Well, 1 week from today and I will be on my way home!!! It is actually kind of surreal. I feel like I have been gone forever. I don't know how I will feel to be back in US.
What am I excited for?
Hmmm. Well, obviously to see my family and friends.... but mostly to eat food I like. I would like to take a nice hot shower too. And drive!! I miss driving myself around.
When I arrive, I think I would like to eat at Taco Bell actually. A hardshell, 2-taco kids meal with pintos and cheese. haah. Seriously. However, I have lost quite a bit of weight since being here. Not because I was sick, or not eating... but because I drink a lot of water, walk a lot and I don't snack on stuff and eat when I'm not hungry. That is definately the key. So... when I get home, I will have to follow that trend. I like being smaller, I just don't have any clothes that fit now. :) hehe. Surely, it is healthier for me. I am thinking of joining WW again when I get home just to stay in check. I can't ever get that big again. It wasn't good.
I can't wait to get back to school. I actually miss being there. I miss having a set schedule and keeping busy. Going back to work.... hmmm, I guess I am excited for that too. Many people will be glad to see me back. Especially since they think I am coming back in January!!
What will I miss?
I will definately miss the people in my house. Maa, Mr.Moses, Celestine, Bisong, and Christy. I will dearly miss Annabelle!!! It is fun being in a different place, seeing new things and meeting lots of people. I will miss the kids in the village too. Mostly, just how life is here. I have gotten a bit used to it now, so I will definately miss it.
Started packing...
I have already started packing. I have pretty much given away all the clothes I came here with. They are all entirely too big, and I don't want to carry them back home. Any unnecessary things, I will dash them as well. I pray this time at the airport that my bags are under limit. I don't want to pay $150 USD again!!! I usually have to pack and re-pack at least once, in order to reorganize and shift things to make room.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Kwamang visit this past weekend
This past weekend I traveled to a town called Kwamang. It is about 45 minutes drive from my house in Oyoko. I went to the palace and met the parmount chief of that town. I also visited the cave, which is a tourist type attraction.
The cave is about a 10 minute drive outside of the town. We parked the car on the side of the road, and had to trek into the bush for another 10 minutes or so on foot. Before going to the cave, we had to purchase "schnapps". I know I have talked about Schnapps before... and as tradition goes, to see the chief requires a bottle and going into the cave requires another. We arrived at the cave entrance and our guide, who is called "Fire" said a prayer and poured libation on a rock at the entrance. I don't know what he said as it was all in Twi, but after the prayer he took a shot, and the rest of the group also had to take a shot before entering. Later I found out, that I could have declined, but... I was trying to follow suite. The only light source we have is a flashlight. One flashlight. Fire led the way. Many areas of the cave have low ceilings, so you had to crouch down to pass. There is a small stream that passes through one of the tunnels, and we had to cross that as well. I took many pictures, unfortunately I can't paste them as the internet is taking too long to load the pics today. The entire cave was full of bats. Small bats everywhere hanging from the ceilings and walls. They would fly at your head.... ahhh it was gross. At the opposite end of the cave there is a small spring. I drank the water from it, it was amazing. Tasted just like bottled spring water at home!! haha.
The cave is about a 10 minute drive outside of the town. We parked the car on the side of the road, and had to trek into the bush for another 10 minutes or so on foot. Before going to the cave, we had to purchase "schnapps". I know I have talked about Schnapps before... and as tradition goes, to see the chief requires a bottle and going into the cave requires another. We arrived at the cave entrance and our guide, who is called "Fire" said a prayer and poured libation on a rock at the entrance. I don't know what he said as it was all in Twi, but after the prayer he took a shot, and the rest of the group also had to take a shot before entering. Later I found out, that I could have declined, but... I was trying to follow suite. The only light source we have is a flashlight. One flashlight. Fire led the way. Many areas of the cave have low ceilings, so you had to crouch down to pass. There is a small stream that passes through one of the tunnels, and we had to cross that as well. I took many pictures, unfortunately I can't paste them as the internet is taking too long to load the pics today. The entire cave was full of bats. Small bats everywhere hanging from the ceilings and walls. They would fly at your head.... ahhh it was gross. At the opposite end of the cave there is a small spring. I drank the water from it, it was amazing. Tasted just like bottled spring water at home!! haha.
What have I been up to??
Once again, my apologizes for not writing in such a long while. Per the usual, I have been "busy". haha. So... I will try and recap what has been happening.
Thanksgiving week:
The Eye doctors from German came again for surgeries during the holiday week. One of the dr's would consult patients with Mrs.Esaw all day, the other would be doing surgeries all day. Start time everyday - 6:00am, end time - anytime past 10pm!!! haha. Long long days. I was in charge of consent forms again. I had my own little desk, and registered the patients coming for surgery. It wasn't anything exciting, but it was something to do. In all, I think they consulted over 1,000 patients that week, and had over 120 surgeries?? I don't have the exact figures, but something like that. The dr's have since returned home, and now all the patients are coming back for re-checks. Many of the surgeries were successful, others not so much. Some of the patients are non-compliant with medication and instructions and are not recovering well. Those, are more than should be....
What did I eat Thanksgiving Day?? Well... I did eat turkey. It was actually turkey wings. I had a soup made with agoosi, okra, and vegetable leaves. It is actually my favorite dish here. I ate it with neat fufuo. Very nice. I can't wait to come back and have my real thanksgiving dinner though!!! Especially the stuffing and mashed potatoes!!!!!!!!
Last week:
I was at the hospital all last week helping Maa in the consulting room and doing statistics. It is amazing how many people have eye problems!! And how so many of them have eye problems, because of other underlying health issues. For instance, diabetes and hypertension. There are entirely too many people with both of these diseases. Unfortunately, the eyes are affected very much with both of these conditions. So... it is not until they have a problem with their sight that they seek treatment. That is when we find out they also have high BP. To fix the eye problem now depends on fixing the BP problem. All of which depend on money and the patients compliance to treatment! Ahhh. Sometimes I sit in that consultation room and I go crazy thinking about the risks these people play by not taking their meds. Some people have learned the hard way so to speak.... they have lost one eye to glaucoma already... they were warned to take care of the remaining eye and to NEVER go without meds... they did. Now... they are blind. And there is nothing that can be done to reverse it. Tough luck.
Thanksgiving week:
The Eye doctors from German came again for surgeries during the holiday week. One of the dr's would consult patients with Mrs.Esaw all day, the other would be doing surgeries all day. Start time everyday - 6:00am, end time - anytime past 10pm!!! haha. Long long days. I was in charge of consent forms again. I had my own little desk, and registered the patients coming for surgery. It wasn't anything exciting, but it was something to do. In all, I think they consulted over 1,000 patients that week, and had over 120 surgeries?? I don't have the exact figures, but something like that. The dr's have since returned home, and now all the patients are coming back for re-checks. Many of the surgeries were successful, others not so much. Some of the patients are non-compliant with medication and instructions and are not recovering well. Those, are more than should be....
What did I eat Thanksgiving Day?? Well... I did eat turkey. It was actually turkey wings. I had a soup made with agoosi, okra, and vegetable leaves. It is actually my favorite dish here. I ate it with neat fufuo. Very nice. I can't wait to come back and have my real thanksgiving dinner though!!! Especially the stuffing and mashed potatoes!!!!!!!!
Last week:
I was at the hospital all last week helping Maa in the consulting room and doing statistics. It is amazing how many people have eye problems!! And how so many of them have eye problems, because of other underlying health issues. For instance, diabetes and hypertension. There are entirely too many people with both of these diseases. Unfortunately, the eyes are affected very much with both of these conditions. So... it is not until they have a problem with their sight that they seek treatment. That is when we find out they also have high BP. To fix the eye problem now depends on fixing the BP problem. All of which depend on money and the patients compliance to treatment! Ahhh. Sometimes I sit in that consultation room and I go crazy thinking about the risks these people play by not taking their meds. Some people have learned the hard way so to speak.... they have lost one eye to glaucoma already... they were warned to take care of the remaining eye and to NEVER go without meds... they did. Now... they are blind. And there is nothing that can be done to reverse it. Tough luck.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Diamond Dealers
We visited a town... I don't recall the name... but about 20 minutes from Akwatia. They are well known as a diamond dealer village. Along the streets are usually a few men sitting at a desk with some small equipment, just hanging out. They are actually diamond buyers. This guy is some type of dealer/buyer or something and he was selecting out the different grades of diamond according to color. Grade I is clear, Grade II is a bit yellow, and so on. Once we got out of the car, we were nearly swarmed by people asking us what we were looking for. They knew we were surely there for diamonds... they just wanted to know what color, grade and carrot weight. Once that info has been established, a wide selection of people will come out of no where for you to view their diamonds so that you may buy. The whole situation was a bit scary. So.... we saw what we wanted to see and left. I actually held a 2 carrot (sp?) diamond in my hand. Nice.... it was in raw form and had yet to be polished or shape but it was still pretty amazing. I have more pics of the places where they mine the diamonds... but you can see those when I get home!! :)
Gold mines part II
This is taken inside the "office" on the gold mine site. The scale is used to measure the gold so the buyer can pay the workers based on the weight that they mined. The guy on the other side is using a magnet surrounded by a tissue paper to seperate the gold pieces from the black dust/sand particles. Very simple procedure... but very important as the buyer doesn't want to pay more than he has to!!! About 15 minutes after this pic was taken, there was horrible terrenchial downpour. The gold buyer even closed up his scales as he said when the gold gets wet it weighs more... haha. Can't have that!! We were stuck in the office, with a leaky roof for at least 1/2 hour. We then proceeded to trek back to the car. It was probably one of the most adventurous/worst/funniest times of my life. Just picture this....
Treking through a muddy gold mine field wearing size 42 wellington (aka rubber) boots when you are suppose to wear 38. My calves are big... so the boot was tight on my calves, and loose in the foot. I was getting stuck in mud, and because the boot was too big... I couldn't pull myself out of the mud. At one time I had a guy on each arm and one behind me holding me by my belt loops!! haha. I didn't fall... but my pants were really muddy when I got back. My boots also had holes in them. It was funny... but also very tiring. My heart goes out to the people who work in the mines everyday and trek up and down those steep, muddy trails. It's downright dangerous!!
