Ja Rule!

So this has been another awesome weekend and the perfect way to end my trip. We didnt end up making it to Ada Foah because we heard of a concert that was in Accra on Sunday. It ended up being a jam for the Ghana music awards and there was a bunch of Ghanaian rappers and then Ja Rule came. Romeo came down with us and Anna's best friend Salomen came also so it was really fun! The concert was on the beach and it was absolutely packed! We were pretty much the only Obruni's so we got alot of attention. First we were interviewed on the news and then when the concert started I met a guy who was the behind the scenes coordinator and he lifted us up over the fence so we were in the VIP section. Then we were dancing in front of the stage and Ja Rule asked us to come up so we ended up onstage dancing with Ja Rule haha. And then he decided to have like a little dance contest so it was anna and I and then two ghetto black girls haha. The crowd voted me to have to go first which was not cool haha. It was really fun though and we were all over the news and people were asking for out autographs and if they could have pictures with us haha. Pretty much a celebrity here now lol. People are always recognizing us on the street and they call us the Ja Rule girls now haha. Then we got invited back to the hotel for the meet and greet and after party but figured it might be sketchy so we went back to the VA house instead. Anna left today to go back to her placement so I had to say goodbye for the last time which sucks. I dont know how I am going to say goodbye to everyone! Especially Romeo! We are just in town now printing pictures off my camera for him. One 4x6 picture costs $1.50...ridiculous haha. But anyways I better get going. talk to you soon xoxo

Baby!!

Today was my last day of work and I finally got to see a baby delivery!!! It was really exciting and I am almost missed it but I ran in just in time to see the baby come out. I can't believe how fast it was! the lady was walking around 2 minutes earlier and then she was gone and the baby was out. It was really weird the woman didnt scream or groan or anything. After they took the baby out I helped wash it in a basin and then they just leave it to lay there for like half an hour while they go do god knows what. Then about 20 minutes later the midwife comes in to deliver the placenta which was the disgusting part haha. The midwife pushed down hard on the ladys stomach and started pulling on the umbilical cord that was hanging out and eventually the placenta came. Then she grabbed a pair of forceps and twisted it out for about 10 minutes. This was the part where I had to leave before I passed out haha. im really excited that i got to see a delivery though.
It was so sad packing up and leaving today. I cant believe my trip is almost over...i feel like I just got here! Plans have changed for me too. I am supposed to be going to ada foah but then we found out that the Ghana music awards are on sunday so we are going to stay in Accra. It sounds really fun though! It is a big beach party and they have tons of artist the most famouns being Ja Rule. Alot of the volunteers are at the house right now so it is awesome that we get to spend some time with them before i leave. Miss you all and cant wait to see you!

Drama

So more or less Nsuta is in shambles haha. Here's the story:
On Sunday night a lady came to the clinic after it was closed at around 8pm and the security guard called the Chief who lives in a house right beside the hospital. However because the power was out (not uncommon at all) the chief told the guard to send her away and refused to come look at her. The women was having a pain in her chest and insisited on seeing the chief but they send her away anyways. So obviously the lady dies and the town went nuts. They organized a riot and we had to lock down the clinic and the chief was advised to leave town. Now heres where the story gets weird.....so everyone here are strong believers in witchcraft because "they have all see it many time" so there are some witches in town that are claiming that they killed the lady because she was an escapee. Apparently somewhere in the hills the witches have caves with cages where they keep a bunch of young men and women and this girl had tried to escape. The pain in her chest is because she was hit with a stick and then I guess they hexed her or something so she died....really messed up but now the trial has gone to the chiefs palace which is more or less like the supreme court. All of the heads of the city had to go before the royal chief today (not the same as our hospital chief) so they can make a decision and more or less the clinic might be screwed. Everyone is freaked out about the witches too obviously so they want to attack us so that the witches wont hurt them....anyways ridiculous!

Its amazing how much I took since parts of the healthcare system for granted like always having light. Another thing I learned today was that the whole hospital was out of surgical gloves and the chief didnt feel like it was a priority. The people in the lab were pissed though because of all the chemicals and stains they use, so luckily I had brought some to leave there. The lab is another story in itself. It is only open one day a week and they have one small crappy microscope and thats it. No computers..they cant even test for malaria! Today I was giving an injection and she was a really heavy bleeder and it started bleeding everywhere. Obviously I backed off because I was supposed to use the cotton ball to wipe it after but not a chance was I getting near there with no gloves. They all laughed at me that I was scared of blood but whatever. I cant believe how unsterile they are. No one ever wear gloves or masks. Im getting alot more authority though. I pretty much do everything by myself. Tomorrow is my last day and we have community outreach so Im looking forward to that.

Also today I am going to the high school to distribute a couple hundred condoms which i bought for $2 lol. One of the new volunteers that I have been travelling with brought 5000 with her and she has been going to the brothels and where the prostitutes hang out and handing out condoms. She says they were so happy they were crying so I figured im going to try to do my part in Nsuta.

Other then that not much is new. Tonight I have to pack up because im leaving tomorrow after work to go to Accra. A bunch of us are going back to Ada Foah (my favourite place on the river volta and the ocean) until monday or tuesday and then I fly out Friday. It is going to be so sad to say goodbye to everyone...especially Romeo...I so wish he could come to canada and you all could meet him...someday!

