Saying Farewell--Weekend Trip To Kumasi

I fell in love with Ghana during long trips outside of Accra. The trip to Kumasi is one I particularly enjoy. It takes about 5-6 hours depending on the traffic. I planned on going up to go to the Yaa Asantewaa Museum--something I've been wanting to do for some time. Decided to take in the Manhyia Palace Museum as well since I learned so much this semester about Ashanti history in my Archaeology class.

History:

The city rose to prominence in 1695 when it became capital of the Ashanti Confederacy due to the activities of its ruler Osei Tutu. The ruler of Kumasi, known as the Asantehene, also served as ruler of the Confederacy. With their 1701 victory over Denkyira the Asante confederacy became the primary state among the Twi speaking Akan peoples.Parts of the city, including the Royal Palace, were destroyed by British troops in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War of 1874.

It remains a royal city, although since all of Ghana was declared independent in 1957the role of king has been mainly symbolic. The city holds an important place in the history of the Ashanti people, as legend claims that it was here Okomfo Anokye received the Golden stool, an embodiment of the soul of the Asanti nation.

On The Way To Kumasi

My Shero--Yaa Asantewaa

I have been intrigued by this woman since learning of her bravery in the 1900's as she led the Ashanti rebellion known as the War of the Golden Stool against British colonialism.

"During her brother's reign, Yaa Asantewaa saw the Asante Confederacy go through a series of events that threatened its future, including civil war from 1883 to 1888. When her brother died in 1894, Yaa Asantewaa used her right as Queen Mother to nominate her own grandson as Ejisuhene. When the British exiled him in the Seychelles in 1896, along with the King of Asante Prempeh I and other members of the Asante government, Yaa Asantewaa became regent of the Ejisu-Juaben District. After the deportation of Prempeh I, the British governor-general of the Gold Coast, Frederick Hodgson, demanded the Golden Stool, the symbol of the Asante nation. This request led to a secret meeting of the remaining members of the Asante government at Kumasi, to discuss how to secure the return of their king. There was a disagreement among those present on how to go about this. Yaa Asantewaa, who was present at this meeting, stood and addressed the members of the council with these now-famous words:

"Now I see that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it [was] in the brave days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king to be taken away without firing a shot. No European could have dared speak to chiefs of Asante in the way the governor spoke to you this morning. Is it true that the bravery of Asante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you, the men of Asante, will not go forward, then we will. We, the women, will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight! We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields.

With this, she took on leadership of the Ashanti Uprising of 1900, gaining the support of some of the other Asante nobility. After several months, the Gold Coast governor eventually sent a force of 1,400 to quell the rebellion. During the course of this, Queen Yaa Asantewaa and 15 of her closest advisers were captured, and they too were sent into exile to the Seychelles. The rebellion represented the final war in the Anglo-Asante series of wars that lasted throughout the 19th Century. On January 1, 1902, the British were finally able to accomplish what the Asante army had denied them for almost a century, and the Asante empire was made a protectorate of the British crown. Yaa Asantewaa died in exile on October 17, 1921"

Manhyia Palace Museum

Decided to start my day with a trip to the Manhyia Palace Museum. The CSU group came here during orientation, but I thought going again would be nice.

Historical Background:

Built in 1925, the Manhyia Palace Museum has been the residence of two Kings of the Asante Nation, Prempeh I and Prempeh II. It is a two storey building, with open verandahs and eight rooms are open to visitors. This Royal Museum houses drums and palanquins which are over hundred years old. There are also the effigies of the late Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh I, Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the present Monarch Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Also at the Museum is the effigy of Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the warrior queen-mother of Ejisu and some guns used during her war in 1900. In 2004, the Canadian Museum of Civilization repatriated some artifacts taken away during the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, a war drum and a royal stool taken from the Palace of the queen-mother of Adansi.

Beautiful Peacock

This beauty was on the grounds of the Manhyia Palace Museum. Right when the group walked up to take the tour, she greeted us with this beautiful sight.

Yaa Asantewaa Museum

The Museum was about 15 minutes outside of Kumusi. After driving around for awhile and asking directions, we finally found it. Sadly, it was closed. I'm not sure how long it has been closed, but visitors to the museum in 2002 stated it was badly in need of repair.

Packing

Packing has always been a daunting task for me. When did I ever get all of this stuff. Yikes!!!! Going to get a big box tomorrow because I have to ship some things back and Leticia has kindly offered to take some of my things with her to Southern California and I'll just pick them up from her when I go down there.

I've been really enjoying my time off. Seeing Ghana, shopping for last minute gifts and saying goodbye to many people I met here. Alot of the students in my group are leaving on Saturday. Planning to take a trip to the North this weekend to soak it all in. It is raining alot and the weather has not been too hot.

Tonight, they have a dance and music performance at the Drama Studio and then me and a friend are attending Reggae Night, which will probably be my last one.

