Hello

11:58am: So, I got back home last night and almost immediately fell asleep...I guess 24 hours of traveling does that to you?

The flight was very long, but overall it went well, and I got home safely with minor complications. The fact that we didn't crash in the Atlantic was all that I asked for, but having a window seat while going over the cascades made it even better. They were absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking...and I might have cried like a baby when we landed in Seattle. I just can't believe I'm HOME! It's a good feeling.

I already miss some things about Ghana, but I can tell that this experience changed me in ways I was not expecting it to, and I'm so very grateful for those changes. I am definitely planning to go back in the future, but I need to finish school first, I think. For now, it's time to start my epic scrapbook project :)

Anyway, I am heading down to Ashland tomorrow morning and I'll be there until Saturday afternoon or so, and then I'll be in town until January. This means we should get together, because I cannot wait to see everyone and to hear/share stories and all of that stuff.

3:57am: My life is Africa...
So, I had a really good thanksgiving. We were able to successfully make turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and two pies (one apple, one berry.) Don't get me wrong, it was super hard work to find all the ingredients and prepare them- it took almost 2 full days, haha. BUT, we had a bunch of people over, and our friend sonny was the DJ, so we basically had a party at our house. Made me super happy :) We also played beer pong..with our security guard! Best African Thanksgiving ever!

Anyway, this is my last week in Ghana, and I am so excited to come home!! There are so many things I miss and so many people I need to see after being away for so long. All I need to do is finish up another paper and study for a test, and then my classes are done! HOORAY!

I also wanted to share that I will also be partying all week with some of the biggest musicians in Ghana! I met a bunch of them at an event on Saturday night, and they want to hang out with us, so my housemates and I will be at their clubs with them on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. I figure it'll be okay, because staying up all night will help me transition to the time zone back home?...AND I get to party with rappers named Screwface, Macho Rapper, PY, and Triggmatic. Oh yes, it's gonna be good :)

Also, I will be in FG by like...7pm or so next Monday. Although I can't hang out the first night I'm here because I have that night promised to my family, I would love it if maybe on Tuesday I could have a few people over (whoever will be around) at my house to hang out and drink egg nog or something, because I'm totally craving it! Anyway, I'll have my real live phone on me starting Monday night, so if you're interested, just give me a call :)

Oh my gosh...I can't believe I'm home so sooooooon! Can't wait to do laundry, take a hot shower, and snuggle up in blankets because I'm cold, haha.

Anyway, I miss and love you all! By the way, how was everyone's Thanksgiving?

2:22am: I'm balancing all the thoughts in my head
Well, there are 2 weeks left until I am home, and I am very excited! I have been working on finishing up my papers and classes, and clocking in my final internship hours. I am thinking I will only work Monday and Tuesday next week so I can take the rest of week to do my laundry (by hand for the last time! YAY!), finish my school work, and travel a little more before I take off.

This week, though, is Thanksgiving, and my housemates and I are going all out for it! We found a place that sells turkeys, and everyone has signed up to make a dish. (See, in Ghana, even the simplest of dishes are complicated, so we had to divide it up.) There will be about 20 of us, because we are all inviting Ghanaian friends and whatnot, and all the people we work with at the Aya Centre are going to be there as well. I'm in charge of green bean casserole. It'll be interesting to try and find enough green beans for 20 people, but I am sure I'll find what I need.

Here are my goals for this week:
-Work on getting malaria while the medicine is cheap.
-finish both twelve page papers, and start the 8 page paper by Sunday night.
-Go to cultural center to buy the rest of my souvenirs/presents for people.
-take pictures of a bunch of random and "normal" things.
-collect Ghanaian music!


Yeah, that should be good for this week, Saturday night, we are going out because one of my housemates is putting on a huge event and it's gonna be amazing!

