Kelley in Ghana '09

Video produced by IU Communications To Tell Of Our Adventures

2009-06-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

So most everyone has probably stopped reading this blog but I thought it might be appropriate to post a link to this news release. University Communications has produced a video of our adventures in Ghana 2009. I hope you enjoy.

http://newsinfo.iu.edu/asset/page/normal/7126.html

On the way to the airport in Accra

2009-04-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's been very hectic since our return to Indiana. I apologize that it has taken so long to get this post up and running. Since I knew parents would be most interested on the status of the flights, I decided to post that information in a timely manner and then revisit our adventures on Saturday at a later time. The time has come.

We had a full day on the way to the airport in Accra on Saturday, March 21. One of our stops took us to a school which was built through the efforts of Kelley's tour guide from last year, Charles.

Here is some footage taken inside the classroom.

Back Home Again in Indiana

2009-03-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that we made it home safe and sound and without a hitch. It was flawless. The flights were all on time. No problems with Customs or security. It was almost enjoyable - if you take out the fact that we had been going since 8 am Saturday morning. I would imagine that everyone is taking showers, eating something much less African and getting to bed soon. Some students have class tomorrow and will need all the rest they can get.

Thank you all for following along on our African adventure. The students were very well behaved, polite, and fun to hang out with. A special thank you to our bus driver, Charles, and our tour guide, Jorge. Without you both, this trip wouldn't have been half as informative, educational, or fun. We all really miss you guys!

Since internet service was sketchy at times, I wasn't able to load all the videos or photos I had taken each day. I will be working feverishly tomorrow to get the blog updated as much as possible. Any posting that I add pictures or video to will be updated with the word "Updated" at the beginning. Please keep following along as we debrief about the trip later this week and then see something on the presentations each of the groups present. They are sure to be wonderful.

Detroit Here We Come

2009-03-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

We have arrived safely in Amsterdam. Everyone is killing time right now until the plane starts boarding in about an hour and a half. The first flight was smooth sailing. Most of us slept. Hopefully the next flight will be just as nice.

More Photos

2009-03-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted you all to know that I've loaded more photos. I have everything up through Tuesday. I hope to load more photos and some video before we leave in the morning. Check back. You never know what you may find.

UPDATED - Crocodiles and Canopies

2009-03-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Wow. Today was jam packed...again. We headed out early in hopes of having a half day (spend a little quality time relaxing around the pool or on the beach). It didn't happen but I think it was worth it. After breakfast we headed to the batik workshop. Since we had picked out our patterns yesterday, all we had to do was pick fabric, decide on layout and then get working. Easier said than done. These students are incredibly creative. I saw several great designs. They were so great that I decided to ditch my original pattern and choose a completely new one. And I wasn't the only one to do a swap - but they all turned out wonderfully. Blues, purples, reds, and green were hung everywhere to dry.

Our next stop was for lunch. Pulling out good designs like that uses up lots of energy. We went to Hans Cottage Botel. That's not a typo. It's really botel (a hotel on the water). But this was no ordinary hotel. They had crocs and I don't mean the sandals! Some of the students even paid 1GH to touch one (I'll post photos soon).

After lunch, we headed towards Kakum National Park, also known as the Canopy Walk. Though I participated in this activity, I was too terrified to let go of the ropes long enough to take pictures. The students took quite a few so I'm hopeful they will share. And you are welcome to ask them just how pale I was during the trip.

Thinking this was the highlight of the day, we headed for the hotel for some late dinner and rest. Tomorrow is an early day. But we were treated with authentic tribal music and dance. The group even got some of the students up to perform with them (I'll also post these photos soon). It was quite amazing. Lots of us shot video and I am hopeful that I can lighten it up so you can see what is going on. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow is going to be another early jam-packed day. We will be stopping to see as much as possible before returning to Accra and the airport. I can almost guarantee that everyone (students and chaperones) will be asleep on the plane rides home. We are so tired. Please do not worry if you do not hear from us until we return home on Sunday. Internet access or time may be limited in Amsterdam though I will do my best to keep you informed.

