Adom has a new name
9/29
this morning on the way to the tro tro some one said to me in twi ahhh princess how are you? I didn’t understand a word he said so eddie told me what he said and how to respond which I have already forgotten…this evening I will have to take the tro tro alone…I’m afraid….and I will also teach a ballet class to a small group of girls (10) at Adom’s school
wish me well ;-)
So I ended up catching a ride with the dancers and drummers, they were on their way to a funeral. I was feeling really bad on the way to the school (weak and sick) but I took an emergen-c and said some prayers and I felt better by the time I taught. The emergen-c has been really helping me to feel better…and I have been taking about two a day…..hopefully once I get used to being here I wont need so much.
I taught the class and it was actually quite refreshing. I felt that it was amazing to be doing in Africa what I do at home…teach ballet to young children. I had 8 girls and 2 boys. They were all beginners with the exception of one girl who said that she had some ballet in New York when she was 7. They were all 8 or 9 years old. Doing what I am familiar with in Africa gave me a sense of familiarity/home. The room was very small and there were many children watching in the doorway and laughing until one of the teachers made them leave and then they were trying to peak in the windows…also there were teachers in there grading papers and watching…maybe they were grading me ;-) it was fun…I think maybe I gave them too much since they were all beginners…but they were excited and wanted to know when the next class would be. They all called me Auntie…something the children do here…so sweet. After speaking with the principal we decided that I would teach a contemporary class next and see which is best for the students. They would like the students to master the dance and then have a performance at the end of all academic terms when they celebrate the countries anniversary. After this I picked Adom up from his classroom and we waited around for a call from my friend Baby Quaye who I met in 2002 at Jacob’s Pillow. I was going to just go back to the house when I finally got him on the phone and I decided to go to the University of Ghana at Legon and sit in on a lecture class which was a performance laboratory. So I had to take the tro tro ALONE !!!!!!! I didn’t even know where to go and stand…and I began to realize that every since I have been here whenever I go somewhere I have always been with a local and now I am alone and with Adom. So I looked behind me and I saw one of the teachers at Adom’s school and I greeted her and asked her if she was going to Achimota which was my first stop. She said no and that she was going to Lapas…. I asked her where I could catch the tro tro and she told me and we waited there together and talked a little about our children. She left first and then I waited for the Achimota tro tro and boarded once it arrived. So the mate (the guy who takes the money) motioned for me to pay him and I told him achimota and gave him 10,000 cedis. I got annoyed because he never gave me any change and I knew that 10,000 (a little over a dollar) was too much to pay to go to achimota. After riding and thinking a little while I decided not to address it and I resolved within myself that cheating people is no way to win. The driver ended up making us get off the tro tro a little before the place where he was supposed to take us to because he wanted to make a turn. I couldn’t understand what everyone was saying but I could tell from their actions that everyone was getting off and a little pissed about it so I got off and began talking with a lady who was carrying a baby on her back….i said he was supposed to take us to achimota and she said AH! And we began going back and forth about how wrong he was and so I asked her is this the taxi rank? She told me yes and asked me where I was going and told me where to go to get the taxi. As I was walking up a taxi driver ran up to me and asked me if I needed a taxi and I told him yes and where I was going and asked him how much he told me 30,000 cedis which I didn’t know whether it was good or bad I just wanted to look like I knew what was going on…so I made a face like I okay …I guess ..and we were off…once we got in the car I began to wonder if this man ever used his breaks and I decided that he really didn’t like to use his breaks and wanted to avoid using them at all costs. He would speed and then stop at the very last minute…I was worried and then the police stopped him and I am not sure what they were asking for but he left me in the car for about two minutes and then came back and we were off again…once we got on the campus of the university of Ghana I began to wonder if I was on a HBCU campus in the US. It really didn’t seem that much different to me only difference was that many students were drying their clothes outside on lines and such. But we saw students walking, chilin, romancing, playing basketball, playing futbol, meeting and everything other students do on college campuses. So before I got in the taxi I asked the driver if he knew where the school of performing arts was, he said yes, but once we got on campus he began asking me where it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got annoyed and told him I didn’t know and then he asked a student and he told him. Once I got to the place I waited around for my friend. I thought I was going to just sit in and watch a class but it turned out to be a movement class including all the students – freshmen, sophmore, juniors, and seniors. Of course they made me dance!!! You know they did. I am beginnin to really grasp the healing power of dance…if I am feeling ill each time I dance I feel better…the students were singing and dancing with all their might and there was so much joy in their faces and in their hearts…it was beautiful to observe. I also had an opportunity to kind of begin my research, which involves the way traditional dance is taught and transferred from villages to performance groups to colleges to other countries. It was interesting. I called Sulley and he came to get me and we left after we went to this little spot to get some food (which was good) fish fingers and fried chicken and chips (French fries) it was a cool little spot near campus where the college and locals hung out and have drinks and such. It was cool.
