Monday, February 7, 2011
I did not do much today. I washed my underwear and bras and brought the remaining clothes to a woman that will wash them for me. Hopefully they are returned to me cleaner than they were after I washed them myself. I also had my first Twi class and I found out I got the teacher that I heard is the best. That was an exciting moment, because this is going to be the most important class we take while in Ghana.
I also got to spend some quality time with my roommate. She gave me new things to try like Sobolo, which is a spicy drink with ginger, lemon, and hibiscus flower. I also tried a very spicy sauce that I could not handle at all. She made dinner for me also, rice and fish. It was very good and very kind of her to share with me. The rest of the night we spent just hanging out and getting some homework done.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 – polo
Today I had three classes one of which was Twi; I am definitely getting better at the language and picking up on some of the words. I also had dance class, which wasn’t as much fun today because they broke us up into four groups so we only danced a quarter of the time. So I decided to join a dance group that Astu is choreographing. This way I will be dancing at least three days a week, although I am hoping to dance four. The problem is, is that the fifth day is on Friday and we will be traveling most Fridays because we do not have classes. After dance I went to Atsu’s room where he gave us palm wine (we drank out of a glass instead of a calabash this time) that has been fermenting for three days, so the alcohol content has increased greatly. He also gave us coconut cookies, which were surprisingly good.
It was one of the girls from the programs birthday, Jordan, so one of the boys, Stone, had a “drink up” in his room for her. They played music and everyone danced and drank right in the dorm. It was very interesting.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Today I tried so many different foods. First my professor gave everyone polo (fried wheat, sugar, and eggs) and Nkati cake which translates to ground nut cake (peanut brittle). Then when we got back from class someone gave me a fried yam, which tasted very similar to fried yucca. I also tried kelewele (fried plantains with spices) and Kontomere (spinach, ground egg – egg plant, and spices that you put on top of boiled yams). Nothing exciting really happened all day, but at night we went out to salsa. I have been doing pretty well with spending money because I haven’t been drinking at all. And food here is so cheap, if you eat at the night market or Bush Canteen.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I’m in Ghana and I’m Cold !!
It rained today for the first time since we have been here and it was intense. It rained harder than it ever rains at home and all of the halls were flooded due to the fact that everything is outside here. Also it was cold out, I actually wanted to wear pants! Since there is no hot water here, the shower was not fun at all. Plus I got to shower with more bugs than usual. I am lucky this is the third week because three lizards, ten moths, and tons of other bugs in my shower would not have been okay week one, on top of the fact that it was freezing. Sometimes I find myself waiting outside the water for it to get warmer and then I remember the temperature is never going to change.
I had dance class again today, we have begun learning our first dance and I look like a complete white girl. But I have been getting extra help from Astu so hopefully I improve at a steady pace. I have never been taught dance in such a chaotic manner. There is no mirror and no real instruction. Each TA is given about forty students, so they cannot actually critique each student.
After dance we walked over to the amphitheatre and watched a play production “I Will Marry when I Want’” which was about how white people corrupted Africans. Besides being uncomfortable at times, it was a great production with phenomenal singers and instrumentalists.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Nothing exciting today, I went to dance and then out to Wheezy Lounge where there were only three people there besides us. We ended up having a nice time because we didn’t have to deal with the harassment of all the men.
I am becoming much more acclimated to the culture. The people are so friendly and always willing to help us get around. I am used to the way that the people dress and the food is becoming more tolerable. We are beginning to travel more often, so we are getting different perspectives. We have come into contact with little kids who count the abrunis or who have never seen a white person before so they are confused and think we are ghosts. Sometimes we will be walking around and I forget everyone is black and I am white until someone makes a comment and then the realization sets in once again. I will never truly fit into the culture, but everyday life is becoming more simplistic. We know how much things should cost, the trotros are getting easier to use and my internship has finally begun filling up more of my time.
The classroom situation is also becoming more familiar and I have gotten more conversational with some of my classmates. It is intimidating at times, but people are very kind and understand that sometimes I need extra guidance in some aspects. The teacher will mention extra classes, places to find books, and additional readings without actually explaining how to obtain the materials because everyone in the class is a third year at the university besides me. At first I would become frustrated and overwhelmed at the fact that I would never be able to complete the courses properly, but now I am more accustomed to the buildings and to asking for guidance when necessary.
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