Here!

Hello from Ghana! I am here safely, and am so happy! We are staying for 3 nights in a hotel in Accra for our orientation, and I killed my first cockroach! I got my mosquito net up successfully, and we have air conditioning (which we will not have the rest of the trip).  The weather is HOT, I feel like I am detoxing all day long with all this sweat and need to drink a LOT of water. Today a doctor from the university came to our hotel to tell us how to keep healthy in Ghana, and what to do if we get sick with diarrhea, malaria, etc.  Apparently malaria, while not fun and not completely defended against by mosquito nets and malaria pills, is like getting the flu here: if you show symptoms (and have insurance which we do) you just take antibiotics for 3 days and you\re fine!
So far everyone in my group is AWESOME, and we went to the market today to buy emergency cell phones.  It was bustling with people, and there was music and children dancing on top of dirt piles.  And what a community! Women carrying water on their heads, children smiling and running around safely.  The program directors (Papa Atah, Kwame, Yemi and many more to meet soon) really have helped us so much in the beginning so that we feel comfortable doing things on our own.  Today I had a horrible nauseous reaction to my malaria pill and everyone was offering me tums, asking me if I was alright, etc... it\s like a really nice family.  I loveee one of the staff\s 3 year old son, today during resting time I started teaching him numbers and letters and his Mom told me that I am a natural  teacher.  She also called me Auntie Ashley to her son, because he gave me a hug and kiss after playing together for so long! 
The food is very spicy, which has been a bit tough but its not bad! We just need to be really careful with the water. After tomorrow night we begin our 2 week homestay in Accra, where we commute to classes in Tro Tros, which are like vans.  Today our entire 18 person group fit into 1 tro tro... we\ve really had to get to know each other well very quickly, smushed and sweating and smiling. It was like a roller coaster! And tomorrow for my birthday we planned a trip to the beach, which I\m so excited about! I got really lucky because it will be the last day we will all be together for the day and night for some time. After our homestay in Accra we have a 2 week homestay in Kumasi, where we will have to speak only Twi. Then 12 days in a rural village where we will see monkeys and giraffes and not have light or running water. After that we travel around the country together, staying in hostels. After that, Independent Study Project! I\m thinking of possibly studying the education system in rural Ghana, but we\ll see how difficult the 12 day rural village stay is before I make that decision!
I love you all so much, and I am sending peace and happiness to you from Africa!
Love,
Ashley