woah hey. ok. so it's monday.. the last one. the day after tomorrow i get on a plane and head for home. wow. it's hard to believe the time went so quickly.. it almost feels like i've got a firm footing here.. and now it's time to leave. but i'm so excited to get home and share the things that happened and pictures and presents (!!) with everyone.
the weekend was sweet- anita and nat and i headed into accra on saturday and saw cool 'capital city' type things.. independence park, the parliment building, etc. it was a great day just walking around and taking pictures and taking in 'downtown' accra one last time. yesterday anita and i went beach-side for an afternoon of relaxing in the sand :) it was so nice just to sit and listen to the waves and soak up some sun. it was not nice to have to tell people every could minutes that we did not want what they were selling, we did not want to go to a party with them, and we did not want to marry them.
ladies i tell you what. my purity ring saved me more times than i can count. not only is it a beautiful symbol of keeping ourselves pure until we're married, but you can hold up your left hand (should you wear it there like i do) and tell creepy african men that you really would like to come to the beach party where they'll probably put somethin in your drink and then goodness only knows what (seriously.).. but you can't go because you're married. but other than unwanted attention it was great. :)
today i'm back at the office- just today and tomorrow left- and tomorrow i think i might ask to take a half-ish day to finish packing and get things done at home.. depending on whethr i get laundry done tonight or not. both water tanks are empty- so there's no water- which impeded my ability to do laundry yesterday as i had planned.. but no matter. today is just as good. i'm kind of half packed.. just have to add the laundry. i have a bag of a couple pairs or shoes and some clothes that i'm throwing away.. africa has kind of destroyed them.. haha. so that freed up some room for all the stuff i bought :) and admittedly- i waited until the night before i left to pack when i was coming (i know ok. i know.), so with some more planning/packing time things should fit a little better.
tomorrow i'll go and pick up my second dress :) :) must find places at home to wear them. must. and then it's time for goodbyes at the office.. only 2 more episodes of 'second chance' to watch.. what will i do without salvador in my life?!? but wait. dont' be sad.. i found it on the internet.. so i can watch from home. haha.. i go to africa and come back addicted to a telenovela. lovely. then one last night in ghana- gotta get up early wednesday morning. we have to leave the house by 7am, i have to be checked in to the airport by 8, and then my flight leaves at 10:10am. i hit JFK at 5:29pm (9:29pm ghana time.. ew 11 hour flight.) and then jump a connection to pittsburgh at 9:20, landing in good old PA at 11:34 pm (3:34am ghana time. unfortunate.) and i'm sure at that point all i'll want to do is sleep.. and all my mom will want to do is ask questions.
but. i have a plan. shortly after lunch on the ACC/JFK flight i will take 2 advil pm... and sleep the rest of the way. ghana to america in no time flat. yesssssss. i dont have any nyquil or i would take that.. but i think the advil will do. the more sleeping that occurs the better.
with a shudder i realized that we move back into school a week from today. it's a weird thought that in 7 days i'll be moving into my dorm.. but i'm still in africa. well.. i'm not entirely sure i'll have time (and you and i both know i'll probably forget anyways) to write tomorrow, so i guess this the official sign-off from accra. i've learned more than i ever thought i would.. and i've probably grown and changd more than i realize. i continue to thank God for this summer- for the amazing opportunity that i've had to see somewhere completely different from my small world and for the chance to grow closer to Him through everything. God's pretty awesome.
echiri everyone. :)
great is your faithfulness oh God
you wrestle with the sinner's heart
you lead us by still waters into mercy
and nothing can keep us apart.
great is your love and justice God
you use the weak to lead the strong
you lead us in the song of your salvation
and all your people sing along.
your grace is enough, your grace is enough
your grace is enough, heaven reaching down to us
your grace is enough, i'm covered in your love
your grace is enough for me.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
the final countdown
monday morning. last full week at the office. and my oh my will this week (and the 2 whole days of next week that i'm here) be busy.
i'm doing the company interviews on chinese involvement in african industry tomorrow- so that should take all dayish.. especially since we're probably taking trotros (busses). but it'll be sweet to get out and see accra and talk to ghanaian business people.
mavis and i have to get back to accra market sometime this week- i still need to pick up a few last minute ghana-type things :) and that...could only take a couple hours if we planned well and didn't fool around- but comon. let a couple girls loose in the biggest market in accra and expect them to come home in a couple hours? try again. haha.
anita (romanian intern who arrived yesterday- soooo sweet) and i are going up to the national game park (up north..ooooooo) sometime this week- that'll take all day. but i'm pumped to see wildlife and sarafi-ish it ghana style.
i have to take my other fabric to the seamstress to get another dress made. side note. i picked up my first dress on friday. it's the most beautiful thing i've ever owned. it's perfect and wonderful and beautiful. the stitching is incredible and the design is exactly what i wanted.. it's perfect. mavis says that the color of my skin probably didn't hurt in making it so perfect.. but i mean comon. being pasty had to come in handy somehow.
i need to visit evelyn and francis to say goodbye sometime this week.. i doubt next week will be good for a whole lot- i fly out wednesday morning at 10:10am.
so- with all of that to do- this week will fly by.. and before i know it i'll be home.. for 4 days.. before moving back to school... for senior year. sweet mother.
this weekend was super sweet- sandra and i went to the "night of 1006 laughs and music" on saturday. they bring in the best comedians and recording artists from ghana/nigeria to perform.. it was sooooo funny. i had to work hard to understand the nigerians.. but it ws hilarious. the show was at the ghana national theatre in 37 (the district of accra it's in), which was built by the chinese in 2003.. oh the random facts you learn.
sunday we just kind of hung out and watched movies- anita came over for most of the day and i made breakfast.. she came to africa and got an american breakast of pancakes, eggs, toast and sausage.. piled high with syrup. dinner was definitely ghanaian though. it's been sweet to hear about bucharest and what anita's life is like and what she thinks about africa and things.