The Hamattan (not sure how they actually spell it) has started, which is when the winds from the North blow sands from the Sahara into Ghana, so everything is dusty all the time! Sometimes it even blocks out the sun. It's kind of nice, because the winds are hot and dry, so there is less humidity, but it is still hitting about 100 degrees or more here every day. It's really miserable, but I'm making it through alright.

Anyway, not much else going on here. Hope things are well with everyone!

6:54am: Why does love always feel like a battlefield?
So, I just wanted to write and let you all know that Cory and I broke up yesterday. I can't decide exactly what led to this decision, but we are growing in different directions, and it didn't make sense to keep fighting the way I was.

Guess I'm just trying to prep for the rumour weeds.

If anyone cares, there are less than 30 days until I come home.

4:18am: Some firsts from the last two weeks
So, even though I can't explain all of of the things that happened in Egypt just yet, I have a list of a couple of things that might give you an idea of how it was:

-we traveled on every type of transportation including planes, boats, buses, and trains. No, I did not ride a camel, because they are friggin scary. We also traveled for many more hours than we spent at the actual sites. 6 hour flight to Cairo, 16 hour train to Aswan, 3 day felucca ride on the Nile, 24 hour bus ride to Dahab, 3 hour car ride to Sinai, 9 hour car ride to Cairo, and then a total of 12 hour car ride to Alexandria and back, and of course a 6 hour flght back to Ghana (then we came back and spent 24 hours on another bus going to and from Mole National Park in Ghana). I am indescribably tired.
-I smoked hooka, hash, and clove cigarettes. Don't worry, this won't become a habit, haha, but it was a lot of fun. We were also told by our felucca captain that they feed marijuana to camels? Not sure if that is actually true, but it is funny nonetheless.
-I got an ulcer from the Koshary hot sauce, because we have a similar looking sauce in Ghana that isn't even close to being that spicy, so I put a ton on my food without trying it...yeah, I regret that a lot, haha.
-I held my bladder for 20 hours because there was no bathroom while we were anchored on the edge of the Nile. That was fun.
-I had Pita bread and veggies every day, and I miss it now.
-I threw up in the tomb of King Ramses IV....yeah.
-I ate McDonalds across the street from the oldest temple in Luxor. I also had starbucks...which was delicious after not having any coffee at all for the last three months.
-I swam in the Red Sea, and it was probably the clearest water I've ever seen in my life. Pretty sure I would live there if I could, haha.
-I found out that I actually like Ghana. How wierd is that? haha

I have so many more stories and happenings to tell you all, but I need to actually write everything down first. Also, we got back from a trip to Mole National Park (in the Northern region of Ghana) yesterday. We went on safari, saw about a dozen thunderstorms, and I got sufficiently drunk off strawberry vodka. Not to mention my food was stolen by baboons on a few occasions, and a was charged by a warthog the last morning we were there.

Long story short, it's been a very interesting couple of weeks, haha. I hope everyone had fun on Haloween! 5 weeks until I come home.

Hey Laura, should we start planning that party? I've got a good list going of things I want to eat when I come home :)

4:44am: Amazing Egypt itinerary!!


I love it! Anyway, off to see Giza for the day.

5:25am: Who needs sleep? Well you're never gonna get it.
Well it's off to Egypt tomorrow night! I wish I could give you all a final itinerary, but we only know that we will be in Cairo for 2 nights (Sunday and Monday) then heading to Luxor. Everything is hazy after that (I feel like we're pretty much backpacking, but staying in hostels along the way.), but we know we want to go to Alexandria, and possibly Sinai, so we can hike up Mt.Sinai, but that is technically in Israel, so we're going to find someone to give us some advice on that once we get there. We will have internet in most of our hostels, so I will attempt to update if I can.

Other than that, though, I'll probably write a giant entry once I get back. We should be back around 10pm on the 27th, so more than likely I'll try to update on the 28th, but no promises because apparently we will also be leaving for Mole National Park on the 29th...and we'll be there until the 1st of November. So, those of us going to Egypt will literally have one day in between travels...hahahahaha, I don't know when I'm going to sleep for the next two weeks.

Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone. It is getting very hot here (although I don't think it has actually broke 100 yet) so that has been fun to deal with. I am off to do some shopping at the markets today to try and find some nice shoes for my new internship, and a bunch of shirts, because mine aren't holding up super well. I'm thinking my wardrobe I bring home will consist mainly of clothes I bought here, because it doesn't look like many of my shirts will make it, haha. Oh well, though, I'm not that sad about it :)

Wish me luck, and pray for my ability to sleep on planes and trains, because otherwise I'll be a walking zombie very soon.

6:32am: And I've been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you.
So, I believe I only have two or three free weekends for the rest of my time here. Egypt: October 17th-27th. Volta Region November 7th-8th.  Mole National Park: November 19th-22nd. Thanksgiving: November 26th! Then finals and I'm coming home in December (not saying when in December, because it is still a surprise for Cory!). I don't know when I'll find time to write my two twelve page research papers, and keep up on my readings and internship hours, but I am hoping that the homework fairy will help me out a bit.

I am so excited to go to Egypt! Our flight leaves on Saturday at 11:30pm (although I'll be rearing to go at about noon.). I think the final plan is to visit Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, and hike Mt.Sinai (where Moses received the ten commandments) before coming home on the 27th. I hope everything works out, but we don't have a finite plan for anything yet. I figure we'll get more information about everything from our hostels and some visits to travel agencies or something in Cairo. So, I guess we're kind of winging it, which is an entirely new and frightening situation for me! oh, and while we're in Egypt, we'll be 9 hours ahead of you guys instead of the 7 that I'm used to. Gotta love time zones!

Also, one of the girls in the house has malaria...she is also coming to Egypt, haha. Just goes to show how committed we are to this trip! It'll provide some much needed getaway time form my home away from home...Then we'll come back and I'll be working 25 hours a week at two internships and attempting to get homework done.

I can't believe how much I have to share with you guys! I think Laura, Lizzie, and Alex are throwing me a get together after I get back in December, and I think everyone should come. I'm sure Laura can give more details on when and where as the date gets closer, but just to plant the thought in people's minds now. I might even have my scrapbook finished by then to show everyone! That's gonna be a huge project, for sure, haha.

Anyway, time to get going. Under 20 World Cup game in about a half hour! Ghana is in the semi finals!! (I have turned into a bit of a soccer fan here) Funny thing, actually, the under 20 World Cup games have been in Cairo, and are over two days before we arrive. So much for good timing, haha.

7:08am: How far do I have to go to get to you? Many the miles.
I have the distinct feeling that something is about to change drastically, although I'm not sure what, why, or how. I hate this feeling.

In other news, I am starting to work with another organization here, because I wasn't getting enough hours at the orphanage alone. I will now be working at both Save Them Young orphanage, and Ghana Association for the Blind. With GAB, it will be a primarily administrative role, with a lot of grant writing and programs, but I am not 100% sure about what exactly I will be doing there just yet. Hopefully I'll get to start on Thursday, but we'll see.

Also, I'm not sure who I haven't told about this, but a few of my house mates and I are going to EGYPT!! We found some pretty inexpensive tickets, so we decided to plan the trip. We are now leaving on Saturday October 17th (as in, next Saturday!!), and returning on the 27th, so we will be spending 10 days in Egypt total. I am SO excited! We want to spend a few days in Cairo, then maybe head to Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings, and we're not sure exactly what our schedule will look like after that. We are looking into tourist-y sites in Egypt and seeing what things cost and whatnot (we're trying to keep the spending money under $200...Obviously I'm not planning to buy any souvenirs. I'm sure pictures will be enough). I just can't believe this is happening, and so soon!!

