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This is my last entry before heading off to Togo and Benin next weekend. I’ll be there for the week. The highlights will hopefully be the thrones made from human skulls, fondue, french baguettes, python temple, and dried monkey testicles! I really cannot wait.

But, impending adventures aside, lately I have been being a student and secretary. I attended the Ghana Aids Commission national convention for HIV/AIDS last week. It was really great. I came early and helped set up the swaa table- the convention was held in a huge, swanky, convention center the size of an airport. I then continued to assist in selling mushrooms, female condoms, and trying not to be creeped out by the giant replica of a female pelvis complete with baby portruding from between the thighs. This sounds ridiculous, but the placenta (shaped like a giant washplug and bright pink) kept falling out of the display, and i had to keep crawling under the table to find it and put it back in. This is part of my job… I felt like I was at a UN conference, however, because we were set up in a room with the congressional style row, platform tables and microphones. I also got to sit up front and center to see the vice president speak. He wasn’t particularly eloquent, but then again look at our president. It was an interesting mix of politicians and religious figures. The whole crowd itself was composed of men and women in traditional garb, and others in suits. It was an interesting representation of ghana old and new.

The end of the speeches came to a close with a group of lip synching hip-life artists. They were hilarious with huge chains and sunglasses. It was great to watch Vice President His Excellency Alihja Aimu look on as cheesy rappers danced and threw their fists up in the air in front of him.

I don’t think i’m cut out for politics. There was one really impressive stateswoman present, I think she was the head of reproductive health, she was incredibly well spoken and interesting. She was the highlight for me.

Auntie Jo and Otiema took me out for lunch after we finished clearing off the tables. I really love working with them. We laugh all day long, and Otiema and I attacked all of the leftover foods with a vengeance after the convention. Otiema is a really interesting woman. She graduated from U ghana and worked in finance, but now wants to start her own ngo adn work with development. She’s lived in South Africa as well with her family. It’s such a different living situation to imagine living at home when you’re thirty. Many women don’t leave their families unless they’re married. Quite different- from what I gather they see our family estrangement as cold. Maybe somewhat true.

My classes end next week, and I also have to start registering for classes back in VT. A lot has been on my mind as a result. I got to relax at the beach this past weekend which was quite nice. I met a man who has been traveling the world for twelve years. It is quite a romantic story. He got me somewhat fired up about India and Sri Lanka. Very exciting…

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