The next day we went into town to the art center and I got some waist beads (women here wear beads on their waist) I got some last summer but left them back home…I wanted some different colors. I got yellow and blue 3 for 30,000. I also got Adom a music toy that he really wanted called alesatuwa (sp) I got him 2 for 20,000. We went to the beach and walked around a little then Sulley came to the center and picked us up and we got some food on the way back.
This morning I decided not to go to church I wanted to get some rest since I will be dancing today…I may a private lesson with Sulley and then a group practice with the rest of the dancers.
Things are okay here definitely getting better as we ease into this way of life. I am surprised at the attention I get because of my hair…even when I cover it. I love being called Empress, Princess, and Queen all the time…the people here are friendly most of the time. I have left out many stories but I feel that I am typing so much and I still have to find a way to include all of the pictures that I have been taking. I am still concerned about getting sick…. I met a nurse from Ghana but who livesd in the US at Adom’s school and she told me to go and get some cipro for me and Adom and just keep it at home. I will try to do this next week…please continue to pray for us…forgive my typing errors .. I am trying to say so much so fast…and even with all my words it is still an understatement ;-) THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! To all who are so tenderly loving MAMA and taking her food, doing her hair, calling, thanks aunt bee for printing these out and taking them to her….it does my heart good to hear the joy in her voice…genuine…Haley I read your message, thanks, and Curry I got your e-mail….thanks …its hard for me to respond…it will get better soon…I hope
I have to type everything on word and then try and quickly load it because the internet is so slow and I have to pay by the hour
Take care until next time
10/3
On Sunday I had a private lesson with Sulley in which I learned Bamaya…the story and the dance. Please understand that by no means can I learn a dance in one day…..so we danced some and then he told me the story of how the dance came about and he continued with his story (career). Sulley is from Tamale which is in the northern part of Ghana. His father was a dancer as well. Later in the day the dancers came for a rehearsal and we danced Bamaya, kpalongo, gahone, and fume fume. When we started the rehearsal I was so tired that I didn’t know how I would continue I wanted to stop dancing but I had to remind myself that this is the whole reason why I am here (technically) so I pulled through and ended up having a wonderful time. I was even not so shy when it came time for my solo in fume fume…everyone takes solos in fume fume…I messed up a little but I ended well ;-) I thought Sunday would be sort of a rest day but man I have been so busy with everything, always something to do, which is good but I haven’t even unpacked yet
Monday Adom began complaining of stomach pain…I am worried…I hope he is ok…his water intake has somewhat declined and eddie seems to think that this may be the problem, in fact I cant remember the last time he did #2. Also at school for lunch they give them rice EVERYDAY!!!! When I ask Adom what did you have for lunch today he says “all they gave me was rice and it was SPICY” and then I ask if he ate it he says yes the teacher made us eat it…..when you drop the kids off they don’t let you go any further but when you pick them up they let you go to the classroom…today (Tuesday) I am going to tell his teacher to not MAKE him eat all his rice for goodness sakes he hasn’t even been here for 1 month he cannot completely adjust to the food and he is not used to spicy food…I will also make sure she knows not to give him ANY of the local water…this is why I send water to school….I am going into MOMMY mode and I don’t care… it is no fun being sick and I cant necessarily feel how he feels….I had a long talk with him about the importance of telling the truth and when he says that his stomach hurts I need to know if this is actually the case or if he just doesn’t want to walk, or doesn’t want to eat…..after talking to him over and over on this matter I think he understands and also I want him to know that whatever the issue is if it is within my power I will make him comfortable…I have to because I am here….everything has to be taken seriously…not like at home…I got some cipro, the only problem is he is not running…so I don’t know what to do…I gave him pepto bismol, maybe this caused an issue…not sure