Gold Mines in Eastern Region
The pic on the left is of one of the pits that have been excavated. The soil is then collected and taken to a smaller area... like the pic on the right. The people stand inside of the pond/ditch type enclosure up to their waist and sift through the soil looking for the gold. The small silver bowl on the board near the woman is what she has collected so far. The bowl will then be heated over some coals so the water evaporates and only the gold pieces remain. After a days work, the gold is taken to an "office" onsite and is sold to the dealer. The amount paid to the gold miners is very small compared to the profit the gold dealer will receive when he resells it. Either way, the people walk away with several hundreds of cedi's on a good day. So... it's no wonder soooo many people trek very far out into the mining areas and sift for gold all day. A continuation of this story will follow later today.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Maa, Me & Al-haji
I hope I spelled his name right.... this is Al-haji, our tailor. He is a nice Muslim guy who stays in "Zongo" in Effiduase. He did the dresses Maa and I are wearing. He does good work, he just doesn't speak too much English. Zongo is the name they give an area in a village/town that is predominately a Muslim community/neighborhood. Most bigger towns have a zongo area. So... no matter where you go, the Zongo area will always be full of Muslims -mostly people from the Northern region of Ghana are Muslim. Just an FYI. :)
King of Kumawu
This is "Nana" - pronounced (nah-nah), just like our orange cat. It means chief, or grandparent. In this case, he is the current acting King of Kumawu. This was taken in his house, where he invited us over for a visit. He told us the story of how the king of Kumawu in the 1800s gave his life for all of the Ashanti people so they could win a war. It was really interesting. Anyways, here he is wearing a very traditional attire for a king. The cloth worn in the traditional style, the headpiece with gold on it, the gold chains over his shoulder, and the gold rings on his hands. This is a pretty low key look. Some chiefs and kings are adorned in gold, very fancy - big pieces all over their body. Necklaces, arm bands, cuffs, etc. On this visit we met only him in his house, normally we would be met by his servants and linquist. We would have to seek permission from the linquist to even speak to Nana, much less have a meeting with him. They also would have charged us money, as a kind of bribe.... I learned they take bribes because their position as a servant or linquist is unpaid. So... they have to make money somehow!!! On the floor by his feet are 2 containers... they are bottles of "schnapps". Traditionally, you cannot go meet a chief, king, etc. without bringing along something like schnapps. I bought 2 bottles, the most superior Ghana type of schnapps on the market. They cost Gh 9.0 cedis each, so roughly $12.50 USD. Not too bad.
weekend plans
Well.... this weekend I was invited to go to the Eastern region of Ghana, to a place called Akwatia (ah-kway-tee-ugh). I am going to go visit a hospital there, and also see the old diamond mines!!! If time permits, I will also be going back to shop-rite in Accra!!! hehe. I want to go buy some more good food!! I hear Eastern region is really really beautiful. We will take public transport.... kind of like a greyhound bus - but fancier. It is called V.I.P. hehe. The journey will take 4-5 hours I believe and we will leave friday afternoon, and return home sunday. I will take lots of pics.... be looking for them next week!!!
cold showers
Well, I have been here in Ghana since June 23rd. Everyday, okay, twice daily I have been taking showers. Here... because it is so hot and you get dirty walking everywhere... you got to "bath" at least 2x's a day. The showers are not like at home. It is a step up from my last visit to Ghana. During 2007 they were rationing the water, and at times it wouldn't run for days, so you get water from buckets. Yes, a bucket bath/shower. It was real fun.
Now... I have an actual shower, no curtain, just the tub and a shower head. It's progress.... anyways, the best part about the whole thing is the showers are cold. Cold water, as in NO HEATER!!! So.... no warm water. All of you who are taking showers every morning, please think of me when your standing under the shower head and steam is filling the bathroom as the water is so warm it is making you doze off back to sleep!!! haha. Now, turn the faucet all the way to cold, and take the same shower. Bet you can't do it!!! :) Just do it 1 time, and then think how fortunate we are to have hot water in our showers.
I am challenging all of you who read this blog to please, in honor of me ... take a cold shower. It wasn't easy I admit at first. You shiver, you want to jump away from the water, hurry and finish... but after awhile it is actually quite refreshing. Just try it.... now before it gets too cold!!
Now... I have an actual shower, no curtain, just the tub and a shower head. It's progress.... anyways, the best part about the whole thing is the showers are cold. Cold water, as in NO HEATER!!! So.... no warm water. All of you who are taking showers every morning, please think of me when your standing under the shower head and steam is filling the bathroom as the water is so warm it is making you doze off back to sleep!!! haha. Now, turn the faucet all the way to cold, and take the same shower. Bet you can't do it!!! :) Just do it 1 time, and then think how fortunate we are to have hot water in our showers.
I am challenging all of you who read this blog to please, in honor of me ... take a cold shower. It wasn't easy I admit at first. You shiver, you want to jump away from the water, hurry and finish... but after awhile it is actually quite refreshing. Just try it.... now before it gets too cold!!
Birthday Wishes
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET SWINE!!!
26 YEARS OLD EHH??? YOUR GETTING UP THERE!!!
DID YOU EVER GO TO CEDAR POINT???
LOVE YA ESS XOXO
26 YEARS OLD EHH??? YOUR GETTING UP THERE!!!
DID YOU EVER GO TO CEDAR POINT???
LOVE YA ESS XOXO
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
recent pic - I have freckles now!!!!
Heyy... this a a recent pic of me. Can you see the dang freckles?! I hate them, I never thought I would see the day that I would have them... just like Monica and Sarah. Grrr... Anyways, as you can see.... I'm okay. A bit whiter, a bit smaller, but mostly about the same.
what's new??
Well.... I am about finished with one of my major papers. I have 2 more left. I am a bit bored at times. I go to the school to help out with the kids, but it seems they often have more than enough help. I do my daily chores, and then just hang out around the house with Maa mostly. Annabelle is getting big, and naughty. She is actually a "heathen". She has now figured out how to jump out of the porch, and so she does it whenever she feels like. Today, I met her laying on the railing of the porch. What?! She is a brat. I think I may have to build her pen sooner than I had expected. Her horns are definately coming out, and she seems taller and longer. Still very cute though.
We have another funeral to attend this saturday, in Kumawu again. Apparently this funeral is at the palace because the dead king's brother has died. So... that should be interesting. Last time we attended a funeral in Kumawu we entered the funeral and sat with the current acting king. Very cool.
Otherwise, same ole same ole here. The weather is getting hot, I hate that. I am enjoying my boxes of goodies from home. I have since finished the bag of pretzel rods, and have only 3 containers of pickles left, ohh and a box of nerds is also gone.
The days are winding down, soon I will be back home. I am very excited about that. See you all very soon. xoxo Love, Steph
We have another funeral to attend this saturday, in Kumawu again. Apparently this funeral is at the palace because the dead king's brother has died. So... that should be interesting. Last time we attended a funeral in Kumawu we entered the funeral and sat with the current acting king. Very cool.
Otherwise, same ole same ole here. The weather is getting hot, I hate that. I am enjoying my boxes of goodies from home. I have since finished the bag of pretzel rods, and have only 3 containers of pickles left, ohh and a box of nerds is also gone.
The days are winding down, soon I will be back home. I am very excited about that. See you all very soon. xoxo Love, Steph
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Down with a cold....waiting for packages
Well, per the usual, I have a cold. It will undoubtedly last about 1 month.... yuck. My mom and Dad have had a cold.... and even the Maa in my house!!! Guess it's my turn.
I am going to the post office today to check if I have any packages in Kumasi to pick up. My mom recently sent 2 boxes of stuff!!! The most important thing in those boxes will be the pickles!! I plan on eating at least one right at the customs office!!! haha. The boxes cost about $50 bucks a piece to ship, and then I end up paying about$5-10 to get them out of the customs office. I have a way better deal than my mom!!!
This week will be pretty low key, mostly because I feel like crap. I think it is a combination sinus infection, which has finally reached my chest and now that is completely congested.... also, my tummy is running again. The malaria test said negative, but they did find 1 parasite on my slide on the microscope?? At this point, taking a malaria treatment med will make me feel 100x's worse than I do now. It is like taking an overdose of a cold medication!!! You feel terrible, very weak, and can't eat. Yuck. I think I will tough it out, and maybe eat more fufuo to make my tummy stop running!!!
I will be in the house all week working on my research papers. At night, I will go to the school and help the kids with their prep work... it is kind of like extra classes at night, where they get tutored and the teacher goes over the lessons in more detail. Otherwise, things are pretty boring in Oyoko. haha. I wish I were home on campus at MSU!!! I definately miss being in class. Never thought I would say that outloud but it's true. It's a routine... that I am used to.
Talk soon.xoxo
Steph
I am going to the post office today to check if I have any packages in Kumasi to pick up. My mom recently sent 2 boxes of stuff!!! The most important thing in those boxes will be the pickles!! I plan on eating at least one right at the customs office!!! haha. The boxes cost about $50 bucks a piece to ship, and then I end up paying about$5-10 to get them out of the customs office. I have a way better deal than my mom!!!
This week will be pretty low key, mostly because I feel like crap. I think it is a combination sinus infection, which has finally reached my chest and now that is completely congested.... also, my tummy is running again. The malaria test said negative, but they did find 1 parasite on my slide on the microscope?? At this point, taking a malaria treatment med will make me feel 100x's worse than I do now. It is like taking an overdose of a cold medication!!! You feel terrible, very weak, and can't eat. Yuck. I think I will tough it out, and maybe eat more fufuo to make my tummy stop running!!!
I will be in the house all week working on my research papers. At night, I will go to the school and help the kids with their prep work... it is kind of like extra classes at night, where they get tutored and the teacher goes over the lessons in more detail. Otherwise, things are pretty boring in Oyoko. haha. I wish I were home on campus at MSU!!! I definately miss being in class. Never thought I would say that outloud but it's true. It's a routine... that I am used to.
Talk soon.xoxo
Steph
baby chicks!!!
Here is the best pic I could get.... she seemed very nervous everytime I went in the coup. Here only 4 chicks are seen, but she has 6. 3 yellow, and 3 black. hehe. Very cute. They look just like the pics you see at Easter!!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
S.O.S.
Heyyy everyone.... well, I haven't written in awhile.... cause not much is going on. I am just working on my research papers, soon I will start doing the surveys with the students, maybe end of Oct/beg. of Nov. I have been going to the school 3 days a week to help out in the classrooms. I have even started attending the Twi class at the school. It is a bit over my head, but good practice I think.
We have baby chicks!!! I will get a pic and post it soon. She had 6, 2 eggs were bad and never hatched. The black hen now has laid eggs, I think 7?? We will have soo many babies running around. haha. They are still locked up in the coup. We are more scared of someone stealing our chickens, than of predators getting them. The other day we came home to find the coup door open!!! Our chickens were out roaming about, and that night we had to go search for them.
This weekend, will be the usual routine. Saturday.... kumasi market and sunday.... effiduase market. haha. I am going to start buying things one at a time to bring back home. My suitcases will be full of my new clothes I have had made since I have been here.... and of gifts. haha. Anyone want anything special???
I hope everyone is doing well. I definately miss home. I would give anything to be on MSU campus this fall. Fall is my favorite season, and being on campus during that time is sooo nice. The breeze is cool and the leaves so pretty.
In the event that a rumor has already started.... I will clarify that yes.... I AM COMING HOME EARLY. However, I have not told anyone when exactly that will be. Just know it is sometime between dec. 15th and Dec. 23rd. hehe. You can all be surprised when I walk through your door!!! I already have arrangements to be picked from the airport. I wanted it to be a total surprise, but... I couldn't resist teasing my mom with the news.
Love and miss you all too much.xoxo
We have baby chicks!!! I will get a pic and post it soon. She had 6, 2 eggs were bad and never hatched. The black hen now has laid eggs, I think 7?? We will have soo many babies running around. haha. They are still locked up in the coup. We are more scared of someone stealing our chickens, than of predators getting them. The other day we came home to find the coup door open!!! Our chickens were out roaming about, and that night we had to go search for them.
This weekend, will be the usual routine. Saturday.... kumasi market and sunday.... effiduase market. haha. I am going to start buying things one at a time to bring back home. My suitcases will be full of my new clothes I have had made since I have been here.... and of gifts. haha. Anyone want anything special???
