer, God's Grace Rubberstamp, God is Great Furniture, Psalm 91, Eye Adom (by His grace), Trust Towers, The Lord is my Shepherd, By His Grace, Glorious Inn, By His Grace Frozen Food," etc. In my Joy mail, I have received many Bible verses that my friends believed would help me when I feel lonely.

I know He has the mightiest plans in-store for Kenz and me. I really hope we can get involved in a ministry, orphanage, and/or school--SOON. I am so excited about the abundance of quiet/reflection time here. Being distant from fast-paced America is going to be a nice break and a means to gain understanding and enlightenment on various situations. God is everywhere.

From my devotion tonight: Luke 1:37-"For NOTHING is impossible with God.", Luke 1:45-"Blessed is (s)he who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished."

From journal entry on August 9th, 2008:

--"When white and black piano keys are played together, they produce a beautiful sound"-just as white and black are meant to live together in harmony. Wisdom, our tour guide for today's Accra city tour, quoted the piano quote while we toured the capital city. It is so beautiful and so true. He also said...

--"When you educate a man, you educate an individual. But when you educate a woman, you educate a family, a nation." Again, how true.

--Gasoline in Accra is 1.180 per liter, so about $5.60/gallon. So, America officially has nothing to gripe about.

--Cocoa is one of Ghana's largest exports (Wisdom told us the story of how the cocoa bean was first planted here--something about how a man from the Highlands ate the beans and defecated them...yum!)

--Today was the first day I tried fufu and Red-Red; when you wash your hand before eating, you only wash the right hand and only with your right hand (at the dinner table).

This afternoon I spent some time reading Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis. Here are a few things I took away from it...
--Being GENEROUS is a better way to live. Forgiving people is a better way to live. Having compassion is a better way to live. Pursuing peace is a better way to live. Listening to the wisdom of others is a better way to live. Being honest with people is a better way to live. This is how Jesus lived. Walking with Jesus is a better way to live, thus we should purposefully try to live the way of Jesus.
--Doubts and questions are okay, because if we knew everything...we'd be God.
--Questions are rooted in humility and there is always more to know
--God IS love
--Great quote--"God, I can't believe I get to live this life."

Journal entry from August 10, 2008

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same." -Nelson Mandela

"One person CAN make a difference. One person can impact the WORLD." (About Nelson Mandela in his cell in Robben Island--artwork, from Maddie)

I am so blessed. I am in Ghana. In Africa. Wow. I love this place, the people, the weather, the friendliness, the new experiences.

I am so blessed to have so many loved ones back home. To be loved, I feel blessed. I'm sitting here reading more Joy Mail, and I am just inspired and overwhelmed by everyone's words and their thoughtfulness. So inspiring.

Today we experienced African "high-life" for the first time. None of us were quite sure what the translated to here in Ghana, but we quickly found out. High-life meant music, food, dancing, open-air, a Swahili-speaking band, etc.

Today we also discovered the (night) market for the first time. Egg sandwiches might be the staple of my diet here in Ghana.

Tonight we played "Kemps" (I was a first-timer)--fun game. We also played tongues, which is a variation of spoons, but slightly less discrete.

I am so excited to be here. So anxious to travel, to get unpacked (instead of living out of our suitcases while we wait on permanent room assignments).

One last list...things I'd love to do in Africa (until I come up with even more):
--Dance in the street of a village in traditional dress-to African music/drums/chants/etc.
--Arrange a few homestays (the Lampteys, Sims, Ghanaian families, etc.)
--Volunteer consistently with an orphanage
--Tutor at a school
--Share Project Polaroid with kids
--Take photos of a bride/groom/wedding
--Try goat meat
--Get custom clothes made
--Learn more Twi and Swahili
--Travel. A lot. Go to Togo, Cape Coast, Kumasi, Green Turtle Sea Cove, Medina Market, possibly South Africa.
--Make arts/crafts with an African woman
--Follow a photographer around Ghana for the day

Devotion for the day: John 11:41: "Is the Lord Jesus Chris being abundantly satisfied by your life?"---what an amazing "life song" question to consider.