Yesterday Sulley and I had some running around to do…I had to give the U.S. Embassy 2 million cedis OUCH!!! For Adom and me to get multiple country long term visas. I also went to Busy Internet and place 60,000 cedis on my internet account the rate is 10,000 cedis for one hour and then I plug my laptop into the phone line here at the house and use dial up…it is slow…on the way back to the house I bought some food 3 pieces of fried chicken and chips (fries) for 25,000 cedis then I bought Adom a Dr. Seuss book for 55,000 cedis, things are cheaper here but money seems to go…when I picked Adom up he seemed to be feeling better…no fun worrying about him….once we got back Adom’s tutor was there to work with him 150,000 cedis for the month and he works with him for three days a week…he helped him with his homework last night and then gave him a nick name….ohenne pronounced ohh hen eh in the twi language it means chief or king…Adom loved it!!! If someone called him Adom he would say no Ohenne and he said momma I’m going to have to tell my teacher my new name…..this morning on the way to school Adom’s tummy was hurting again and I am worried they would let me go and talk to his teacher about it…I left my number with the secretary and they said that if he continued to feel bad then they would send him to the school nurse…Eddie said that when he felt his stomach that it felt as if Adom needed to drink more water…I am prayerful…on the way back I bought some tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and bleach…today I will make spagetti….i hope the vegetables will be okay and not make us sick… the embassy said that we should prepare a bleach solution…one tablespoon to one gallon of water and let the veggies soak for 20 to 30 minutes before cooking or eating…maybe I will try it but I don’t want to look too weird to them while cooking…it is so funny … I ‘m not sure how much personal space exists here…whenever I go onto the internet in the family room (where the t.v. is) they all seem to gather round and just look…of course I am uncomfortable and want my privacy but I am not sure if I am allowed…they just kind of peak over my shoulder…I don’t mind ultimately…
At any rate I will keep you posted this is mommi ras signing out ;-)
this morning on the way to the tro tro some one said to me in twi ahhh princess how are you? I didn’t understand a word he said so eddie told me what he said and how to respond which I have already forgotten…this evening I will have to take the tro tro alone…I’m afraid….and I will also teach a ballet class to a small group of girls (10) at Adom’s school
wish me well ;-)
So I ended up catching a ride with the dancers and drummers, they were on their way to a funeral. I was feeling really bad on the way to the school (weak and sick) but I took an emergen-c and said some prayers and I felt better by the time I taught. The emergen-c has been really helping me to feel better…and I have been taking about two a day…..hopefully once I get used to being here I wont need so much.
I taught the class and it was actually quite refreshing. I felt that it was amazing to be doing in Africa what I do at home…teach ballet to young children. I had 8 girls and 2 boys. They were all beginners with the exception of one girl who said that she had some ballet in New York when she was 7. They were all 8 or 9 years old. Doing what I am familiar with in Africa gave me a sense of familiarity/home. The room was very small and there were many children watching in the doorway and laughing until one of the teachers made them leave and then they were trying to peak in the windows…also there were teachers in there grading papers and watching…maybe they were grading me ;-) it was fun…I think maybe I gave them too much since they were all beginners…but they were excited and wanted to know when the next class would be. They all called me Auntie…something the children do here…so sweet. After speaking with the principal we decided that I would teach a contemporary class next and see which is best for the students. They would like the students to master the dance and then have a performance at the end of all academic terms when they celebrate the countries anniversary. After this I picked Adom up from his classroom and we waited around for a call from my friend Baby Quaye who I met in 2002 at Jacob’s Pillow. I was going to just go back to the house when I finally got him on the phone and I decided to go to the University of Ghana at Legon and sit in on a lecture class which was a performance laboratory. So I had to take the tro tro ALONE !!!!!!! I didn’t even know where to go and stand…and I began to realize