I hope everyone is doing well. I definately miss home. I would give anything to be on MSU campus this fall. Fall is my favorite season, and being on campus during that time is sooo nice. The breeze is cool and the leaves so pretty.
In the event that a rumor has already started.... I will clarify that yes.... I AM COMING HOME EARLY. However, I have not told anyone when exactly that will be. Just know it is sometime between dec. 15th and Dec. 23rd. hehe. You can all be surprised when I walk through your door!!! I already have arrangements to be picked from the airport. I wanted it to be a total surprise, but... I couldn't resist teasing my mom with the news.
Love and miss you all too much.xoxo
Monday, September 21, 2009
Shop-Rite
Well, I went to Accra this weekend with Maa to go shopping. I took a pic, but it turns out it was on video... and I cannot upload it to the site.
The place was pretty interesting. It was actually called Shop-Rite. They had 22 checkout lanes!!! A bakery, deli, and meat counter. They had aisles upon aisles of stuff. It reminded me of a mini-meijers!!! It was pretty cool. I got some soup mixes, lotion, some cream cheese and pickles.
But... the pickles ended up being a big disappointment. The first jar were not even crunchy, they were soft and tasted like they had been on the shelf for 10 years. The second jar was a different brand, and though crunchy... didn't taste very nice. I am totally bummed. My one and only reason for going to Acc was for the pickles. Now... I have to wait until my mom sends me more. haha. Ohhh how I MISS PICKLES!!!
The journey to Acc was pretty nice. We rode in the VIP buses. Nice seats, flat screen tv, air conditioned. Only 15.00 cedis for a 1-way ticket. That is about $10.40 in USD. Not too bad since the trip is about 4-5 hours long. The traffic is horrible, and the roads not too good either.
We stayed at Mr. Albert and Madam Ester's place. The same house I stayed at when I first arrived in GH when my baggage didn't show up. It was okay. It is always nice coming back "home" though. Even though Oyoko isn't my home home.... it is the only home I can go to here. So.... I was glad to come back.
The market area where shop-rite is housed, literally looks like a section of the lansing/meridian mall. It was soo surreal. Nice shops, fancy clothes displayed in the windows, just like at home. I told Maa that once I get home.... it will be a serious reverse culture shock. I nearly died when I stepped inside shop-rite. And then into the mall area. Haaa... and the food court!! Geez. Very refreshing, but overwhelming too.
The place was pretty interesting. It was actually called Shop-Rite. They had 22 checkout lanes!!! A bakery, deli, and meat counter. They had aisles upon aisles of stuff. It reminded me of a mini-meijers!!! It was pretty cool. I got some soup mixes, lotion, some cream cheese and pickles.
But... the pickles ended up being a big disappointment. The first jar were not even crunchy, they were soft and tasted like they had been on the shelf for 10 years. The second jar was a different brand, and though crunchy... didn't taste very nice. I am totally bummed. My one and only reason for going to Acc was for the pickles. Now... I have to wait until my mom sends me more. haha. Ohhh how I MISS PICKLES!!!
The journey to Acc was pretty nice. We rode in the VIP buses. Nice seats, flat screen tv, air conditioned. Only 15.00 cedis for a 1-way ticket. That is about $10.40 in USD. Not too bad since the trip is about 4-5 hours long. The traffic is horrible, and the roads not too good either.
We stayed at Mr. Albert and Madam Ester's place. The same house I stayed at when I first arrived in GH when my baggage didn't show up. It was okay. It is always nice coming back "home" though. Even though Oyoko isn't my home home.... it is the only home I can go to here. So.... I was glad to come back.
The market area where shop-rite is housed, literally looks like a section of the lansing/meridian mall. It was soo surreal. Nice shops, fancy clothes displayed in the windows, just like at home. I told Maa that once I get home.... it will be a serious reverse culture shock. I nearly died when I stepped inside shop-rite. And then into the mall area. Haaa... and the food court!! Geez. Very refreshing, but overwhelming too.
Reply to comments on hair, hen, cows, and chief guy
Okay.... I have written down the ?'s asked in the comments section... hope I answer all of them for you.
My hair....
I definately liked my hair curly, too bad the weather won't allow it to stay longer than a day!!! I am scared to get a perm cause my hair is too short and very fine. So... it might just be a mess. I guess I look younger, maybe because I have lost my tan?? Have you seen all the freckles?? Haaa. I am totally ticked about it. haha.
Girls here definately wear weaves. They wear weaves, wigs, braids, and any other thing they do back home. Maa can do the say curls in her hair and it stays all week!!!
Regarding a ghana diet. I don't reccommend it to anyone. It isn't nice. I don't really enjoy eating anymore, probably because there is nothing I really like to eat here. Also... there is not a lot of snacking. No chips, candy, etc. My indulgence is bottled coke. Which, I do nearly everyday. When I go out... maybe 4?? haha. But... there is no stopping at taco bell, or eating a candybar. No... so I guess cut out snacking, walk alot, sweat a lot and don't really enjoy your food and you will lose weight?? Not too fun. Ohhh, and don't forget runny tummy. That can be a contributing factor too. Goes in, and comes out, just like that.
The hen...
Well, still no babies yet. We have 8 eggs I think. The other hen has started laying now too. She only has 2 eggs so far. We have locked the hens and the one rooster in the chicken coup because we lost the rooster for a few days. He had gone all the way to the next village!! We found him and someone had cut one of his toenails and tied a string on his leg. An indication that someone had already claimed it as theirs. So... we keep them locked up now. The momma hen stays laying onh the nest most of the time these days. She sqwaks at your when she is off the nest and you go near it. I don't know what predators would eat the eggs. There are no dogs around here. I don't think goats eat eggs??? We will keep her locked up for awhile with the babies. I guess if they went into the bush, maybe something could get them in there?? But, you see momma hens with a line of babies all the time.
The cows...
Yea, it is not really common to see kids barefoot. Most usually have shoes. But, there are some which don't. The cattle travel in herds, with a herdsman who watches them. THey are not dehorned. I have never seen the cows being agressive, but the goats and sheep are. THey fight, and it ends, and they are fine again. Animals are slaughtered at a meat house every morning. It is down the road from my house. The place is very black. I wonder if they burn the ground after they do it? They have a butcher block in the market in effiduase. I will try and take a pic. They cut the meat fresh for you. Flies and all. Really unsanitary I think... but that is how it is.
The sign was in English because it is a school. Most schools say that they primarily use English... but, from my experience this is not true. They speak just as much Twi in school as they do at home. However, it isn't suppose to be that way. But... when the teachers don't speak English, how do you expect the students to??? The sign is Westphalian's sign. That is the school behind my house. It is like a high school.
Chief guy...
The cheif definately did not have a welcoming face. People definately wear traditional cloth to more than just funerals. Some people wear it everyday, some just to special occasions like birthing ceremonies, weddings, church, etc.
The white outfit has so many meanings from what I have been able to gather. People mostly wear white/black on sundays' to church. Then, women who have just given birth tend to wear white. Also, at some funerals, depending on the relationship one has to the deceased - you may wear white. But, to wear a white outfit just because, I don't think you would see that.
Mountains... I don't ever see people hiking. But, many people ride bikes. Not really for exercise probably but just as a means of getting around. Especially if the distances are far. In the early morning you can see people jogging and walking for exercise. This is more in the town though, not so much in the village. The people in the village usually do so much farm and house work, exercise is intertwined in their daily activities.
My hair....
I definately liked my hair curly, too bad the weather won't allow it to stay longer than a day!!! I am scared to get a perm cause my hair is too short and very fine. So... it might just be a mess. I guess I look younger, maybe because I have lost my tan?? Have you seen all the freckles?? Haaa. I am totally ticked about it. haha.
Girls here definately wear weaves. They wear weaves, wigs, braids, and any other thing they do back home. Maa can do the say curls in her hair and it stays all week!!!
Regarding a ghana diet. I don't reccommend it to anyone. It isn't nice. I don't really enjoy eating anymore, probably because there is nothing I really like to eat here. Also... there is not a lot of snacking. No chips, candy, etc. My indulgence is bottled coke. Which, I do nearly everyday. When I go out... maybe 4?? haha. But... there is no stopping at taco bell, or eating a candybar. No... so I guess cut out snacking, walk alot, sweat a lot and don't really enjoy your food and you will lose weight?? Not too fun. Ohhh, and don't forget runny tummy. That can be a contributing factor too. Goes in, and comes out, just like that.
The hen...
Well, still no babies yet. We have 8 eggs I think. The other hen has started laying now too. She only has 2 eggs so far. We have locked the hens and the one rooster in the chicken coup because we lost the rooster for a few days. He had gone all the way to the next village!! We found him and someone had cut one of his toenails and tied a string on his leg. An indication that someone had already claimed it as theirs. So... we keep them locked up now. The momma hen stays laying onh the nest most of the time these days. She sqwaks at your when she is off the nest and you go near it. I don't know what predators would eat the eggs. There are no dogs around here. I don't think goats eat eggs??? We will keep her locked up for awhile with the babies. I guess if they went into the bush, maybe something could get them in there?? But, you see momma hens with a line of babies all the time.
The cows...
Yea, it is not really common to see kids barefoot. Most usually have shoes. But, there are some which don't. The cattle travel in herds, with a herdsman who watches them. THey are not dehorned. I have never seen the cows being agressive, but the goats and sheep are. THey fight, and it ends, and they are fine again. Animals are slaughtered at a meat house every morning. It is down the road from my house. The place is very black. I wonder if they burn the ground after they do it? They have a butcher block in the market in effiduase. I will try and take a pic. They cut the meat fresh for you. Flies and all. Really unsanitary I think... but that is how it is.
The sign was in English because it is a school. Most schools say that they primarily use English... but, from my experience this is not true. They speak just as much Twi in school as they do at home. However, it isn't suppose to be that way. But... when the teachers don't speak English, how do you expect the students to??? The sign is Westphalian's sign. That is the school behind my house. It is like a high school.
Chief guy...
The cheif definately did not have a welcoming face. People definately wear traditional cloth to more than just funerals. Some people wear it everyday, some just to special occasions like birthing ceremonies, weddings, church, etc.
The white outfit has so many meanings from what I have been able to gather. People mostly wear white/black on sundays' to church. Then, women who have just given birth tend to wear white. Also, at some funerals, depending on the relationship one has to the deceased - you may wear white. But, to wear a white outfit just because, I don't think you would see that.
Mountains... I don't ever see people hiking. But, many people ride bikes. Not really for exercise probably but just as a means of getting around. Especially if the distances are far. In the early morning you can see people jogging and walking for exercise. This is more in the town though, not so much in the village. The people in the village usually do so much farm and house work, exercise is intertwined in their daily activities.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Baby chicks coming soon...
Here is one of our hens... she started laying eggs about a week or so ago I think. I am not sure how many she has now... at last count there were 8. Once she gets up, I will take a pic of the eggs. She has made her nest in a USPS box!! hehe. Sorry Uncle Doug!! I have no idea who the dad(s) is/are.... but he is most definately either the black rooster we cooked up last weekend, or.... one of the annoying white roosters. I will be checking in on the nest to see how the chicks are coming along. I guess the gestation is about 3 weeks or so??? How cute will it be to have baby chicks running around??? More pics to come!!!
