Okay, I am chatting with Stephanie, my bff from high school (luv ya muffin!), and she's telling me that it's snowing in DC. Nice! Meanwhile it's still unbearably hot here in Ghana. It's still hard to believe that it's already December, and that I have already hit the six month mark! I find it's cause enough to celebrate!
Speaking of, Thanksgiving was so incredible. The food at the Ambassador's (and the open bar) was amazing. The week of Thanksgiving was like living in an American bubble, which I thnk we all needed at this point.
First, I went to Thanksgiving. Then, it was to a sports bar for "Trivia Night," which was fun-ish. I was just happy to catch up with my buddies from training that I haven't seen for several months. Then on Friday I went to the Accra Mall. That's right: shopping the day after Thanksgiving! Diane and I went and saw the movie "Inglorious Bastards," which was really good. And I ate a hamburger!
These days, I've been just taking it easy before we have more training and the Christmas holidays. At this point, I am planning to head north to Nkanta for a Christmas party. I'll keep y'all posted!
SHOUT OUTs:
MOM and DAD~ Thanks so so much for the package! I love it all!
GRANDMA~ I LOVE reading Our State. Anything to remind me of NC is the bees knees in my book! Keep 'em coming!
JODI~ The music is a lifesaver, you have no idea! Thanks again! It's, literally, what keeps me sorta sane-ish. I love you!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Happy Halloween
Well, unfortunately, Halloween is a foreign concept to Ghana, which a few of the PCVs tried to rectify in Ho- costumes and all. I, on the other hand, had other plans. Last weekend, I experienced my first funeral in Liati. I know it may sound morbid, but what better way to celebrate Halloween than with a funeral?
Maybe I should first explain that funerals in Ghana are a little different than funerals in America. As an outsider, looking in, one could easily be fooled that you are just witnessing a big celebration. Family members and friends from all over the country gather in the village, there is music, dancing, food, booze, and everyone is dressed to the nines, either in black or red. And some people do come out for just the social aspect and free beer. But most are there to celebrate and remember the people that passed.
A lot of the time, there will be several funerals the same weekend, I guess to help those that have to travel. So this weekend, we celebrated three men, two were older, but one was only 33 years old. As a result, our funeral was a bit more somber since the man was fairly young.
So, I'm glad I was a part of this cultural experience, but i think next time, I'll probably crash at a friend's site that weekend. As far as other celebrations go, I'm having the Hohoe crew over this weekend for pizza, with REAL cheese! So Exciting! And for Thanksgiving, the American Ambassador invited us over in Accra, which should be fun. I bet the food'll be amazing. So, I am sad to be missing out of my American holiday traditions, but I thought I'd reassure y'all that we are still having a good time celebrating our own way here in Ghana.
Cheers, Katie
Maybe I should first explain that funerals in Ghana are a little different than funerals in America. As an outsider, looking in, one could easily be fooled that you are just witnessing a big celebration. Family members and friends from all over the country gather in the village, there is music, dancing, food, booze, and everyone is dressed to the nines, either in black or red. And some people do come out for just the social aspect and free beer. But most are there to celebrate and remember the people that passed.
A lot of the time, there will be several funerals the same weekend, I guess to help those that have to travel. So this weekend, we celebrated three men, two were older, but one was only 33 years old. As a result, our funeral was a bit more somber since the man was fairly young.
So, I'm glad I was a part of this cultural experience, but i think next time, I'll probably crash at a friend's site that weekend. As far as other celebrations go, I'm having the Hohoe crew over this weekend for pizza, with REAL cheese! So Exciting! And for Thanksgiving, the American Ambassador invited us over in Accra, which should be fun. I bet the food'll be amazing. So, I am sad to be missing out of my American holiday traditions, but I thought I'd reassure y'all that we are still having a good time celebrating our own way here in Ghana.
Cheers, Katie
Monday, October 19, 2009
Ghana Won!!!
Okay, as you all can probably tell, I'm not exactly Miss Sporty. To say the least. But it was hard not to get excited Friday night when Ghana defeated Brazil in the final of the Under-20 World Cup! Everyone was glued to the television, including me. After being tied throughout the game, and an intense overtime, Ghana won 4-3. As a result, Ghana became the first African side to qualify for South Africa 2010 World Cup.
Needless to say, everyone in Ghana was excited, including my sleepy village. Hoards of young men were running up and down the street celebrating, and I can only imagine what Accra was like!