I only have 2 months left here, and at this point I am secretly hoping the weeks go by fast. Mid terms are next week (I only have 1 mid term, yay!), and that Saturday we leave for Egypt, and don't get back until the following Tuesday, then it's already November and we'll be planning our trips to Cote D'Ivoire, and Mole National Park, so...there goes two weekends in November. In short, I think it will go by fast whether I want it to or not, so I am embracing what I can, but looking forward to coming home. I have already been asked by Mr.McCahon to give a presentation to my sister's history class when I get back, so I guess that's exciting. Other than that, I've been planning a pretty elaborate scrapbook project so I can have something to take to the presentation/fairs I have to work at for the Office of International Programs at SOU when I get back.

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to write a quick update on what has been going on here. I'm trying to find enough time to write my extensive research papers, and study for my mid term, while trying to juggle my new internship and all the stuff we've planned as a group. I guess my need to be busy doesn't change, even when I am on "Ghana time".

I love you guys, and I miss hearing from you! How is everyone? Anything new and exciting happening?

1:50am: What to do...
What do you do when words and situations leave you questioning everything you know and love in your life? I feel like my emotions are on a complete roller coaster this week and I need some comfort.

8:36am: Even if you cannot hear my voice, I'll be right beside you, dear.
Yeah, someone decided to test me this week. Whoever that was, thank you, because you just proved to me that I have a wonderful boyfriend whom I trust completely.

Other than that, it's kinda been a shitty week for me. Not sure exactly why, but it was. Lots of personal stuff to deal with and challenges here as well. I have never felt so much like going home until this week. Everything is just so hard sometimes here... There is a significant lack of resources to do even the simplest things. I am currently attempting to teach English (to preschoolers, mind you) with no white board or instructional tools whatsoever. Hopefully there is something I can do to get them one, because the Aya Centre is starting a project to help out my orphanage, so yeah...that'll make the next person's job easier, that's for sure. It also rained today...and, when I say rain, I mean monsoon/hurricane. It was really scary and slightly ridiculous afterwards when every road was flooded and all the gutters (which are open sewers to begin with) filled up completely. I have to wash my feet thoroughly after today, because I honestly have no idea what is on them. Also, the rain makes the cockroaches come out...of which we have PLENTY in our house! They're huge, too, so that is unpleasant.

Part of me feels like a spoiled rich American here, because there are so many things that I have that people here dream of having, and yet I also feel that there is a simplicity in not having those things. I feel so grateful for what I have, and yet I see people here who can't have those things, or or can, but those things make the environment 100 times worse. Take cars, for instance. They have made them so affordable for people here, especially for those willing to be licensed as a cab driver, however, they are so affordable because they were made in the 70's, have horrible gas mileage and increase polution ten fold. In the city, you can't walk ten feet without getting covered in black smoke from tail pipes, and the health consequences are breath taking (literally.) Another example: plastic bags. Great for carrying things in, serving food in, etc., but there are no trash bags or good way of getting rid of garbage, so there is litter EVERYWHERE! And don't even get me started on the plumbing systems. I swear, this place would be so beautiful if the lagoons weren't full of garbage, muck, and shit, because someone decided they had to serve things in plastic bags. You know who that someone was? The EPA (no fucking joke). Ugh, it just makes me so angry! They used to serve things in Banana leaves, but then the EPA said that they couldn't do that because it was insanitary, and instead of educating them on how to clean the banana leaves to make them sanitary, they introduced the plastic bags and required all vendors to use them. Way to go, guys.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Things can just be so frustrating. This next week should be better, though, because we are going to Kumasi (basically the cultural capital of Ghana, in the Ashanti region. I'll see what I can do about that stool, Laura!) next Friday-Sunday, and I'm stoked! Also, Cory and my 4 year anniversary is next Thursday!! Just a personal feat, but I'm pretty happy about it :)

Hope all is going well with everyone! Happy start-of-school for public school kids :)

