a year in review

the 4th of june marks the one year anniversary of my training group's arrival in ghana.

so, for this historic day, i decided to let you know what has happened during the last year.

 

out of the ten regions in ghana, number i have visited: 9 (upper east, i'm coming soon!)

number of times i have puked: 4

number of times i have been puked on by a small child on a bus: 2

have i joined "the club?" no!

number of times i have been to a mall: 1

number of phones i have had: 4

number of hamburgers i have eaten: 3

largest number of people who have slept at my house in one night: 11

number of miles i have walked: millions

number of marriage proposals i have received: way too many

number of babies i have made cry because of my skin color: a lot

number of times i have had my hair braided: 3

number of times i have blow-dried my hair: 0

have i fallen in a ditch? not yet!

number of times i have worn my jeans: 1

number of 3 inch long crickets that i killed in my house in one day: 8

number of dresses or skirts i have had made: 10

number of times i have been to the beach: 2

number of students i have taught: 132

number of fields i have set on fire (accidentally): 1

 

 

 

 

music!

i wanted to share some popular music with you. the first two are songs that you hear all the time here in ghana, along with celine dion, of course. they are both nigerian, actually, but just like movies, nigerian music is very popular in ghana.

first up, my favorite, is yori yori. it's catchy. it'll get stuck in your head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnDlN7R73oQ

next is fall in love. my favorite lyrics are "sweet potato" and "sugar banana." they alone make this song amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KhxmAD74Ck

the last one isn't played so often now, but it's one i still enjoy. this was popular last summer, when it was announced that obama's first african trip would be to ghana. some of the biggest ghanaian musicians came together for this song to welcome obama to ghana. akwaaba is the twi word for "welcome," and you'll hear that a lot in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9b9XZOERJU

enjoy!

drumming & dancing

here is video from the drumming and dancing session we had at school a couple months ago. the kids can feel the vibrations of the drums through the ground, so that is how they know the rhythm for dancing.

good afternoon!

my jhs1 class sends their greetings! they are signing good afternoon, and of course some other stuff too...

visit ghana!

i know most of you can't actually come and visit me here, but i've heard of a way you can come close.
on the 31st of july is ghanafest, held in chicago.
now, i've never been, so i have no idea what this will be like, but it says it transforms washington park into a ghanaian market, with colorful african dress and wonderful crafts.
those of you who can go should.
let me know how it is.
eat fufu if they have it.
http://ghananationalcouncil.org/ghanafest2010.htm