The villages on the way to Mole NP. Beautiful communities.
My host family threw a going away party on my last night. I bought them a rice cooker as a going away present. These are my sisters and host mother. My host dad was not there that night.
Friday, December 14, 2007
More pictures
the CAN2008 (Cup of African Nations) is held in Ghana this year, in light of Ghana celebrating 50 years of independence. This was a prelim game between Ghana and Togo, Ghana won 2-0.
The villages on the way to Mole NP. Beautiful communities. My host family threw a going away party on my last night. I bought them a rice cooker as a going away present. These are my sisters and host mother. My host dad was not there that night.
The villages on the way to Mole NP. Beautiful communities.
My host family threw a going away party on my last night. I bought them a rice cooker as a going away present. These are my sisters and host mother. My host dad was not there that night.
Pictures...FINALLY
I apologize for being computer-illiterate. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out how to post pictures. Here's a sampler of what I've seen so far. The waterfalls were from a trip to Hohoe in the Volta Region (Eastern Ghana). The elephants were from Mole NP in Northern Ghana. I'll post more ASAP.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Always, ALWAYS carry your camera!
It seems that I am too stupid to realize that I should always carry my camera with me. There is always something worth snapping. For example, on Monday, I was randomly picked up by a friend on a school bus who told me it was "disability awareness day" and they were going to march through Kejetia with all the disabled children from Edwenase and other schools. We had a marching band and everything. I, of course, being the only obruni was asked to lead the parade, holding the banner tall and proud. It was SO much fun, and I think we got the message across: Disabled people are a part of Ghana, and are capable individuals.
Today, at work, a goat got loose and the children were chasing it around the classrooms. It was VERY funny. Once again, a camera would have been handy.
Cameras are also handy for the many funny sayings on the back of tro-tro's. For example, one had a picture of Jesus Christ, with the words "Someone you should know" written above it. Another trotro said "not all your friends are good", and yet another said "my lord and saviour, Jesus JHIST"
That's enough about cameras.
last week I went to cape coast. The coast of Ghana is lined with castles/forts, dating back from slavery. Two very important castles are Elmina and Cape Coast . Cape Coast castle was primarily used by the British as a place to house slaves before transport to South America, The Caribbean, and North America. The castle started as a place for tradings. This was called the triangular trade route because the route formed a triangle: Britain to Gold Coast (Ghana) then America. Ghana was called the gold coast as it was rich in gold. Cote d'Ivoire was rich in Ivory, and Benin was called the slave coast. Ghana received it's present name on March 6th, 1957- Indepenence day (that's right kids, Ghana is celebrating 50 years of freedom- a VERY special time here!!). Gold and cowrie shells were used as currency. The cedi, Ghana's currency, stems from seedee which is the twi word for cowrie shell.
I saw the slave rooms, the door of no return (where slaves boarded ships to the West, never to return), and the room of no return, where slaves were sent to die. You could still see fingernail scratches on the ground.
Elmina castle was used by the Portuguese for slave trading. It is also where Prempeh I, the Ashanti chief at the time of slavery, was captured and held for not cooperating with the British. He was later sent to the Seyshell Islands along with the Queen Mother.
It's amazing that after such a sad history of violence, Ghanaians can be so welcoming to obruni's. It seems as if they are not angry or sad, just proud of who they are, what they've become and their country as a whole. The past is still fresh, yet the atmosphere is one of acceptance of history and a look to the future. A future of peace, prosperity, friendship, and pride.
This made me think:
How long does it take to overcome the wrongs that have been done to us? How long before the heartache ends? We are human. Destined to remember our flaws and misdeeds and bathe in guilt. We have the capacity to love one another and take pride in our individuality. Our sense of community is strengthened by those who dare to weaken or destroy us. We are an enigmatic species, whose quest in life should begin and end with trying to understand ourselves.
Today, at work, a goat got loose and the children were chasing it around the classrooms. It was VERY funny. Once again, a camera would have been handy.
Cameras are also handy for the many funny sayings on the back of tro-tro's. For example, one had a picture of Jesus Christ, with the words "Someone you should know" written above it. Another trotro said "not all your friends are good", and yet another said "my lord and saviour, Jesus JHIST"
That's enough about cameras.
last week I went to cape coast. The coast of Ghana is lined with castles/forts, dating back from slavery. Two very important castles are Elmina and Cape Coast . Cape Coast castle was primarily used by the British as a place to house slaves before transport to South America, The Caribbean, and North America. The castle started as a place for tradings. This was called the triangular trade route because the route formed a triangle: Britain to Gold Coast (Ghana) then America. Ghana was called the gold coast as it was rich in gold. Cote d'Ivoire was rich in Ivory, and Benin was called the slave coast. Ghana received it's present name on March 6th, 1957- Indepenence day (that's right kids, Ghana is celebrating 50 years of freedom- a VERY special time here!!). Gold and cowrie shells were used as currency. The cedi, Ghana's currency, stems from seedee which is the twi word for cowrie shell.
I saw the slave rooms, the door of no return (where slaves boarded ships to the West, never to return), and the room of no return, where slaves were sent to die. You could still see fingernail scratches on the ground.
Elmina castle was used by the Portuguese for slave trading. It is also where Prempeh I, the Ashanti chief at the time of slavery, was captured and held for not cooperating with the British. He was later sent to the Seyshell Islands along with the Queen Mother.
It's amazing that after such a sad history of violence, Ghanaians can be so welcoming to obruni's. It seems as if they are not angry or sad, just proud of who they are, what they've become and their country as a whole. The past is still fresh, yet the atmosphere is one of acceptance of history and a look to the future. A future of peace, prosperity, friendship, and pride.
This made me think:
How long does it take to overcome the wrongs that have been done to us? How long before the heartache ends? We are human. Destined to remember our flaws and misdeeds and bathe in guilt. We have the capacity to love one another and take pride in our individuality. Our sense of community is strengthened by those who dare to weaken or destroy us. We are an enigmatic species, whose quest in life should begin and end with trying to understand ourselves.
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