coming to the end.. words cannot express how much God has grown me this summer. and for all the amazing experiences and great pictures and sweet gifts (oh man i can't wait to give them to people)... the most wonderful part about being here is seeing how my faith and walk have grown and changed. it sounds so cliche.. go off to africa and live with out hot/running water for a couple months and come back talking about how much God changed you.. but i mean.. it's true. when you strip away all the distractions of home.. all the things i stressed about needlessly and all the things i tried to take into my own hands without even realizing it. it's amazing how distracted and pulled in different directions i was without even knowing. and having all that taken away for a summer brings you back to things that matter. it's strange how you can be refocused and have your eyes opened wide all at the same time. being here and learning about the other side of the world.. people who's lives are so different from my own little bubble, which extends far beyond grove city. my whole life was a bubble.. safe and sheltered and comfortable.. God popped the bubble in africa. it's a lot more than i feel like i can type out.. i know i probably didn't explain it very well.. but.. yea.
i'm doing the company interviews on chinese involvement in african industry tomorrow- so that should take all dayish.. especially since we're probably taking trotros (busses). but it'll be sweet to get out and see accra and talk to ghanaian business people.
mavis and i have to get back to accra market sometime this week- i still need to pick up a few last minute ghana-type things :) and that...could only take a couple hours if we planned well and didn't fool around- but comon. let a couple girls loose in the biggest market in accra and expect them to come home in a couple hours? try again. haha.
anita (romanian intern who arrived yesterday- soooo sweet) and i are going up to the national game park (up north..ooooooo) sometime this week- that'll take all day. but i'm pumped to see wildlife and sarafi-ish it ghana style.
i have to take my other fabric to the seamstress to get another dress made. side note. i picked up my first dress on friday. it's the most beautiful thing i've ever owned. it's perfect and wonderful and beautiful. the stitching is incredible and the design is exactly what i wanted.. it's perfect. mavis says that the color of my skin probably didn't hurt in making it so perfect.. but i mean comon. being pasty had to come in handy somehow.
i need to visit evelyn and francis to say goodbye sometime this week.. i doubt next week will be good for a whole lot- i fly out wednesday morning at 10:10am.
so- with all of that to do- this week will fly by.. and before i know it i'll be home.. for 4 days.. before moving back to school... for senior year. sweet mother.
this weekend was super sweet- sandra and i went to the "night of 1006 laughs and music" on saturday. they bring in the best comedians and recording artists from ghana/nigeria to perform.. it was sooooo funny. i had to work hard to understand the nigerians.. but it ws hilarious. the show was at the ghana national theatre in 37 (the district of accra it's in), which was built by the chinese in 2003.. oh the random facts you learn.
sunday we just kind of hung out and watched movies- anita came over for most of the day and i made breakfast.. she came to africa and got an american breakast of pancakes, eggs, toast and sausage.. piled high with syrup. dinner was definitely ghanaian though. it's been sweet to hear about bucharest and what anita's life is like and what she thinks about africa and things.
coming to the end.. words cannot express how much God has grown me this summer. and for all the amazing experiences and great pictures and sweet gifts (oh man i can't wait to give them to people)... the most wonderful part about being here is seeing how my faith and walk have grown and changed. it sounds so cliche.. go off to africa and live with out hot/running water for a couple months and come back talking about how much God changed you.. but i mean.. it's true. when you strip away all the distractions of home.. all the things i stressed about needlessly and all the things i tried to take into my own hands without even realizing it. it's amazing how distracted and pulled in different directions i was without even knowing. and having all that taken away for a summer brings you back to things that matter. it's strange how you can be refocused and have your eyes opened wide all at the same time. being here and learning about the other side of the world.. people who's lives are so different from my own little bubble, which extends far beyond grove city. my whole life was a bubble.. safe and sheltered and comfortable.. God popped the bubble in africa. it's a lot more than i feel like i can type out.. i know i probably didn't explain it very well.. but.. yea.
Monday, July 28, 2008
details in the fabric
title being the current song rocking through my earbuds. thanks to mr.mraz for this wonderful song.
well. i suppose a more appropriate title would have been SHOPPING! because that's what i did this weekend, much to my delight. mavis and i braved the Accra market- the largest market in Accra and Osu, which is another district in Accra for some quality african finds.
and oh we found them.
the accra market is crazy. there are so many people.. you have to be aggressive to make it through. if the person coming at you the opposite way senses the slightest hesitation.. you're done for. shops selling everything imaginable lined the streets where taxis and trotros fly by. and if you turn off the main drag there are these little alleys that barely fit 2 people with more shops. walking along to cries of "hey obroni!" (obroni = white person).. it was quite the experience.
first i bought fabric for my dresses- i decided on this two-toned olive-ish one that has a gold dot design in it and a deep purple one that has a diamond design in white, black, gold, and light purple dots. i should have the finished products by the end of the week- in tie to wear to church on sunday :)
i also bought these sweet beads that everyone wears here... the woman selling them gave me a free one because i bought so many.. haha. along with the beads i got beautiful kente scarves. kente is the traditional fabric that clothing was made out of. it's handwoven and takes a long time, so it's a little more expensive than most fabric. but it's beautiful- lots of traditional african patterns and colors.
THEN. then. then.
i was headed towards another fabric stand and what was in the tent next to it caught my eye. masks. hand carved traditional african masks. they're so incredibly beautiful.. they have beautiful carvings and raised copper designs on them- definitely got 4. can't wait to hang a couple in my dorm :)
saturday night i learned how to make ghanaian food- banku, fufu, grounnut soup, and waache- and i wrote it all down this time. i showed sandra how to make pancakes, and then we cooked ghanaian food for franklin's friends who came over for dinner. after that we watched spiderman 3 and letters from iwo jima.. and then it was muy muy late and i definitely went to bed.
having been here for a while now i can see the ways that God has used this summer to shape and mold me. i can see His hand in getting me here, and even more in sustaining me in a completely new place. as my departure gets closer i can see more and more how God is preparing me for the year ahead- what a blessing.. to find quiet in my heart, even in the middle of butterflies at the thought of senior year. and it's funny because the ways i've changed and grown are not the ways i was expecting to- surprise. the adoption agency means more to me than i ever thought it would. all i can think about is what an incredible witness it will be. what a way to show the love of Christ to women in Accra.
of course there have been hard lessons learned, but i wouldn't trade this summer for anything. i'm so excited to see what God has in store for the rest of my time here.. and how He uses what i've learned when i go back home.
i'll leave you for tonight with Daniel 3:13-18.
