What a great Thanksgiving Weekend!

Well this was my second Thanksgiving in Ghana and I will have to say that I am getting used to not cooking and not doing any dishes. Again this year the US Ambassador to Ghana invited all of the PC Volunteers and Fulbright Scholars to have a late lunch at his house. The added benefit this year was that we got to meet his new daughter. I think that she is only 6 or 8 weeks old now and she was so good during the meal.

I got to the house a little after 1pm for cocktail hour and had a glass of Sangria with lots of ice. I did not want to get too full since I knew that the food would be great and my friend Beth and I were presenting a drum to the Ambassador between lunch and dessert.

The food did not disappoint, it was like being back at home but much hotter and without all of the work. Beth and I presented the Ambassador with a traditional Ghanaian drum to thank him for his support of the PC and to start the 50 years of Peace Corps in Ghana celebration.

I left the house around 5:30pm and went to a local expat hangout and was able to watch American football, even if it was the Patriots and Lions. The only way it could have been better if Matt Stafford was playing, then at least I could have rooted for a UGA player.

I got home early enough to Skype my family in the US who had just finished eating dinner. It was great to see everyone around my Uncle John's living room. My three little cousins kept asking when I would be home and if it was hot in Ghana right now. One of my uncles said that I looked tired. I tried to explain that it was 5 hours later here and that I get up no later than 6:30am. He could not believe that I got up that early.

On Friday I went to Cape Coast to work on a small project for the Peace Corps and stayed with some of the other Global Mamas volunteers. I had a great dinner at a restaurant by the Cape Coast castle and was lucky enough that they had pizza for dinner. I also picked out some fabric from our office and had 3 pairs of wrap pants made. Aileen they look even better than the ones that I wore when I was home.

On Saturday morning I woke up to do a batik workshop. I went to Cape Coast to work on a batik for the PC in Ghana and while I was there I thought I would learn how to do the batik myself. Like making the beads the process is very labor intensive but I will have to say that I am glad that some of the women do wear protective equipment. My batik came out great, I chose to use dark blue and teal and everyone seemed to like the design and the colors. I will have to say that my stamping needs some work and I will not be selling any batik to Global Mamas anytime soon. I am not up to their quality standards :)

Sunday was another great day, I was able to go to the beach! Some friends and I went to Breneu beach and relaxed. The water was great and the waves were not too bad so I could swim. Lunch was fantastic, I had lobster and chips. The price was so good that I could not resist. I was given 3 small lobsters and a plate of chips for $15 GHC. I left full and happy.

Monday I had to go back to Accra so I could get back to Krobo but once again it was a good day. I was able to get an A/C car to Accra and the traffic was not too bad. I did not mind being back at my house.

When I saw my neighbors they all commented on how relaxed I looked and said that I must have had a good few days because I looked so much happier.

I think that I will have to plan another trip to Cape Coast in a few months, after I get back from my New Years trip to another exotic destination.