that every since I have been here whenever I go somewhere I have always been with a local and now I am alone and with Adom. So I looked behind me and I saw one of the teachers at Adom’s school and I greeted her and asked her if she was going to Achimota which was my first stop. She said no and that she was going to Lapas…. I asked her where I could catch the tro tro and she told me and we waited there together and talked a little about our children. She left first and then I waited for the Achimota tro tro and boarded once it arrived. So the mate (the guy who takes the money) motioned for me to pay him and I told him achimota and gave him 10,000 cedis. I got annoyed because he never gave me any change and I knew that 10,000 (a little over a dollar) was too much to pay to go to achimota. After riding and thinking a little while I decided not to address it and I resolved within myself that cheating people is no way to win. The driver ended up making us get off the tro tro a little before the place where he was supposed to take us to because he wanted to make a turn. I couldn’t understand what everyone was saying but I could tell from their actions that everyone was getting off and a little pissed about it so I got off and began talking with a lady who was carrying a baby on her back….i said he was supposed to take us to achimota and she said AH! And we began going back and forth about how wrong he was and so I asked her is this the taxi rank? She told me yes and asked me where I was going and told me where to go to get the taxi. As I was walking up a taxi driver ran up to me and asked me if I needed a taxi and I told him yes and where I was going and asked him how much he told me 30,000 cedis which I didn’t know whether it was good or bad I just wanted to look like I knew what was going on…so I made a face like I okay …I guess ..and we were off…once we got in the car I began to wonder if this man ever used his breaks and I decided that he really didn’t like to use his breaks and wanted to avoid using them at all costs. He would speed and then stop at the very last minute…I was worried and then the police stopped him and I am not sure what they were asking for but he left me in the car for about two minutes and then came back and we were off again…once we got on the campus of the university of Ghana I began to wonder if I was on a HBCU campus in the US. It really didn’t seem that much different to me only difference was that many students were drying their clothes outside on lines and such. But we saw students walking, chilin, romancing, playing basketball, playing futbol, meeting and everything other students do on college campuses. So before I got in the taxi I asked the driver if he knew where the school of performing arts was, he said yes, but once we got on campus he began asking me where it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got annoyed and told him I didn’t know and then he asked a student and he told him. Once I got to the place I waited around for my friend. I thought I was going to just sit in and watch a class but it turned out to be a movement class including all the students – freshmen, sophmore, juniors, and seniors. Of course they made me dance!!! You know they did. I am beginnin to really grasp the healing power of dance…if I am feeling ill each time I dance I feel better…the students were singing and dancing with all their might and there was so much joy in their faces and in their hearts…it was beautiful to observe. I also had an opportunity to kind of begin my research, which involves the way traditional dance is taught and transferred from villages to performance groups to colleges to other countries. It was interesting. I called Sulley and he came to get me and we left after we went to this little spot to get some food (which was good) fish fingers and fried chicken and chips (French fries) it was a cool little spot near campus where the college and locals hung out and have drinks and such. It was cool.
The next day we went into town to the art center and I got some waist beads (women here wear beads on their waist) I got some last summer but left them back home…I wanted some different colors. I got yellow and blue 3 for 30,000. I also got Adom a music toy that he really wanted called alesatuwa (sp) I got him 2 for 20,000. We went to the beach and walked around a little then Sulley came to the center and picked us up and we got some food on the way back.
This morning I decided not to go to church I wanted to get some rest since I will be dancing today…I may a private lesson with Sulley and then a group practice with the rest of the dancers.
