Annual Giving Thanks Dinner

Today was the Annual Giving Thanks Dinner put on by the African-American Association of Ghana. I went with two girls from my hostel. It was so nice. It feels so strange to be here during a major U.S. holiday, especially since it is so hot. I feel my body getting used to the omnipresent heat. Many of the members with friends and family came out. The food was soooooooooo good. I feel like I died and went to heaven. It was nice to meet more members and hear their stories of living in Ghana. There is so much potential in Ghana to soar in so many areas. I was talking to a friend and he was telling me that he paid 50 cedi a month for his small studio apartment. Fifty cedi is about $45 U.S. dollars. I could not believe it. It is a nice place though the bathroom is outdoors. He also said I could get a nice place with indoors bathroom for 200 cedi a month, which is only $142.00 U.S. dollars.

There was dancing, lots of laughter and I had a good time sitting out in the warm air (I did apply my bug spray). Farita, who is also from the Bay Area, and I both mentioned how cold the Bay Area temps probably were now. On the way back, we got a ride from this brother and he dropped us off at 37 station and I went and got a couple of things from a grocery store. I then went and caught the tro tro and the girls had gotten on it already. Listening to the banter between the riders in Twi was so delightful and I marvel at how strong many Ghanaians are. Now that the whether has turned hot, riding the tro tro is a whole nother experience. I was so cramped that it felt like my legs were going to break. But, hey, can't beat .50 pescas I guess.

Rode back and walked to the hostel with this young man from Nigeria who has been accepted to Yale University. The lightening was unreal. It gets dark every night around 6:00 p.m. since we've been here. It took a little getting used to when we got here in August. Living so close to the equator is quite an experience. The sun is so intense some times and you can feel how close you are to it.

In the midsts of finals. One on Monday and two on Saturday and I am through. Students are preparing to leave mid-December and many people are gearing up for vacations. I will savor all of the experiences I have here in the upcoming months so that this experience can be indelibly marked in my heart.

Me and Vanessa Mixon, President of African-American Association of Ghana

Sat with this couple during dinner. The gentleman owns a restaurant in Osu and the woman was here visiting from Los Angeles.

Saying Grace

Farita And Kim

Listening To The Elders

Love talking to elderly people in Ghana. They offer such insight into life and I've learned so much from them in the short period i've been here. Their words of wisdom will stay with me long after I leave Ghana.

Weekend

This past weekend, Leticia and I went to a fund raiser that was put on by the African-American Association of Ghana. Most of the proceeds were given to a local Children's Home. There was a beautiful dance performed by a former student from the University of Ghana and a young man from a local dance company. A comic from the UK also performed. The main event was a play entitled "The Saga of the Returnee." It was about a man that leaves Ghana and goes to the U.S. to attend college and who ultimately returns to live in Ghana. It was so funny!!!! He had the entire audience laughing throughout. Many of us who are from the U.S. and now live here could really relate to the differences in cultures and the adjustments one must make when they leave the country they were raised in from birth to live elsewhere. He had me on the floor when he described an African-American minister giving a sermon in a Black church.

Afterwards, we tried to catch a taxi and, of course, he tried to jack up the rates. We started talking with a Ghanaian couple and we all walked a bit to a street where we would be able to get a taxi and the Brother negotiated a good rate for us. It was so nice walking and talking with them and we were pleased to learn that the Brother was a recent graduate from the University.

Kente Cloth Weaving Factory

Tings

-It's HOT!!!!!! This humidity is killing me. As people have done since the beginning of mankind in Africa, I'm having to plan my days around the heat and staying in my room or in the shade during the hottest parts of the day. I freeze water nightly and carry it around with me throughout the day. It does not help when the water in the dorm goes out for two days. The bathrooms stink to high heavens. Went to the dorm down the road and took a shower the other night. As I walked back to my dorm under the beautiful African night sky, I prayed never to forget this expereince.

-Our weekend trip to Togo was cancelled because not enough people signed up for the trip. I was disappointed, but It is good because I can spend time studying most of the weekend. I'm determined to get all this material down so that I can do well on these finals.

-The final exam schedule was posted this week. I have my Archaeology and Religious studies finals on December 3rd and my other Archaeology final on December 4th. The date for the Twi final is yet to be determined. Papa Peprah said that we could pick what will be on the final.

-I was walking across campus the other day and my Archaeology professor stopped and waited for me and we chatted for a moment. I thanked him for always stressing during his lectures that we need to pay more attention to the environment. He invited me to his office to chat when I had more time. It felt so good to realize that I'm becoming a familiar face on campus. Also met with a group from my other Archaeology class--Human Origins--to work on our report from our field trip that we took two weeks ago. It was so nice to finally get to know the other students on a one-on-one basis, and I'm so impressed at how smart and intelligent many of the students on this campus are.

-Found the track and am loving running/walking around it every evening. At sunset, you get a beautiful view of Legon where our campus is located. I have lost 25 pounds so far and it feels good to finally trim down. Giving up my Starbucks habit was hard to do, but I can see the many benefits that not drinking my daily dose of Vente Soy Mocha is bringing me.

That's it for now. Gotta run to the market and get some fruits for my morning smoothies. Everything is bargained over here, so I'm practicing my Twi and putting on my game face. LOL. Mepaakyew Eye Sen? - Please, how much is it?

Blessings All!!!

Random Thoughts

There are so many ways in which I see that who I am is not a fit with Ghanaian culture. Once again, a man tried to get in front of me in line. Not only did he jump ahead of me, but there was a long line of people patiently waiting. It is such an affront to me when they do that, and I always have such a viseral reaction to just go off. He pushed his merchandise in front of mine and once again, I pushed my things in front of his. Once again, a nasty stare and disbelief that a woman would challenge what appears to be a common practice here. I don't care how long I'm in Ghana, that will never be o.k. with me. What is the problem with standing in line and waiting your turn just like everyone else? What makes you think you're so special that you can jump in front of everyone else in line? I looked at him and said UNBELIEVABLE!!

Me And My Personal Trainer, Lydia.

This is how I usually look after one of our workouts. LOL.

Kobe And Leticia

It's Been Three Months

I'm savoring each day here now because it is going to be over really soon. The students that are here for one semester are getting ready to leave next month. I'm so glad that I opted to stay for two semesters. This experience is getting richer and deeper the longer I stay here. Ghana feels like home now and the thought of returning to the U.S. makes me sad. The days are hot and muggy, but I'm slowly getting used to that as well. I've started going to the campus gym and have a personal trainer and I'm starting to trim down a bit. She urged me to start preparing my food and she went to the market and brought me a whole bunch of fruit and a blender and makes me delicious soups so that I can stop eating out. I love my personal trainer, Lydia. She is no nonsense and when I start to complain that I can't go on, she'll allow me to stop and then say, you own me.

Classes will be over in the next couple of weeks and then we'll have our finals. Looking forward to the break so that I can see more of Ghana and travel to Senegal and the Gambia. Yesterday I saw the biggest lizard since I've been here and he was heading towards my room. Leticia was coming out of her room and saw it too. We were cowering in fear and I cracked up because we are 100 times bigger than that lizard. I keep telling her if I see one in my room, I'm moving in with her.

Through it all, I am so glad that I did not let my fear of the unknown stop me from coming to Ghana. I'm learning so much about people, life and myself and know that this experience is making me a much better person.