Hello, I am now writing from Kumasi!! Matt and I arrived here last night after a long bumpy ride from Accra in the middle of a big rainstorm! It was quite an adventure in itself! I added this little map so you all can now see where I am.  Kumasi it still city like, but not so fast paced as Accra.  Our hotel if located about 25 minutes out of town so its kind of in the country and it reminds me more of home.  Our hotel is cute, located in a little village.  There is achurch right next door and they were awfully loud this morning! All the churches I have done work in with the outreaches have a drumset or an African drumset, so you can only imagine how loud it was.  They are very enthusiastic! Matt and I are the only ones in Kumasi right now but more people fly in today and will be arriving in Kumasi tomorrow sometime.  I am scheduled to observe surgery tomorrow so I am very ecited for that! Should be very interesting to see.  

Its crazy that my first week has already gone by.  I was working with Northwestern Eye Center all last week.  I loved all of the staff! There was Seth, who was the driver and also helped at the outreaches by distrubuting the medications and glasses.  He is a young guy, about 27 and very shy!. It took him a little while to open up to me but once I got him to all it look was me grinning at him to make him laugh! He was very fun! Then there was Derek who usually helped with the visual acuity and distribution.  Derek is also a young guy, 24, who was super chatty and outgoing! Always laughed alot with him, he called me ''happy girl''! Another very nice guy and fun to work with.  Then there was Dr. Che who did all the exams.  I was in the room watching him a couple times.  He is very quite and doesnt chat a whole lot.  I didnt get to know him as well as the other two.  

On Thursday, after the outreach I had a chance to go to Corle-Bu Teaching Hospital.  It is the largest hospital in Ghana.  I went there with Seth and Derek.  It was not what I exprected at all.  It was all open air, with lots of patients lined up in rows in beds with no privacy at all.  It was very interesting to see but also gave me the willies a little.  After we left there we went back to the Telecenter and I crashed early that night from a long day! Friday was my last outreach day with the NW team and I was sad! I really enjoyed working with them! 

Oh! And I cannot forget to tell you all about Sherry! Sherry is a woman who I met on Monday at the outreach.  She is a volunteer community coordinator.  She was very welcoming to us and let us use her toilet in her house which was very nice.  Then she wanted my phone number to keep in touch! She calls me about 4 times a day just to say hi and to see how I am doing.  She says she misses me while I am in Kumasi.  On Wednesday, my feet were a little swolled from the heat and being on them so much and she was kind enough to rub my feet down! lol I felt like I was getting a pedicure in the US! It was very funny. She also told me that she would give me her daughter because I am a caring person and would be a good mother! Shes just so sweet! Then there is Kingsley, he is a coordinator for NW Clinic.  He is very nice as well but I did not get to work much with him.  But he calls me a few times a day to see how I am doing and to check up on me! Like I said, all the people here are so loving and love to help in any way! Sherry even offered to do my laundry! But, my time here at the internet cafe is running low, Matt and I are going to find some lunch and grocery store for some water.  

Love, Laura