African Union Day

Happy African Union Day! Because it is a school holiday, I decided to take the day off. Most people do not do anything to celebrate the day. It is like Presidents Day or Columbus Day-schools are off but nothing special occurs. I did some laundry and had a Twi lesson from Eric. It is a very simple language to learn, but the sounds, letters, and words are so foreign, it makes it difficult to remember. My favorite aspect of communication in Ghana is the emotion behind the words. They are lively speakers. They also use noises to communicate points, like clicking their mouth and shaking their head to say no. My favorite expression is "ay" which is used to convey shock. I use it so frequently that it is now a joke. Angie, Douglas, and Eric get a kick out of it.

For the weekend, Jen and I are going to Kumasi and Cape Coast. We have to get up early for the long trip into Kumasi...a tro-tro to Circle and a bus to Kumasi. In Kumasi, we are going to see the Asantahene's Palace, the Cultural Center, and the Okomfo Anokye Sword. In Cape Coast, we are going to see Kakum National Park, Hans Cottage, and the different forts and castles in the area. Hopefully I will have some nice pictures to upload on Monday. I am halfway through my time here. I feel more at home than I did last week, but I still am looking forward to going home.