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
well. i suppose a more appropriate title would have been SHOPPING! because that's what i did this weekend, much to my delight. mavis and i braved the Accra market- the largest market in Accra and Osu, which is another district in Accra for some quality african finds.
and oh we found them.
the accra market is crazy. there are so many people.. you have to be aggressive to make it through. if the person coming at you the opposite way senses the slightest hesitation.. you're done for. shops selling everything imaginable lined the streets where taxis and trotros fly by. and if you turn off the main drag there are these little alleys that barely fit 2 people with more shops. walking along to cries of "hey obroni!" (obroni = white person).. it was quite the experience.
first i bought fabric for my dresses- i decided on this two-toned olive-ish one that has a gold dot design in it and a deep purple one that has a diamond design in white, black, gold, and light purple dots. i should have the finished products by the end of the week- in tie to wear to church on sunday :)
i also bought these sweet beads that everyone wears here... the woman selling them gave me a free one because i bought so many.. haha. along with the beads i got beautiful kente scarves. kente is the traditional fabric that clothing was made out of. it's handwoven and takes a long time, so it's a little more expensive than most fabric. but it's beautiful- lots of traditional african patterns and colors.
THEN. then. then.
i was headed towards another fabric stand and what was in the tent next to it caught my eye. masks. hand carved traditional african masks. they're so incredibly beautiful.. they have beautiful carvings and raised copper designs on them- definitely got 4. can't wait to hang a couple in my dorm :)
saturday night i learned how to make ghanaian food- banku, fufu, grounnut soup, and waache- and i wrote it all down this time. i showed sandra how to make pancakes, and then we cooked ghanaian food for franklin's friends who came over for dinner. after that we watched spiderman 3 and letters from iwo jima.. and then it was muy muy late and i definitely went to bed.
having been here for a while now i can see the ways that God has used this summer to shape and mold me. i can see His hand in getting me here, and even more in sustaining me in a completely new place. as my departure gets closer i can see more and more how God is preparing me for the year ahead- what a blessing.. to find quiet in my heart, even in the middle of butterflies at the thought of senior year. and it's funny because the ways i've changed and grown are not the ways i was expecting to- surprise. the adoption agency means more to me than i ever thought it would. all i can think about is what an incredible witness it will be. what a way to show the love of Christ to women in Accra.
of course there have been hard lessons learned, but i wouldn't trade this summer for anything. i'm so excited to see what God has in store for the rest of my time here.. and how He uses what i've learned when i go back home.
i'll leave you for tonight with Daniel 3:13-18.
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Thursday, July 24, 2008
less than 3 weeks
crazy stuff. less than three weeks until i'm flying home. flying home to 4 days of insanity.. and then moving back to school. haha. excellent.
not a whole lot is new i guess.. yesterday was sandra and manvis' birthday :) i made chocolate cake with dark chocolate icing. an instant hit. haha. the westernization of the food in our house continues. sandra loved the pancakes and eggs i made for her monday morning, the brownies on tuesday were a hit, and now the cake. haha oh- and pretzels and peanut butter.. haha. sandra says i'm trying to kill her.
this weekend we're going shopping :) and yesterday sandra and francis and i went to clinic to see a forum/session they were having on prenatal care- we want to incorporate something like that into the agency. it's still crazy to me to think that i'm starting a business. today we're meeting with a lawyer to talk about forms and paperwork and stuff surrounding setting something like this up... then next week we meet with doctors.. and then we start advertising and seeing women who need us. it's such an incredible thing to really be using what i've learned to help people.. people that i'll see and be able to talk to and touch.. it's amazing. but while we were at the clinic francis and i went for a walk and i got some more good pictures :)
i've had my first homesick moments.. i'm not usually a homesick type of person.. so it's a strange thing i guess.. it's weird. life here has become normal- the way things look and smell and what it takes to move around.. it's normal life. but as normal as it is.. it's like there's this deeper level of normal that only being "home" can accomplish.. i don't know if that makes sense. i just reread it.. it doesn't make sense. so.. yea.
um- let's see.. i'm excited to pick out the fabric for my dress. despite cries for lime green from one party .. i will do nothing of the sort. haha. and i think i'll make chocolate chip cookies next week. sad news.. we're almost out of peanut butter.
not a whole lot is new i guess.. yesterday was sandra and manvis' birthday :) i made chocolate cake with dark chocolate icing. an instant hit. haha. the westernization of the food in our house continues. sandra loved the pancakes and eggs i made for her monday morning, the brownies on tuesday were a hit, and now the cake. haha oh- and pretzels and peanut butter.. haha. sandra says i'm trying to kill her.
this weekend we're going shopping :) and yesterday sandra and francis and i went to clinic to see a forum/session they were having on prenatal care- we want to incorporate something like that into the agency. it's still crazy to me to think that i'm starting a business. today we're meeting with a lawyer to talk about forms and paperwork and stuff surrounding setting something like this up... then next week we meet with doctors.. and then we start advertising and seeing women who need us. it's such an incredible thing to really be using what i've learned to help people.. people that i'll see and be able to talk to and touch.. it's amazing. but while we were at the clinic francis and i went for a walk and i got some more good pictures :)
i've had my first homesick moments.. i'm not usually a homesick type of person.. so it's a strange thing i guess.. it's weird. life here has become normal- the way things look and smell and what it takes to move around.. it's normal life. but as normal as it is.. it's like there's this deeper level of normal that only being "home" can accomplish.. i don't know if that makes sense. i just reread it.. it doesn't make sense. so.. yea.
um- let's see.. i'm excited to pick out the fabric for my dress. despite cries for lime green from one party .. i will do nothing of the sort. haha. and i think i'll make chocolate chip cookies next week. sad news.. we're almost out of peanut butter.