I went to the saloon...
Yea... that's right. Saloon, pronounced just like the old time western bars.... saloon. However, it was a hair salon. I went with Maa last night.... everyone else was getting their hair curled and set... so I did it too. haha. It looked real cute.... last night. Today, the curls have fallen, and it isn't cute at all. It was a nice change for one day anyway. Sometimes I wish my hair really was curly.... though a perm is too permanent for me.... I will just stick with the rollers. For the lady to wash my hair, and roll it and style it cost GH 1.50. That is the equivalent of about $1 USD. The people here are definately underpaid. So... instead of "gettn' my nails did"... I can get my hair curled??? Ughhh, not quite, but it is a nice treat. Maa says soon we will go to Ksi (Kumasi) and get a nice pedicure... haha. Though I have noticed most of the women here who get pedicures have FAKE nails on their toes. I can do fake nails.... on my fingers, but I will pass on my toes. That is a bit too weird for me.
Invasion of the local cattle
I was unable to get a pic of the cows actually in our yard, but.... this is close enough. This is just by our gate near our house, near the Westphalian sign. The cows roam around eating wherever they want to. The 2 kids pictured are helping their dad round up the cows!! hehe. I think there must have been about 20 or so in the herd. Pretty funny ehh??
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Me in my new church outfit!!
The pic is at a weird angle.... Maa was taking it. haha. This is the new white outfit I had done for church. It has very nice design on the top of it. Mostly at church people wear white and black.... don't know why.... so I decided to fit in and do the same.
Mountains near Dunkwa
These are the beautiful mountains near Dunkwa. The pic doesn't really capture the real beauty that was there.... but it was very pretty!! Especially the way it looks all smokey and foggy near the top!! Kind of like the Great Smokey Mountains ehh Mom???
Funerals part III
The pic on the left is of a Chief and a Queen mother. The Chief is the big guy in the middle with the black/gold headgear on, and the Queen mother is by his side in red. They are not married, but they attend functions together. Before greeting a Chief, you have to ask his linquists, who are to his side in black for permission to greet him. They will tell you either yes or no. Also, you never can talk to the Chief directly, you have to talk through his linquists. Interesting. When taking this picture, we had to ask for permission from the linquist, he in turn asked the Chief... and obviously he agreed. :)
The pic on the right is of me at the funeral with some of Kojo's family members. His brother is right beside me, Philip, and his mother and father. The funeral took place in his father's hometown of Dunkwa. The men are dressed in a traditional cloth, that is essentially a gigantic piece of cloth that they wrap around themselves in a particular way. Underneath the cloth they just wear shorts. I love when men wear the traditional cloth, it looks very nice!!
Funerals part II
The pic on the left just shows the people in a line going around and greeting the front row. The pic on the right is of gifts being given to the family of the deceased. The gifts include food, beverages, soaps, lotions, clothes, shoes, etc. The family willl then take these gifts and share them amongst their friends and family. In addition to your presence at a funeral, a monetary contribution is also given. The amount is at the discretion of the person giving the money, but keeping in mind that your name will be read aloud with the amount that you gave!!! This seems very strange to me, and not very tactful, but apparently it is a form of appreciation??
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Funerals in GH - part I
These are some pics of a funeral I attended this past Saturday in a town called Dunkwa. Funerals are always red and black. The people closest to the family, wear red and black cloth, and the others can have any variation of black, brown, red, maroon, etc. The funerals themselves are usually pretty big, and quite complex. The photo on the left is a memorial for the deceased. Pics of them are displayed in the center of the funeral area. Then, there are big tents with red chairs in them. Upon entering the funeral you proceed in a single file line, males in front, females in back, usually in order of age too. You go around the entire interior perimeter of the funeral, and shake the hands of everyone in the front row. This is your greeting to all those that are already there. The front row is usually the close friends and family of the deceased. Then, once you make your way around, you also take a seat in a row. These same people you greeted will now come around and greet you in the same fashion, this is them welcoming you to the funeral. More details to come on what happens after your there.
Reply to comments on AB and the fowl
Okay.... yes, AB does live outside. She has only been in the house once, and that was when Maa wasn't home!! :) hehe. She lives on the porch, and goes out on her rope during the day when someone is home, and we go walking around at night. I keep her locked up because the kids are not always nice to her. They try and pick her up by her legs, pull on her neck, slap her face. They are complete brats actually, so I told them they can't come near my house or her when I am not home!! The goats here they run from them, but she is tame and so they take advantage of it and don't know how to act I guess, or think they can treat her how they treat their dumb goats. I guess I am not real sure of her age. Maybe she is at least 3-4 months old?? I took her from her mom when she was about 1 month old or so, I think. Her horns are coming out now... when they come out a bit more I will take a pic. Yes, goats are naughty!! But very funny. She must weigh about 10 pounds maybe?? She feels like Pommie when carrying her, but with long legs!!
The turkeys have been around for awhile, maybe they are waiting for Christmas???? The turkeys were traveling together and the other black one decided to go the other way, so they were mad at him and calling to him to follow them. He didn't, and they ended up chasing after him. Hilarious. Very very ugly animals.
The chickens are free range.... haha. I was trying to explain our eggs back home... white, brown, organic, free range, vegetarian, etc. The people here must think we are crazy. For the record I eat brown, organic, free range eggs here!! hehe.
The turkeys have been around for awhile, maybe they are waiting for Christmas???? The turkeys were traveling together and the other black one decided to go the other way, so they were mad at him and calling to him to follow them. He didn't, and they ended up chasing after him. Hilarious. Very very ugly animals.
The chickens are free range.... haha. I was trying to explain our eggs back home... white, brown, organic, free range, vegetarian, etc. The people here must think we are crazy. For the record I eat brown, organic, free range eggs here!! hehe.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Turkeys & Chickens in our yard
These are our chickens, they are all white, and we recently added a black rooster and 2 hens. There should be about 8 total?? They are messy and loud. Then we have the turkeys that patrol the village. There are actually 3 total, another black one.... at the time the pic was taken.... these two were summoning the third one. They are quite hidious looking, and extremely irritating to listen to when they are gobbling or whatever noise it is that they supposedly make. They just stroll about, I think they belong to someone around here.
AB on burnt house rubble
Here is AB on the rubble of the burnt house in the village. Seth is up top with her to make sure she didn't fall :) She liked it, but quickly got down when the ground beneath her would crumble. haha. The close up of her was her trying to eat the cord on my camera!!! It is probably my favorite pic of her cause she is sooo naughty with her face!!!
AB in house!!!
2
1The pics are not in order on here.... but first she was in my chair. (pic1).... then she followed me to the door (pic 2).... and was a bit hesitant to come in.... the last pic is of her standing in the doorway, while I was in the hallway. She eventually came in... but was kind of scared. She is quite cute. In the pic on the chair you can see her dog collar!! hehe. Iti s pink and purple, with rhinestones!! Also, the wood paneling beneath the window is because she was peeling the paint off the wall and eating it!!! Now.... she is eating the dang wood!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
New pic of AB (aka Annabelle)
This is naughty AB in the gutter in front of the house.... she rolls around in it. In this particular pic I am leaving her outside and going in the house.... right after this pic she started crying and came running up to the gate. haha. She has a very naughty face here. Too dang cute. She looks like she is saying.... "heyyy what u doing??" I will take more pics tomorrow.... the other one's I took are not too clear, she doesn't pose well.
Surgery Week
Well, the last week has been super busy!!! The German doctors came to do surgeries all week at the hospital!! We started on the 16th with patient check-ins for monday surgery. Everyday the patients having surgery would be there, the patients coming in for check-in for surgery the following day, and the regular/new patients coming for consultation with the "white doctors". haha. When the white doctors come.... many people want to come get checked out. It's funny.
We did about 20-30 surgeries per day, starting at 6am and ending usually after 10pm at night!!! We eat when we have a bit of down time, but mostly it was just busy busy. The main surgeries being performed were cataract, growth removals, and glaucoma operations. Several patients stayed all week as they were having both eyes done!!! The flat surgery price is 150.00 GH cedis. Which is about $104.oo USD. Some people that can be 3 or 4 months salary!!! People here are severly underpaid, it is really sad actually. Many of the patients were older too, so perhaps their children paid for it, but we had some young patients too. The youngest was 8yrs. old, a girl with cataract.
All week I was in charge of consent forms for surgery. The patients would come register and get "lashed".... their eye lashes cut off... then to me to sign a consent form. I created my own little desk, and it worked out pretty well. I did that all morning and into the afternoon, then after all the patients had checked in, I would float around helping where I was needed. Most of us were technically done by about 5 or 6pm, but we stayed as "moral support" for the staff in the eye theatre, as they couldn't leave until the surgeries were complete.
I observed some of the surgeries, it was very intersting.... though eyeballs sticking out from beneath a sheet is not too attractive. I used to watch spays and neuters at the animal hospital... and never had a problem, but watching those eyes being operated on made me kind of queezy. haha. :)
The patients are hilarious. Especially the older one's. They are very talkative, and often don't listen to the doctor - especially the men. There was this one old man.... I don't remember his name.... we just call him Papa.... and he would get out of his bed all the time and go outside when he should be resting!! When he saw Mrs.Esaw (Maa) or myself coming, he would start running inside and jump in his bed!!! It was so funny. I made lots of "friends".... well kind of. By the end of the week, everyone knew my name. Whether they knew me as Stephanie or as Akosua Gyamfua.... when I walked down the hall, many people would be calling me and greeting me. The patients and families are very very grateful for everything we were doing. We often were bought "minerals" which are bottled drinks... fanta, coke, sprite, etc. We would have fruit, bread, eggs, etc. brought to the house, or to Mrs. Esaw's office in appreciation.
The hospital looks nothing like back home. Just think very very simple, with many open spaces. I will try and take pics this week. It is very different.
The surgeries are finished, and we are back to the normal everyday consultations.... the doctors return in November for another week of fun!!!!
We did about 20-30 surgeries per day, starting at 6am and ending usually after 10pm at night!!! We eat when we have a bit of down time, but mostly it was just busy busy. The main surgeries being performed were cataract, growth removals, and glaucoma operations. Several patients stayed all week as they were having both eyes done!!! The flat surgery price is 150.00 GH cedis. Which is about $104.oo USD. Some people that can be 3 or 4 months salary!!! People here are severly underpaid, it is really sad actually. Many of the patients were older too, so perhaps their children paid for it, but we had some young patients too. The youngest was 8yrs. old, a girl with cataract.
All week I was in charge of consent forms for surgery. The patients would come register and get "lashed".... their eye lashes cut off... then to me to sign a consent form. I created my own little desk, and it worked out pretty well. I did that all morning and into the afternoon, then after all the patients had checked in, I would float around helping where I was needed. Most of us were technically done by about 5 or 6pm, but we stayed as "moral support" for the staff in the eye theatre, as they couldn't leave until the surgeries were complete.
