First week of classes & Obama Inauguration

My week began with Twi class. Both of my roommates are in this class with me so we're hoping we can practice together at the dorm. So far I'm really only able to greet people by saying good morning/afternoon/evening, but that is a good start, considering that greetings are a really big deal here. 

My next class was supposed to be African Women Speak, however the professor cancelled the first class because she had to go out of the country unexpectedly. More on that class next week. 

Tuesday I had Society, Culture and Modernization in Ghana. The professor is super nice and there are actually quite a few of us in that class. (Most of them are only 4 or 5 people!) For the first day, we learned about the different cultural groups that exist within the country as well as a few of the customs.

Wednesday was African Music and Dance...Let me just say this was the most fun AND the most physically difficult class I think I've ever taken. I was so sore after and hour and a half of dancing outdoors in the hot sun. So far, this instructor is my favorite. He is so passionate! At one point he was trying to emphasize the way that Ghanaians put energy into each and every movement they make. He said that "watching the women walk in the market is like...Its like eating ice cream." We all cracked up, but by the end of the semester I'm sure we'll be on the same page. He also told us he is going to make sure that by the final performance (in front of the whole school...eeek!) he will have taught us to "see the music and hear the dance."

Lastly was Special Topics in Non-Western Art. This was another really adorable and fun professor. He also seemed very invested in the class. Making connections between love and art, he went around the room and asked us all if we had ever been in love! We giggled a little bit...Teachers in the states are hardly ever this forward. I love their approach, though. They just want us to get into it and you know, I think its working!

Tuesday night we had another very important event - The presidential inauguration!! Some of the group went to the W.E.B. Dubois Center to watch it and listen to live music afterwards. Others went to a Gala Event. I decided to watch Obama be sworn on television at the Academic Center with the Ghanaian security guards and our RA. It was a very moving and emotional experience anyway, considering that I have been an Obama supporter since the beginning. But even more so because he is like a god to the locals here. The news station that broadcast the event had a ticker moving across the bottom of the screen with words that people from all over the country had sent in. It said things like "Good luck Obama, we love you" and "May God watch over Prez Obama and his family." Leaving the center, there were some students wearing Obama paraphernalia. Locals were chanting "OBAMA" and congratulating us on his victory. We were high-fiving total strangers and celebrating in the street. It was quite the sight. I think I'm glad I was here in Africa for this event rather than in New York, actually. 

That's about it for this week. I'm still waiting to hear about my volunteer placement. Until next week-Yebeshia!