Monday, July 21, 2008
coconuts. sweet.
another monday. BUT this weekend was pretty sweet. went back to the beach :) it was less crowded than on Republic Day, which was soooo nice. however, the high point came sunday- yesterday.. same thing.
anyways.
rose mary had an extra dress here with her- so i got to wear it to church!! it was beautiful.. a kind of peachy color.. it had pearls and little shiny discs sewn into it in places- i'm so excited to get my dress made! sandra says the expensive ones are about $15. which means i'll get about 4... haha. but seriously.. they're so beautiful and all custom made. the seamstress comes to your house to take your measurements an then you pick the fabric and the style and she comes back a week later with a dress! woah. so excited.
THEN.
we got back from church and there was a guy walking down the street with a huge.. bowl.. bucket.. thing on his head (i'm working on my head-balancing skills... i drop a lot of stuff), and i can't tell what's inside, and franklin and sandra call him over and he pulls out one of the things and starts hacking away at the top with a machete type looking thing. he pulls the top off and hands it to franklin who hands it to me. i ask sandra what it is.. a COCONUT she says.
WHHAATTTT??!?! says i.
so i drank the milk right out of a coconut!!! amazing stuff. seriously. the inside of the coconut is kind of gross- dare i say frothy? but i like the milk a lot.
well- back to world i suppose.. just 3 work weeks left.. crazy.
anyways.
rose mary had an extra dress here with her- so i got to wear it to church!! it was beautiful.. a kind of peachy color.. it had pearls and little shiny discs sewn into it in places- i'm so excited to get my dress made! sandra says the expensive ones are about $15. which means i'll get about 4... haha. but seriously.. they're so beautiful and all custom made. the seamstress comes to your house to take your measurements an then you pick the fabric and the style and she comes back a week later with a dress! woah. so excited.
THEN.
we got back from church and there was a guy walking down the street with a huge.. bowl.. bucket.. thing on his head (i'm working on my head-balancing skills... i drop a lot of stuff), and i can't tell what's inside, and franklin and sandra call him over and he pulls out one of the things and starts hacking away at the top with a machete type looking thing. he pulls the top off and hands it to franklin who hands it to me. i ask sandra what it is.. a COCONUT she says.
WHHAATTTT??!?! says i.
so i drank the milk right out of a coconut!!! amazing stuff. seriously. the inside of the coconut is kind of gross- dare i say frothy? but i like the milk a lot.
well- back to world i suppose.. just 3 work weeks left.. crazy.
Monday, July 14, 2008
told you i was bad at this..
happy monday!
the weekend was fun- franklin and sandra and i went out friday night and met some fun people.. still not quite used to the.. let's say.. forwardness of african men. haha. but it was fun.
church yesterday. sweet jeepers. i mean.. these people go to church. service is at least 2 hours long and the worship gets down right rowdy- people dancing and jumping and clapping.. the music is so loud you can't even hear yourself, let alone the person next to you.. so good voice or bad you can sing as loud as you can. haha. it's just nice not to feel.. i can't describe it. you never feel like people are looking at you, or that you're supposed to be doing a certain thing, or that certain things are frowned upon.. everyone is so caught up in praising God that it doesn't matter what you do- because no one notices anyone else. they know a lot of our old school praise songs.. so it's been a fun blast from the past at church and on the radio. the service is in 2 languages- the pastor preaches in english and then there's a translator to the local language. the whole place is alive..
i learned how to make fufu on saturday. :) you take plantains and mash them with the biggest morter and pistol i've ever seen until it's like a dough, and then you do the same thing to yams, and then you mash them together.. and there you go! serve with peanut soup- which has nothing to do with peanuts- and you have a traditional ghanaian favorite. sandra says everyone loves to eat it but no one likes to make it because it takes so long and it's hard to make the dough. last night evelyn and i walked down to one of the shops and bought local chocolate- they say it's milk chocolate.. but it tastes like it's halfway inbetween milk and dark.. it's really good though.. i'll have to see about bringing some home.
just hanging out at the office- half day today. we didn't get here until about noon.. haha. not a bad way to start the week.
:)
the weekend was fun- franklin and sandra and i went out friday night and met some fun people.. still not quite used to the.. let's say.. forwardness of african men. haha. but it was fun.
church yesterday. sweet jeepers. i mean.. these people go to church. service is at least 2 hours long and the worship gets down right rowdy- people dancing and jumping and clapping.. the music is so loud you can't even hear yourself, let alone the person next to you.. so good voice or bad you can sing as loud as you can. haha. it's just nice not to feel.. i can't describe it. you never feel like people are looking at you, or that you're supposed to be doing a certain thing, or that certain things are frowned upon.. everyone is so caught up in praising God that it doesn't matter what you do- because no one notices anyone else. they know a lot of our old school praise songs.. so it's been a fun blast from the past at church and on the radio. the service is in 2 languages- the pastor preaches in english and then there's a translator to the local language. the whole place is alive..
i learned how to make fufu on saturday. :) you take plantains and mash them with the biggest morter and pistol i've ever seen until it's like a dough, and then you do the same thing to yams, and then you mash them together.. and there you go! serve with peanut soup- which has nothing to do with peanuts- and you have a traditional ghanaian favorite. sandra says everyone loves to eat it but no one likes to make it because it takes so long and it's hard to make the dough. last night evelyn and i walked down to one of the shops and bought local chocolate- they say it's milk chocolate.. but it tastes like it's halfway inbetween milk and dark.. it's really good though.. i'll have to see about bringing some home.
just hanging out at the office- half day today. we didn't get here until about noon.. haha. not a bad way to start the week.
