Classes

The past week has been the first week of class. Also a time to finish up registration. Yes I know it's crazy that we can still register for classes. I was scrambling around campus all week still trying to figure out what to take. See it's not like back home where there's a simple online procedure months in advance. The time tables for class are scattered about the university on boards at each department (some weren't even up until right before the first day of class). So researching for classes can literally take days (which it did). And most of the time, there are a few errors in the times or lecture hall, so nothing is for sure. To register, I had to walk in the department offices, fill out a form and give them a passport size photo (I still don't know what for). Then I have to fill out a course registration form that lists all my classes, which I turn into the International Office and they register everything online for me (which is a plus, because trying to get on the internet here can be a pain). On the upside of the chaos of registration, I know my way around campus extremely well thanks to all the walking back and forth each day.
Some of the classes have been very interesting. Some not, specifically the math unfortunately. I've noticed that math professors here love to teach theory and do little to no examples, so it's been a little difficult. The philosophy classes have been cool though. More discussion and less note taking. I'm also auditing a guitar class, which is so much fun. Somehow I've been lucky the past week seeing as how I only had one class where the professor didn't show up for the first session. A lot of my friends had at least 2 or 3 or more classes canceled last week b/c of no-shows. What's funny is that this is normal here. That's why a lot of local students don't come to class the first week because there's a good chance the professor might not show, and even if they do, it's basically just a syllabus day.
This is a good representation of how Ghanaians perceive time. Everyone here is so chill about just about everything. It's not unusual to be late to almost everything. It was frustrating at first, but I kind of like it because I feel like I'm never in a rush. It is tough though when I really need something, like information for registration or a bank account to be opened up as soon as possible, because there's no telling how long it can take. And when someone says they will meet you in half an hour it means an hour or two most likely. Oh well. If you can't keep a go with the flow attitude here you'll never survive. What's great is that if someone ever asks me where I've been I can use the excuse, "Come on, don't you know we're on Africa time?"