Five bucks says you're wondering what Teshie Teshie Nungua means and, for that five bucks I'll tell you (please send payment to my home address or via paypal). That is what the tro-tro money handlers yell when their van is going in my direction. Right now I live in Teshie, a suburb east of Accra that is immediately followed by the suburb of Nungua. However, I think it sounds much better with a thick Ghanaian accent, hoarse from shouting the same cat calls to pedestrians all day, than it does typed in my journal. Hopa!
Life is very good right now. I'm living with Ken and Richie, my wonderful Ghanaian hosts, and Niklas, a jovial German of 24 years. He is from Frankfurt. Today another German guy, Luvander, arrived. He has spent 20 days in the central region at a school for the handicapped, living with some missionary preacher--whom he did not seem too fond of. Lu, for short, is from Berlin and his English is not quite as good as Niklas'.
Because it is exams week I still do not have a whole lot to contribute to the school, so instead my life since monday has been more vacation than backbreaking, fulfilling labor. I eat too much. I sleep too much. And there is far too much beer in the house--most of which I leave for the experts (having not yet gone to college, thus my drinking ability in this climate is limited to one-a-day, tops).
Ken is far too gracious of a host and says he is very fond of me--I am of him as well. He has repeatedly told me to stay the entire 6 months and hang out--which would be fun--but soon I must be useful to someone, rather than just watching American movies on his couch, giving the school kids hi-fives, and eating on his dollar (or should I say 'his cedi').
Word from the States is that the warm spell has finally broken and winter is fast approaching. Do not think me to be cruel, but I would like to say "Ha. Ha." to all of you bundling up to go outside.
Getting tan, not getting burnt. Good. Yesterday we went to the beach and to New Coco Beach Resort where we used the pool. Very relaxing. Water is great and no undertoe at that particular location. You can rent out a hut with two big woven mats for about $1.10 for the day, and swim in the warm breaking waves. It is also very shallow so you can go out 100 yards and still not be up to your chest. One advent that makes the African beach experience even better is the proliferance of local drumming circles, casting a wonderful, melodic ambiance on the coastal scenery.
Tomorrow we go to the Western region to visit Ken's uncle and to visit Kakum National Park and the castles at Cape Coast and Elmina. Very excited. Living at Ken's has put me under budget and I presume that life on the farm will be even cheaper. Hopa!
My uncle wants to know why I have to travel 14,000 miles to go farming and never work in his garden back home. Good point, but when I come back I'll know how to grow the best yams in Wethersfield. Exciting, right?
The weather is hot. 90+ and humid on most days, 75 and humid most nights. The mornings (yes, I wake up in the early morning over here--6am) are cool and breezy, the best time of day.
I have just recently begun trying the local cuisine and I like it very much. Redred is a dish that I think would please even the most selective of Western pallets. It is rice and beans mixed in a tomato-based sauce with sweet fried plantains on the side and chicken or fish for protein. Also, I had some fufu last night and it was quite good. A bit sweet, to juxtapose it against the spicy broth you dip it in, but it goes down smooth (no chewing, just swallow) and fills the stomach quite well. It is also served with fish or meat.
Most everyone is very friendly and eager to say hello and welcome you to their country. This atmosphere quickly puts one at ease and is a welcome changed to the sometimes chilly demeanor of strangers back home (I guess the weather determines peoples' behavior).
I have some good photos so far and more to come from my trip to the Western Region. Stay tuned for info from my first trip around the country.
Also, more German volunteers arriving in the coming weeks so I expect to soon ship out to my first farm so I do not burden Ken.
Hasta
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