6:48am: Simple
So, I guess I have been here for a month already...man, that time flew by! In some ways I still feel like I am new to the country because I am still getting the hang of the system here, but in other ways I feel comfortable holding my own. Which is funny for me to say now, because I was attacked by a group of guys this last Thursday. Don't worry, I am fine (I was able to kick one of them and run) and nothing bad really happened. It was an unpopulated area that I shouldn't have been in to start with, and the only reason they tried to do anything is because there were no people around. I have actually felt extremely safe here, because there is a low tolerance for treating anyone poorly, and an even lower tolerance for treating tourists poorly. To the point where (and I'm sure this is similar to what happened to the guy who mugged Laura) any group or crowd of people would have surrounded them and kicked them to a pulp. Overall, there is really nothing to worry about here, as long as there are other people around. I was just being headstrong and stubborn that day, and I learned my lesson. I am a white woman, and white women should never wander around alone in unpopulated areas. Got it.

Anyway, Not too much happening around here. This weekend we are going to a lady's house to make beaded necklaces to support her child care foundation. I might make or buy a few for myself and as gifts for others, and then make a few for her to sell. I am told we are also going to have the opportunity to make Fufu, a traditional Ghanaian dish, and I might be able to beat it with a fufu stick! Pictures to come of that, I'm sure. Next weekend my friend and I are going to a place nearby to learn how to make Kente cloth on a traditional loom!! If you can't tell, I'm excited :) Also, we might go to the beach next Sunday if it is nice (which it will be...haha, it's Africa!)

I hope everything is going alright with school starting up again. I'm actually excited for you guys to start, because that'll mean there are only 11 weeks until I come home :) Oh, how I miss it so.

7:50am: That's not my name. That's not my name.
So, I have managed to get into a routine in the last few weeks, and I can't believe it's already September! We've almost been here for a whole month already, and in some ways it seems like we just got here. Cape Coast this last weekend was AMAZING, and I got to go to a World Cup qualifying match between Sudan and Ghana, and Ghana is in for the World Cup! They were the first Sub Saharan country to qualify, and it is their second time now. I feel like they have a home advantage because it'll be in South Africa (first world cup on the African continent!), but it'll also be in July and August, so it'll be winter weather. Anyway, I'm stoked for World Cup 2010, cause it's gonna be great!

Other than that, I am having a few frustrations with everyday life here, especially with teaching at the orphanage, but I am learning slowly how to deal with those challenges. It's also hard to be in school right now, because I feel like it's hard to balance school work (especially when I wouldn't normally be in school for another two weeks...) as well as cultural challenges and my internship work. I am learning a lot, though, and becoming more confident in handling myself. I miss everyone at home a lot already (and I have 12 weeks left still), so that has been a big challenge for me on a day to day basis. BUT my house mates are super awesome so that is making it a little better :)

BTW, I am currently downloading Rosetta Stone for French and Spanish, FOR FREE!!! My room mate has access through his University and I am taking full advantage of downloading the program to my computer. YAY!

Anyway, all of you should send me messages and stuff...I would love to hear from you :)

3:46am: Maaha from Ghana!
Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you all know I'm having a great time so far! There are a few challenges I'm facing (like the lack of hot water...), but it's to be expected in a third world country. For more details, just go to my blog, I guess.

I miss home already, and I'm not even done with my second week :(

We started classes today, and I visited my internship site yesterday. I am working at an orphanage called "Save Them Young" in Tema, Ghana (about 2 hours from where we are by tro tro and taxi.). It was started by a female reverend and her husband (a former U.N. rep) a few years ago after they rescued children from shrine slavery here in Ghana. Since then, they have been accredited by the government, and they have a new facility (ALL funded by the reverend and her husband) with almost 50 children who have been abused, abandoned, or orphaned. I found out that I will be teaching a preschool class, and, to prepare me for that, they are setting up a meeting between me and an expert in child development and preschool age curriculum. Honestly, I have been so grateful for the staff here! They are so generous, and willing to help in any way they can, and so far they have been a tremendous support system for me here.

