Monday in Accra
Good day. December 8th. It’s a Monday, which meant I could finally go and stay with Shannon and Bobby.
They work at Lincoln School International and are connected through my daughter-in-law and Nathan, as well as Medea and Nathan. All of those connections trace back to Hanoi, Vietnam, where Nathan and Medea met while living there.
The International School Connection
People in the international school world tend to keep track of each other. When someone moves to a new country, there’s often an opportunity to follow along and maybe even visit.
It really is its own world, and it felt great to finally make it there.
Settling In and Planning Ahead
I spent some time researching countries that are coming up next and then made my way to their place.
The apartment had a guard, a shielded yard, and was beautifully set up — really big, with plenty of room for an extra person. It worked out tremendously and made settling into Accra much easier.
I also tried to get in touch with the Reliant guys, though that may have to wait until tomorrow. At the same time, I started figuring out which visas I should be applying for while I’m in Accra.
Visas, Timing, and City Logistics
You don’t want to wait around before applying for visas. The smart move is to apply first and then wait. I could have done that a little sooner, but that’s just not how it unfolded.
Driving in Accra isn’t especially intense — it’s just inefficient. You often can’t cross the median where you want to turn, which means driving a few extra kilometers before looping back.
There are also a lot of dead-end neighborhoods. You think you’re getting somewhere, only to realize you’re not, and then you have to come back the same way and hope someone lets you back into traffic.
Exploring Accra Mall and Street Life
All of that said, Accra is an interesting town. I had the chance to explore Accra Mall, which is a really nice place to hang out if you enjoy shopping.
Outside the mall, there are plenty of vendors doing the Ghana thing — small goods, everyday items, and basic food.
I generally have no hesitation about buying food from small street vendors, and so far I’ve been fortunate that it’s all worked out well.
Wrapping Up the Day
Thanks for being along on this Accra journey. We’ll see you again tomorrow.
