Cape Coast and back again

So we had malaria when the original trip was planned, and by saying we I mean someone in the group had it so the decision was made to delay. It turned out that several others got it during the would be vacation so I guess it was a good plan. The worst part was that my research got delayed more. ITs awkward to explain that you were supposed to be gone, but aren't and that hopefully you will leave in a few days, but I guess that's how it goes. I wasn't feeling well early this past week- backache and nausea so they took me to the clinic also, but I didn't get tested for malaria, they just gave me pills to take- they weren't labeled and some smelled and tasted really funny. I think I felt more sick and dizzy being on them than not, but I took a full course for malaria treatment and then contracted a small case afterwards. I stuck it out and travelled while being sick( I'm not planning on missing any other weekends). The saddest part was I missed the kakum national park trip. I did get to go to the coast and we saw the castle. They were beautiful and historical, just the way I like it. The roads weren't too bad either, going there we ran into a monsoon and I'm pretty sure we passed by some flooded shops along the road. No one got sunburned because it was cloudy that is another highlight and now we are back in kumasi and on our way home to Wiamoase. All in all I'd say the trip was a success, and that Ghana is beautiful.

Language Barriers

Sorry, its been a few weeks since my last post, the internet wasn't working for a while. No worries though, all is well. I have exciting news for anyone who has not heard yet... My brother came home from his mission in Japan this week and my other brother got his mission call to Asencion, Paraguay North this week too!!
David, who was in Japan sounded like a 1st generation Japanese American kid- his laugh and accent were pretty thick, it was awesome. It seems like this last week was a party everyday. Thursday I called home, Friday was our group member Amy's birthday and today found out I have official IRB approval... Just in time for us to go on our midsemester retreat to Cape Coast.
Last night, we had the biggest storm since I've been here in Ghana- it poured for 5 hours at least, and it is still drizzling today. It makes me miss home where we have rains like that for days during the hurricane season. I made a little taste of home for the birthday party- salsa! It tasted pretty normal too. The funny part was that as I was preparing it Grace and Christiana were watching it and were so confused as to what I was doing- I didn't use oil and I added fruit to the cooked vegetables. I got them to try a bit, but they hardly touched it. I think it was too foreign for them. Don't worry it wasn't the spice that was the problem, I think it had to do with the temperature (we chilled it) and the fruit mixed in. Well we gobbled it all up with some homemade chips and crackers.
So I had a few unexpected things happen that were not expected. So I have been joking all along about the number of marriage proposals I receive daily, and I think for the most part the boys and men that ask are only joking and do not take offense when I laugh and walk away. Well, I had a strange visitor over the past few days who found out where I live and has come to the house at least 3 times that I know about. I suppose I met him in town once and talked to him shortly and left. The first time he came I was sitting inside the courtyard and he spoke with Grace and Christiana asking if he could see me and I was there and had no idea who he was. he kept trying to take my hand and I would take it back again and then I told him I was busy and he offered to help and then I told him he should leave (no worries, I was trying to be polite) he kept mumbling about chemistry between us and how he prayed that I would say yes and I said oh don't do that ( I was almost prepared to teach him a gospel principle about agency). then I said here I will show you the door and led him back to the gate and asked him to leave, then he tried to hug me and I was about to pull out my self defense moves, but luckily he got the picture that I wanted him to leave, whew! I came back around the corner and of course Grace and Christiana were trying hard not to laugh, and then the other students came out of their rooms to laugh also. Apparently they were listening to the entire conversation and were thinking about coming to rescue me, of course no one actually did. I thought that would be the end of it, but oh no... later that evening I was on my way to an appointment and he came trotting up the path and I was very cold and he said something about me not having a phone so he would buy me one. I said no, please go away, I am not interested. Grace was with me also and she told him in Twi that if he did not stop bothering me she would call the police. Apparently he did not get the picture then either because he came back yesterday all dressed up. I saw him and told him to go away adn I dashed up the stairs into Grace and Christiana's house and hid out there until he was gone. Apparently the subtle hints don't work on Ghanaian men either. I thought I was direct, but maybe men hear what they want to hear.

pseudonym... yeah i proly spelled it wrong

So last week I came early to check the email and such.. the day after I was in kumasi the entire city was on fire... well not everything, but everything important- the market and tro-tro station were engulfed. I felt bad b/c the other students didn't get to email back. The worst part is that it was over a million dollars lost in merchandise- people's lives were lost- everything they own and all hopes of being able to get ahead in life. They don't have insurance here for the stores and products they sell, so it seems awful. The fire raged for 3 days, becuase people kept going back in to grab their things and the streets that should have brought firefighting persons were blcked by the vendors and shops... it could have been controlled better if things were more organized. It seems like things are back to normal again today. I think the givernment is going to be able to put more order into rebuilding everything- people have learned their lessons the hard way and will hopefully be more willing to follow safety codes.
So on to less depressing things- I started my research this week... i think I ahve approval althought I have heard the final word, but I have permission from everyone else. but i am 4 weeks behind, so I need to hustle to get caught up. I go to the schools almost daily and i sit under a big tree and talk to the teachers who are out of class and occasionally speak to the students who are a part of my research. They are very happy to have an American friend who comes to their house, so it makes my life much easier. I just hope that they are okay with me doing the research and not just because they want me to come over. However it gets done... I guess I am okay with that.
So I realized this week that the entire town of wiamoase knows me as "shining"... Like that is my name to them- everywhere I go they ask what is your name, I reply shannon and then they say ah shining, shining star. I sometimes try to correct them,but it doesn't do anything. So I am a shining star :D I think it goes back to the school just outside of town whose mascot is the Shining Star. At least it is not because I am so white that I blind them.... for those of you who are laughing now I will have you know I am well on my way to becoming Obibini, which means black. I have a beautiful farmer's tan and a thiving z on my feet from my shoes. Yeah Its pretty much amazing.