Things are okay here definitely getting better as we ease into this way of life. I am surprised at the attention I get because of my hair…even when I cover it. I love being called Empress, Princess, and Queen all the time…the people here are friendly most of the time. I have left out many stories but I feel that I am typing so much and I still have to find a way to include all of the pictures that I have been taking. I am still concerned about getting sick…. I met a nurse from Ghana but who livesd in the US at Adom’s school and she told me to go and get some cipro for me and Adom and just keep it at home. I will try to do this next week…please continue to pray for us…forgive my typing errors .. I am trying to say so much so fast…and even with all my words it is still an understatement ;-) THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! To all who are so tenderly loving MAMA and taking her food, doing her hair, calling, thanks aunt bee for printing these out and taking them to her….it does my heart good to hear the joy in her voice…genuine…Haley I read your message, thanks, and Curry I got your e-mail….thanks …its hard for me to respond…it will get better soon…I hope
I have to type everything on word and then try and quickly load it because the internet is so slow and I have to pay by the hour
Take care until next time
10/3
On Sunday I had a private lesson with Sulley in which I learned Bamaya…the story and the dance. Please understand that by no means can I learn a dance in one day…..so we danced some and then he told me the story of how the dance came about and he continued with his story (career). Sulley is from Tamale which is in the northern part of Ghana. His father was a dancer as well. Later in the day the dancers came for a rehearsal and we danced Bamaya, kpalongo, gahone, and fume fume. When we started the rehearsal I was so tired that I didn’t know how I would continue I wanted to stop dancing but I had to remind myself that this is the whole reason why I am here (technically) so I pulled through and ended up having a wonderful time. I was even not so shy when it came time for my solo in fume fume…everyone takes solos in fume fume…I messed up a little but I ended well ;-) I thought Sunday would be sort of a rest day but man I have been so busy with everything, always something to do, which is good but I haven’t even unpacked yet
Monday Adom began complaining of stomach pain…I am worried…I hope he is ok…his water intake has somewhat declined and eddie seems to think that this may be the problem, in fact I cant remember the last time he did #2. Also at school for lunch they give them rice EVERYDAY!!!! When I ask Adom what did you have for lunch today he says “all they gave me was rice and it was SPICY” and then I ask if he ate it he says yes the teacher made us eat it…..when you drop the kids off they don’t let you go any further but when you pick them up they let you go to the classroom…today (Tuesday) I am going to tell his teacher to not MAKE him eat all his rice for goodness sakes he hasn’t even been here for 1 month he cannot completely adjust to the food and he is not used to spicy food…I will also make sure she knows not to give him ANY of the local water…this is why I send water to school….I am going into MOMMY mode and I don’t care… it is no fun being sick and I cant necessarily feel how he feels….I had a long talk with him about the importance of telling the truth and when he says that his stomach hurts I need to know if this is actually the case or if he just doesn’t want to walk, or doesn’t want to eat…..after talking to him over and over on this matter I think he understands and also I want him to know that whatever the issue is if it is within my power I will make him comfortable…I have to because I am here….everything has to be taken seriously…not like at home…I got some cipro, the only problem is he is not running…so I don’t know what to do…I gave him pepto bismol, maybe this caused an issue…not sure
Yesterday Sulley and I had some running around to do…I had to give the U.S. Embassy 2 million cedis OUCH!!! For Adom and me to get multiple country long term visas. I also went to Busy Internet and place 60,000 cedis on my internet account the rate is 10,000 cedis for one hour and then I plug my laptop into the phone line here at the house and use dial up…it is slow…on the way back to the house I bought some food 3 pieces of fried chicken and chips (fries) for 25,000 cedis then I bought Adom a Dr. Seuss book for 55,000 cedis, things are cheaper here but money seems to go…when I picked Adom up he seemed to be feeling better…no fun worrying about him….once we got back Adom’s tutor was there to work with him 150,000 cedis for the month and he works with him for three days a week…he helped him with his homework last night and then gave him a nick name….ohenne pronounced ohh hen eh in the twi language it means chief or king…Adom loved it!!! If someone called him Adom he would say no Ohenne and he said momma I’m going to have to tell my teacher my new name…..this morning on the way to school Adom’s tummy was hurting again and I am worried they would let me go and talk to his teacher about it…I left my number with the secretary and they said that if he continued to feel bad then they would send him to the school nurse…Eddie said that when he felt his stomach that it felt as if Adom needed to drink more water…I am prayerful…on the way back I bought some tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and bleach…today I will make spagetti….i hope the vegetables will be okay and not make us sick… the embassy said that we should prepare a bleach solution…one tablespoon to one gallon of water and let the veggies soak for 20 to 30 minutes before cooking or eating…maybe I will try it but I don’t want to look too weird to them while cooking…it is so funny … I ‘m not sure how much personal space exists here…whenever I go onto the internet in the family room (where the t.v. is) they all seem to gather round and just look…of course I am uncomfortable and want my privacy but I am not sure if I am allowed…they just kind of peak over my shoulder…I don’t mind ultimately…
At any rate I will keep you posted this is mommi ras signing out ;-)
posted by shani-in-ghana at 4:14 AM
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