a series of un/fortunate events
10/21/2006
so much has been happening and I really cannot divulge all because let’s just face it - this is a public forum……but let’s just say there’s been a series of not so fortunate events and leave it at that. But I am still livin, lovin, and learnin!!!!!!
I have been trying to learn twi and I have been slightly successful
The other day I went with Sulley to take one of the boys that lives here at the house to Korle-Bu which I am told is the biggest hospital in Ghana and in West Africa. The appointment was at 1pm and the Doctor did not show on the scene until about 4pm and the child was not seen until 6, we did not leave until 7pm
It was depressing…there were so many patients waiting and some who decided to go home. Sulley told me that many of the Doctors have their own practice and they will sometimes work there and then go to the hospital after they finish their work. On the way to the hospital we passed the ocean, it was beautiful…a side of Ghana that I had not seen yet. There was also a prison called Jamestown…Sulley told me that it was a former slave holding place before the slaves were placed on the ships…I couldn’t believe that now it is a prison …I still haven’t had time to really process that,
While they were waiting we went to look for Christmas music so that I could set a piece on the young children that I am working with. I couldn’t find anything local. I want to use local music to set the piece, I also want something slow…we shall see
I also started setting a piece on one of the young ladies in the dance group here. The movement that I set did not completely go according to plan but this is always to be expected and sometimes welcomed since it may give way to new ideas and possibilities. I am supposed to work with her again today and I am hoping that we can work more on the emotional aspect of the movement, the feeling behind the movement.
My hair cut is ok aside from some small irritation at the back of my head…I will not allow them to use a razor again…my friend Lela is here from grad school and it has been nice seeing some1 that I know. I have learned that I need to delve more into the culture and not be so afraid to try new things. Last summer when I came I tried everything put before me and I learned the language very quickly…( I was around the Ewe people) now it just seems so different and I know that it is because I have Adom with me. Funny it seems that now he is so free and I am the one worrying….if there are any mothers out there then I am sure you know how I feel. I must admit that I am afraid of him getting ill and the guilt that I would feel if anything happened to him. Before I came I did receive some strange looks from some when I told them that I was taking my son to West Africa for 10 months. Some people eve came out and told me that I was basically crazy and others were extremely understanding and supportive. In short I have been easing my way into the food and other things. Yesterday Adom and I tried kosi and coco. It was good and Adom really enjoyed the kosi. Kosi is made from the local bean here (black eyed peas) Sulley’s sister prepared it…everyone prepares it a little different but she soaked the beans for a couple of hours and then she sent it to the grinder to be ground up into a powder. Next she added seasonings like pepper and then it is mixed into a batter and placed into hot grease and fried. While it is grinding she placed egg on top of it and it is fried on both sides. I must admit that it is very good. The coco was good as well although I am not sure how it is prepared … both are usually breakfast foods. The muslims are fasting for 30 days – no food or water from 6am to 6pm and then on Monday which is a school holiday it is called salada (sp?) and there will be a big party and praying for the muslims and it is the end of the fasting. At any rate the muslims eat a lot of the kosi during this time…usually when they break their fast in the evening.
This week we didn’t dance much. Sulley had to mail some drums and a xylophone and it took a while. Everything here in Ghana takes longer.
Budgeting money has been somewhat tricky and to a certain degree I still feel like I am settling in…I guess I am allowing myself more time to settle in because I know I will be here longer. Lela is staying for 3 months. Her experience is different – where she is staying there is no running water and no light – not sure if there is a “bathroom” either. She is thinking of staying here where I am for one month after her program is over.
The other night there was a waykeeping here in Medie. It lasted all night. All I heard was music. Eddie explained to me that once a person dies then about three days later there will be a waykeeping and then the next day they will go to bury the body and then about a year later they will have a last farewell. The times can vary and also a muslim funeral is different. The coffins here are also very interesting sometimes they can vary from coke bottles to cars, whatever the person was into. I plan to go and visit the place where they make the coffins.
Last night Lela came to dance with us during our rehearsal, it was cool. After rehearsal as Sulley was talking to us I looked to the side and she was sitting next to me and we were both sitting the same – with our legs crossed. I don’t see many women sitting like that here. She also spent the night and we went to town with Eddie and ate and I had a couple of beers, which I don’t usually drink. We talked / debated about dance in Africa and in America, black Americans, Africans, cultural transference and much more. I feel that we need to really address how we are teaching our children about things and she agrees with me but feels that I need to be exposed to more people who are doing it right. It was great! She is different than me in many ways and the same in many … I would say that we both have fighting spirits ... only in different ways … we both have some good ideas
Today is the muslim holiday and Sulley is muslim, there is a big celebration and festival for the end of fasting … Lela and I will go with him.
I apologize that my writing is all over the place. I am trying to write everything but it is coming out in bits and pieces…be patient with me I plan to start writing every night and then posting twice a week. Also I have been taking pictures and I need to find a sight in which I can post all of them – like an online album……any suggestions?
