Its Been a While

My last post I said I'd update this place again at some point, and I don't want to make a liar out of myself so I'm updating again. Its been a year and a half since I've been home. And I can honestly say I miss Ghana as much now as I did the day after I got back. I can't believe its been that long, wow, time flies when your, well, working I guess. Since I've been back I've moved out and am currently working 2 jobs. I never thought I'd have 2 jobs at once, but its not too bad actually. Although they couldn't be at more different places. I am going to miss my 4:30am shift when I go full time at the other place. I'll miss all my old guy regulars who come in for coffee, there so nice, and for the most part, not to creepy.

I have good news about one of the kids at the childrens home, I was on facebook a while back (I think about a month ago or so) and came across a picture of my princess that I hadn't seen before. If you don't remember my princess, Adwoa, was the one little girl during my first stay at the childrens home that I got really attached to, and honestly looked and bringing her here with me. Well, this picture was taken about 2 months before I went back to Ghana the second time, and she looked so big and healthy, it was awesome. Auntie Esther, the house mother at the girls house had told me she went with her mother, but I wasn't sure how much I believed her because I had known her to not tell the truth on something like that, and the first time I asked her about Adwoa she said she didn't know who I was talking about. But the picture that I seen proves that Adwoa was doing very fine only 2 months before I went back, which means that she likely did go with her mother and and not what I feared most. If you ask my mom, I'm sure she'll tell you how happy I was when I saw that picture. I believe my words were that that picture didn't just make my day it made my whole life. That picture is still the background on my cell phone.

I'm still planning on going back, it will happen for sure, but this 2 jobs thing has kinda slowed down the plans for that. But I will. After I came back the first time, everyone asked if I liked it and if I would ever go back. Now they all skip right to the question "when are you going back". Because they know it will happen. I said in one of my previous posts how different it was coming back home the second time compared to the first time, and I can still say it was totally different. I was talking to someone during Christmas who had been to Jamaica recently and they said how some people here don't realize how lucky they are unless the travel somewhere else and see for themselves what really goes on. And its totally true, I really had a hard time coming back the first time with some of the people who live here and act entitled to everything, when back where I had been where some kids dinner would be 1 cup of this milk/porridge stuff and that all they got. If that spilled on themselves when they ate/drank it, well, then didn't get anymore. And then the would lay there because they couldn't literally walk or talk or do anything unless someone helped them even though they were 4 years old. It was really frustrating. But coming back the second time, I don't know if I was used to it, or if I knew what to expect more, but it wasn't as tough. That doesn't mean I didn't want to leave Ghana the second time, definitely not.

But onto happier notes, I still miss FanIce, FanYogo, riding in tro-tros, taxis, and almost getting hit by many vehicles. Especially semi-trucks, those are fun when they come up behind you and drive probably 4-5 feet away from you at 50 kph, that's usually when they honk too. Or when you get yelled "Obruni" at by random people on the street and they ask you something in Twi and then laugh like crazy when you can answer them in Twi. I miss fufu, groundnut soup, jollof rice, plantain chips and yams. And the fish that you get with your meal that still has everything too it, including head and its eyes. I miss the bugs, lizards and huge frogs that make a cool sound when you step on them (accidentally I might add). I miss the cockroaches that would crawl underneath my bed when I was trying to sleep, and killing them with about 15 whacks of my sandal. I miss the spider that was always on the wall of the shower and that one time it had a friend spider that was way bigger. Sleeping under mosquito nets, bug spray, sunscreen, water sachets, getting marriage proposals, annoying chickens, constant 30 degree heat, and walking around town by yourself where you don't know anybody, don't speak the language and stick out like a sore thumb but yet still feel at home.

At Christmas two years ago, we went to the Christmas Eve service at our church, and at that service was a couple, from here, who had lived in Ghana, for 2 years I believe. They came up to me at the end and asked how I was in twi, I was so shocked I couldn't really answer. We talked for a while and it was awesome. Just as I was leaving, I was walked beside the husband who was waiting for his wife, and told him Merry Christmas in Twi, the look on his face was fantastic. I don't think he expected to hear that.

Ok, I'll stop writing now. I had written a whole other paragraph but deleted it because I decided it didn't need to be here. I may come back to blog again some time, but I really don't know.

One Month Gone

It has been just under one month since I left Kumasi. I can't really believe that. Where did that month go? I said I'd update this thing a couple of weeks ago, but yeah, clearly that didn't happen. Coming back home the second time is actually alot different than coming home the first time. When I got back last year I was so pumped to see everyone and get the food that I was craving. This time, I was excited to see everyone again, but it was definatly different. I didn't have a list of food that I wanted to eat when I got back, like I did last time. Last year when I came back I had almost my entire first week of meals planned out of food that I wanted. This year I was asked what I wanted to eat for my first supper back and I didn't really care that much. All I know is that I didn't want rice.

