Young Men On A Street Corner

I'm not sure what this was about and I asked Peggy and she did not know either. A bunch of young men met on a street corner, started chanting and running through the streets.

On His Way To Market

Peggy wanted to get a live chicken this weekend and kill it for the dishes we made this weekend. I really did not want to do that and told her I would prefer one already killed and cut up. LOL! She was cracking up and said, you prefer someone else to do the killing. Yeah, something like that. It is going to be easy to return to being a vegan when I return to the U.S.

Lessons Learned Along The Way

Every student that studies abroad deals with the challenges of this experience in their own unique way. I knew that studying abroad would present many up's and down's and I am trying to take in the many changes that I've undergone in such a short period of time.

Today, I am sick again. The Green Leaf Stew I ate last night did not agree with me, and I was up all night tethered to a bathroom. That, and I got some news from a friend from home that disturbed me, so sleep was not forthcoming last night. Unfortunately, bathrooms on campus are few and far between, so in the meantime I fear leaving the dorm and having an "accident." I've popped some Imodium and am praying it kicks in before class begins.

All that to say is that this experience is teaching me to embrace uncertainity and change and being in situations that I have absolutely no control over and in which I cannot improve with my sheer Will or Might. Many of you who know me well, no that that is very difficult for me as I can be a bit of a control freak (just a bit, tee hee). So, I will hope that I'm feeling well enough to make it to class and if not, be o.k. with missing it. So, for this beautiful Monday morning, I'm knowing for myself that this entire experience is unfolding for my highest good.

Blessings,

Joined The Church

Yesterday I became a member of Etherean Mission. Rev. Tetteh asked if anyone wanted to join and I was sure that this will be my church home while I am here in Ghana. It was about eight of us and the Practitioner's layed their hands on each of us and said prayers. They then put some oil on our foreheads and Rev. Tetteh said some words. He said that now as an Etherean, our only weapons in the world are Truth and Love. I was very emotional. They also baptised about twenty people and it reminded me of Saint Peter's Baptist Church, which was the church I attended growing up in New York. I love this church because it is a mixture of New Thought and the old Christian religion that I grew up with, mixed with African Mystical teachings.

At the end of the service everyone sang this beautiful song and hugged each other. I'm getting better with the African songs and I love them. Tisha's friend, Martin, went with me and he really enjoyed himself as well. He said he wanted to come back next week and even go to Wednesday evening service. He showed me some alternate routes on the Tro Tro and I arrived back to campus happy, but very tired.

Beautiful Children

Everywhere I go, children love having their picture taken, and when I show them the digital picture I take of them they always get such a kick out of it.

Making Fufu

Green Leaf Stew

Getting The Hang Of It

Had my cooking lesson with Peggy today. I am still amazed how the whole family takes part in the preparation of the food. Her family was so nice to give me tips on Ghanian food preparation. We prepared Ground Nut Paste Soup, Green Leaf Stew and Fufu. The food was delicious and I had enough to bring back to eat during the upcoming week. Thank you Peggy!!! We agreed to have a lesson a couple of months so by the time I leave, I will have some skills. LOL.

Cooking Lessons

Here Peggy is showing me how to make Green Leaf Stew.

Getting The Supplies

I asked Peggy, who works at the front desk in my dorm, if she knew of anyone who would be willing to show me how to make a couple of Ghanian dishes. She said she could show me a couple of dishes. We went to the market today to get the supplies for our day tomorrow. I got to see marketplace bargaining up close and it is a sight to behold. EVERYTHING is bargained over. Peggy is a pro. As I walked through the market, vendors were calling out Sister, Sister. African marketplaces are ancient and I got a chance to practice my Twi. I noticed everytime I said a couple of phrases, everyone would smile at me. Ghanians appreciate when you try to communicate utilizing Twi.

Thereafter, we went back to Peggy's house and preped some of the food for tomorrow. Her whole family then prepared a meal and we sat in her courtyard in a circle eating out of a clay pot with our hands. The communal nature of African life is so beautiful! Everyone took turns preparing the meal or cleaning up thereafter. The food was so good and healthly. She cooked this stew (sorry can't remember the name) and we used boiled yams (yams are different here than they are in the U.S.) and plaintains to scoop up the stew. It was delicious!!!!

