Training for the past 2 weeks- part 1

     So much to update about! I really cannot keep up.
     Right after the Moringa leaves day we all had a day off and relaxed. The day after we got a bunch of shots (not fun) and then went out to Techiman. At Techiman we were all broken up into different groups and assigned different businesses to talk to. We had to ask them all about their businesses and then we all met back up as one large group to discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing these businesses. It was an interesting assignment and I learned how to analyze information a little differently.
     The day after this we had a small field trip to a Monastery. This isn't the monks in orange robes I had imagined, but really just like a church (Christian? Catholic?) set in a really cool geographically oriented place. All around the church were these huge rocks that formed this semi circle and the church was nestled in the middle. We were all given a few hours to go and wander the rocks and look at the vegetation growing there. There were starfruit, orange, papaya, and many other trees there. Right before we left the Monastery we a few people bought cashew type wines/schnapps. We were all later to find out what great laxatives they act as.
     We then all packed up and left to learn about organic agriculture. I learned all about making organic composts (both liquid and solid). Learned how to make a natural insect repellent using only leaves from on a tree found in Ghana. I'll definitely be composting when I get back in the states.
     The same day we went out to a field and did a forest stand inventory. This lacked any real particular direction and we were told to go and count cashew trees in this non-square piece of land. This was not an easy task but the promise of Twix bars for the team closest to the true value kept us all motivated. In the end the heat conquered and drove us back to give them our best guest. Sadly my team didn't win. Disappointment man, I miss chocolate.
     The day after we learned about Rabbit rearing. This included all the steps involved with raising them and then the theory of how to kill them. We actually were going to see how it was done, but since we got there too late they had already finished the preparations... for lunch. So we got to eat rabbit meat and it is definitely a little strange seeing a little paw in your meal. Rabbit taste like chicken except it has an exceptionally "gamey" aftertaste. It's okay though we all decided only the "not cute" bunnies were sacrificed for the greater good. Totes.
     After this day the 25 of us were broken into 2 groups: the Shea Butter group and the Cashew group. I was in the Shea Butter group. I'll have to continue my details of training on my next post.

-Non Tech stuff-
      Morning runs (as they will most certainly be if you don't want to overheat and die) have been a challenge. First I have to find the motivation to fend off cars which frequently travel in the opposite lanes. Second I have to find the motivation to deal with the children who who run behind me shouting "white person white person" (in their native language of course). Third I gotta deal with the constant staring of every individual. Fourth I have to greet every person otherwise get branded as a really rude person. Greeting every person gets really hard when I'm tire so I'm normally rude. Lastly (or the last one I'll talk about) is the lack of people to run with (the children chasing me don't count).
     It's not all bad though. Runners high is the same in Africa. The (very) orange sunrises. The savannah setting and interesting vegetation to look at. The times when I do have somebody to run with are very nice.

I'll add pictures later!
Oh also hilariously the movie Fight Club has so much more meaning after I now know how to make soap.