Anyways, I don't know if you guys follow soccer. But now that Ghana will be competing for the World Cup, I'll be posting a lot more about Ghanaian football.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Fun Facts About Ghana
Edition 2: What's in a Name?
So I'm living in the Volta region, which is on the border of Ghana and Togo. And I'm in an Ewe area. The Language itself is very interesting, and the people are pretty chill and laid back. The history of the people is kinda fascinating, so I'll try my best to explain, but I honestly can't guarantee accuracy. Sorry-o!
The Ewes came to Ghana by escaping from an evil king who imprisoned his people by building an enormous wall around his kingdom. Different towns in the Volta region have names that describe the way they escaped from the evil king. And in the Liati tradition, which includes my village and maybe ten others, Lia is Ewe for "to climb" and Ti is Ewe for "tree." So those who are from the Liati Tradition all share common ancestors who escaped the king by climbing trees over the wall.
I haven't figured out what the other town names around me mean, like Gbledi or Fodome, but hopefully I'll be able to update soon. Another interesting name is "Hohoe." Before the city got that name, Hohoe and Ho were both in the running to become the regional capital of Volta. In the end, Ho was chosen as the capital, so the city became "Hohoe." In Ewe, Hohoe essentially means "Ho took (from us)."
People's names are also a big deal, and they usually have several names. Usually people are called by their day name or Christian name. As for me? I am known as "Kathleen," "Katie," "Sister Kate," and "Da Yawa," which is female Thursday born. You can find out your Ewe name using the chart below:
The Ewe version is as follows:
Dzoɖa (Monday): Kɔdzo, Kwadzo (Male/Ŋutsu); Adzoa (Female/Nyɔnu)
Braɖa (Tuesday): Kɔmla (Male/Ŋutsu); Abra, Abla (Female/Nyɔnu)
Kuɖa (Wednesday): Kɔku, Kwaku (Male/Ŋutsu); Aku, Akua (Female/Nyɔnu)
Yawoɖa ( Thursday): Yawo (Male/Ŋutsu); Yawa (Female/Nyɔnu)
Fiɖa (Friday): Kofi(Male/Ŋutsu); Afua, Afi(Female/Nyɔnu)
Memleɖa/Memliɖa (Saturday): Kɔmi,Kwami (Male/Ŋutsu); Ama (Female/Nyɔnu)
Kɔsiɖa / Kwasiɖa (Sunday): Kɔsi, Kwasi (Male,Ŋutsu); Akɔsia, Akɔsua (Female/Nyɔnu)
Other than day names, there are specific names describing your birth order, whether you are a twin, and so many other things I can't remember now!
I could write a whole post on just drumming and dancing, which I think I'll save for another time. Let me just say, the Ewes definitely have their own style, which is fun.
Below is an example of Ewe Kente cloth:
Ewes were the first in Ghana to weave Kente. In the Ashanti wars against the Ewe, Ewe weavers were captured and it thus have been prisoners of war from the Ashanti / Ewe wars that taught the Ashanti how to weave.
Well, that's about all I have for you this time! Stay Tuned!
Peace, Da Yawa
So I'm living in the Volta region, which is on the border of Ghana and Togo. And I'm in an Ewe area. The Language itself is very interesting, and the people are pretty chill and laid back. The history of the people is kinda fascinating, so I'll try my best to explain, but I honestly can't guarantee accuracy. Sorry-o!
The Ewes came to Ghana by escaping from an evil king who imprisoned his people by building an enormous wall around his kingdom. Different towns in the Volta region have names that describe the way they escaped from the evil king. And in the Liati tradition, which includes my village and maybe ten others, Lia is Ewe for "to climb" and Ti is Ewe for "tree." So those who are from the Liati Tradition all share common ancestors who escaped the king by climbing trees over the wall.
I haven't figured out what the other town names around me mean, like Gbledi or Fodome, but hopefully I'll be able to update soon. Another interesting name is "Hohoe." Before the city got that name, Hohoe and Ho were both in the running to become the regional capital of Volta. In the end, Ho was chosen as the capital, so the city became "Hohoe." In Ewe, Hohoe essentially means "Ho took (from us)."
