Wednesday February 9th 2011, Full day at Axim Beach

On Wednesday I got up at about 0820 Ghanaian time (which is 5 hours ahead of EST btw).  I realized I did not have my reefs and had no idea where they were…trouble.  Luckily I went to reception and they were in the lost and found and took a long walk down the beach by myself.  Over those 2 days I would come to realize that was the Ghanaian game; employees pick up items from the beach that you had just set down and then expect you to tip them they “find it” for you.  It got so annoying.  But after I got my shoes I took a long walk down the beach by myself and really had some time to think about what I was going through.  I realized walking on that beach that this trip is passing me by too fast and although it is hard to do, I have to stop looking so forward to what is coming ahead and focus on what I’m doing at the moment.  For 9 days I looked forward to getting to Ghana, and before I knew it, I was here, and now on my last full day there.  On this trek from Ghana to S.A., I am learning not to take these days at sea for granted, because come fall semester, I will give anything to be back on the ship.  Although taking these classes really do suck, and all I want to do is explore and relax, I have to realize that being educated is what I am actually here to do, and should not dread it as much as I do.  Hopefully not constantly looking forward to these countries will make the days and this trip, drag along as slowly as possible . 
ANNYYYWWAAAYYYSS this walk also gave me the opportunity to see the beauty of a Ghanaian beach.  Looked like something straight from LOST.  Trees were so thick at the tree line, the sun was so hot soo early in the morning, and the sand was fine, white and clean as it could be.  Really something spectacular to see.  That day was a perfect relax day out in the sun.  A lot of soccer, skim boarding, swimming and even a little surfing.  You know what would have made it perfect?  Washers.  Yes, a little Polish Horseshoes would go a long way on a trip like this and more than just a couple times I have thought about how perfect it would be to play it riiiigggghhht noowww.  Caribbean champs? Pshhhh. Yeah I won that (shout out to Phil Johnson of Glen Ellyn) Childs play…there needs to be a West African tour, an India’s Cup, perhaps a Vietnam Invitational…could have done it big.  In fact dad, I really hope that’s included in my package coming to Mauritius even though it may be a little pricy. Thanks in advance.  That night pretty much occurred exactly like the night before… I decided to not go to my hotel room but instead to sleep on that beautiful sand beach to the sound of the ocean waves rolling in.  Put my shirt, shorts, shoes, hat, and key to the room beside me and dozed off.  Well if any of you took note of my foreshadowing earlier in this entry, you know what’s coming next.  Woke up at 5:30 in the morning to retire to my hotel room for the rest of the night annddddd…boom…all my stuff is gone.  Now I was not worried I was robbed or anything because the amount that this had happened throughout the day to everybody was humorous (don’t lie mom you know you got worried there for a second that I got robbed).  It was just a matter of finding the hotel employee who had took it.  When in Ghana, do as the Ghanaians do…I took some other kids shoes, and made my way up the steep hill to the lobby.  After some confusion and a few trips up and down this hill, finally found an employee sleeping on one of the lawn chairs.  Asked him for my stuff.  He goes behind a tree and what do you know?  I reluctantly trade him 3 Cedi’s (Ghanaian currency) for my items and head up to bed.  40 minute process. Night.