Peggy negotiated with a taxi for me and I rode back to campus looking forward to returning to her home tomorrow.

Crabs

Shopping At The Makola Market

Shopping For Cooking Class Tomorrow

Random Thoughts

A young man came into my Archaeology class yesterday about ten minutes before the lecture started. He asked the class permission to preach a short sermon. He was so passionate and sincere. I was amazed!!!! Some of the students listened, some continued to talk. At the end, he pled with people to come to Christ and left his phone number and room number. I thought to myself, that would NEVER happen in the States.

It is also fascinating seeing men walk hand in hand down the street and feeling each others heads in an affectionate manner. I think it is so nice seeing these displays of affection among men and there is a closeness among Ghanians that I've never felt in the U.S.

I'm getting used to people staring at me all the time. I think the combination of being foreign and the fact that I'm older (on campus) leads alot of people to be curious. It was a bit unnerving at first, but I've gotten used to it and take it in stride as part of this great experience i'm having. Ghanians seem naturally reserved, but when you say hello or wave they respond in kind.

I'm settling into this experience. I think after awhile your Soul remembers Africa and you start to relax into this place and you really begin to enjoy your existence here.

Night Market

This is the night market. I'm not sure why they call it the night market because it is open all day and night. It is across from the International Student Hostels Everything from household supplies, shoes to food is sold here. I met a woman my first week here who sells very delicious, healthly vegetarian food. We call her Tantalising. Well, she said that was her name. She is so sweet and I am able to eat good, healthy food. The other night she made pizza that was so good that I went back to the dorm and told a bunch of kids and they went over and bought her out. Last night she made potatoe salad, and it was soooooooo good. I'm going to be getting my food from her from now on. For 1 cedi, you can get a whole pinapple chopped up and cut up. Their pineapples here are so delicious!!!! Everyone has fell in love with them.

International Student Hostel I

Ghana's Currency

This is the Cedi, which is the mode of currency in Ghana. One cedi is equivalent to 1.4350 U.S. dollars. I've been exchanging my money slowly as I run out. Meals are really cheap here. I spend about $3.00 u.s. a day to eat and other than that, I don't have any other expenses, except for transportation so the money that I bought with me is really holding up.

My Most Favorite Time Of The Day

Early in the morning, walking acorss campus before the students get out and about. It is so peaceful during this time of day. I have a 7:30 class on Tuesdays. Archaeology of Human Origins. I'm really enjoying the class all ready. I have to make sure I get there early so that I can get a seat in the front. I'm still getting used to the accents so I must take extra care in paying attention (no day dreaming) and taking good notes. Classes are into full swing this week and all the returning student are back on campus. Hunkering down for the semester.

My Tro Tro Experience--So Proud Of Me!

I finally got up the nerve to ride the Tro Tro alone. Left early for church and walked to the main gate where I caught a Tro Tro to La Paz. There it got a little tricky because I had to transfer and the location I was going to was not the name for the Tro Tro. I asked someone what Tro Tro I should take and listened closely as each driver pulled up and yelled out their destination. Thankfully, the Tro Tro I needed had the name on the front. When I got in the driver asked for my money and I handed him 5 cedi and he gave it back to me. I think he was trying to ask me where I was going and I heard another girl say, "she does not know." LOL. When I spotted the church, I told him I needed to get off (must learn how to say that in Twi) and went to give him my money, but he said the ride is over now. I skipped happily to the church so proud of me!!!!

After church was over, was not in the mood to pack into the Tro Tro's again and being the intrepid soul I am becoming, I asked a young man to get me a taxi. It is a common ploy of visitors to Ghana to ask a Ghanian to negotiate a price for a taxi and then jump out of the bushes and jump in the cab. The young man had negotiated a price of 10 cedi (I paid 20 the week before). When I stepped up to the taxi, the driver quickly said 15. I said 10 and he said 12. I went to walk away (that usually causes them to back down), and he relented and took 10 cedi(which comes to $6.97 U.S. dollars). Thereafter, the driver will give you alot of attitude because he could not get over on you. I'm getting so good at this. I asked two people at the church what is the going rate for a Sunday back to my area and they said between 8-10 cedi, so I refused to budge from this price.