People's names are also a big deal, and they usually have several names. Usually people are called by their day name or Christian name. As for me? I am known as "Kathleen," "Katie," "Sister Kate," and "Da Yawa," which is female Thursday born. You can find out your Ewe name using the chart below:
The Ewe version is as follows:
Dzoɖa (Monday): Kɔdzo, Kwadzo (Male/Ŋutsu); Adzoa (Female/Nyɔnu)
Braɖa (Tuesday): Kɔmla (Male/Ŋutsu); Abra, Abla (Female/Nyɔnu)
Kuɖa (Wednesday): Kɔku, Kwaku (Male/Ŋutsu); Aku, Akua (Female/Nyɔnu)
Yawoɖa ( Thursday): Yawo (Male/Ŋutsu); Yawa (Female/Nyɔnu)
Fiɖa (Friday): Kofi(Male/Ŋutsu); Afua, Afi(Female/Nyɔnu)
Memleɖa/Memliɖa (Saturday): Kɔmi,Kwami (Male/Ŋutsu); Ama (Female/Nyɔnu)
Kɔsiɖa / Kwasiɖa (Sunday): Kɔsi, Kwasi (Male,Ŋutsu); Akɔsia, Akɔsua (Female/Nyɔnu)
Other than day names, there are specific names describing your birth order, whether you are a twin, and so many other things I can't remember now!
I could write a whole post on just drumming and dancing, which I think I'll save for another time. Let me just say, the Ewes definitely have their own style, which is fun.
Below is an example of Ewe Kente cloth:
Ewes were the first in Ghana to weave Kente. In the Ashanti wars against the Ewe, Ewe weavers were captured and it thus have been prisoners of war from the Ashanti / Ewe wars that taught the Ashanti how to weave.
Well, that's about all I have for you this time! Stay Tuned!
Peace, Da Yawa
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Long Awaited Pictures...
Okay, uploading these took a few hours, CORRECTION, make that days, but I have had to learn immense patience while living here! Enjoy:
This is the view of my town from the top of Mt. Afajato.
My Counterpart, Dora, and Me at Tagbo Falls.
Mt. Afajato.
The main street in my town.
A view of Afajato from my house.
So sorry, I had several other pictures selected, but I may have to save those for another post!
Right now I am visiting with my friend Rebecca. She works with a company called Global Mamas, and you can find some of their jewelry and gifts at store like Ten Thousand Villages in the States.
As for me, I've been working hard, but also taking time out to read and lay in my hammock. Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to post questions for me.
For more information about my town, feel free to browse the G.R.E.E.T. website. Check under "Destinations," and select Liati Wote to learn about my site.
This is the view of my town from the top of Mt. Afajato.
My Counterpart, Dora, and Me at Tagbo Falls.
Mt. Afajato.
The main street in my town.
A view of Afajato from my house.
So sorry, I had several other pictures selected, but I may have to save those for another post!
Right now I am visiting with my friend Rebecca. She works with a company called Global Mamas, and you can find some of their jewelry and gifts at store like Ten Thousand Villages in the States.
As for me, I've been working hard, but also taking time out to read and lay in my hammock. Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to post questions for me.
For more information about my town, feel free to browse the G.R.E.E.T. website. Check under "Destinations," and select Liati Wote to learn about my site.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Happy Belated Birthday!
Last week was my Grandmother's Birthday!!! YAY! Happy B-Day Grandma!
Ayekoo!
Ayekoo!
A Day in the Life
I’ve received a few questions about the logistics of living in Ghana, so I figured I’d write about everyday activities for you guys! Enjoy!
Bucket Bathing- Even though I have “running water,” I sometimes have to fetch a bucket of water to bathe with when the water runs out.
Laundry- All is done by hand. I did search out a Laundromat in Hohoe, but no luck. At first I was killing my hand by how vigorously I washed my clothes, but I’ve since learned that you have to go slow and soft, because it’s easy to cut up your hands. You have to start with your whites and move through the darker clothes. Last you wash any items made here, like the batiks and tie/dyes. Those tend to bleed the most. Then you hang the laundry out to dry, but since it’s still rainy season right now, I usually end up having to take them inside after a few hours. Oh and you always have to wash your own underwear (or called pants here), even the men. It’s insulting to have someone else wash your own pants.
Food- Cooking is quite a time-filler, since I have to make everything from scratch. So far, I’ve had bean burgers, yam fries, pancakes, biscuits, spaghetti, pasta alfredo, stir fry, and yam balls. I also like to make tuna sandwiches and grilled cheeses. There is a cheese-like substance here called Laughing Cow, which can be tasty. So I’m not dying for cheese anymore!