The country itself is beautiful, and the people are, in general, very nice. The men are especially eccentric about white women, and often act in ways that I find inappropriate, but it's apparently just a part of being a foreigner (Oboruni) here. So far, my marriage proposal count is 4, in case you were curious. Not sure what else to say, I guess. The 7 hour time difference was a lot to get used to, haha. Also, apparently I am a mosquito magnet, which isn't super awesome because the mosquitoes here are the size of a gnat, so they are hard to see. I put up my mosquito net (THANK YOU LAURA!) and it's been alright since then, but I was surprised when I got about 20 bites in the first 2 days. There are also many geckos in our house, which I honestly don't mind :)

Anyway, I'll update more on my blog, but I just wanted to let everyone know I was alive and well. Happy last days of summer!

6:07am: Au Revior, mes amis!
I'm leaving for the airport in about an hour, will be arriving in Ghana tomorrow at 3:40 Ghanaian time (about 8am here). Just wanted to say I love you all, and I hope everyone has a wonderful fall term/semester. Stay safe, healthy, and out of trouble ;)

See you in December!

8:05am: you don't have to move that mountain, just help me, Lord, to climb it.
Well, I've had an interesting week, but everything is ready to be packed at the moment- I just have to pack it. I'm sorry if you guys are tired of hearing about my preparations for Ghana, but I honestly have nothing else going on right now. I have been preparing for this trip for over a year now, and it's finally here! I'm excited to go, but terrified to leave, if that makes any sense at all.

Today is my last day seeing friends, because tomorrow will be spent packing and spending time with my family and Cory. None of this seems real.

4:19pm: Feeling braver every day.

So, I think I'm feeling better than I was yesterday, for sure. 3 days until I leave.

By the way, I set up my blog for while I am away to keep everyone informed about what i'm doing this is the blog that I will be using, as I think it will be easier to update one source instead of all of them every time I write. Anyway, the IP address is:
http://alicialaj.blogspot.com

The last entry is from July, but I will put another one up there the night before I leave. Read it every once in a while if you'd like :) I'll try to keep it relatively updated with stories and pictures (although I hear their internet is slower than a slug with downloads...)

11:15am: just breathe.

I'm feeling all sorts of crazy emotions right now. Had to say goodbye to my mom this morning because she's going on a trip to Utah until after I leave. It's starting to feel real as I'm moving boxes and packing up what I won't be needing to store in my parent's basement for the next four months. You know, I have done so much to prepare myself for all the logistical parts of this trip, but I feel like the hardest part will be saying goodbye...And, no matter how brave I act, I am still so scared.

If you pray, please pray that I may find the strength to get on that plane on Sunday.

11:26am: time moves really f'ing fast
So, there are 10 days until I will be on a plane headed toward Africa. I feel like I still have so much to do to prepare, but everything I have left to do needs to be done next week. This weekend is quite apparently been set aside for seeing almost everyone I know :) Seriously, my friend, Colleen, is coming up from Ashland today (I actually have to go pick her up soon), we going to Portland tomorrow and will be meeting Kelsey, going to powell's and Mio Gelato, and then to see lots of people and watch Jurassic Park at flicks on the bricks. Saturday we are celebrating my birthday by going on a hiking trip, and Sunday is Kayla's BBQ, and Michael's going away party. Monday, Colleen will go home, and I'll be in full Ghana preparation mode. I just can't believe it's so soon... It's so surreal to me.

BUT I'm ready for the most epic "last weekend" in the states!

Anyway, I need to go shower and get ready to pick Colleen up in Portland. I'll see most of you this weekend!

2:33pm: Random thought train again.

- I turned 20 today! Nice to not be considered a teen anymore, but I feel like everyone else will now be turning 21, and I'm afraid I'll be left out a lot because of it. But, I guess it's nothing I can't handle for another year, right?
- It's hard to watch my bank account drain...especially when I have to carefully budget every dollar spent, and there are surprises that put me under what I need for my first month in Ghana. Hopefully I can budget all my spending to make it through till my financial aid disbursement. *sigh* Going to a semester school on a term based disbursement sucks.
- I only have two weekends left here. This weekend, and next weekend...The following weekend, I leave. Wierd.-Next week/weekend is going to be busy! woohoo!