I can't really say why it is so different this time. Maybe its because I knew more what to expect coming back this year. It was the same going to Ghana a second time, it was easier to get into a routine the second time. And coming back the second time is a lot easier.

What was really nice coming back this time was that a week after I got back my parents had their 25th anniversary celebration type thing, so the house was full for a couple of days. I saw people that I haven't seen in a long time.

One story that I don't think I've told on here before (forgive me if I have) happened at one of our wednesday night meetings. One of the volunteers that was there at the time was from New Zealand. Quite often we would have quiz nights, the team who lost in the last quiz had to be the "Quiz Master" for the next quiz. The guy from New Zealand was the quiz master on this particular night. After about 30 questions, 2 teams were still tied for first. The team I was on, and another one. So the quiz master had to make up extra questions to break the tie. One of the questions was, Where is the Rugby World Cup being held this year? So naturally I said, loudly, that nobody cares about rugby. Which in most other situations would just slide by. Well not so much this time, at the time I was the only volunteer from North America. And what I also didn't know, but could've helped at the time, was that rugby in New Zealand is the same as hockey is here in Canada. Basically their nuts about it. The look I got from the guy from New Zealand was quite hilarious.

And actally, I have watched more rugby since I've been home than I have in my entire life. Its actually pretty good to watch. Just a day after I got back, Canada played New Zealand in the world cup. So naturally I had to watch it. Canada lost, by a lot. But to put it in perspective, the commentator said that New Zealand playing Canada in rugby is basically the same as what would happen if Canada played New Zealand in hockey.

Ok, I don't know what else to tell you. I really enjoy being home, no matter how much I say I miss Ghana, which I do, tons.

Stay tuned, I'll probably update this place again at some point in time.

Homeward Bound

Hey all,

So after 1 bus ride, 3 plane rides and way too many hours spent sitting in airports I have finally made it back home. In the end I had been awake for 48 hours and had less than 4 hours of sleep during that time. Its nice to be back home and see everyone. Its too cold here though.

Although it is great to be back home, I miss Ghana already. The thought that was running through my mind as I was sitting in the airplane at the end of the runway in Accra getting ready to take off was "no, no, no, stop, stop, stop". I have found that you can't stop time as much as you want to. It took longer this time around for me to be excited about coming home. Last year as soon as I got to Accra I was excited about coming home, this time it wasn't until a lot later. But I'm still excited to be home.

I got to Accra at 6pm on Thursday night and my flight left at 8:50 pm. Thanks to possibly the slowest taxi driver in all of Ghana, I didn't get to the airport until after 7. I was worried about missing my flight. The taxi driver didn't understand how fast I needed to be at the airport. Finally I got there and got checked in and through security in no time and waited at my gate for probably an hour. When I got to Frankfurt I had over 8 hours to spend there. I actually fell asleep in the airport, which I wasn't going to do, but I was so tired that I couldn't stay awake at all.

The flight to Toronto wasn't too bad. I watched some movies and listened to some music. I got to Toronto and had a couple of hours there. It was raining and once we boarded the airplane it took forever for it to actually move. I actually fell asleep on the airplane before it took off, it was only for a few minutes though. I got to Saskatoon at 9:45pm and seen everyone again. It was awesome. My luggage all arrived which is always nice to see.

I don't know what else to tell you right now. I'll update this place again next week sometime. After I've been back home for a couple days. I'll have to make the rounds and see everyone and show off my pictures.

Last Post from Kumasi...

for this year anyway, oh wait, maybe I shouldn't have added that last part. Forget you read that.

I was going to go to the Cultural Center today and pick up some stuff, but its raining so I likely won't make it there today. So I'll have alot of shopping to do tomorrow. But its not like I didn't do the exact same this last year and leave everything till the last minute. Actually this year is a little better, I did a good amount of shopping on Friday.

I went to church on sunday, my last sunday and the pastor of the church I went to lives right beside where I do and invited me, so I made sure to be there. When I got there, me and the other person I was with tried to sneak in and sit in the back. Well, as an obruni, its impossible to sneak anywhere, the pastor seen us and brought us up to the very front to sit in on of the six chairs that they had at the very front. Not one of the at least 144 chairs they had sitting there (yeah, I counted), nope, one of the 6 chairs they had at the very front, facing the 144 chairs. And then we had to introduce ourselves, yeah, just draw more attention to the obruni sitting directly infront of everyone else.

I also had someone come and sit beside me and translate what the pastor was saying, because the majority of the service was in twi. Then near the end I was told that they wanted me to stand infront of everyone again, and talk about what I do at the childrens home. I had about 2 minutes to think of something interesting to say and then talked to the well over 100 people there. Then they had a guy come and stand beside me and translate everything I said into twi.

