I'm lying in bed in pain... I've got a crushed foot, swollen ankle, bruised waist and knee, sore back and aching limbs... yet I find myself smiling :)
I've spent the past day and a half with 2 of my best friends and the time spent together was nothing but eventful...
The activities that lead to all my aches and pains was not in the slightest bit amusing last night, but after some reflection, it was probably the best weekend I have had in a very long time. I feel like I am in high school again just coming from a sleep over... I am blessed to have such amazing friends and share 16 years of history with them.
Last night showed me the lengths we go through for our friends... what we put up with and how we resolve disputes and concerns the morning after.
Communication is vital in any type of relationship and I'm glad I have that with my sisters from different mothers...
Anna and Sharon, thanks for an amazing weekend! Karen and Kelly we all miss you guys dearly...
February 26, 2012
January 26, 2012
Day 9: The Farm (Ghana)
Day 9 in Ghana was fun!
I dreaded the idea the night before when I was told we had to be up and on the road by 6am to make it to the farm. I imagined a long uncomfortable journey and a boring day at the farm, but it turned out to be quite a pleasant day.
We only ended up leaving around 8am so I managed to squeeze in that extra hour of sleep, and the farm wasn't that far. We got there in no time and the journey was rather scenic.
So yes I'm posing in the above picture. No-one did any labour that day. We just simple went to view the farm and all it's vegetation.....
Gumboots check!
Machetes check!
Believe it or not, I did not travel all the way to Ghana with my gumboots. These were courtesy of my uncle.
Posing with my bro after a hard days' work (wink).
January 25, 2012
Days 1 - 8: Ghana
If you know me, you know I hate packing... mixed with my procrastination tendencies, meant a last minute packing stint and a rush to the airport. Luckily I made it in good time. Missing flights is something not new to me... but my parents would not have been the slightest bit amused if I had indeed missed this flight.
Having had a crazy few months at work a holiday was really something I needed... but it didn't quite feel like I was going on holiday. If you've ever been to Ghana with the parentals then you'll understand why.
I was looking forward to a nice, quiet, relaxed flight but fate had other plans for me. I got seated next to THE most irritating guy! Yes that guy that just doesn't keep quiet... and insists on the 21 questions, the macking, the pestering... and even after telling him I did not want to talk, and I ignored him... he still managed for 4 out of the 6 hour flight to tap me ever few minutes to request I listen to a song that was playing on the channel he was listening to. Luckily he eventually fell asleep and I managed to have almost 2 hours of peace and quiet.
Getting off the plane I was expecting that gush of a heat wave that I last remembered and that everyone talks about... but surprisingly it never came...
I made my way through the airport and eventually approached 3 signs: Dimplomats, Other Nationals, Ghanaian Nationals. I was taken a back a bit... then made my way to the "other nationals" queue... it was the weirdest thing. I remembered my blog on "Me Firi Ghana" and how I declared how I'm so Ghanaian... made me laugh a bit...
The next few days involved lots of sleep… well in context to
the amount of sleep I usual have… My Blackberry wasn’t working… I had no
internet connection for my laptop… I felt cut off from the world. It was a
feeling of unease at first… then it became total bliss and pure relaxation…
nothing to clog up my mind… no flashing red light… It’s amazing how much
rejuvenation one can get from 2-3 days without a phone…
The rest was well needed. The next few days in Accra involved HECTIC traffic, organised chaotic driving (not for the faint hearted), dust (lots of it) and whole day missioning to town, friends, family etc.
Day 6 we traveled to Dormaa Ahenkro to my father's side of the family. A 13 hour bus ride for a 350 km distance, puts things into a whole new perspective. A topic for another day.
Days 7 and 8 were amazing... so peaceful and relaxing without the Accra traffic. It was also great to be with my cousins. Nice to have people around of about the same age to interact with. The weather got really cold at night. I remembered from the last time I was there and brought a hoodie this time, but unfortunately forgot long pj pants and had to try manage through the cold. In reality it probably wasn't really that cold, but the significant drop in temperature from the day time heat definitely had an effect on me. It made me think of all those winters at UCT where the American exchange students would all wear shorts and we would look at them like they were crazy... People probably thought I was mad in my jerseys.