I observed some of the surgeries, it was very intersting.... though eyeballs sticking out from beneath a sheet is not too attractive. I used to watch spays and neuters at the animal hospital... and never had a problem, but watching those eyes being operated on made me kind of queezy. haha. :)
The patients are hilarious. Especially the older one's. They are very talkative, and often don't listen to the doctor - especially the men. There was this one old man.... I don't remember his name.... we just call him Papa.... and he would get out of his bed all the time and go outside when he should be resting!! When he saw Mrs.Esaw (Maa) or myself coming, he would start running inside and jump in his bed!!! It was so funny. I made lots of "friends".... well kind of. By the end of the week, everyone knew my name. Whether they knew me as Stephanie or as Akosua Gyamfua.... when I walked down the hall, many people would be calling me and greeting me. The patients and families are very very grateful for everything we were doing. We often were bought "minerals" which are bottled drinks... fanta, coke, sprite, etc. We would have fruit, bread, eggs, etc. brought to the house, or to Mrs. Esaw's office in appreciation.
The hospital looks nothing like back home. Just think very very simple, with many open spaces. I will try and take pics this week. It is very different.
The surgeries are finished, and we are back to the normal everyday consultations.... the doctors return in November for another week of fun!!!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Christy & Constance
This is Constance on the left, and Christy on the right. Constance was the housemaid when I first came to the house... but now Christy works for us. I like Christy better, she is very friendly and always smiling. She is very accomodating and always wanting to make sure I am happy and okay. She is married and has 2 kids - Kwasi and Kobe. She lives across the street from our house in the founder's house. She works M-F and on Sundays. From about 7-4pm.
Lake Bosomtwe
This is our day trip with the entire village last week.... about 60 kids in total were there!!! Lake Bosomtwe is the biggest natural lake in West Africa!!! It was a bit cloudy that day, so there is some fog over the mountainous areas... it is very beautiful though.
The man in the water is transporting bunches of plantains across the lake to another village via his raft. He had flipper-like paddels attached to his hands that he used to move the raft. Very cool.
The kids swam and swam all day. I personally did not go in the water as it was too cold. I also am not a big fan of walking in water where I can't see the bottom.... there might be dead fish, seaweed or other gross stuff down there. No thanks. I had fun watching the kids play though.
picking up a package at the P.O.
wow..... a big deal to say the least.... well, for me it was.
Recently I received an note stating I had a package to pick up at the Kumasi post office. Since the p.o. is only open during the week, I had to go on my own as Maa is at work all day. So... I set off to Kumasi by myself. I can manage getting from my house to Effiduase via taxi without any problem. I then get dropped at the lorry station in Effiduase where I have to pick a Kumasi trotro. The trotro's will not move until every seat is full.... so sometimes you have to wait awhile. The journey to Kumasi is about 45 minutes or so if the traffic isn't bad. I stayed in the trotro until the final stop, where I would board a taxi to drop me at the post office. Here... the frustrations began. I tried to flag down 2 different taxi's... I told them where I wanted to go and they just drove off?? Maybe they didn't understand me?? Who knows. Finally, I get a taxi. I ask the price... he said 7.00 cedi's.... I told him I wouldn't pay that, but I had to jump in as traffic started moving. We went back and forth on the price until I told him I wouldn't pay more than 3.00 cedi's. He finally agreed. We were driving awhile, and ended up in a completely different town!! The guy's English was not good, and he lied about knowing where the Post Office was. I was ticked. He finally stopped and asked directions, and I eventually got there... though I refused to pay any more money for his stupidity.
I arrive at the post office, and there are many street vendors in front of the place, bums on the sidewalks, ehhh. Lots of people. I go into the p.o. and am directed to the opposite end to a different building to claim packages. Okay.... I go. I have to show the note, and my identification. I then proceed to go through a series of check points. The postal worker, the customs guy, the postal worker again, then back to customs, the cashier, then the customs.... it was kind of ridiculous actually. I got my package and had to empty the contents, they were checked in and prices given to all the items. How these prices are figured exactly.... is still a mystery to me, but appartently they use some type of system of how much things cost, based on the country of origin??? Anyways.... once the price is figured for the box, a tax is configured based on the price. They have a tax for everything. A GH tax, a post office tax, a development tax, and health something tax, etc. They use 30% of the total value of a package to configure the tax. Then a fee is charged to get the package out of the post office and the shipment/handling/transporation of it since it arrived in the country. Geez!!! I made the guy go item by item and explain to me the prices, the taxes, etc. He was probably annoyed but I didn't care. I didn't want to be swindled!! So.... after my mom sent the package from US, and paid nearly 60 USD to send it.... I paid money on my end to get it!!! haha. It didn't end up being that much, about 15.00 cedi's which is about $10??? I finally left the package section of the post office and wanted to mail all my post cards. I went back to the other side of the p.o. and stood in line. I was apparently in the wrong line, so I was directed elsewhere, I stood there.... and was told to go back to where I was standing originally. Grrr. This happens alot. Not just here at the p.o., but everywhere. I finally get in the correct line or so I think, and people just keep cutting me in line!!! Because I am foreign, I can't really insult them, or act rude... so I just stand there, getting even more annoyed!! I finally left, I was mad and no one was listening to me.
The ride home was another story.... I got a taxi outside the p.o. It was to take me to the lorry station, so I could pick a Effiduase trotro back home. Due to the traffic, the taxi guy said he would have to drop me off across the street, once I got down I would cross into the park and go left... that is where the Effiduase trotros are. Okay... so I go. I get inside and go left... and it is not there... the people tell me to go across the way... I go.... not there... they say go up there... I go... not there... they say go up the hill ... I go... not there... finally... I stop and tell someone they have to take me to the place. I don't want any pointing of fingers or saying... over there... over here... no. Just take me there. I get the the Effiduase area and the only seat left is the one up front. I am sitting next to a very old man who doesn't speak any English. haha. Everyone in the trotro was amused that I was an Oburoni in the trotro. They were trying to talk to me in English, and making fun of themselves for not speaking properly... or being able to understand. It was kind of funny. I eventually got home.... but, NEVER AGAIN will I go to Kumasi by myself. It is too scary and too many people. Besides, they always try and make foreigners pay a higher amount because they think we have money.... not fair, but understandable why they do so.
Recently I received an note stating I had a package to pick up at the Kumasi post office. Since the p.o. is only open during the week, I had to go on my own as Maa is at work all day. So... I set off to Kumasi by myself. I can manage getting from my house to Effiduase via taxi without any problem. I then get dropped at the lorry station in Effiduase where I have to pick a Kumasi trotro. The trotro's will not move until every seat is full.... so sometimes you have to wait awhile. The journey to Kumasi is about 45 minutes or so if the traffic isn't bad. I stayed in the trotro until the final stop, where I would board a taxi to drop me at the post office. Here... the frustrations began. I tried to flag down 2 different taxi's... I told them where I wanted to go and they just drove off?? Maybe they didn't understand me?? Who knows. Finally, I get a taxi. I ask the price... he said 7.00 cedi's.... I told him I wouldn't pay that, but I had to jump in as traffic started moving. We went back and forth on the price until I told him I wouldn't pay more than 3.00 cedi's. He finally agreed. We were driving awhile, and ended up in a completely different town!! The guy's English was not good, and he lied about knowing where the Post Office was. I was ticked. He finally stopped and asked directions, and I eventually got there... though I refused to pay any more money for his stupidity.
I arrive at the post office, and there are many street vendors in front of the place, bums on the sidewalks, ehhh. Lots of people. I go into the p.o. and am directed to the opposite end to a different building to claim packages. Okay.... I go. I have to show the note, and my identification. I then proceed to go through a series of check points. The postal worker, the customs guy, the postal worker again, then back to customs, the cashier, then the customs.... it was kind of ridiculous actually. I got my package and had to empty the contents, they were checked in and prices given to all the items. How these prices are figured exactly.... is still a mystery to me, but appartently they use some type of system of how much things cost, based on the country of origin??? Anyways.... once the price is figured for the box, a tax is configured based on the price. They have a tax for everything. A GH tax, a post office tax, a development tax, and health something tax, etc. They use 30% of the total value of a package to configure the tax. Then a fee is charged to get the package out of the post office and the shipment/handling/transporation of it since it arrived in the country. Geez!!! I made the guy go item by item and explain to me the prices, the taxes, etc. He was probably annoyed but I didn't care. I didn't want to be swindled!! So.... after my mom sent the package from US, and paid nearly 60 USD to send it.... I paid money on my end to get it!!! haha. It didn't end up being that much, about 15.00 cedi's which is about $10??? I finally left the package section of the post office and wanted to mail all my post cards. I went back to the other side of the p.o. and stood in line. I was apparently in the wrong line, so I was directed elsewhere, I stood there.... and was told to go back to where I was standing originally. Grrr. This happens alot. Not just here at the p.o., but everywhere. I finally get in the correct line or so I think, and people just keep cutting me in line!!! Because I am foreign, I can't really insult them, or act rude... so I just stand there, getting even more annoyed!! I finally left, I was mad and no one was listening to me.
The ride home was another story.... I got a taxi outside the p.o. It was to take me to the lorry station, so I could pick a Effiduase trotro back home. Due to the traffic, the taxi guy said he would have to drop me off across the street, once I got down I would cross into the park and go left... that is where the Effiduase trotros are. Okay... so I go. I get inside and go left... and it is not there... the people tell me to go across the way... I go.... not there... they say go up there... I go... not there... they say go up the hill ... I go... not there... finally... I stop and tell someone they have to take me to the place. I don't want any pointing of fingers or saying... over there... over here... no. Just take me there. I get the the Effiduase area and the only seat left is the one up front. I am sitting next to a very old man who doesn't speak any English. haha. Everyone in the trotro was amused that I was an Oburoni in the trotro. They were trying to talk to me in English, and making fun of themselves for not speaking properly... or being able to understand. It was kind of funny. I eventually got home.... but, NEVER AGAIN will I go to Kumasi by myself. It is too scary and too many people. Besides, they always try and make foreigners pay a higher amount because they think we have money.... not fair, but understandable why they do so.
My bank and the Policeman that guards it!!!
This is Miriam, a German volunteer at the village. Stanbic is my bank, and this is how the police dress in GH.Check out my man's gun!!! haha. Is that really necessary??? I mean really.
What I miss most about home.....What I love about Ghana....
Well.... Everything I guess.
If I had to be very specific.... I would say....
1) Kojo.... and my family... esp. my mom
2) my cat - Grandpa
3) my own car!!!!
4) the conveinances of home.... washer/dryer, fast food, stable internet!!!
5) the food.... I would love to eat tacos, thanksgiving dinner, and pickles especially!!!
What I love about Ghana.....
1) the people.... soooo soooo sweet and friendly, always smiling and very resilient despite any poverty or hardships they are facing
2) all the animals!!! :)
3) different landscape and scenery - some parts are very beautiful here (will post some pics soon)
4) learning a different language and culture, very interesting
5) all the fresh tropical fruit!!! mangos, pineapple, papaya, coconuts,etc. EVERYDAY!!! FRESH
6) the bottled coke is pretty amazing here too!!!
4)
If I had to be very specific.... I would say....
1) Kojo.... and my family... esp. my mom
2) my cat - Grandpa
3) my own car!!!!
4) the conveinances of home.... washer/dryer, fast food, stable internet!!!
5) the food.... I would love to eat tacos, thanksgiving dinner, and pickles especially!!!
What I love about Ghana.....
