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Obama

So much to my surprise we were all bused down to see Obama as he left Ghana. I am glad to have had the opportunity to have two United States Presidents speak before me. The first George W. Bush when I graduated from Furman and now Barak Obama while I am serving in Ghana. John Atta Mills spoke first and then Obama followed acknowledging Peace Corps three times the first time we made so much noise that he had to pause for us and apparently I was on TV so I have heard. I did not get close enough to shake his hand but I was pretty close only five people from the front. I just love the fact that I had this fortune and shall remember it for the rest of my life. It was also a great way to mark the halfway of training giving a nice break from classes. The ride was long but well worth it I got some good pictures and meet some of my neighboring volunteers that I will have at site. I only can assure myself that this event marks the first of many great things that will happen during the next two years. I hope that some of you watched on c-span and said hey there is Austin. Until the next time Peace Love and all of that Good Stuff

Austin

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havin fun

So the past week I was on field trip, we spent many hours riding into the north to see some other volunteer's sites. It as totally worth it because not only did we get to see sites and gain a better understanding of what we will e doing s environmental volunteers but we also saw some of the Eco-tourism sites along the way. First was the Crocodile sanctuary where legend tales of how a croc saved a hunters life thus returning the favor for the croc's. It is said that for every person i that community that a crocodile exist. Their lives are so revered that when one dies it is given a burial just like a person and people morn for the loss of life. The second site was the monkey sanctuary in Boaben Fiaman. Just like the crocs the lives of the monkeys are sacred each one getting a proper burial, there is the notion that if you harm a monkey then you will bring harm to yourself. We were sited cases of people who killed a monkey and their whole family died. The town even moved from it's original location in order to preserve the tree's for the monkeys. This trip was also a great bonding experience for all ten of us environment volunteers as we shared stories and a cramped van throughout the days of travel. On the last day we found out that we are going to be able to see President Obama off as he leaves Ghana on Saturday. So that is pretty sweet maybe I will be able to tell him to give us a raise since our re-adjustment allowance is really not enough. Please feel free to write or call your representatives and tell them the same I surely will be doing so while I am here. Well I hope to get all the pictures up and will take as many as I can with Obama. In the first picture is my host bro and our matching shirts the others are speak for themselves.

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Field trip

So I am on my field trip to other environment sites and after a long day of riding through the country we are all settled in at the hub site. I am proud of my self for eating things that I would not eat otherwise like beans and plantains but when you are hungry things are delicious. I have managed to have shirts made so that even though I am white I am trying to be Ghanaian. My host family is awesome they help me with everything I could need and feed me very well. I will try to post some videos but only if I can get my laptop to access the Internet otherwise the formats don't seem to want to work out. Well I hope all is well back home and that everyone is enjoying life to the fullest.

Austin McCain