Castles and Sandy Beach

2009-03-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

We made it. We have safely made it to Cape Coast. The beach and resort are phenominal. None of us can describe how great this place is - and we've tried! Once we got here, some of the students changed clothes and hit the beach. We have lots of pictures of them playing in the water but the internet isn't strong enough to load them right now. Have no fear, there will be massive uploading and updating being done once we get home (if I can't get it done sooner).

Today was an action packed day. We got an early start (8:00) because we had to pack the bus (all the bags on TOP of the bus) and get on the road to Cape Coast. First stop was Cape Coast Castle. The tour was quite upsetting. The castle was the British hub for most of the slave trade here in the Gold Coast. We were put into the dungeons and they turned off the lights and closed doors to give us an idea of what the slaves went through. It was quite the once in a lifetime experience. And we got to do it againat the Portugese slave castle, St. George/Elmina Castle. This place was twice the size of Cape Coast. Again the tour was upsetting but a necessary stop on the tourist agenda.

Well, it's late and we've had dinner. Those African carbs are putting most of us to sleep and the rest of us are ready to chill on the beach. Tomorrow holds some special treats. We'll be making our own fabric (well, batiking) and then heading to Kakum National Park. Some may have heard about the bridge in the tops of the trees. That's where we'll be headed. And we have some other special treats tomorrow night but we have to leave you in a little suspense. I promise to capture as much video as possible.

UPDATED - A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, But Video Is Priceless

2009-03-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm going to let my pictures and video tell a little of the story of the trip today. I will tell you that Jorg got us back to Ghana University for t-shirts. If you happen to get one as a gift, be thrilled. There wasn't much of a selection and even fewer colors within a selection. Totally "foreign" to Indiana's bookstore.

These videos were taken today just outside the oldest coco bean farm in Ghana. We were hopping off the bus when we were greeted by this. Here's where my words stop and the video takes over. But I must say it was a heartwarming experience and something I'll cherish for the rest of my life. We truly have fantastic students. Parents, you should be proud.

The Days Keep Getting Better

2009-03-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

After yesterday, I thought the days just couldn't get better - but today did. And the students were saying the same thing. We got an early start with the first meeting taking place at the Coco Marketing Board. The Coco Board brought in a dozen of their senior ranking officials to talk with the students. It was a very informative session about one of Ghana's biggest cash crops. As the meeting was happening, they had a gentleman bring in hug cups of hot coco and little chocolate bars. I saw several smiling faces after the students (and chaperones) started drinking the coco. One student, Brian, commented that it was "the best hot coco he's ever had. And he drinks a lot of it so that's saying something." I'd have to agree! They also gave all of us goody bags filled with coco powder, chocolate bars, fabric and a daily planner. Quite a nice surprise.

Even though we were full from all the chocolate, we decided to stop and eat while we had some time. For a change, lunch went very quickly. We then headed to our next meeting, the United Nations Population Fund. The students kept saying how this visit was even better than the last. One student even said that "this is what I want to do when I graduate". The UNFPA is an organization focusing on women's issues here in Africa. This is a non-profit that is truly doing good work and the students were moved by what they heard. Don't be surprised if your student comes home and talks about the impact the UNFPA had on them. (UNFPA spokesperson in photo below)

The last business visit for the day was the Institute for Economic Affairs. These gentlemen discussed everything from Ghanian coco to how the global recession is affecting Ghana. The students received a great deal of information and appreciated the chance to talk with them.

Back on the bus we headed to the hotel. We were given about 2 hours before we needed to leave for dinner. There were special plans brewing since it was Malik's birthday today. Malik is our chaperone who went on this trip last year. He is also our Director of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives at Kelley. While we were relaxing, our guide arranged for a local bead merchant to come to the hotel and show us her products. She left with a lot less goods and even a few orders.