Finished Finals

Today I took my last final. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. What a feeling of relief and accomplishment. Now I can start packing and see my last bit of Ghana before leaving next week. Sorting through stuff to see what I will give away and planning on shipping some things home because there is simply not enough space to take it back in my luggage. Taking my last pieces of material to Sandra so she can make me a couple of dresses and looking forward to going to Ethiopia and happy to be finally able to enjoy some leisurely reading. More time to exercise and do my spiritual work. I feel great!!!!!! I, like most of the students who left the lecture hall today after turning in their final exam, were full of smiles. Many of the Ghanaian students asked me when I will be leaving and we're starting to say our final goodbye's. Took a taxi back to the dorm after I treated myself to a Ethiopian Restaurant near campus and the driver and I struck up a conversation. He said, now that you have been here almost a year, you are really a Ghanaian. Ghana will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

Farewell Farita

Farita is returning to the States today. She is the third person in my group to leave. Denise Lopez left yesterday, but I could not get up the stairs in time to grab my camera to snap some shots. Farita is graduating from San Francisco State University this week. Also in the picture is Auntie Beatrice (seated) and her sister who came to campus to say goodbye. Will always remember sharing a room on our roadtrip to Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal and all the laughter that we shared. Will miss you girl!!!!

Goodbye Shaye

Shaye was the first of our group to leave. She will be starting classes at San Francisco State University this fall. I just started to really get to know her the second semester and she is such a bright and intelligent young lady. She lives in the Bay Area as well so we'll be able to keep in touch after I return home. Will miss you Shaye Shaye!!!

Many of the students from our CSU group gathered to say farewell to Shaye.

Shaye and Obed

Brenda, Desiree and Denise Lopez

Waiting to say goodbye to Shaye.

Goodbye Hugs

Akos And Shaye

Saying Farewell.

Going Away Dinner

The CSU staff gave a going away dinner and here everyone is ready to go:
Me, Brenda, Akos, Deena, Erin Melissa, Denise Lopez, Desiree.

David

Is a student at San Francisco State.

Farita And Leticia

Farita (in Black) is a student from San Francisco State and will be next in line to leave Ghana next week. Leticia is from San Bernardino State and will be staying until July. These ladies have kept me sane and have provided so much laughter since I've been here!!!!

Letisha, Farita, Dominic and Dustin.

Rainy Days And Nights

The rainy season is in full swing. I have never in my life seen torrential rainstorms like I've seen here in Ghana. The lightening is so scary and it feels as if the sky is literally going to open up. I've only been caught out in it once and I had to seek cover at the security check point and wait until it let up before proceeding to my dorm.

You can smell the rain in the air right before a storm and it is preceded by gusts of wind that blows everything that isn't nailed down away. Usually it rains so hard that the hallways will start to flood and sometimes come under our dorm doors. The worst part for me is that the beautiful red clay earth turns to mud and you have to be very careful when out and about lest you fall and are a muddy mess.

The rain seems to be brining out all sorts of strange bugs and many of the students have reported an increase in the quantity and variety of bugs in their rooms since the season began. Unfortunately, there has also been an upsurge in the mosquito population, and they are literally driving me insane. Sleeping under the mosquito net is a must or the bugs will have quite the field day. Oh the joy!!!!!

So, in the meantime, finals started this past weekend and everyone is studying away. You can hardly get a seat in the study hall these days so I'm in my room with the music blaring and studying away. My first exam is on Wednesday. Wish me luck!!!!

Nine Months

Well, the end is here!!!! There are a couple of classes held this week, but most ended last week. We had not finished all of the work in my Psychology class so we met this past Saturday.

The dorms are filled with everyone here and studying for finals. I have been cloistered in my room studyiny away. We had our Twi final last week and I think I did pretty good. I have been trying to use more phrases when I am out and about which really helps to learn the language. Ghanaians seem to appreciate it when you try to speak the language and really try to understand your attempts even if you are butchering the language. LOL. I have my Psychology final next Wednesday and then Earth Science and Archaeology on Friday of next week. Not sure how I will get all this material digested and I foresee a couple of all-nighters in my future.

All of us CSU students are having a going away dinner this coming Wednesday. Shaye is leaving on May 12, Farita on May 19 and thereafter Coco and Denise Lopez on May 21st. The remainding students are leaving at the end of May or early June. I'm trying to make arrangement to store my belongings when I travel to Ethiopia. Look forward to finishing with finals so that I can enjoy my last bit of Ghana. I guess the gentleman at the front desk was right when he said that students cry each year when it is time to leave.

Broke my final pair of glasses and had to go into town yesterday to find an optician to get a new pair because I can't see anything without them. I had to buy some contact lens solution and once again am shocked at the prices of items here. Drug stores don't sell the solution like they do in the the U.S., so you much purchase it at places like these and the costs are through the roof. Word to the wise, if you are visiting Ghana, bring all your must-have items with you because you will definitely pay less money for them in the U.S. So many items are imported here so that really drives up the cost.

There has been alot of rain lately and in Ghana when it rain in does indeed pour!!! In between the rain it has been hot and muggy. I've been taking the tro tro's alot lately and it was unbearable yesterday as we sat in heavy traffic for long periods of time.

The picture above is me and Melissa Ramirez playing around outside the CSU office after our Twi class. Melissa's birthday is today. She turned 23 years old. We went to Osu yesterday to the Smoothie place and had lunch. We had planned to go to Medina therafter, but one thing I learned in Ghana is that I have to start out early in the day. By the time you get tro tro somewhere and plus the heat, you are wiped out and usually need a nap. LOL.

Got sick last week after throwing caution to the wind and eating at a road side cafe (I know, I know). I was just getting over being sick after eating some yam chips that I ate from the Night Market, and now I have what seems to be a cold and flu like symptoms. The way the bugs have been eating me lately, it will be a miracle if I get out of Ghana without getting Maleria. Still taking my anti-malerial drugs as instructed and will continue to take them until I leave. I ran into a friend that never took any anti-malerial drugs and she got hit with maleria and it took her out for about two weeks. It was not pretty.