Alright, I gotta go do family stuff for my birthday now :)

11:14am: the fun stuff
So, I went to the doctor on Friday so she could prescribe me a malaria prophylaxis, and she ended up giving me one that, in high doses, will cause "vivid dreams". Of course, this doesn't normally happen with the regular dosage, but if they need to use it to treat malaria, should I get it, she said it would give the effects of taking acid. I laughed pretty hard at that :)

In other news, I got some pretty skirts and shirts for going to school and working while I'm there (they usually expect you dress up for school and work in skirts if you are a woman. Yay gender roles!) so I'm pretty happy.

4:20pm: Angel you were born to fly, and if you get too high, I'll catch you when you fall

So, as of this Sunday, I am officially 20 days away from leaving for Ghana. I received my last packet from AHA today that has a lot of information in it about the country, and it's a little unnerving to think I'm leaving in three weeks, but I am super excited about this experience! I think it'll be like nothing I have ever done before, and i am so grateful that I have the chance to spend time in a third world country, especially one as culturally rich as Ghana, even if it means leaving everything I have and everyone I know for four months. I feel like this experience will not only benefit me in terms of participating in a cultural experience so different from my own, but also personally as I have the opportunity to slow down my American lifestyle a bit and use some time to reflect on myself and be able to grow as a person in a way I wouldn't be able to here. I have studied so much about the history and the people there, and I hope to spend as much time participating in events, festivals, and markets as I can, because I also want to challenge myself and my personal views as I spend time with both the American students on the trip, as well as the people in West Africa. I can't explain it super well, but I think this trip will forever change me personally, and I am welcoming that change with open arms.

...And, as a side note, my birthday is in a week!

7:55pm: The final countdown

Okay. Finally got financial aid completely and totally worked out (only took like 10 phone calls), so I promise to limit the amount of bitching I do about money problems, haha.

Saw Harry Potter last night. I enjoyed it, even though most people didn't. I think I liked the fact that the characters were focused on more, because now I'm more convinced that they're all friends and like each other. I'm excited for the next two, because they'll be fantastic, but I am grateful that this movie helped me see the connection between all the characters again...especially the romantic ones, because I feel like that slacked off in the last two films. Other than that, the effects were fantastic, as always :)

That is just my opinion about the movie, and no I have not read the books.

Anyway, I'm off to go eat some dinner. I'm starving!

4:15pm: WHY is money so STRESSFUL!!!!!
I swear financial aid is like a friggin roller coaster ride every stinking year. Basically, I have to figure out how to get $2,000 extra before I leave. I'm thinking I have a way to convince them to do that for me by asking for $1,000 less for both winter and spring terms, and for that $2,000 to be added to Fall term funds, but I have to wait until tomorrow to call them (stupid eastern time..).

Anyway, everything else seems to be going okay...at this point money is my biggest issue by far, and it's less of an issue and more of an annoyance.

10:30am: productive week, I'd say :)
My loan stuff has been worked out, so that makes me really happy :). I have only a very short list of things that I still need for Ghana, because I bought a bunch of much needed things last week, which is good because I am almost officially out of money.

Other than that, my mom and I are having daily arguments about shit that went down while we were in Idaho, and I'm really sick of it. My mom and my aunt are still in a huge standoff with one another, and I almost want to ask them if their pride is worth our family falling apart, because that's where it stands now. There's talk of no Thanksgiving this year (not that I'll be here, but it's kind of a big deal considering we spend every Thanksgiving together.) and my mom and aunt are not speaking. I hate family drama...

Anyway, I am starting to plan my birthday, and it's making me realize that I have very little time left before I leave... I feel weird about that.