Seven p.m. and it's dinner time. We climb aboard the Kelley express for an interesting dinner. The guides, Charles and Jorg, found us a restaurant that would play music and allow us to dance. It was nice for everyone to just get to hang out after two pretty intense days of business visits. We talked, danced, and waited for dinner to arrive. Then we ate, and waited for the checks. Let's just say that today finally proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that "dinner in Ghana does take forever"! We spent four hours in the restaurant. The students weren't very thrilled.

Tomorrow we are shaking up the schedule a bit but the changes we are making should be much more useful for the students and their projects. Instead of driving 2 hours to a large coco farm, we are staying local and getting a much more thorough look at the whole process. We also hope to swing by the University of Ghana for t-shirts. The students were very upset when we found the bookstore was closed during our last visit. There are more things scheduled but that is the biggest change.

Mad Monday

2009-03-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

Today was very busy. We had an early start because some of the students wanted to buy fabric. Jorg, our guide, took us to the local market for Ghanaians. This was very different from the market yesterday. Here, the market was filled with people but they weren’t aggressively trying to get our attention. Here there were different types of food, daily supplies, and fabrics. The guys split off and went looking at other things while Charles, our driver, stayed with the ladies as we shopped for fabric. This was another great lesson in how their commerce works. And, we didn’t have to be on our “A” game with negotiation skills.

Joni & Angie in the fabric booth

We then visited the W.E.B. du Bois center. Mr. Du Bois was a great scholar and wrote many books. The students were impressed by an autographed book from Albert Einstein among his collection of items. Mr. Du Bois also a mentor of President Nkrumah’s. The museum was filled with pictures of various visiting dignitaries and helped drive home how important this man was to Africa.

Next we loaded the bus and headed toward our first business visit of the day. Since we had a little time to kill, we stopped on the coast for lunch. The restaurant overlooked the water. Not only were the breezes cooling, but the water definitely had a calming effect on us all. The food was delicious and sometimes interesting. As you can see, like other cultures, fish is served whole. This surprised, and grossed out, some of the students while others reveled in the tasty dish.

Having full stomachs, we were ready to head to SEND. This organization began in Ghana but has since gone global. It focuses on poverty and associated issues in the country. The students received great information that they plan to use in their group projects.

Our final visit of the day was to the University of Ghana. No one really knew what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised to find a very large campus filled with students in the streets moving between classes. We were scheduled to meet Professor Yankah who is also the Provost of the campus. The students really enjoyed hearing about his days at Indiana University. That’s right. Professor Yankah claims to be a Hoosier!! After reminiscing with the students, he went on to talk about the various departments within the university, geographically where their students come from, links to other universities (a type of exchange student program), and tuition. We also learned that they have a very competitive business school. The professor finished up the meeting with a group picture with the students in the garden and had one of his team members give us a tour around campus.

After we said our goodbyes, it was getting late. As we headed back to the hotel Charles and Jorg overheard some of the students talking about how they wanted to make sure they bought chocolate tomorrow when we visit the Cocoa Marketing Board. Next thing you know, the bus is creeping at a snail’s pace and Charles is yelling out his window at a vendor walking the streets. A man carrying several boxes of chocolate came running. In fact, he had to run next to us as we had to move down the street a bit because we were blocking traffic. Poor guy. We wanted/needed so much chocolate that he had to call in reinforcements. But we all got our first batch of chocolate. Some cracked open a bar on the bus. The smell was divine. That’s when an enormous rumble could be heard. Followed by several more rumbles or was that growls? We needed to eat (or so our stomachs suggested).

Most of us were very tired. The heat today, mixed with the jet lag, really zapped our strength. About half of us stayed at the hotel to eat. The other half were taken to a local restaurant called Papaye (similar to Popeye’s in color scheme, uniforms, and food). The report we were given is that the food was good. Everyone seems to be bonding very well and ahead of schedule. It typically takes students on these types of trips a few days to really gel together. Not this group. They were fast friends after the plane rides. It’s a very good group indeed.

posted at 11:47 pm GMT

Dinner in Ghana Could Take...Almost Forever (UPDATED)

2009-03-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very interesting day. It was definitely a day to learn the Ghanian culture. It really all started last night when we were trying to decide what time to get started today. Joshua, one of our tour guides, told us that Ghanians aren't "sharp", meaning right on time. Things are very laid back here. So we showed that we could follow directions and got a late start (late by 1/2 an hour).