December 7, 2011
Me Firi Ghana - My version...
Being Ghanaian is all I know...
I may have never spent any "real" time in the country but I seriously doubt that makes me any less Ghanaian than the guy living in Dormaa Ahenkro.
I don't think there should be degrees of being Ghanaian.... you either are or you're not. So what if I can't name a single street in Ghana, or pronounce my Twi words correctly? In my house my parents raised me Ghanaian and I think that sticks more than the fact that I have the typical exterior features of a Ghanaian lady.
An adopted child that knows he is adopted is able to stand firm on the fact that his adopted parents are his mother and father respectively based on the role they have played in his life. They are his parents and no-one can question that. Technicalities of blood unfortunately don't matter.
So to me "Me Firi Ghana" is a very personal, individual statement. You may identify with being Ghanaian by your actual blood heritage, your location of living in Ghana, by being raised by a Ghanaian cultural influence etc. As my psychology lectures always said: There is no right or wrong answer, just how well you argue your point of view. A white person can be Ghanaian in my opinion, just as a descendant of Kwame Nkrumah living in America can not be.
Everyone thinks Oprah is ridiculous when she claims to be from Africa because she is very American to us. Yes we all did history and realise her heritage lies in Africa, but why is it when a guy of Ghanaian origin claims to be American we get outraged. Even if his forefathers were raised in America, the fact that he has a Ghanaian surname makes us want to "claim him" as Ghanaian and deny him the right to be "American". So are the Ghanaians living in America with the surnames Smith, Simpson, Harvey and so forth let off the hook because it is not so apparent where their heritage lies?
I've lived in South Africa for 23 years of my life, I'm a South Africa citzen. I can speak Xhosa and Afrikaans far better than I probably ever will speak Twi. I can read and write the languages, I'm addicted to biltong. South Africa is home. But I still identify more with being a Ghanaian...
There are many layers to the argument of "Me Firi Ghana". At the end of the day it makes up part of my life not all of it, whereas to someone else it could encompass everything. We can't decide for someone else if they are Ghanaian or not, neither can we argue with their decision should they choose an option we do not understand or feel comfortable with.
I may have never spent any "real" time in the country but I seriously doubt that makes me any less Ghanaian than the guy living in Dormaa Ahenkro.
I don't think there should be degrees of being Ghanaian.... you either are or you're not. So what if I can't name a single street in Ghana, or pronounce my Twi words correctly? In my house my parents raised me Ghanaian and I think that sticks more than the fact that I have the typical exterior features of a Ghanaian lady.
An adopted child that knows he is adopted is able to stand firm on the fact that his adopted parents are his mother and father respectively based on the role they have played in his life. They are his parents and no-one can question that. Technicalities of blood unfortunately don't matter.
So to me "Me Firi Ghana" is a very personal, individual statement. You may identify with being Ghanaian by your actual blood heritage, your location of living in Ghana, by being raised by a Ghanaian cultural influence etc. As my psychology lectures always said: There is no right or wrong answer, just how well you argue your point of view. A white person can be Ghanaian in my opinion, just as a descendant of Kwame Nkrumah living in America can not be.
Everyone thinks Oprah is ridiculous when she claims to be from Africa because she is very American to us. Yes we all did history and realise her heritage lies in Africa, but why is it when a guy of Ghanaian origin claims to be American we get outraged. Even if his forefathers were raised in America, the fact that he has a Ghanaian surname makes us want to "claim him" as Ghanaian and deny him the right to be "American". So are the Ghanaians living in America with the surnames Smith, Simpson, Harvey and so forth let off the hook because it is not so apparent where their heritage lies?
I've lived in South Africa for 23 years of my life, I'm a South Africa citzen. I can speak Xhosa and Afrikaans far better than I probably ever will speak Twi. I can read and write the languages, I'm addicted to biltong. South Africa is home. But I still identify more with being a Ghanaian...