:)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
and by 8:30.. i meant 10
goooooooood morning!
chilling at bari house (where the office is).. excitement of a little while ago- we're all sitting here working and suddenly there's all this shouting from outside- and we run to the door (any excuse to stop working.. haha) and there's a guy running as fast as he can go past bari house along flattop junction (the road) with about 20 people chasing him. he was carrying a couple yams (note: yams here are about a foot tall and not eaten at thanksgiving.. which.. they dont' celebrate anyways... and the yams are white.. it's like a stretched out potato.. kind of.. anyways..) so we're standing up on the balcony (the office is on the second floor) laughing- i guess the guy stole the yams and everyone who had been standing near the stand and the owners were chasing him down. just past bari house he tried to hop in a cab- but couldn't get the door closed fast enough and some of the people caught him. they took the yams and started beating him with them.. which is funny. but the story isn't funny.. because after they beat him with vegetables franklin said they probably took him back behind the front row of stores to hang him- that's how people deal with local offenses around here..
one of the major problems in ghana is that they have a judicial system (not too unlike the one in the US) but people don't use it- they want instant gratification, or revenge i guess would be a better way to put it. the politicians keep coming on the radio and encouraging peope to take criminals to the police station.. not to just punish the criminals themselves..
here's how this morning went.. haha
time- 8:05, i'm sitting with benedict on my lap and franklin is working at his computer
Franklin: oh kayte, we would like to be leaving around 8:30
Me: oh ok.
*jump in the shower, get dressed and packed up, return to the living room at 8:25 ready to go. Franklin.. has not moved*
Franklin: oh kayte, my own words i am eating them.. let's say we will be leaving at 9.
Me: sure ok
time- 9:45. still sitting in the living room while franklin gets ready
time- 10am- we pull out. haha. surprised? nope. not in the least :)
but- we're just hanging out and getting some work done. i have to turn in a draft of the china-africa project on thursday so it's crunch time- which is fine with me. i love this project but it'll be nice to start something new.. one can only google for so many hours at a time before it starts to get to you.. haha.
the guys came to refill the water tank this morning which means no more bucket showers! usually it's just on saturdays, but the people were late coming so we had to wait until today. the water is kept in huge drums outside, and it gets pumped inside. when it gets too low, it won't pump through, so you have to go outside and fill a bucket and shower like that. sandra says that the spicket (i've never tried to spell that word... haha.. i don't think that's right.. ) we'll say the "tap" in the kitchen hasn't worked since they moved in- so we wash dishes with water in a bucket and things air dry. there's definitely no excess here- at home everything is excess. i mean- i'm the last person EVER to blab on about water conservation and environmentalism because i think it's a bunch of bologna. my point is that at home almost everything i do is excess- the variety of food i like to stay happy, the gagets in my room, the game systems we have down stairs, the 5 or so tvs in my house, the school i have the privlege of attending... i mean.. i don't know. i'm not saying we shouldn't have these things- because i'm not giving them up.. but i think we just need to be a little bit more thankful for what we have. when you have water pressure in your shower in the morning don't rush to conserve water- just be thankful that you have what you have. because there are people who don't have it.
ok... back to work. leaving around 5 today :)
chilling at bari house (where the office is).. excitement of a little while ago- we're all sitting here working and suddenly there's all this shouting from outside- and we run to the door (any excuse to stop working.. haha) and there's a guy running as fast as he can go past bari house along flattop junction (the road) with about 20 people chasing him. he was carrying a couple yams (note: yams here are about a foot tall and not eaten at thanksgiving.. which.. they dont' celebrate anyways... and the yams are white.. it's like a stretched out potato.. kind of.. anyways..) so we're standing up on the balcony (the office is on the second floor) laughing- i guess the guy stole the yams and everyone who had been standing near the stand and the owners were chasing him down. just past bari house he tried to hop in a cab- but couldn't get the door closed fast enough and some of the people caught him. they took the yams and started beating him with them.. which is funny. but the story isn't funny.. because after they beat him with vegetables franklin said they probably took him back behind the front row of stores to hang him- that's how people deal with local offenses around here..
one of the major problems in ghana is that they have a judicial system (not too unlike the one in the US) but people don't use it- they want instant gratification, or revenge i guess would be a better way to put it. the politicians keep coming on the radio and encouraging peope to take criminals to the police station.. not to just punish the criminals themselves..
here's how this morning went.. haha
time- 8:05, i'm sitting with benedict on my lap and franklin is working at his computer
Franklin: oh kayte, we would like to be leaving around 8:30
Me: oh ok.
*jump in the shower, get dressed and packed up, return to the living room at 8:25 ready to go. Franklin.. has not moved*
Franklin: oh kayte, my own words i am eating them.. let's say we will be leaving at 9.
Me: sure ok
time- 9:45. still sitting in the living room while franklin gets ready
time- 10am- we pull out. haha. surprised? nope. not in the least :)
but- we're just hanging out and getting some work done. i have to turn in a draft of the china-africa project on thursday so it's crunch time- which is fine with me. i love this project but it'll be nice to start something new.. one can only google for so many hours at a time before it starts to get to you.. haha.
the guys came to refill the water tank this morning which means no more bucket showers! usually it's just on saturdays, but the people were late coming so we had to wait until today. the water is kept in huge drums outside, and it gets pumped inside. when it gets too low, it won't pump through, so you have to go outside and fill a bucket and shower like that. sandra says that the spicket (i've never tried to spell that word... haha.. i don't think that's right.. ) we'll say the "tap" in the kitchen hasn't worked since they moved in- so we wash dishes with water in a bucket and things air dry. there's definitely no excess here- at home everything is excess. i mean- i'm the last person EVER to blab on about water conservation and environmentalism because i think it's a bunch of bologna. my point is that at home almost everything i do is excess- the variety of food i like to stay happy, the gagets in my room, the game systems we have down stairs, the 5 or so tvs in my house, the school i have the privlege of attending... i mean.. i don't know. i'm not saying we shouldn't have these things- because i'm not giving them up.. but i think we just need to be a little bit more thankful for what we have. when you have water pressure in your shower in the morning don't rush to conserve water- just be thankful that you have what you have. because there are people who don't have it.
ok... back to work. leaving around 5 today :)
Friday, July 4, 2008
fast food temple
ok. so.
i have officially supped at the fast food temple. glorious indeed. i can't wait for my camera to get here so i can take pictures... today we passed the "Power of Christ Commands You Clothing Shop". hahaha. i love it.
