A few years ago I lost my job and subsequently traveled to Ghana. If you think "Beavis Does West Africa," you'll get the picture. At that time I was really down on "travelogue" stuff as it reminded me of imperialism in journal form: "I came, I saw, I conquered" (you know?). How about "I visited, I assimilated, I reflected?" I guess there's not enough adrenaline in that. Anyway, upon my return, I was loath to write about my experience to my friends. One friend prodded me enough to do a rush write on the trip. This was before I maintained a blog, and I never intended to make it public. However, since I'm in a bit of a (public) word slump, I'm posting it in its unedited and very-vini-vidi-vici form.

first, last, and only ghana update in < 22 minutes

* saw the southern cross for the first time
* saw elephants and baboon
* puked my guts out with a 102 temp while watching the elephants
* walked atop the jungle trees 120 feet in the air
* kissed a black woman for the first time
* drank a lot of gin and cokes -- gin is cheap ($1.25 a bottle), and coke is the best mixer available
* befriended the locals where matt lived -- shed some tears on goodbye
* ate local food -- with my hands, no utensils
* fell in love with 3 peace corp volunteers
* missed all of the american football playoffs including the superbowl
* invented the new sport of drunken satellite wrestling in the attempt to watch the superbowl.
* didn't find the answers to the universe
* did see at least 5 fatal auto accidents and probably remnants of hundreds.
* did get in an auto accident, thankfully, not fatal
* missed and dreamed about my cats often
* craved for american rock and roll
* didn't take a hot shower for 4 weeks
* used methods of transportation that were unimaginable, the worst of which was a japan style mini-van in disrepair with 23 adults crammed into it.
* never got diarrhea but my stomach rumbled often -- it's rumbling now.
* learned to one-cheek a tro-tro seat for four hours without losing my sanity.
* learned more than I can ever imagine -- too much to write about now, especially without digestion.
* attended a ghanaian funeral
* found a great quote in a hut in matt's village, "in times of difficultly, lovers are few." -- I saw the quote and then realized why I made my trip.

"When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small
But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day"
-- David Crosby

While waiting for life that sucks to die, why not listen to my favorite unsigned bands: TQ's Garage Band Playlist.