There are many layers to the argument of "Me Firi Ghana". At the end of the day it makes up part of my life not all of it, whereas to someone else it could encompass everything. We can't decide for someone else if they are Ghanaian or not, neither can we argue with their decision should they choose an option we do not understand or feel comfortable with.
November 30, 2011
Me Firi Ghana (and so what)?
I received this an as email chain letter from my cousin the other
day. Just thought I'd post it and find out what you guys think it means
to say "Me Firi Ghana".
Me firi Ghana (and so what),
Is it the reflective shine from your ebony skin?
The length of your natural hair as a woman?
The shape of your head?
The ethnicity of your birth name?
Or even the athleticism you displayed in your youth?
I mean what does it really mean to say “Me firi Ghana”?
Ghana is more than what you force upon others once you leave and have settled elsewhere.
There is no such thing as they are not Ghanaian enough,
Comments such as Krom ha apro omu (this country has rotted them),
Should not even pass ones lips as you compare new arrivals versus old hands.
As a nation, when we travel, we are quick to judge,
Quick to impose our thoughts, views and values of what we feel it means to be REALLY Ghanaian.
How can one hold on to an image that has become faded in the minds of our parents
As they yearn for the joys of their childhood
And try to project it in an environment that calls for openness and the understanding of differences
In order to encompass unity?
Being TRULY Ghanaian should not depend on how well you read, write or speak twi,
How many times you can go to Ghana on vacation,
How high up the social Ghanaian community ladder in your adopted country you can climb through material acquisition,
And it CERTAINLY does not mean collecting dust in the muted halls of singledom
As one stubbornly awaits to forge a relationship or even wedded union with a fellow Ghanaian
Because it is what is expected from the family or community.
What it actually MEANS to say “Me firi Ghana”
Is to encompass the themes of generosity, support, humility, self love and inspiration that saw our great nation pave the way for Sub-Saharan Africa.
What it actually MEANS to say “Me firi Ghana” is to stand up for what you believe in,
Even if you stand alone.
To be the change that you want to see,
Which could one day inspire others.
Even if you are half Ghanaian, you are not a second class citizen!
Stand up and say… ME FIRI GHANA!
Me firi Ghana (and so what),
Is it the reflective shine from your ebony skin?
The length of your natural hair as a woman?
The shape of your head?
The ethnicity of your birth name?
Or even the athleticism you displayed in your youth?
I mean what does it really mean to say “Me firi Ghana”?
Ghana is more than what you force upon others once you leave and have settled elsewhere.
There is no such thing as they are not Ghanaian enough,
Comments such as Krom ha apro omu (this country has rotted them),
Should not even pass ones lips as you compare new arrivals versus old hands.
As a nation, when we travel, we are quick to judge,
Quick to impose our thoughts, views and values of what we feel it means to be REALLY Ghanaian.
How can one hold on to an image that has become faded in the minds of our parents
As they yearn for the joys of their childhood
And try to project it in an environment that calls for openness and the understanding of differences
In order to encompass unity?
Being TRULY Ghanaian should not depend on how well you read, write or speak twi,
How many times you can go to Ghana on vacation,
How high up the social Ghanaian community ladder in your adopted country you can climb through material acquisition,
And it CERTAINLY does not mean collecting dust in the muted halls of singledom
As one stubbornly awaits to forge a relationship or even wedded union with a fellow Ghanaian
Because it is what is expected from the family or community.
What it actually MEANS to say “Me firi Ghana”
Is to encompass the themes of generosity, support, humility, self love and inspiration that saw our great nation pave the way for Sub-Saharan Africa.
What it actually MEANS to say “Me firi Ghana” is to stand up for what you believe in,
Even if you stand alone.
To be the change that you want to see,
Which could one day inspire others.
Even if you are half Ghanaian, you are not a second class citizen!
Stand up and say… ME FIRI GHANA!
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