COUNTRY: Ghana
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Care work
WRITTEN BY: Keyla Klugman
Here I am, sitting under the non existent breeze from the broken fan. The noise from churches and radios are screeching ACCRA ACCRA WINNEBA WINNEBA. Then again, it could just be my usual malaria tablet dream. Just in case none of you got that reference. The antimalarial tablets that we all take have the tendency to give us strange
dreams, and when I mean strange I mean really, REALLLY odd!
So here we are, 10 days in on our Ghanian experience. Everyone said it was GHANA be awesome, and it really is.
And okay that is the last time I am using that joke. But on a more serious note I can't really explain to you how magnificent it is here. The people are just the kindest most warm people on earth. Everyday we hear OBRUNI OBRUNI (which means white person) and sometimes we scream back OBIBINI (black person) and they laugh their heads off! Like, how does a white girl know their local language. Admittedly we have made several little toddlers cry! They are both intrigued and scared of us.
On the 1st of september we all woke up in the hostel. And we went to the breakfast area where we were greeted by Germans and a Norwegian. After forcing them all to eat the holy vegemite on bread against their will, we got ready and ventured around the city of Accra (capital of ghana). It was so fun meeting Seth, Felicia, Tina,
Rebekah and Deborah.
During orientation we were given language lessons, and knowledge about the social, and cross cultural differences to consider whilst being here in Ghana. For example, we cannot use our left hand to wave at people or eat with as it is seen as the hand you wipe yourself with in the toilet.. We also went to the Kokobite beach and after experienced a communal shower... to save water you know. Poor Michael.
Oh let me introduce to you the gang:
Ella, the cute little pom from France
Bianca, the amazing thumb
Grace, or Ronaldinho, and paint enthusiast
Chloe, the gorgeous ranga, and selfie extraordinaire
Michael, the magnificent pope and temporary girl
Rachel, my permanent inmate and tongue examination expert
Brenna, the beautiful kiwi
Keyla - Me :)
After that great orientation week we finally were able to meet our host families in the small village of Swedru. There was much anticipation and nerves in the air! Rachel and I were first to meet our family, which included, a mum, a dad, a one year old girl, four year old boy, and a six year old girl and the rentals. As soon as we walked in the door we were already hugging them and everything. We brought them Vegemite, of course, so not quite sure how that will go down. Pretty sure its not been touched since we gave it. Roosters and rabid dogs wake us up at 6am everyday, and people are loud all the time and there's just always noise!!! But you know what, other than that life here is more simple. Somehow since these people have nothing, they are able to share everything and seem to have rich lives. For example, since day one babies come into this world with noise and where, unlike the western world, no one creeps around the baby and hushes everyone not to wake it up. A white baby is given and promised the world, instead of the world going on the world simply stops for them. This can only nurture them to think that they are the centre of the world.I believe that because Ghanaian babies are brought into this world having to adapt to it, they are made to find their place in the world rather than given it.
On another note, us westerners here have to adapt to the food.Traditional foods include banku, fufu and rice. Recently we saw a sign that said make fufu not war (perhaps that is the reason Ghana is such a peaceful country) Basically our diets here are rice, rice, rice, bread, bread, and more bread. You know you'd think that if you live
the life of poverty in Africa you'd get, tanned, from the immense heat and, skinny, from the lack of food. However, you need to be in the shade because it is thaat hot, and the carbo loading just equals to chunky thighs, or, more so cushion for the pushin'. Well one things for sure, being fat is good in Ghana, it's a sign of wealth and to be honest they find it sexy. One thing I find amazing here is the ability for these Africans to balance everything on their heads. Funny story actually. Grace, Brenna and I were given bowls of food from kids to try balance on our head.Of course, I had to drop the expensive apples on the floor which cost me 20 cedi ($10). The amazing thing is that they were saying sorry to US! Like it was their fault? It just shows how the people are so generous and forgiving.
The helping hands orphanage is where we helped out the first four days. Those were great times which included relaxing with the kindest and cutest children and painting their orphanage. Yesterday I witnessed obed the three year old orpan diarrhea in his pants not once, but twice! I had to unchange him - lucky me.
Last weekend we went to cape coast where cheap alcohol (under $5), flirty bartenders, and the beautiful oasis beach resort was found. We also danced to the Ghanaian genre of HipLife - which was.. interesting. You can find a vibey, rastafarian atmosphere here. One day, I bought a beautiful necklace from a seller and I wanted him to adjust it, so he said I should come back the next day. Rachel thought he was ripping me off and just wanted the money as we had already paid. However Sunday morning we knock on his little shack, and there is Kobi, bong in
one hand, saying he lost the necklace. His rasta perspective allowed him to say it will show up at the right time, it will
come when it does. Oh the simple rasta outlook. Did I mention he had a cat called One day? Lol.
Next weekend we are going to stay at Kokobite beach at Big Milly's - cannot wait.
Well thats all folks! - just for now at least.
This is Keyla signing off.
Xoxo Gossip Ghana
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