I then went to the Accra Mall and had dinner. There was a soccer match on and the whole restaurant erupted into cheers as one team scored a goal. The Ghanians love their soccer and there are still big billboards up all around town about their victories in the world cup competition. When I was returning to campus, the Tro Tro stop was a little ways down so I took a cab and negotiated a fair price. The key is to be willing to walk away and boy is this getting fun.

Agape Members

I was so happy to fellowship in Africa with my Agape Family!!!!! I met Arnae at the New Year's retreat held in Southern California two years ago. We have been bumping into each other at Revelations Conferences and Retreats every since. She is an amazing singer in Agape's choir.

Installation of Practitioners

Special Honors For Rickie Byers-Beckwith

Rev. Tetteh honored Rickie for the legacy of music she has given to the world!!!!! The youth choir sang one of her songs and the young lady torn it up. "I hope and pray that you will have the best of love, of life and everything"!!!! That was so special for me because I was at the Spring Retreat in Los Angeles two year ago when Rikki created that song. I love that song and I could tell that Rev. Michael and Rikki were moved by the choir's rendition.

Special Ceremony For Rev. Michael

Brother Tetteh gave Rev. Michael the Special distinction of Chief of Etherean Mission. The ceremony was so moving. It was like a dream come true to be in Ghana with Rev. Michael, Rikki and Agape Members.

Etherean Mission 35th Anniversary Celebration

Today was the 35th Anniversary celebration at Etherean Mission. It was wonderful!!!!!! Rev. Tetteh preached a great sermon, they installed practitioners and there was a ceremony installing Rev. Michael from Agape as a chieftain. There was dancing (of course), prayers, communion, fellowship, a powerful sermon by Rev. Michael and speeches by invited guests. The service started at 7:00 a.m. and went until 3:00 p.m. Church in Africa reminds me of when I was a little girl and we would travel down south and attend holiness churches. Sitting in church all day on Sunday is going to take a little getting used to.

80 Years Old--What A Blessing

Family and friends came from all over Ghana to celbrate this woman's life. It was simply beautiful!!!!!

Faith And I

Thank you Faith for the beautiful piece of fabric, necklace and earrings. I really appreciated your kind gesture and your invitation for me to come back and you show me the beaches in your area.

Celebration of 80th Birthday of Virginia Martha Yawo Potakey-Fiawoo

Evanes' Sisters, His Cousin, Me.

What A Great Day I Had

My friend, Evans, graciously invited me to the 80th birthday party for his grandmother so I could get a feel of Ghanian culture up front and personal. I HAD A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!! I rode with he and his family to the Lake Volta region of Ghana, which is three hours from Accra. I loved the scenery and I love the way Ghanians converse with one another. Even though I did not understand what they were saying, I enjoyed the banter between his sister, mother and another relative. We went to a small town in Keta in the Dzelukope section.

The ceremony was so moving and the party thereafter was great!!! I love to watch Ghanian women dance. It just comes out of their souls and consumes them and they can't help but get on their feet and dance. Evans and his counsin and I hung out all day and they helped me taste some of the tasty treats the vendors sold. As per the instructions from the Travel Doctor back home, I had been staying away from foods that vendors sold on the street so I ate slowly just case there were any stomach upset or any other issues. Happy to say, there were no problems mon. I tried out Aliha, which is a delicious drink made from Maize and Dzowe, which is made with pine nuts, ginger, cloves, corn power, sugar and spices. It was so yummy!!!

After the ceremony, there was dancing singing and great food. Evans and I took the tro tro back to Tuma and he rode with me back to campus in a taxi. He is such a perfect gentleman. I am so proud that I finally rode the tro tro and feel more confident about getting around. Evans' cousin teased me that now that I have rode the tro tro, I am a real Ghanian. LOL!

Beginning African Dance Class

I love this class. This is my instructor. He is passionate about teaching dance and traditional African songs.

Me And The Birthday Girl

Dustin And Sweet Little Lady

David and Melissa

Party Over Here

A Toast To Shaye

Happy Birthday Shaye!!!! May you have many, many more.

