I'm terrified of planes again. Maybe that's an overstatement but I had an awful turbalnce filled flight from Ghana to Atlanta. The flight was so rediculously bumpy I wasn't too sure we'd make it over the atlantic. I watched 3 movies, 2 television shows and about an hour and a half of the little graphic of the plane making it's way through the map. I slept about 15 minutes in all on the 12 hour flight. When I set foot on American soil it's all worth it. Texted a bunch of friends and family and made me way through customs again. Barely enough time I thought to make my flight, but ended up with about a half hour to spare. Ran into Lorrianne for like the 3rd time on my trip, Kate's friend she met on her solo trip to the Green Turtle lodge. She had the exact same trip as me and is a master's student at American University. Very down to earth and we would have likely been friends in Ghana but not for the fact I met her on my last night. We laughed about the fact that the sheer amount of white people in one place was overwhelming. Went to the bathroom and I'm amazed by the cleanliness of the Urnials. Connecting flight to DC is much more smooth but at this point my head is pounding from sleep deprivation. Terri jumps on my back in DCA and I'm startled but pleasantly surprised to say the least. We catch our metro which is way too fast for comfort after ten weeks of rumbling bumbling stumbling over bush roads. First meal in the States is a Panerea sandwich that I create. “Uh can you just give me the tomato mozzarella salad”... 'Sure sir” … “but put it on a baguette!” – Yeah this is America, I can ask for something ridiculous like that and it won't delay the order by 45 minutes. We drive to the hotel and I take the first hot shower i've had in 2 and a half months. It's really nice to towel off and not see all of the dirt you've left behind. Terri loves the dress I brought her from Ghana and it fits perfectly. Great job Rashida. She made it just based on her rough measurements and a picture.
That night we have some really good mexican food. My average cheese consumption for the summer doubles.
Sunday morning I wake up at 545...absolutley starving. I fret about not having American money for a while to use the vending machine , but then I remember that American hotels typically have restaurants that you can use your credit card. “Hours: 6:30am – 11pm”. No matter, I distract myself with Sportscenter. Tiger's still messing up. Damn, Tiger. 6:30 rolls around pretty quick and I dart down the 8 floors in my socks. “Breakfast Buffet: $9.95” ...how many cedi is that? oh well I can splurge. “excuse me sir, you can't eat hear without shoes” WTF? Take the elevator back upstairs, grab my shoes and i'm back as quickly as I left. I get pretty much every breakfast item i've been missing this summer all at once. Melon, orange, juice, mint tea, french toast, home fries, scrambled eggs with cheese, yougurt, cereal milk ...just a whole bunch of stuff. I fully intend on gyming an hour later, but my headaches return.
Terri picks me up after church and takes me out for sushi. I see about 14 white people sitting in the far corner of the restaurant and I think “look at these obrunis” with disdain. I actually forget i'm not in Ghana for that second. Sweet Potato Tempura sushi is the best Japanese inspired creation i've ever had. I don't care if doreen would call it blasphemy to Japanese cuisine, it's freaking delicious.
That afternoon my fever and headache are out of control. All of the times Andrea yelled at me for missing my malaria pills were running through my mind. I hadn't really missed it that much had I? … Jackye got malaria and she was probably a lot more diligent than I was about taking them. I took a nap in Terri's guest room and woke up in a cold sweat but a scorching body. Paged the Georgetown doctor on call and prepared myself for days of blood tests. A half an hour, by the time the doctor called me back, we both decided that I didn't have to check into the emergency room, but I promised to do so if my fever hit 103. Terri's mother, a nurse, put some eculyptus spray on my neck...not a western remedy but an old Filipino trick for headaches.
I woke up the next day, oddly healthy. Hugged Terri's family goodbye...that is everyone except for Terri's dad who I embarrassingly accidentally gave a Ghanaian snap handshake too (look it up) and caught a bus home. Just as I suspected the 4 hour bus ride to NY seemed to be the fastest of my life, after my Ghana commutes. Helped my mom and dad make my favorite dinner (eggplant parm) and passed out at 7pm. At some point I had another sleep paryasis episode. The last one I had was in my room in DC. I laid there in the bed but the room was in fire. Robbie was trying to get me to wake up to leave the room, but I still couldn't move. I called out to robbie to help me but nothing was coming out. Then I had an overwhelming feeling as if something was trying to possess me and finally I was able to move.
This time I was more “asleep” but close to the same story. I dreamt I was in a bar and Ghana and I was going to to pay the bill but I tripped and fell. A peer around the bar revealed there was one around and I Couldn't move. Then I “woke up” from that dream and I was lying on a couch in my parents apt, but I still couldn't move. After what seemed like a few minutes, but probably more likely a few seconds I struggled to call out for help until I got the same body possessing feeling and gained control of my movements again. I hope this doesn't become a reoccurring thing. Robbie's good friend Alex has this happen to him quite often but it's only the 3rd or 4th time I can remember it happening to me.
Tuesday I see my best friend from Tufts, Andrew. He moved to brooklyn with his brother, his cousin and two of his brother's friends from Weslyan. He lives in an awesome neighborhood – tons of bodegas but just a couple blocks from some really good restaurants. I gave him some legal advice on this place just before I left so I'm happy it all worked out. His uncle helped the 5 of them “build some rooms” so they turned some pretty open space into 5 bedrooms and a recording studio. They also have a terrace where they are growing herbs and veggies .
I bring Andrew back to Hoboken and we meet up with Rachel, Paras, and Jake for Pizza and Beer. It was great to see friends from so many different parts of my life (High School, Undergrad and Law School) in my home town. Growing up in Hoboken really has its perks.
So far its been really great to be back. I remember when I returned from France I missed it immediately but not necessarily so with Ghana. I have been listening to the music and sharing stories but I've yet to feel a yearning to be back in Accra. I have noticed that people are ALOT less friendly in the US than Ghana, though...guess it's partly my fault. I heard a very popular Ghanian Hi-life song on the radio on Thursday in my house and forgot how out of place it really was.
Currently on a bus from NY to DC so this blog has come to an end. It's been real, thanks for reading. Tune into my old/new blog “ying yang cafe” where I plan on making vegetarian versions of old comfort food favorites from around the globe. I started the concept Senior year at Tufts but never had the discipline to write even a single post, hopefully i'll do better this time... Oh and check back for the link to the several Google Picassa web alubms I'll post with pictures from Ghana.
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