Our first stop was the Kwame Nkruma Park. This park was created for Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah. A large statue stands on the spot where Ghana proclaimed it's independence. It also houses the graves of President Nkrumah and his Egyptian wife. They had three children. One son is still in Egypt, and the other son and daughter are here in Ghana. His daughter has also entered political scene.

We then we went to one of the tourist markets. Jorg, our tour guide, warned us about the "style" of negotiation. But I'm not sure any of us truly expected the level at which they negotiate. Everyone was smiling and very nice, but persistent. The vendors would do/say anything to get a sale. A few of the girls got marriage proposals. Thankfully they are still single. Others got a drumming show, a few were asked to participate in hopes that they would buy a drum or two.

After the market, we were treated to a meal at Frankie's (a local restaurant). Granted, we had french fries but we also had two different types of chicken, 4 different rice dishes, and more. After the munching was over, we sat back and planned the rest of the day. We left Frankie's and headed to a SOCCER GAME! It was great! It wasn't a national competition. But it involved the local "city" team. And it was very exciting!

We were getting hungry again so it was time to find another place to eat. Jorg knew this great restaurant that overlooked the water. We got ringside seats as the tide started to come in. A few of us even got wet! In looking at the menu, Jorg urged us to leave. Aparently the prices had more than doubled since he'd been there last and said he knew of another place that had great food. And he wasn't kidding. The place was rocking when we got there. Unfortunately they were getting ready to close. Of course they didn't tell anyone that until we started ordering food. We were then told there was a special "Sunday" menu. Basically that means they weren't cooking any more food and we got to choose from what was already made. Some students had Kelewelle which is similar to Red Red except that it has a definite "hotness" to it. Others got chicken and rice, while others got Banko & Okra stew. I got the latter. May I just say that was the most fun I've had eating food in a long time. Banko is a doughy patty that you rip off with your fingers and dip into the stew. It was very yummy and had a spicey kick to it as well. I also got to taste the Kelewelle. It started out mild but had a cummulative "hotness" about it. Must have more.

As you've probably figured out, most of us will not be losing weight. The food here is fried and carb heavy. Definitely just what we all needed for comfort food. Too bad we don't have it at home because eating food this hot and heavy when it's 92 degrees and over 90% humidity isn't very comfortable.

Well, it is late here and there are a ton of things I've left out. Please check out the blog by our student, Pat, at the url below. He gives you a lot of the details and it's enjoyable to get the student's perspective.

http://ksb-eeghana2009.blogspot.com/

P.S. We have definitely learned that getting food here can take almost forever. It's a very social event and like I said earlier - Ghanaians don't necessarily work on the same "time" system Americans do.

For Adam

2009-03-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

While in the Indianapolis Airport, a group of the guys saw a former NBA player. Where you ask? The same Friday's restaurant we had decided to eat in. They really wanted to get a picture with him. After some discussion, it was decided that I would take their picture but they had to ask him. Adam got up the nerve and explained who he was and that he and his friends would like to get a picture with him. And Eric Snow agreed.

We Made It to Accra!

2009-03-15T03:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very long day but we made it, without incident, to Accra. The airport here was much different than those we have been through on this trip. Not the hi-tech facilities we've seen but much more what one would expect from a developing nation. Professor Brown was right when he said it was in the nature of the Ghanaian people to be very helpful, cheery, and forgiving of our incorrect pronunciations. They were just happy that we are even trying to speak the language.

The hotel is very nice. The people make it even better. One tie to Bloomington is that the hotel comes equipped with an Otis elevator. The beds are very interesting. Can you say "shin high"?

We are about to head out to Kwame National Park. We will blog more later today.

Made It To Amsterdam

2009-03-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

We are off to a great start. In the Indy airport, a group of the students met a former Indiana basketball player. Once we are in Ghana, we'll post more about this mysterious player & a picture.