but.. since monday.. i warned you i was bad at this... tuesday was beach day!! :) but people here don't go to the beach like we do- we gather blankets and towels and umbrellas (ella, ella) and camp out in a spot close to the ocean and spend the whole day in that spot. people here don't bring much of anything. there were so many people- and there were street vendors selling food and jewelry and "Jesus Loves You Baked Goods"... and the music is so loud the ground feels like it's shaking and people are dancing and singing and playing soccer everywhere.. it's intense. but there were palm trees everywhere and the weather was beautiful. we didn't want to buy food (even though we did) so we packed enough food to feed a small country and found a spot in the back where the other families were. benedict was sooo cute in his little beach hat.
back at the office today- even though sandra and i didn't get here until close to 11... and franklin still isn't here. he had to take sandra's mom to the italian embassy to work out her papers so she can go home in a couple weeks. She (rose mary- sandra's mom) has lived in italy for about 10 years but came down here to help sandra and franklin with the baby and the bread business they have. i've been forever spoiled by fresh bread everyday.
we probably won't be here for long, we brought benedict with us because rose mary wasn't home yet when we left. he wont' stand for being here until 7 or 8, which is how late we were here a couple nights this week.
i think tomorrow sandra and evelyn and i are going shopping :) she said something about a mall- but somehow i doubt it's like the malls at home... haha. but we're going into "town". people keep talking about "going into town" and i have no idea what that means.. haha. accra is huge- and it's divided into districts.. maybe "town" is in the middle? who knows.
ok. must be productive. i'm supposed to finish this china/ghana virtual institute research thing by the middle of next week.. which.. is going to be pushing it... so glad tomorrow is saturday. :)
i have officially supped at the fast food temple. glorious indeed. i can't wait for my camera to get here so i can take pictures... today we passed the "Power of Christ Commands You Clothing Shop". hahaha. i love it.
but.. since monday.. i warned you i was bad at this... tuesday was beach day!! :) but people here don't go to the beach like we do- we gather blankets and towels and umbrellas (ella, ella) and camp out in a spot close to the ocean and spend the whole day in that spot. people here don't bring much of anything. there were so many people- and there were street vendors selling food and jewelry and "Jesus Loves You Baked Goods"... and the music is so loud the ground feels like it's shaking and people are dancing and singing and playing soccer everywhere.. it's intense. but there were palm trees everywhere and the weather was beautiful. we didn't want to buy food (even though we did) so we packed enough food to feed a small country and found a spot in the back where the other families were. benedict was sooo cute in his little beach hat.
back at the office today- even though sandra and i didn't get here until close to 11... and franklin still isn't here. he had to take sandra's mom to the italian embassy to work out her papers so she can go home in a couple weeks. She (rose mary- sandra's mom) has lived in italy for about 10 years but came down here to help sandra and franklin with the baby and the bread business they have. i've been forever spoiled by fresh bread everyday.
we probably won't be here for long, we brought benedict with us because rose mary wasn't home yet when we left. he wont' stand for being here until 7 or 8, which is how late we were here a couple nights this week.
i think tomorrow sandra and evelyn and i are going shopping :) she said something about a mall- but somehow i doubt it's like the malls at home... haha. but we're going into "town". people keep talking about "going into town" and i have no idea what that means.. haha. accra is huge- and it's divided into districts.. maybe "town" is in the middle? who knows.
ok. must be productive. i'm supposed to finish this china/ghana virtual institute research thing by the middle of next week.. which.. is going to be pushing it... so glad tomorrow is saturday. :)
Monday, June 30, 2008
office space
ok. so. monday afternoon and i'm finally sitting in my office at IMANI. last week was nuts.. but the monkey made it completely worthwhile.
anyways. i should be able to blog more frequently now that i have a stable internet source with which to blog and email.
so.
the weekend was great :) saturday the whole family watched "Second Chance" allllllll day long. haha. sunday no one got up for church (surprise.) so we had church in the living room.. which was really nice :)
time here is such a funny thing.. the general attitude is "i'll get to it when i get to it".. which is so different from the attitude at home. at home you start work at a certain time, end at a certain time, have schedules, deadlines, projects, and measureable outcomes.. not in ghana. here you get there when you get there.. and you do things when you do them.. and then you leave when you leave.. haha. it's so flexible.. but it almost has be on edge because i'm never sure if there's something i should be doing that i'm not.
but tomorrow we're headed to the beach!! i can't wait to see the ocean and go swimming and stuff.
.... lots of people just got here.. have to go meet them.. back in a second...
ok. back. not sure what just happened.. there were lots of people.. and then they went to the office next door. anyways.
ummm... i completely lost my train of thought... oh. OH! yes... so my projects for the summer have been determined. i'm to plan another conference (to run in august.. haha.. because that's not difficult or anything.. just throw it together in a month) and create a presentation on Ghana/China relations!!!! oh man. ok that one i'm pumped about. i finished my book on sustainable development and i'm moving on to one about globalized economics and then i'll read the one about china/ghana stuff. i'm so pumped. today i feel kind of useless because i don't know exactly what these projects entail yet- but i'm sure that this is the last time i'll feel that way.
as soon as i think of the things i'm sure i forgot i'll blog again.. for now i should probably at least pretend like i'm being productive.. slacking off on the first day. haha. oh boy.
anyways. i should be able to blog more frequently now that i have a stable internet source with which to blog and email.
so.
the weekend was great :) saturday the whole family watched "Second Chance" allllllll day long. haha. sunday no one got up for church (surprise.) so we had church in the living room.. which was really nice :)
time here is such a funny thing.. the general attitude is "i'll get to it when i get to it".. which is so different from the attitude at home. at home you start work at a certain time, end at a certain time, have schedules, deadlines, projects, and measureable outcomes.. not in ghana. here you get there when you get there.. and you do things when you do them.. and then you leave when you leave.. haha. it's so flexible.. but it almost has be on edge because i'm never sure if there's something i should be doing that i'm not.
but tomorrow we're headed to the beach!! i can't wait to see the ocean and go swimming and stuff.