1) the people.... soooo soooo sweet and friendly, always smiling and very resilient despite any poverty or hardships they are facing
2) all the animals!!! :)
3) different landscape and scenery - some parts are very beautiful here (will post some pics soon)
4) learning a different language and culture, very interesting
5) all the fresh tropical fruit!!! mangos, pineapple, papaya, coconuts,etc. EVERYDAY!!! FRESH
6) the bottled coke is pretty amazing here too!!!
4)
Obama in Ghana
This sign is up near Kumasi.... many of them are around..... some with just Obama.... some with the President of Ghana on one side, and Obama on the other. Haha. It is pretty funny. Note the merge of the GH/US flags on the top!!!
Akwaaba = Welcome in Twi :)
They sell lots of Obama gear around...posters, t-shirts, pins, necklaces, pendents, flags, etc. When he came to Ghana in July it was a pretty big deal!!!! Obama-fever you could say.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Lunch/Dinner Meals....
We eat technically 2x a day in this house......... why...... I have no idea. But we do. So.... around 230-300pm we eat a lunch/dinner. This meal is always VERY heavy. I am not a fan of heavy foods persay, so for me it is sometimes a problem. I just eat a smaller amount. The variety of foods here are many, and because they are mostly Cameroonian dishes, I cannot give the names because I don't know them. But... I will try and describe them.
1) Spagetti
-well, not really how we eat spagetti, but similiar. They make a tomato sauce and add corned beef, and some spices, it seems more soupy than chunky and a bit oily.
2) Salad
-the salad will have carrots, onions, beans, cucumbers, green peppers, tuna (again... with the fish all the time!) and the dressing is a combination of mayo/ketchup. Yeah... it sounds gross, but it is tolerable, providing it has been chilled and there isn't too much of either in it. I am dying for some Ranch dressing right about now!!!! So... if anyone cares to send me some, I would be all too happy!!!
3) Agooshi
-this is a seed that has been blended and mixed with green vegetables. It is probably one of my more favorite foods, and it is eaten with either boiled yam or plantain.
4) Soups/Stews
- I swear everything they eat here is either a soup/stew or some variation of it, and is eaten with some starch... whether it be banku, fufu, rice, kenkey, plantain, yam, potato, etc.
-the soups are often tomato based, with onions, maggi cubes, spices, ginger, garlic, etc. They all have oil, and all have hot pepper in them. The same ingredients are used but they all taste a bit different.
-the meat can be chicken, beef, fish, bushmeat (which I don't eat), or some type of canned fish, etc.
It has been hardly adjusting. I don't eat this type of food everyday, so eating is not really exciting as much as it is a necessity. I am dying for a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed asparagus and green beans! Ahhh. And some real nice bread!!! Haaa.
I am going to talk with the housemaid and see about what other foods she knows how to make. She used to cook for the founder of this village who is a white man from Germany, and she also cooks for the "white doctors" when they come to the hospital to do surgeries. In the meantime, I like eating grilled cheese sandwiches a lot!!!
1) Spagetti
-well, not really how we eat spagetti, but similiar. They make a tomato sauce and add corned beef, and some spices, it seems more soupy than chunky and a bit oily.
2) Salad
-the salad will have carrots, onions, beans, cucumbers, green peppers, tuna (again... with the fish all the time!) and the dressing is a combination of mayo/ketchup. Yeah... it sounds gross, but it is tolerable, providing it has been chilled and there isn't too much of either in it. I am dying for some Ranch dressing right about now!!!! So... if anyone cares to send me some, I would be all too happy!!!
3) Agooshi
-this is a seed that has been blended and mixed with green vegetables. It is probably one of my more favorite foods, and it is eaten with either boiled yam or plantain.
4) Soups/Stews
- I swear everything they eat here is either a soup/stew or some variation of it, and is eaten with some starch... whether it be banku, fufu, rice, kenkey, plantain, yam, potato, etc.
-the soups are often tomato based, with onions, maggi cubes, spices, ginger, garlic, etc. They all have oil, and all have hot pepper in them. The same ingredients are used but they all taste a bit different.
-the meat can be chicken, beef, fish, bushmeat (which I don't eat), or some type of canned fish, etc.
It has been hardly adjusting. I don't eat this type of food everyday, so eating is not really exciting as much as it is a necessity. I am dying for a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed asparagus and green beans! Ahhh. And some real nice bread!!! Haaa.
I am going to talk with the housemaid and see about what other foods she knows how to make. She used to cook for the founder of this village who is a white man from Germany, and she also cooks for the "white doctors" when they come to the hospital to do surgeries. In the meantime, I like eating grilled cheese sandwiches a lot!!!
Breakfast meals...
Everyday breakfast is served between 8-830am. It can be any number of things....
Tea/Milo is a staple at breakfast.... always have tea. It can be eaten with....
1) bread
-this can be tea/milo (which is like hot cocoa) and toasted bread /with jam/bread w/sardines(yuck!)
2) Eggs
-hard boiled, or scrambled, or in an omlette with lots of veggies/sardines. Why they use sardines so much I don't know... but I don't eat them.
3) oats
-this is like PLAIN oatmeal back home.... we add brown sugar to it... it's okay.
4) Maize pudding stuff
-I don't know the name. I think it is a Cameroonian dish. It literally looks like pudding.... and you add sugar to it. It tastes okay.
5) pancakes
-well, they call them pancakes, but they look more like crepes but way bigger and not very sweet. You just eat them plain. This is not a big favorite of mine. The smell of them kind of turns me off.
I like to drink juice everyday too. So I buy apple/orange/grape juice at the store.... and have a glass of that everyday. Then, take my tea. I sometimes eat an apple or some pineapple too. I am not a big breakfast eater, even back home.... so I usually don't eat very much.
Tea/Milo is a staple at breakfast.... always have tea. It can be eaten with....
1) bread
-this can be tea/milo (which is like hot cocoa) and toasted bread /with jam/bread w/sardines(yuck!)
2) Eggs
-hard boiled, or scrambled, or in an omlette with lots of veggies/sardines. Why they use sardines so much I don't know... but I don't eat them.
3) oats
-this is like PLAIN oatmeal back home.... we add brown sugar to it... it's okay.
4) Maize pudding stuff
-I don't know the name. I think it is a Cameroonian dish. It literally looks like pudding.... and you add sugar to it. It tastes okay.
5) pancakes
-well, they call them pancakes, but they look more like crepes but way bigger and not very sweet. You just eat them plain. This is not a big favorite of mine. The smell of them kind of turns me off.
I like to drink juice everyday too. So I buy apple/orange/grape juice at the store.... and have a glass of that everyday. Then, take my tea. I sometimes eat an apple or some pineapple too. I am not a big breakfast eater, even back home.... so I usually don't eat very much.
Sunrise/Sunset, Temps, and heat
Some of you have asked as to what it is like here, weather wise.... well.... it is currently the "rainy season" which means it is supposedly cooler and rains frequently, this should last until I believe September or so?? Well, that is what I was told. When it rains.... it is not just sprinkles, it is literally a downpour of water for a few hours. When that happens, it is a big muggy at first but then very nice and cool afterwards. The last few nights is has rained, and I have even woken up because I was a bit chilly!!! Big surprise huh? The sun sets I think around 6-630pm everyday and the roosters start cock-a-doodle-dooing or whatever they do at around 4am!!!! Yes.... 4am. The sun actually comes up around 530am or so. It is really pretty, both the sunrise and sunset. I have tried taking pics of it, and the beauty just cannot be captured. The pics turn out too dark and far away. I will keep trying. The daytimes are either cloudy and comfortable temps, or hot and miserable. There doesn't seem to be any in between. Today started off cloudy and nice.... and turned hot. Go figure. When the sun is out, it is hot. No matter what your doing. The temperature I think should be anywhere from 75-85 degrees all the time. It is always displayed in celcius here, but that is what it feels like.
What I did on my b-day....
Well... for starters it seems like birthdays are not as big of a deal here as back home.... so it was kind of low key. I awoke to calls from people both here and back home wishing me happy birthday... :) I found a sign slid under my door from Celestine (Mrs. Esaw's cousin who lives in the house) that read: Happy Happy Birthday Stephany Stephanie, from Celestine. haha. Very cute. I had it hanging on my bedroom door for almost a week straight! I woke up a bit late, because I could.... and cleaned Annabelle's pen as I usually do. I started my washing .... and Mr/Mrs. Esaw were already busy cooking in the kitchen. They were cutting up a fresh chicken. That morning Daa had killed one of our chickens, plucked it and chopped it up by the time I got up. I told him I didn't ever want to see the whole process.... so he finished before I got up!! We ate a big lunch in the afternoon and then relaxed for awhile before going to the drinking spot in town. We had many cokes that night!! We also went to another drinking spot that played better music where we danced a bit. They were actually playing US hiphop remixes. It was hilarious. I had a nice time... so different than what I am used to. I had wished I was back home eating at Red Lobster.... those awesome bisquits and a Lobsterista. Nice.........
Mr.& Mrs. Esaw
This is Mr and Mrs. Esaw at my b-day gig at the drinking spot in Effiduase. They are Cameroonians... and have been living in Ghana since December 2006 I believe. Mrs. Esaw is the "doctor" at the Westphalian Eye Hospital, she is actual an Nurse of Opthamology or something I think. For the purposes of this hospital... she is the "docktah". They pronounce it just like that too!!! Mr. Esaw will be leaving soon to go back to Cameroon, and she will go home for vacation when I go back to U.S. at the end of December!!! Their daughter Delis, who is about 20 yrs. old will be coming to visit us soon for her holiday break from school. They are really nice people. I have started calling them Maa and Daa.... because that is what everyone else does. I was the only one using such formalities!! haha. So... occasionally I still say Mr. and Mrs... but mostly just Maa and Daa now. :)
Follow up ?'s on Seth
Here are some questions posed by Monica.... here are the answers.... and a little bit more info.
1) Seth his American name or his Ghana name?
Seth is his Christian name. His full name is Seth Amoako. He was born on Sunday, like me, so the male version is called Akwasi. So... he can also be called Akwasi. He says his mom calls him Nana Amoako. He was named after his father, who is also called Seth. His younger brother is also named Seth?? haha.
2) Does he get confused between the two types of English because they can sound quite different?
Yeah... he says he gets confused sometimes. Most of the time, if you speak slowly and maybe ask in a different way he will understand you. I think he probably has trouble with my accent too. But... even I can't understand some of what the Esaw's say.... the pronounciation is funny. So... I often ask them to spell the word, so I know what they are talking about. Then... I pronounce it how we do in English. It is funny anyways.
3) How far away is his village?
Kumawu is a bit far I guess. You cannot walk from there to Oyoko. I think it is maybe 20 minutes or so in a taxi??? Not sure the actual distance. You pass through a few other villages on the way to Kumawu. I think maybe 4??? Kumawu is in a mountainous area, so it's a bit far. It's even dramatically cooler there... very nice for me!!!
4) Does he walk to come and practice with you?
No way. He can't walk to our place..... his mom puts him in a taxi by himself!!! He says it cost him about 80 peswas. Which is about 55 cents in U.S. dollars!!! haha. He usually brings a basket full of goodies from his parent's farm. I was surprised the first time he came to the house by himself!!! Here... it's not a big deal, I was kind of scared for him.
5) Does he like Annabelle?
Yes of course!! Who doesn't?? haha. He is very nice to her. He cleans up after her when I am gone during the day, and he often goes to fetch her food twice a day. He also makes sure the other kids are not mean to her!!! :)
1) Seth his American name or his Ghana name?