Take care, live well and in the words of my son, Adom, ….. DO A GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!
so much has been happening and I really cannot divulge all because let’s just face it - this is a public forum……but let’s just say there’s been a series of not so fortunate events and leave it at that. But I am still livin, lovin, and learnin!!!!!!
I have been trying to learn twi and I have been slightly successful
The other day I went with Sulley to take one of the boys that lives here at the house to Korle-Bu which I am told is the biggest hospital in Ghana and in West Africa. The appointment was at 1pm and the Doctor did not show on the scene until about 4pm and the child was not seen until 6, we did not leave until 7pm
It was depressing…there were so many patients waiting and some who decided to go home. Sulley told me that many of the Doctors have their own practice and they will sometimes work there and then go to the hospital after they finish their work. On the way to the hospital we passed the ocean, it was beautiful…a side of Ghana that I had not seen yet. There was also a prison called Jamestown…Sulley told me that it was a former slave holding place before the slaves were placed on the ships…I couldn’t believe that now it is a prison …I still haven’t had time to really process that,
While they were waiting we went to look for Christmas music so that I could set a piece on the young children that I am working with. I couldn’t find anything local. I want to use local music to set the piece, I also want something slow…we shall see
I also started setting a piece on one of the young ladies in the dance group here. The movement that I set did not completely go according to plan but this is always to be expected and sometimes welcomed since it may give way to new ideas and possibilities. I am supposed to work with her again today and I am hoping that we can work more on the emotional aspect of the movement, the feeling behind the movement.
My hair cut is ok aside from some small irritation at the back of my head…I will not allow them to use a razor again…my friend Lela is here from grad school and it has been nice seeing some1 that I know. I have learned that I need to delve more into the culture and not be so afraid to try new things. Last summer when I came I tried everything put before me and I learned the language very quickly…( I was around the Ewe people) now it just seems so different and I know that it is because I have Adom with me. Funny it seems that now he is so free and I am the one worrying….if there are any mothers out there then I am sure you know how I feel. I must admit that I am afraid of him getting ill and the guilt that I would feel if anything happened to him. Before I came I did receive some strange looks from some when I told them that I was taking my son to West Africa for 10 months. Some people eve came out and told me that I was basically crazy and others were extremely understanding and supportive. In short I have been easing my way into the food and other things. Yesterday Adom and I tried kosi and coco. It was good and Adom really enjoyed the kosi. Kosi is made from the local bean here (black eyed peas) Sulley’s sister prepared it…everyone prepares it a little different but she soaked the beans for a couple of hours and then she sent it to the grinder to be ground up into a powder. Next she added seasonings like pepper and then it is mixed into a batter and placed into hot grease and fried. While it is grinding she placed egg on top of it and it is fried on both sides. I must admit that it is very good. The coco was good as well although I am not sure how it is prepared … both are usually breakfast foods. The muslims are fasting for 30 days – no food or water from 6am to 6pm and then on Monday which is a school holiday it is called salada (sp?) and there will be a big party and praying for the muslims and it is the end of the fasting. At any rate the muslims eat a lot of the kosi during this time…usually when they break their fast in the evening.
This week we didn’t dance much. Sulley had to mail some drums and a xylophone and it took a while. Everything here in Ghana takes longer.
Budgeting money has been somewhat tricky and to a certain degree I still feel like I am settling in…I guess I am allowing myself more time to settle in because I know I will be here longer. Lela is staying for 3 months. Her experience is different – where she is staying there is no running water and no light – not sure if there is a “bathroom” either. She is thinking of staying here where I am for one month after her program is over.
The other night there was a waykeeping here in Medie. It lasted all night. All I heard was music. Eddie explained to me that once a person dies then about three days later there will be a waykeeping and then the next day they will go to bury the body and then about a year later they will have a last farewell. The times can vary and also a muslim funeral is different. The coffins here are also very interesting sometimes they can vary from coke bottles to cars, whatever the person was into. I plan to go and visit the place where they make the coffins.
Last night Lela came to dance with us during our rehearsal, it was cool. After rehearsal as Sulley was talking to us I looked to the side and she was sitting next to me and we were both sitting the same – with our legs crossed. I don’t see many women sitting like that here. She also spent the night and we went to town with Eddie and ate and I had a couple of beers, which I don’t usually drink. We talked / debated about dance in Africa and in America, black Americans, Africans, cultural transference and much more. I feel that we need to really address how we are teaching our children about things and she agrees with me but feels that I need to be exposed to more people who are doing it right. It was great! She is different than me in many ways and the same in many … I would say that we both have fighting spirits ... only in different ways … we both have some good ideas
Today is the muslim holiday and Sulley is muslim, there is a big celebration and festival for the end of fasting … Lela and I will go with him.
I apologize that my writing is all over the place. I am trying to write everything but it is coming out in bits and pieces…be patient with me I plan to start writing every night and then posting twice a week. Also I have been taking pictures and I need to find a sight in which I can post all of them – like an online album……any suggestions?
Take care, live well and in the words of my son, Adom, ….. DO A GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!
posted by shani-in-ghana at 2:03 AM
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