.... lots of people just got here.. have to go meet them.. back in a second...
ok. back. not sure what just happened.. there were lots of people.. and then they went to the office next door. anyways.
ummm... i completely lost my train of thought... oh. OH! yes... so my projects for the summer have been determined. i'm to plan another conference (to run in august.. haha.. because that's not difficult or anything.. just throw it together in a month) and create a presentation on Ghana/China relations!!!! oh man. ok that one i'm pumped about. i finished my book on sustainable development and i'm moving on to one about globalized economics and then i'll read the one about china/ghana stuff. i'm so pumped. today i feel kind of useless because i don't know exactly what these projects entail yet- but i'm sure that this is the last time i'll feel that way.
as soon as i think of the things i'm sure i forgot i'll blog again.. for now i should probably at least pretend like i'm being productive.. slacking off on the first day. haha. oh boy.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
most exciting moment EVER
ok. ok ok ok ok. so. today, on our way to ashesi for the seminar we stopped at the market to buy some bananas because sandra and evelyn insist that i do not eat enough and try to make me explode. but as we all know- bananas are in the frothy category.. so.. i wasn't sure how it was going to work out.
anyways.
a couple hours after breakfast francis comes up to me and is like- hey kayte can i have one of your bananas?
me: yea sure, why?
francis: no reason- here come with me.
so we go.
and we walk around the wall towards the main building. the wall seperates the university from the house next door, and the trees spill over the way and it's really pretty and stuff.
anyways.
we go- and there hanging over the wall not a foot from me is a MONKEY!! SHUT UP! hahaha. I FED IT!!! oh my gosh. words could not express my excitement. and sandra and evelyn and francis laughed and laughed because i was so thrilled by the monkey. but i mean it's a MONKEY! and it was right there!!! it ate out of my hand! sweet jeepers.
yesterday we were at the alisa hotel for a couple roundtables. it's so incredible, the things i'm learning. today there was a lecture on africa/china relations. so amazing. i started reading a book about sustainable development- next i'll move on to the economics books :) but we're so busy- the IMANI team is ready to collapse- franklin said we'll probly take monday and maybe tuesday off to recover.. which i would mind. it would be nice to go back to sleep after the roosters wake me up.
other than the seminar that's about it- i watch "second chance" with sandra at 9pm- love telenovelas. haha, then i go to bed and it's up with the roosters again! we never leave at the same time in the morning and the seminar never has the same schedule 2 days in a row.. haha. getting ghanains to stick to a schedule is as difficult as teaching me calculus- near impossible.
i guess that's about it! i'll write more soon :)
anyways.
a couple hours after breakfast francis comes up to me and is like- hey kayte can i have one of your bananas?
me: yea sure, why?
francis: no reason- here come with me.
so we go.
and we walk around the wall towards the main building. the wall seperates the university from the house next door, and the trees spill over the way and it's really pretty and stuff.
anyways.
we go- and there hanging over the wall not a foot from me is a MONKEY!! SHUT UP! hahaha. I FED IT!!! oh my gosh. words could not express my excitement. and sandra and evelyn and francis laughed and laughed because i was so thrilled by the monkey. but i mean it's a MONKEY! and it was right there!!! it ate out of my hand! sweet jeepers.
yesterday we were at the alisa hotel for a couple roundtables. it's so incredible, the things i'm learning. today there was a lecture on africa/china relations. so amazing. i started reading a book about sustainable development- next i'll move on to the economics books :) but we're so busy- the IMANI team is ready to collapse- franklin said we'll probly take monday and maybe tuesday off to recover.. which i would mind. it would be nice to go back to sleep after the roosters wake me up.
other than the seminar that's about it- i watch "second chance" with sandra at 9pm- love telenovelas. haha, then i go to bed and it's up with the roosters again! we never leave at the same time in the morning and the seminar never has the same schedule 2 days in a row.. haha. getting ghanains to stick to a schedule is as difficult as teaching me calculus- near impossible.
i guess that's about it! i'll write more soon :)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
heyyyy Africa!!!
good afternoon from sunny and sweltering Accra!! i'm sitting at the Ashesi university waiting for Sandra to come back so i can hlep her serve lunch.
the seminar is incredible so far- lectures on African politics and developing democracy and good governance.. all the way down to banking systems and security and information privacy. i'm learning an incredible amount.
i wake up to the roosters around 5:45am in the morning, take a shower, Sandra's mom feeds me enough breakfast for 3 people let alone just me, and then we head out to the university for the seminar. the drive is my favorite part. people walk out into traffic all the time, and sell things at red lights and when traffic is heavy. i love seeing the buildings and people and hearing the music- they have more gospel stations than nashville. today 'shine jesus shine' came on and i was like- I KNOW THIS ONE!! haha. Sandra, Francisco, and Evelyn make fun of me because i hum all the time... i really need to get a handle on that.
Ghana is the most beautiful place i've ever seen- palm trees everywhere, and flowers lke i've never seen! the frogs are really loud and there's livestock running amock in the street. on the way here this morning i told sandra, francisco and evelyn that daisy (my dog) sleeps in my bed and we feed her people food and she's like one of the family. and francisco looked at me and goes- in Africa we eat dogs. and cats.. and guinea pigs.. and rats... sweet jeepers. haha.
Franklin and Sandra's house is lovely and cute- and my room is the coolest in the house- which doesn't mean i'm not going to sweat away into oblivion. but everyone is so sweet- Sandra trips over me all the time- do you need anything? how are you? are you hungry? thirsty? what do you need? are you ok? haha. but she's soooo funny. she does these impersonations of bad people on american idol- so great. so great.
operation africa with braces is going fine so far- i just cut everything up and most things are soft anyways- i was introduced to african yams and mango- love the first... not sure about the second. i think i'm going to put mango in the frothy category.. and therefore uneatable. but the bread. sweet mother the bread. it's all homemade and it's amazing. i didn't realize that i had been eating bad bread all my life until 2 days ago.
sometimes it rains in the afternoon- straight down and it feels wonderful- i just stand in and get wet.. doesn't matter because it'll stop in about 4 minutes and then you'll dry in 2. Ghana is beautiful- the landscape and the people- the whole spirit of the country is beautiful. and everyone here- is an obama supporter. haha- who knew?!?! they know more about the american election than half the people in the states i bet. and they're all pulling for obama. it's fascinating to talk american politics with them- just the differences in perspective- someone looking from the outside and someone who'd never left until 2 days ago.