It was an interesting experience and I'm glad I went to the local church. Now that its all said and done anyway. I wasn't to happy about the speach part when they told me about it. But there was no way I could say no and not do it.

I have 2 more days at the childrens home and my flight leaves on Thursday night. I still don't want to go, although there was one point during the weekend I was actually excited for a minute or two about going home, so it will all be good. Once I start my journey back home I'll cheer up, that's what happened last time and hopefully is the same this time.

Don't know what else to tell you guys, I'll update everyone when I get back home. That is after I'm done catching up on sleep that I will have no doubt lost flying for a whole day.

Have a great day everyone and I'll see you guys when I get back.

Its a Conspiracy

I'm not sure if its to keep me from coming here or to keep me from leaving. Last year it was the Icelandic volcano/ash cloud that delayed me coming here. This year it was the Canada Post lock out that had me worried for a while about whether I woud get my visa back in time. And its also the Air Canada strike that happened before I left and also was close to happening this week. Jeez, what did I ever do?

I have officially less than one week left here. Its not awesome. I don't want to leave here. I'm really enjoying my time at the girls home. And since schools is back in, its really quiet during the day, so I will often go over to the one boys house and hang out with the little boys, who are really cute too.

Although I won't miss the time limit on the internet. Its frustrating, I'll be here for a while, and its not till I have 5 minutes left that I find something interesting to look at, or see someone on facebook to talk to. There has been a few times where I look up and realize that I have 20 seconds left and have to quickly say goodbye to whoever I'm talking to on facebook.

I realize I haven't put many pictures up here in a while. Sorry 'bout that, I got some for you now. Although my one memory card is completely full and is sitting back in my room, so you don't get all the pictures I would have wanted.

Some of the little girls playing

These girls were chasing away the goats that were walking around.

Truck that I had to walk by for a couple mornings, and yes, the stuff does look like its going to fall off. It was scary walking beside it.This picture was taken about 30 seconds before it started raining, and I got soaked on my way back from work.

One of the little boys.

Thats about it for now, I'll try to get back here before I leave, so it will be either Monday or Tuesday, I don't know how busy I'll be. If I don't get back I'll update everyone when I get back home (Canada home, not Ghana home).

Back Again!?!

Everytime I leave the internet I always think of something that I should've put in my blog, then when I get here, I can never remember what it was. Like right now for instance.

If you read the blog entry from last week, then you'll know about how I got a taxi ride with the same driver that I had had before. Well, I was leaving the internet on thursday and wanted to get a drop taxi back home, and I got the same guy again. The Toyota Corolla guy, I was suprised, but I think he just parks his taxi outside of the internet, because he knows there are always obruni's at the internet. But it was funny because I had to keep my story straight. He asked about how my kid was doing. It was funny how much he actually remembered.

I only had 8 more days left at the childrens home. It sucks because I know how much I am going to miss those girls. But at the same time, I can see now that the ones that I remember from last year that are still here are doing (relatively) well. And I do know that some do get adopted and thats also great. Esther, the one little 8 month old that we have, is now adopted by a couple from Slovenia. I'm so happy for her.

I'm actually really cold right now. They must have the air conditioning in here up really high because it seems alot colder than it usually is. But I know what kind of rush of heat you get when you step out of the doors, so I can live with the cold.

Speaking of cold. When I get back home, it better not be really cold. I'm going to freeze if its even kinda cool. Compared to here, where 25 degrees is considered cold, I'm not looking forward to what its going to be when I get back home.

Is a series of shorter posts just as good as fewer really long ones? Because thats what you have been getting the past week or so. Its likely what you'll get until I leave, but you never know.

That's if for now, I'll be back later at some point. Oh, and fyi, I fly out on September 29, the Thursday night.

2 Weeks to go..

Two weeks from right now I will be headed back to Accra to begin my journey home. And I don't really want to start that journey. I like, check that, love it here and although I do really miss everyone at home, I just really want to stay.

Ok, now back to the stuff that's actually happening. At the childrens home, school has started back up so instead of a lot of little girls at the girls home, there is only a few. Its really quiet. Today I sat with one of the girls for most of the day. She fell asleep on me at one point. It was a nice day. Not to much screaming and crying for a change.

Of the 4 1/2 total months I've been in Kumasi, I'm still being suprised that there are still times when I get in a tro from the market, and I go a different way back to Asabi. I've done it 3 different times this year. Last year all the tro's went the exact same way back home. Its weird. There seems to be a lot more traffic this year. I'm not sure what it is, but there always seems to be a line up of cars everywhere. I don't think there was that much last year.

Don't know what else to tell you. Its been pretty good here. Athough I won't miss the stupid chickens that like to stand right outside my window and make tons of noise. I hate those things. That and the power going out for several hours the past 3 days. It sucks at night because the fan isn't on then, and it gets really hot in my room.

That's if for now. I'll be back at some point.