Anyways I better get going to the high school. Miss you all and cant wait to see you xoxo

Darn Mosquitos

So im sorry I have been struggling again with the blog. I had Malaria last week which was brutal so I have been in bed. I cant believe I actually got malaria. What a waste taking those stupid malaria pills lol. And the worst part is ive likely had it since the beginning of my trip. Ive been sick the whole time but I just assumed it was my body getting used to the food and the heat but then I started getting really dizzy and blacking out so I had to go to the hospital. They gave me a ridiculous amount of pills (about 20 a day) and they made my ears ring and the first few days I was hallucinating. Lucikly I am much better now though! This weekend we went to green turtle lodge which is literally in the middle of no where..about an hour from the next town and it was absolutely beautiful. It was right on the most beautiful white sand beach in Ghana and surrounded by palm trees. The waves were massive about 10 feet at times so it was a little rough to swim but it was also really fun. I went with Anna, Sophie and one of the new volunteers named Carly and then Romeo, Kofi (one of the other employees for a different region) and two past volunteers who I love came too. It was really fun and so nice to hang out with a group of people that have the same goals and beliefs and you. I stayed up late one night with the other 2 volunteers, Britney and Joel and we just layed on the beach and talked for a few hours and I loved it! Im going to miss all these people so much! Britney and Joel are leaving for south africa next week and they are doing a month long safari all up the east coast which sounds amazing!!

I have to say though that Im finally starting to feel ready to come home. I never thought I would want to leave and I was stressing about it but I really miss home and josh, my family and friends! Its amazing how many little things you take for granted!

I will leave you with a crazy story...the other day I saw an almost dead guy laying at the side of the road haha. He was all cut up with his pants around his ankles and he wasent moving but I think he was alive still. When I asked Romeo about it he said he was most likely a thef. apparently here stealing is the worst thing you can do. if you steal and get caught a mob will chase you down and literally beat you to death and then leave your body. He says this guy was probably lucky because they assumed he was dead. Crazy!

Miss you all and cant wait to see you! Im out of here in 11 days and home in 18! See you then xoxox

Mole National Park and Paga

Sorry it has been so long since Ive been on here. Things have been really busy lately and then when I tried to go to the internet last week it was down.

So last weekend we made the treacherous trip up to Mole National Park which is the best place for seeing wildlife in Ghana. Unfortunately it is like 15 hours away and we had to sleep in the bus station. Its really difficult to get there because the roads are so bad but luckily we made it there in one piece which is more then many people have to say. We didnt really get to see the elephants though because they were moving away from the watering hole when we got there and you usually cant see them on the afternoon walk. We did see alot of warthogs though and nile crocodiles along with baboons and alot of different types of antalope looking things haha. Then the next morning at 4am we made our way to Paga which is right at the border or Burkina Faso. I loved it it Paga! It has so much history there and the houses are over 6000 years old and made of mud and cow dung. They have hollowed out roofs where they hid when the british tried to capture them as slaves and many houses are the same. They have two crocodile ponds both with over 200 crocodile and they bathe in the water and fish no problem. The crocodiles were amazing..they were totally wild and not trained but they really respected the people because they have never hurt them. We walked out into a little sand barge and about 5 crocodiles all started walking towards us because the guy was holding a squaking chicken. I have to say I was pretty sacred at first but as long as you didnt cross infront of them so they couldnt see the chicken anymore you were fine. I sat on one of the biggest crocodiles who was 96 years old. It was really cool and I was able to play with it for as long as I wanted lifting its tale in the air and touching its skin. It really was a once in a lifetime opportunity so Im really happy we went up there.

This week not much new happened. I gave another injection this time to one nurses which made me nervous haha. It was more difficult too because you had to make sure you werent in a vain by drawing out. Then on Wednesday we went to Kumasi and went to the market and met one of our friends from Ada. He ended up coming to Nsuta with us and then we went over to Annas town to visit all her friends. They were really cool and Im thinking of going back on Monday for a party. Today we travelled to Accra and we are at the Volunteer Abroad house now and we will be going to Kokrobite beach tommoe. Ciao xoxo

The Last Obruni

Sunday we went to Kakum National Park where we went on a canopy tour. They had 350m on Canopies over the jungle with 7 bridges and 6 tree platforms. It was really cool but a little too touristy for my liking. Its amazing how many white people you see when your near the coast. And I have met 2 men from Calgary! One even living in Shawnessy. Small world! The rest of that day we just travelled and I was really sick again so I was glad to be home early.

Yesterday I came in to the internet cafe to update my blog and then the power went out so I had to head back home. The power was out still when I woke up this morning so it was a very long dark night. One in which I decided to go to bed at 7 becaue I had nothing better to do haha. Yes it is much quieter around here now but so far I am enjoying it. Being the last obrunui is a little exhausting though as everyone has remembered my name and I have to stop and talk to atleast 20 people and wave at 60 children on my way to work (usually a 4 min walk but it takes me about 15).

The clinic was crazy today as it was the community outreach day for our town. We had about 300 babies come in so it was absolute madness and you can just imagine the sounds of 300 babies being together and some that are getting needles.... I love the kids though and it was nice to be crazy busy for once.

I have been missing home alot lately and I don't know why it has happened all of a sudden. I love it here and I would be happy if I never had to leave...as long as all my family and friends came with me haha. It's weird because on one hand im dreading that I only have 4 weekends left and then on the other I'm happy because I get to see everyone...oh well can't win them all haha :)