but i gotta run- Sandra's back and we're getting ready to serve lunch. this week is crazy- hopefully next week i'll be able to settle into a routine.
the seminar is incredible so far- lectures on African politics and developing democracy and good governance.. all the way down to banking systems and security and information privacy. i'm learning an incredible amount.
i wake up to the roosters around 5:45am in the morning, take a shower, Sandra's mom feeds me enough breakfast for 3 people let alone just me, and then we head out to the university for the seminar. the drive is my favorite part. people walk out into traffic all the time, and sell things at red lights and when traffic is heavy. i love seeing the buildings and people and hearing the music- they have more gospel stations than nashville. today 'shine jesus shine' came on and i was like- I KNOW THIS ONE!! haha. Sandra, Francisco, and Evelyn make fun of me because i hum all the time... i really need to get a handle on that.
Ghana is the most beautiful place i've ever seen- palm trees everywhere, and flowers lke i've never seen! the frogs are really loud and there's livestock running amock in the street. on the way here this morning i told sandra, francisco and evelyn that daisy (my dog) sleeps in my bed and we feed her people food and she's like one of the family. and francisco looked at me and goes- in Africa we eat dogs. and cats.. and guinea pigs.. and rats... sweet jeepers. haha.
Franklin and Sandra's house is lovely and cute- and my room is the coolest in the house- which doesn't mean i'm not going to sweat away into oblivion. but everyone is so sweet- Sandra trips over me all the time- do you need anything? how are you? are you hungry? thirsty? what do you need? are you ok? haha. but she's soooo funny. she does these impersonations of bad people on american idol- so great. so great.
operation africa with braces is going fine so far- i just cut everything up and most things are soft anyways- i was introduced to african yams and mango- love the first... not sure about the second. i think i'm going to put mango in the frothy category.. and therefore uneatable. but the bread. sweet mother the bread. it's all homemade and it's amazing. i didn't realize that i had been eating bad bread all my life until 2 days ago.
sometimes it rains in the afternoon- straight down and it feels wonderful- i just stand in and get wet.. doesn't matter because it'll stop in about 4 minutes and then you'll dry in 2. Ghana is beautiful- the landscape and the people- the whole spirit of the country is beautiful. and everyone here- is an obama supporter. haha- who knew?!?! they know more about the american election than half the people in the states i bet. and they're all pulling for obama. it's fascinating to talk american politics with them- just the differences in perspective- someone looking from the outside and someone who'd never left until 2 days ago.
but i gotta run- Sandra's back and we're getting ready to serve lunch. this week is crazy- hopefully next week i'll be able to settle into a routine.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
woooooooooo!
howdy from JFK!!!
ok. so. sitting in a little food court-ish place- found a sweet spot in the corner.. feeling all awesome with my laptop and head phones.. maybe i actally pass for someone who travels a lot. haha.
but the alarm went off this morning at 4am. gross. i said goodbye to my pap and fatty before going through security.. and off i went!
we got to walk outside to get to the plane.. if you know what i mean.. it was a little one- only 3 seats across. 2, then the isle, and then another seat. i was in 6a by the window. but it was really up and down.. the flight wasn't even an hour. i'm excited to ride one of the big huge planes on my flight to accra. i've got about 4.5 hours until i have to be at my gate. still have to go and get my seat assignment. i think i'll grab some coffee or tcby and go do that.
they have ipods in vending machines here. woah. haha. but for now i'm just watching planes take off and counting the hours.. going to africa. sweet jeepers.
ok. so. sitting in a little food court-ish place- found a sweet spot in the corner.. feeling all awesome with my laptop and head phones.. maybe i actally pass for someone who travels a lot. haha.
but the alarm went off this morning at 4am. gross. i said goodbye to my pap and fatty before going through security.. and off i went!
we got to walk outside to get to the plane.. if you know what i mean.. it was a little one- only 3 seats across. 2, then the isle, and then another seat. i was in 6a by the window. but it was really up and down.. the flight wasn't even an hour. i'm excited to ride one of the big huge planes on my flight to accra. i've got about 4.5 hours until i have to be at my gate. still have to go and get my seat assignment. i think i'll grab some coffee or tcby and go do that.
they have ipods in vending machines here. woah. haha. but for now i'm just watching planes take off and counting the hours.. going to africa. sweet jeepers.
Friday, June 20, 2008
holy woah.
so this is it. 9 and a half hours from now i'll be on my way to the airport. tomorrow i go to africa.
.holy.woah.
.holy.woah.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
sweet jeepers.
ok. so.
God has a funny way of working things out. and kicking us in the face when we need it.. and getting us to do things. i was just starting to get lazy about my trip when WHAM. suddenly i might not go. well as i'm sure you can imagine, whoever you are, that the threat of spending the summer in indiana was all it took to motivate me through the final stages of planning and things. and now things have worked out.. just the way they should have all along. it's funny how that happens- we set our sights on something we think we want.. and God takes us on the path he wants us on regardless.. and we usually end up finding that God's way is way better.
so the mamma and the papa are leaving tuesday for Disney World (anniversary celebration.. jealous.). and my mom all along wanted me to stay in the states until they got back. i, obviously, refused. and continued to plan my trip around leaving well.. today. and, obviously once again, i did not in fact leave today. i'm leaving saturday. the day before they get home- so i WILL be here to watch the house and be with sarah and fatty. just like my mom wanted- and i'm sure just like God knew it would be better.
anyways.
leaving saturday. this is the final countdown. still mostly terrified of the airport experience. that's the only part that worries me. i've never flown alone before. and i've never flown commrcial with luggage- alone or not. so. i'll wave goodbye in pittsburgh and pray that God will get me to ghana.
here goes nothing.
Monday, May 26, 2008
19 days.
woah gosh. i hadn't actually been counting down till when i leave.. and that number is surprisingly low... i guess. but anyways. i'm absolutely horrible at things like this- i've been trying to journal since i was about 13 and never made it past 3 weeks solid- but here goes.
unpacked to repack. 19 days.
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