Seth is his Christian name. His full name is Seth Amoako. He was born on Sunday, like me, so the male version is called Akwasi. So... he can also be called Akwasi. He says his mom calls him Nana Amoako. He was named after his father, who is also called Seth. His younger brother is also named Seth?? haha.
2) Does he get confused between the two types of English because they can sound quite different?
Yeah... he says he gets confused sometimes. Most of the time, if you speak slowly and maybe ask in a different way he will understand you. I think he probably has trouble with my accent too. But... even I can't understand some of what the Esaw's say.... the pronounciation is funny. So... I often ask them to spell the word, so I know what they are talking about. Then... I pronounce it how we do in English. It is funny anyways.
3) How far away is his village?
Kumawu is a bit far I guess. You cannot walk from there to Oyoko. I think it is maybe 20 minutes or so in a taxi??? Not sure the actual distance. You pass through a few other villages on the way to Kumawu. I think maybe 4??? Kumawu is in a mountainous area, so it's a bit far. It's even dramatically cooler there... very nice for me!!!
4) Does he walk to come and practice with you?
No way. He can't walk to our place..... his mom puts him in a taxi by himself!!! He says it cost him about 80 peswas. Which is about 55 cents in U.S. dollars!!! haha. He usually brings a basket full of goodies from his parent's farm. I was surprised the first time he came to the house by himself!!! Here... it's not a big deal, I was kind of scared for him.
5) Does he like Annabelle?
Yes of course!! Who doesn't?? haha. He is very nice to her. He cleans up after her when I am gone during the day, and he often goes to fetch her food twice a day. He also makes sure the other kids are not mean to her!!! :)
my brother - Seth
This is Seth. He is 10 years old and comes from a neighboring village called Kumawu (Koo-may-woo). He comes to our house on weekends and on school holidays to improve his English. In his home, neither of his parents speak English, so they wanted him to go to a house where they do.... in our house we speak America and British English!! :):) He is getting better, by the end of the holiday vacation he should be much improved. The downside is that once he leaves the house and goes to play with the kids outside in the village.... they only speak Twi. Though they all speak English very well, they prefer speaking in Twi. So that is kind of a problem sometimes. I asked Seth the other day if he wanted to be my brother, or my child.... and he said.... "I'm your little boy." haha. He is so cute. That is what I always tell him, "Seth, my little boy, how are you..." The interesting thing is that he calls me "Maa." He doesn't call me Stephanie, or even Akosua.... just Maa. That is the culture here.... a female older than yourself, or who could even be your mother, you call Maa out of respect. So... yea... it is fun having him around. I miss him when he is gone from the house!!! I recently asked him if he knew what I meant when I said... "your so cute".... he shook his head. I then said a similiar thing in Twi... and he smiled soooo big!! I told him... wo ho afe paa (woo-hoon-augh-fay-pa). It means your beautiful in Twi, but it can be used for male or female. Now... I say he is cute and he knows the meaning. He is a very good kid, extremely helpful, and always excited to see you when you come home. p.s. This pic was taken the night of my birthday. We were getting ready to go out and go to a "drinking spot" for cokes. :)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Deaf School
Yesterday was really fun! Miriam (a German volunteer here at the village) and I traveled to a village called Jamase (Jugh-ma-see). There is one child in the village who is called Kwame Apomsah who attends the school. He was born hearing, and came to the village perfectly normal but he had a very severe case of spinal meningitis I think??? Since then, he lost nearly all his hearing, and had to relearn how to walk and take care of himself. Now... he is one of the top students at the school. All his teachers were praising him for his hard work and dedication at school.
We toured the entire campus and I was really really impressed. The Jamase Deaf school is the ONLY school in the Ashanti region for Deaf students. So.... nearly 450 students attend and board there the entire school year. They teach grades pre-K thru about middle school which is called J.S.S. (junior secondary school). All the grades have their own classrooms, with very qualified teachers. Everything is taught in English. They use mostly written language and a combination of American/Ghanaian sign language to communicate. They all obtain a basic education and then once they are to move on to another school they have a few options.
#1 - stay @ Jamase school and learn a trade (vocational training)
-this may include Kente weaving, tie & dye of fabric, catering, dressmaking, carpentry, etc.
#2 - transfer to Winneba school for the Deaf, which is a S.S. (senior secondary school)
Currently there are many students learning a trade, some at the S.S. and there are even about 6 at the University. The campus is very well organized, and funded through a NGO in Holland, the Ghana government and also the student's fee's help support the school.
There is a library, full computer lab, assessment center, recreation rooms,etc. There are also currently 2 peace corp volunteers who study Fine Arts for the Deaf of which are interning at the school. They are in charge of the art department there. One of the girls is from IN. :)
Pics on the way from my trip!!
We toured the entire campus and I was really really impressed. The Jamase Deaf school is the ONLY school in the Ashanti region for Deaf students. So.... nearly 450 students attend and board there the entire school year. They teach grades pre-K thru about middle school which is called J.S.S. (junior secondary school). All the grades have their own classrooms, with very qualified teachers. Everything is taught in English. They use mostly written language and a combination of American/Ghanaian sign language to communicate. They all obtain a basic education and then once they are to move on to another school they have a few options.
#1 - stay @ Jamase school and learn a trade (vocational training)
-this may include Kente weaving, tie & dye of fabric, catering, dressmaking, carpentry, etc.
#2 - transfer to Winneba school for the Deaf, which is a S.S. (senior secondary school)
Currently there are many students learning a trade, some at the S.S. and there are even about 6 at the University. The campus is very well organized, and funded through a NGO in Holland, the Ghana government and also the student's fee's help support the school.
There is a library, full computer lab, assessment center, recreation rooms,etc. There are also currently 2 peace corp volunteers who study Fine Arts for the Deaf of which are interning at the school. They are in charge of the art department there. One of the girls is from IN. :)
Pics on the way from my trip!!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
my tent bed
This is my mosquito net bed. My "unders" aka my underwear/bra/hankerchiefs are hanging in the window as they didn't dry during the day. I sleep tucked inside the tent at night so I don't get eaten by mosquitos. My bed is huge!!! I think 4 people could probably comfortably sleep in this bed. It is like a king size bed plus a bit more???
my study spot in my room
My desk in my room where I study! It was made by the workers at the sawmill. It isn't anything special, but it works. That is also my fan which is on probably 90% of the time!!!Annabelle sleeping in my lap!!
Sometimes at night I put her in my lap and just pet her and she will fall asleep. She curls her head around and tucks it against her tummy. She is sooo cute. She is not too smelly either surprisingly. I think I will give her a bath soon though, her hair seems a bit dingey.
Annabelle!!!
This is my goat named Annabelle!!! I am not really
sure of her age... maybe a month or 2??? She is real cute.
Regarding monica's comments....
1) no... no goat friend. She see's the other goats around and often calls to them, but they don't mind her. The one baby goat that came by her the other day she chased it away???
2) She only stays tied up inside the porch when I am gone. If I am home, I am usually with her, or we are out in the grass. I don't really trust the kids to be nice to her. They are loud and have erradic movements and she freaks out.
3) She eats puppy food now, about 10 pellets a day. The vet said it should help give her a balanced diet and let her get stronger from being sick.
my house again
This is the back of my house. I hang my laundry on the line to dry on sundays. To the far left in the cubby area there is the water spicket. Not shown in the picture is the chicken house. I will take pics of them soon, they just run away from me all the time!!!
my house
This is the front of my house!! It may be on the website. It is called Steinhagen. The front veranda is where Annabelle stays!!! hehe.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
me wo abrekyere = I have a goat!!!
I have a goat!!! I bought her for 18.00 Ghana cedis. Which I think is about $12 USD. Haha. It is a baby goat, but old enough to be away from it's mother. She is grey/white/black and her name is "Annabelle". The kids here think it is hilarious I have a pet goat. But.... they are always around my house wanting to pet her, because the animals here just run from you. She actually comes up and likes to be pet. She is getting better at walking on a leash. I have bought a mat for her to sleep on. She is actually starting to potty train herself too. It is really cool. She won't go on the mat unless I leave her for too long without taking her out to the grass. Everytime we go out to the grass on a leash she goes potty. haha. It is like a puppy, but with hooves!!! I have never had a goat.... but it has been interesting. I missed having a pet. So... I decided on a goat. Since back home we treat and take care of our animals a certain way, I didn't want to leave a dog behind to be neglected. So... I chose a goat. The unfortunate thing is that she will eventually be eaten one day. Just not when I am here though. At least then, she won't be neglected and treated any kind of way. But, while I am here, she will be just fine.
Catching up on comments
Sorry everyone. I am just checking the comments posted on the site.... today. So... per my mom's request here are some of the things I have been asked .....
Some basic phrases in Twi
Hello - don't think there is any actual translation, people just say Hello in English
but.... you can say good morning/afternoon/evening
good morning = Ma akye (ma-augh-chain but make the n silent)
good afternoon = Ma aha (ma-augh-haa)
good evening = ma adwo (ma-augh-dwa-o)
goodbye = nante yie (non-tea-yeh) = walk well/safe journey/goodbye during daytime
= da yie (die-yeh) = good night
nice to meet you = not sure about that
but we will meet again = yebehyia bio (yeh-bay-shia-be-o)
thank you = meda ase (may-da-augh-say)
please = mepawokyew (may-pa-woe-cho)
I'm hungry = ekom de me (a-comb-day-me)
I'm tired = ma bre (ma-braid but the d is silent)
Let's go = yenko (yen-co)
stop = gye (jugh-i, but say it fast)
what is your name? = wo din de sen/ye fre wo sen? (woe-din-day-sane/ yeh-fray-woe-sane)
*****************************************************************************
Areas at the village:
1) 3 chirldren's houses : Bunde, Westerwinter and Ika Ehrmann
2) church
3) Westphalian Senior Secondary School
4) Sawmill
5) Steinhagen house (my house)
6) Westphalian Eye Clinic (where Mrs.Esaw is the Dr.)
7)printing press in Kumasi
8) Internet cafe (which is currently being renovated)
9) Optical Training school
I think that is pretty much it. There are a few other buildings that administrative people live in... but I don't know the names.
**********************************************************************************
What I have to do for school???
I have to write 4 reports in total.
Report #1: Organization/Project Analysis (due Aug. 20th)
-for this I am shadowing all the various areas of the project, and the different departments within them. I have to come up with an analysis of how the project is ran, the history, the aims, who reports to who, flaws, things that are working well, etc.
Report #2: Critical Incident Journal/Proposal for Research (due Aug. 20th)
-for this I am to analyze myself in the internship thus far, and any incidents that have occurred good or bad and how they were handled. Also my proposal for research of which I will be doing in the fall is also due. I am yet to decide concretely on what I want to research. I was thinking something in the hospital... but not sure yet. Hopefully by the end of the month, and seeing many of the different areas in the project I will have a better idea what I will want to research.
Report #3: Research paper (Due in Dec. when I return)
Report #4: End of internship/semester feedback (due in Dec. when I return)
So.... that is what I am working on. In addition to my twi lessons 2-3 times a week, and my online classes!!! haha. :):) The fun never ends!!!