Shopping- There are a few stores in my town, and several spots. There, I can usually find items like flour, soap, phone units, coke, sugar bread, tomatoes, and onions. For anything else, I have to go to Hohoe for market. Usually, on any given day at market, you can find a stand dedicated to just about anything. Then on market days, you can find everything, and then some! Instead of one stand, you can go to about 25 stands just for tomatoes, for example. Because of the season, vegetables are plentiful at market, but we’ll see how that changes once the harmatten (dry season) begins. (When Ghanaians say “Harmatten,” it kinda sounds like they’re saying “Hammer time,” so we all call it Hammer Time.) For fruit, if I don’t just go pick it off a tree myself, I can find it being sold along the street. Just the other day, I bought a few oranges for maybe 10p. And sometimes I get bananas, avocados, and yams from my neighbors, which is nice. For clothes, you can easily find fabric being sold at market or shops along the street. Then you take it to a dressmaker to make whatever she determines you asked for. Right now I’m having a dress made, so we’ll see how it turns out. And sometimes you can find “Dead Obruni” stands, which sell Western clothes. The reasoning behind “Dead Obruni” is that someone would have to be dead to get rid of such nice clothes. A little morbid, but funny.
Entertainment- I’ve been doing things like I did back home, I guess. Reading, painting, listening to tunes, riding my bike, hanging out with friends, sleeping. The television here is plagued with advertisements, even more so than American TV, so I avoid it at all costs. I’ve discovered Arrested Development, which is hilarious. Everyone should Netflix it, if you’ve never seen it.
So, I’ve basically just been settling in this past month, and getting used to a new way of life. It’s starting to get a bit more stressful, but the difference is now I’m in my own space, so I have a haven to retreat to.
Feel free to post any new questions about life in Ghana!
Bucket Bathing- Even though I have “running water,” I sometimes have to fetch a bucket of water to bathe with when the water runs out.
Laundry- All is done by hand. I did search out a Laundromat in Hohoe, but no luck. At first I was killing my hand by how vigorously I washed my clothes, but I’ve since learned that you have to go slow and soft, because it’s easy to cut up your hands. You have to start with your whites and move through the darker clothes. Last you wash any items made here, like the batiks and tie/dyes. Those tend to bleed the most. Then you hang the laundry out to dry, but since it’s still rainy season right now, I usually end up having to take them inside after a few hours. Oh and you always have to wash your own underwear (or called pants here), even the men. It’s insulting to have someone else wash your own pants.
Food- Cooking is quite a time-filler, since I have to make everything from scratch. So far, I’ve had bean burgers, yam fries, pancakes, biscuits, spaghetti, pasta alfredo, stir fry, and yam balls. I also like to make tuna sandwiches and grilled cheeses. There is a cheese-like substance here called Laughing Cow, which can be tasty. So I’m not dying for cheese anymore!
Shopping- There are a few stores in my town, and several spots. There, I can usually find items like flour, soap, phone units, coke, sugar bread, tomatoes, and onions. For anything else, I have to go to Hohoe for market. Usually, on any given day at market, you can find a stand dedicated to just about anything. Then on market days, you can find everything, and then some! Instead of one stand, you can go to about 25 stands just for tomatoes, for example. Because of the season, vegetables are plentiful at market, but we’ll see how that changes once the harmatten (dry season) begins. (When Ghanaians say “Harmatten,” it kinda sounds like they’re saying “Hammer time,” so we all call it Hammer Time.) For fruit, if I don’t just go pick it off a tree myself, I can find it being sold along the street. Just the other day, I bought a few oranges for maybe 10p. And sometimes I get bananas, avocados, and yams from my neighbors, which is nice. For clothes, you can easily find fabric being sold at market or shops along the street. Then you take it to a dressmaker to make whatever she determines you asked for. Right now I’m having a dress made, so we’ll see how it turns out. And sometimes you can find “Dead Obruni” stands, which sell Western clothes. The reasoning behind “Dead Obruni” is that someone would have to be dead to get rid of such nice clothes. A little morbid, but funny.
Entertainment- I’ve been doing things like I did back home, I guess. Reading, painting, listening to tunes, riding my bike, hanging out with friends, sleeping. The television here is plagued with advertisements, even more so than American TV, so I avoid it at all costs. I’ve discovered Arrested Development, which is hilarious. Everyone should Netflix it, if you’ve never seen it.
So, I’ve basically just been settling in this past month, and getting used to a new way of life. It’s starting to get a bit more stressful, but the difference is now I’m in my own space, so I have a haven to retreat to.
Feel free to post any new questions about life in Ghana!
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