We made great time from Detroit to Amsterdam (50 minutes early). Everyone is taking this opportunity to stretch and grab a quick bite to eat. Unfortunately some of them are still hitting the McDonalds. The time here is 11:50 am while it's 6:50am in Indiana. Our flight starts boarding shortly so this will be a short post. Check back later tonight as I hope to post more once we get settled in Ghana.

Let The Journey Begin

2009-03-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

The last emails have been written, homework finished (hopefully), and bags are all packed. Now we all just sit around until the bus comes to take us to the Indianapolis airport. The journey is about to begin. A few of us have never travelled internationally before so this will be the trip of a lifetime. Others are old hats at the international scene, but still seem anxious to finally get on the road.

The days ahead hold very exciting things. Here are a few of the business and academic places we will be visiting: the Cocoa Marketing Board, the United Nations Population Fund, and a professor from the University of Ghana. There will be a chance for us to take in some cultural tours and sightseeing in places like Kakum National Park, craft markets, and Cape Coast and Elmina Castles.

Well, the call just arrived. It's time to stop blogging and head to the bus. Follow us as we embark on our adventure.

A Bonding Experience

2009-03-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

The dining room was buzzing while everyone mingled before dinner. Tonight, all the emerging economy students got together at the Indiana Memorial Union and broke bread. It was a great opportunity for the chaperones to get to know the students going on each of the trips. You could feel the excitement as we prepare to leave on Friday.

As you can tell, the students going to Ghana have already started to bond. This is going to be a fun group to travel with.

The Countdown Is On

2009-03-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

The students seemed a little more animated in class last evening. We were visited by two students from last year's Ghana trip. They were full of wonderful advice about what to pack, what NOT to pack, and how many suitcases to bring (one for clothes; one for souvenirs). We were also visited by Dr. Obeng, Professor of Linguistics in the African Studies department. He gave us a deeper insight into the politics, music, and religion of the country.

Negotiating in the markets was also a hot topic. The pricing structure is layered; the highest reserved for the "obroni" (tourist). Prices drop depending on your age, knowledge of the language, and negotiating skills. It will definitely be an interesting time.

Next Monday, we are all meeting for dinner. This will be a great opportunity for the students to talk with the faculty and staff going on the trip and really get to know them. Since we will all be spending some quality time together, this is a wonderful way to prepare us all for what lies ahead. But the countdown to Ghana has definitely started.

Professor Brown Cooks

2009-02-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight, everyone going on the Ghana trip met at one of the student's house. Professor Brown cooked some authentic Ghanian food for the students to try. He recruited a few to assist in the cooking while he went over all the food terms in Twi. He cooked Red Red (fried plantains), beans, and a rice dish. I've loaded some pictures from the evening below.

And here is Morgan telling us her favorite food from the evening:

Mo ho ti sen?

2009-02-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

And what is your name? Yes, Kwesi has started teaching the class some basic Twi so that we can function in Ghana. We have learned greetings, how to say our names, and that we will be asked to give lots of details about ourselves to the Ghanaians we meet.

Check out this video of Adam during our first oral examination.

The Semester Starts

2009-01-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

Wow is it cold outside here in south-central Indiana. It seems odd to be planning our trip to the hot and humid Gold Coast - Ghana, West Africa. Yet here we are, in a room full of students studying emerging economies in four countries (Ghana, China, Korea, and Croatia).

In mid-March, a group of 18 students, faculty and staff members from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business will travel to Ghana. The course will focus on economics, finance, business, culture, history, and politics of the country.

Professors Rick Harbaugh and Bruce Jaffee will lead the classes focused on international business and the financial challenges facing the four countries. Professor Kwesi Brown will be leading the culture and language portion for those going to Ghana.

Check this blog to keep tabs on what the students are learning in the classroom and experiencing on the trip. We will have video and photography to help document the trip. Hard to believe that in just a short two months we will be travelling to Ghana to see first-hand how politics, business, and the culture intertwine to make this an economy and country to watch in the coming years. Stay tuned.