We Had So Much Fun

On my way out to Shaye's 21th birthday party. Oh how I remember turning 21 a long, long time ago. The party was held at her boyfriend's house who lives in Tema. We had so much fun!!! I can't say this enough, but the students that are in my group are the very best!!!! It is hard for me to believe sometimes that they are all in their 20's. They are some of the sweetest, kindest, intelligent, thoughtful young people that I've met.

Tummy Upset

I went against my own protocol today and ate at the night market. It is a market right across the street from the dorms where you can find everything from cleaning supplies, household goods to all types of food. Everyone had been raving on their sandwiches, so I decided to try one out. I've been in the bathroom every since. I've been doing pretty good with sticking to the food served here on campus, so I'll stick with that for now on. I went to the supermarket and got some food items and am thinking about purchasing some pots and pans so I can do my own cooking. The dorm director asked me if I wanted a refrigerator for my room and I declined only because my room is so small and I hardly have any space in here. I've been using the frig. that everyone uses, but they steal food from there and took my favorite drink. I was pissed.

Eating the campus food is getting old all ready and it is not the healthiest fare. Today it rained most of the day, so it was a good day to stay in, sleep and read. I did make it to my Archaeology class this morning. Human Origins is the name of the class and it is going to be very interesting. I did, however, miss the first day of my African Dance class and I was disappointed about that. Struck up a conversation with one of my classmates and we exchanged numbers. She said I could call her anytime.

My Taxi Experience

On Sunday I got a taxi back to campus from church and the driver would not give me back my change after we had negotiated a price of 15 cedi. Getting really tired of them jacking up the prices, so it is time to do tro tro's. They are vans that are very inexpensive and cover the entire Accra area and many remote areas. You pay like 1 cedi while the taxi driver was charging me 15-20 cedi for the same ride. It is a tight squeeze, but I'm not about to pay for these expensive taxies everywhere I have to go. I don't have classes on Friday so me and Tisha are going to do a dry run to the church and back to campus.

House of Worship

I visited my new church home this past Sunday. It was a wonderful experience!!!!! Church in Africa is long. I visited Etherean Mission and Brother Ishmael Tetteh. Rev. Tetteh has been coming to speak at my church in the States, East Bay Church of Religious Science for years. He is one of my spiritual teachers and I was so happy to be able to visit his church. His ministry is wonderful and I wished the University were closer so I could go more often. They are celebrating their 35th Anniversary and it was a special occasion because Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, along with his lovely wife, Ricki Byers-Beckwith and about 20 Agape members had also travelled from the U.S. for the celebration. I learned so much about Etherean principles and will attend as much as I can while I'll be here in Ghana. Every occasion is one for dancing in an African church and I danced and worshipped and had a lovely Sunday.

They are almost completed with a hospital that is right next to the church and they dedicated the second floor to Rev. Michael. It was a moving ceremony. I arrived back at campus filled with the Spirit.

It's been Two Weeks

It's been two weeks since we've arrived in Ghana. I am settling into life here. Getting used to living in a dorm, sharing a bathroom, the sounds of 20-somethings outside my door in the evenings, lizards, how to walk on campus and not get hit by a car or fall in a ditch, which are omnipresent in Ghana, the sounds of Twi being spoken everywhere, being stared at like I just arrived from another planet, negotiating for everything (I am getting good at it), some insect or other always biting me, and washing my clothes by hand and hanging them out to dry. When we arrived at the dorm the first day I thought, "surely they can't expect me to live here for the next 10 months," and now it is home.

Yesterday I was sitting and waiting for a class to start and a nice cool breeze came and I thought, I could fall in love with this place.

Archaeology Department

I'll be spending alot of time in the Archaeology Department while studying at the University.

First Day of Classes

Today is the first day of classes. I'm exicited about all the new and interesting things I will learn this semester. I am taking:

Beginning Twi
Archaelogy 201 - Intro to Archaeology
Archaeology 203 - Human Origins
Geology 205 - Stratigraphy and Sediments
Dance 205 - Beginning African Dance.

Plus, I'm working on volunteering at the Archeology Museum. They have an exhibit opening this semester and would love to get hands on experience.

This is where Africans that attempted to fight back in any way would stand for hours in the hot sun without food or water in order to break their will and serve as a warning to others.