Some basic phrases in Twi
Hello - don't think there is any actual translation, people just say Hello in English
but.... you can say good morning/afternoon/evening
good morning = Ma akye (ma-augh-chain but make the n silent)
good afternoon = Ma aha (ma-augh-haa)
good evening = ma adwo (ma-augh-dwa-o)
goodbye = nante yie (non-tea-yeh) = walk well/safe journey/goodbye during daytime
= da yie (die-yeh) = good night
nice to meet you = not sure about that
but we will meet again = yebehyia bio (yeh-bay-shia-be-o)
thank you = meda ase (may-da-augh-say)
please = mepawokyew (may-pa-woe-cho)
I'm hungry = ekom de me (a-comb-day-me)
I'm tired = ma bre (ma-braid but the d is silent)
Let's go = yenko (yen-co)
stop = gye (jugh-i, but say it fast)
what is your name? = wo din de sen/ye fre wo sen? (woe-din-day-sane/ yeh-fray-woe-sane)
*****************************************************************************
Areas at the village:
1) 3 chirldren's houses : Bunde, Westerwinter and Ika Ehrmann
2) church
3) Westphalian Senior Secondary School
4) Sawmill
5) Steinhagen house (my house)
6) Westphalian Eye Clinic (where Mrs.Esaw is the Dr.)
7)printing press in Kumasi
8) Internet cafe (which is currently being renovated)
9) Optical Training school
I think that is pretty much it. There are a few other buildings that administrative people live in... but I don't know the names.
**********************************************************************************
What I have to do for school???
I have to write 4 reports in total.
Report #1: Organization/Project Analysis (due Aug. 20th)
-for this I am shadowing all the various areas of the project, and the different departments within them. I have to come up with an analysis of how the project is ran, the history, the aims, who reports to who, flaws, things that are working well, etc.
Report #2: Critical Incident Journal/Proposal for Research (due Aug. 20th)
-for this I am to analyze myself in the internship thus far, and any incidents that have occurred good or bad and how they were handled. Also my proposal for research of which I will be doing in the fall is also due. I am yet to decide concretely on what I want to research. I was thinking something in the hospital... but not sure yet. Hopefully by the end of the month, and seeing many of the different areas in the project I will have a better idea what I will want to research.
Report #3: Research paper (Due in Dec. when I return)
Report #4: End of internship/semester feedback (due in Dec. when I return)
So.... that is what I am working on. In addition to my twi lessons 2-3 times a week, and my online classes!!! haha. :):) The fun never ends!!!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
OPD and the weekend
Hi Everyone.
Well... OPD was fun this week. I think the patients were more amused to see an "Oburoni" inside the registration booth more than anything. They would just smile and laugh, and then try and speak to me (in Twi of course) and I couldn't hardly hear what they were saying. I could pick up some greetings and a few words. Mostly the older women would just say I was pretty in Twi. Haha. The kids would laugh and smile. My job was to file the previous day's cards and register new patients. I had to fill out their paperwork and log it into the book.
This week was crazy as Obama was coming to town. All everyone was talking about was Obama. Saturday he gave his speeches in Accra and at Cape Coast. He spoke very well as usual. Every tv you passed in the market and in shops all were tuned into his speeches. I wore my Obama shirt to the market on Saturday. Haa. People would start chanting once they saw it. It was a very cool feeling. I felt very proud being an American here this weekend. I was happy to say he is my President.
We (Mrs.Esaw and I) spent nearly all of saturday at the kumasi market. We set out early so as to get to the 2nd hand shoe store in time for a good selection before they were overpicked. That place is kind of crazy. There are tables upon tables of shoes from all over... U.S., Italy, Britain, etc. Some old, some new. I found out I wear a size 37-38. I guess that is British sizes maybe?? We bought fabric also. I have some real nice fabric that I will get dresses made next weekend. I can't wait!! Some real nice Ghana wax prints.
Today we went to the Effiduase market to buy vegetables. Mrs. Esaw (also know and called Ma by EVERYONE) cooked a special Cameroonian dish for me.... coco yam grated and stuffed inside coco yam leaves and cooked in a pot and a type of stew created out of it?? It was real nice. She says it is a delicacy back in Cameroon.
This evening I finished washing my clothes, by hand mind you so it took me forever!!! But... I managed it. I am now working on some online homework and maybe pop some popcorn later. I miss you all. I am having a nice time, but I do miss home a bit. :):) I miss my car!!! Also seeing all of you!!! Mom and Medo... I miss you both the most. Can't wait until we meet again. Soon... December will come sooner than we think.
Hope the weather is nice there. It has been VERY nice here. The sun isn't too hot, there is often a light breeze and the cool rains rock you to sleep at night. I was even cold a few nights!!!
Dad... I am sending your b-day card in the mail tomorrow. Sorry it will be late. I ran into problems finding greeting cards in Oyoko or Effiduase, so I had to wait until I went back to Kumasi.
Love, Steph
xoxoxooxoxo
Well... OPD was fun this week. I think the patients were more amused to see an "Oburoni" inside the registration booth more than anything. They would just smile and laugh, and then try and speak to me (in Twi of course) and I couldn't hardly hear what they were saying. I could pick up some greetings and a few words. Mostly the older women would just say I was pretty in Twi. Haha. The kids would laugh and smile. My job was to file the previous day's cards and register new patients. I had to fill out their paperwork and log it into the book.
This week was crazy as Obama was coming to town. All everyone was talking about was Obama. Saturday he gave his speeches in Accra and at Cape Coast. He spoke very well as usual. Every tv you passed in the market and in shops all were tuned into his speeches. I wore my Obama shirt to the market on Saturday. Haa. People would start chanting once they saw it. It was a very cool feeling. I felt very proud being an American here this weekend. I was happy to say he is my President.
We (Mrs.Esaw and I) spent nearly all of saturday at the kumasi market. We set out early so as to get to the 2nd hand shoe store in time for a good selection before they were overpicked. That place is kind of crazy. There are tables upon tables of shoes from all over... U.S., Italy, Britain, etc. Some old, some new. I found out I wear a size 37-38. I guess that is British sizes maybe?? We bought fabric also. I have some real nice fabric that I will get dresses made next weekend. I can't wait!! Some real nice Ghana wax prints.
Today we went to the Effiduase market to buy vegetables. Mrs. Esaw (also know and called Ma by EVERYONE) cooked a special Cameroonian dish for me.... coco yam grated and stuffed inside coco yam leaves and cooked in a pot and a type of stew created out of it?? It was real nice. She says it is a delicacy back in Cameroon.
This evening I finished washing my clothes, by hand mind you so it took me forever!!! But... I managed it. I am now working on some online homework and maybe pop some popcorn later. I miss you all. I am having a nice time, but I do miss home a bit. :):) I miss my car!!! Also seeing all of you!!! Mom and Medo... I miss you both the most. Can't wait until we meet again. Soon... December will come sooner than we think.
Hope the weather is nice there. It has been VERY nice here. The sun isn't too hot, there is often a light breeze and the cool rains rock you to sleep at night. I was even cold a few nights!!!
Dad... I am sending your b-day card in the mail tomorrow. Sorry it will be late. I ran into problems finding greeting cards in Oyoko or Effiduase, so I had to wait until I went back to Kumasi.
Love, Steph
xoxoxooxoxo
Sunday, July 5, 2009
internship begins 7/6
I told you my internship begins... but didn't say what I would be doing. I start at the OPD tomorrow. The outpatient department. It is kind of like the registration/check-in place. I believe they also take your money. The most intersting thing about it... is that many of the people who come to the hospital do not speak any English. So... lucky me, I will have to learn my Twi fairly quickly to keep up!! :):)
I will send an update in the next day or so. xoxo
I will send an update in the next day or so. xoxo
Internship offically begins 7/6
Hi Everyone!! I hope all is well back home. Everything is fine here. The weather has been "nicer" the last few days, not so hot. I am getting to like the food a bit better. They sure do love "peppae" here. They use fresh peppers and it is HOT!!! The taste is real nice, so after a few mouthfuls you can't taste the hot much. My favorite so far has been Peppae soup with oxtail. haha. Since I don't like bones, I got the meat part of the tail in my soup. Surprisingly I really like having tea everyone too. Yellow label Lipton is my fave with 2 sugar cubes. The pineapple is AMAZING!! I have never tasted pineapple so sweet and delicious in my life. It is real nice.
Yesterday was market day in Kumasi. Wow, wow, and wow. That place still freaks me out, mostly because it is so gigantic and so many people. Mrs.Esaw, Mr. Moses and Seth and I went to the market. Ohh... Seth is a little boy from about 2 villages away in Kumawu and he comes to the house on weekends to work on his English!! :) He is real cute, about 10 yrs. old or so. Going to the market is nearly an all day event. The travel time is significant... about 40 minutes each way from Oyoko to Kumasi and in-town traffic is just plain ridiculous.
A few observations about the market.....
1) freshly butchered meat out in the open, flies and all.... kind of scary
2) everything is sold in RAW form... cooking from scratch baby!!
3) items expensive in US are still expensive here --> i.e. tv,laptop, etc.
4) driving signals are optional?? As are street signs??
I have lots more... but they can wait for another post. Also yesterday we attended a funeral. I wore a traditional funeral dress and blended in quite well, minus the skin tone. The funerals here are quite elaborate and slightly confusing. There is lots of greeting, and giving of money and dancing and more greeting. It's very interesting.
Today was more relaxed, we hung out at home all day. I worked on some homework for my online class, and cleaned my room. Seth and I worked on English. Well... I would say it in Twi, and he would tell me what I said in English. It was a pretty good system. I really hope to find a way of uploading some pics on here. They take FOREVER to upload and often time out before they are through... but I am working on it. So please bare with me. I miss and love you all. Medo... wo nkoaa ne medo. Mepawokyew fre me wae.
Love, Steph
Yesterday was market day in Kumasi. Wow, wow, and wow. That place still freaks me out, mostly because it is so gigantic and so many people. Mrs.Esaw, Mr. Moses and Seth and I went to the market. Ohh... Seth is a little boy from about 2 villages away in Kumawu and he comes to the house on weekends to work on his English!! :) He is real cute, about 10 yrs. old or so. Going to the market is nearly an all day event. The travel time is significant... about 40 minutes each way from Oyoko to Kumasi and in-town traffic is just plain ridiculous.
A few observations about the market.....
1) freshly butchered meat out in the open, flies and all.... kind of scary
2) everything is sold in RAW form... cooking from scratch baby!!
3) items expensive in US are still expensive here --> i.e. tv,laptop, etc.
4) driving signals are optional?? As are street signs??
I have lots more... but they can wait for another post. Also yesterday we attended a funeral. I wore a traditional funeral dress and blended in quite well, minus the skin tone. The funerals here are quite elaborate and slightly confusing. There is lots of greeting, and giving of money and dancing and more greeting. It's very interesting.
Today was more relaxed, we hung out at home all day. I worked on some homework for my online class, and cleaned my room. Seth and I worked on English. Well... I would say it in Twi, and he would tell me what I said in English. It was a pretty good system. I really hope to find a way of uploading some pics on here. They take FOREVER to upload and often time out before they are through... but I am working on it. So please bare with me. I miss and love you all. Medo... wo nkoaa ne medo. Mepawokyew fre me wae.
Love, Steph
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