No time to blog, too busy working. Will leave you with a few 'tit-bits' (hate the phrase as Ghanaian news programs love and overuse it):
It's not easy (at all) to drive a manual car, through Tetteh Quarshie, on to the motorway, whilst trying to tune in Vibe 91.9fm AND eat a Magnum Almond at the same time! Not easy, but worth the pleasure! ;)
Sent a 300gram parcel by normal post at Cantonments post office on Thursday to my niece in Gothenburg, and she got it today!!! If we're guaranteed that service, who'll ever need DHL again???
Gotta to go now, no holiday for me tomorrow (which is Republic day), will continue working and blogging then!
Ian, answers to your questions are in the comments of the previous post.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Friday, 27 June 2008
I am puzzled...
...by something almost everytime I leave Sharpnet.
First of all, the reason I am there quite often is because my printer at the office is not working so when I need to print colour documents I have to choose between Busy Internet or Sharpnet, the choice is always easy as I'll do anything to stay away from the traffic at Circle.
Today I have been puzzled by a few things:
1. Why does the guy working the printers have to put in the papers one by one when you're printing colour? How does that work in such a busy internet café? Could they not think of any other system that might increase productivity and efficiency?
2. Why would anyone come to sit at Sharpnet to watch a full movie? (At least for the 35 mins I was there, it seemed like that was what the guy was doing).
3. This conversation:
A phone rings, you hear a baby babbling away instead of a normal musical tone:
"Chale, tha be your ring tone?"
"No, ee no be my ring tone, ee be someone calling me"
Eeeeh? (Is it me, or isn't it usually the ring tone you hear when someone calls you?)
Then, as i looked for a link to Sharpnet for the blog, to my amazement I realise there isn't one.
4. How, why, would an internet café that surely must be one of the busiest (although well after Busy) in Accra, not have its own website, and if they do, how hidden is it????
Answers on a postcard, please...
First of all, the reason I am there quite often is because my printer at the office is not working so when I need to print colour documents I have to choose between Busy Internet or Sharpnet, the choice is always easy as I'll do anything to stay away from the traffic at Circle.
Today I have been puzzled by a few things:
1. Why does the guy working the printers have to put in the papers one by one when you're printing colour? How does that work in such a busy internet café? Could they not think of any other system that might increase productivity and efficiency?
2. Why would anyone come to sit at Sharpnet to watch a full movie? (At least for the 35 mins I was there, it seemed like that was what the guy was doing).
3. This conversation:
A phone rings, you hear a baby babbling away instead of a normal musical tone:
"Chale, tha be your ring tone?"
"No, ee no be my ring tone, ee be someone calling me"
Eeeeh? (Is it me, or isn't it usually the ring tone you hear when someone calls you?)
Then, as i looked for a link to Sharpnet for the blog, to my amazement I realise there isn't one.
4. How, why, would an internet café that surely must be one of the busiest (although well after Busy) in Accra, not have its own website, and if they do, how hidden is it????
Answers on a postcard, please...
Friday lunch
When i got to work earlier today, I didn't think I'd stay long. Just outside my window, a politial rally was going on. As the noise got louder (or just more irritating with time?) it began to feel like it was coming from inside my head, pushing against the sides of my scull till the whole thing would explode in a mess. Then someone's car alarm went off, joining into the symphony of noise and chanting. As I thought 'I can't take this anymore!', I decided to calm myself by digging into my lunch.
Maybe because I was hungry, irritated and needed calming, or maybe the salad was just that good, but today the Greek Pasta Salad from Sunshine (Osu), (or Little Indian Sunshine Salad Bar as it's actually called, not Little Miss India Sunshine as I've called it for two years), was so delicious I devoured the whole thing! For some reason, I never usually manage to finish their salads but this one was fantastic. With a small Star by the side, I was soon satisfied. No, I don't mean a Star Beer (knew I'd get those in the know),
but rather the small Star juices (I had Carrot & Orange) that they sell at Sunshine.
I just hope this keeps me content until dinner tonight at seven with K and our lesser halves :) Yes, it looks like I'll finally be going to check out Rhapsody's! Poet, believe me, it's not by choice that I'm going there, would much rather have abandoned it until the hype fizzled out.
...Just like I am yet to see Titanic. Has that hype died yet?
Maybe because I was hungry, irritated and needed calming, or maybe the salad was just that good, but today the Greek Pasta Salad from Sunshine (Osu), (or Little Indian Sunshine Salad Bar as it's actually called, not Little Miss India Sunshine as I've called it for two years), was so delicious I devoured the whole thing! For some reason, I never usually manage to finish their salads but this one was fantastic. With a small Star by the side, I was soon satisfied. No, I don't mean a Star Beer (knew I'd get those in the know),
but rather the small Star juices (I had Carrot & Orange) that they sell at Sunshine.
I just hope this keeps me content until dinner tonight at seven with K and our lesser halves :) Yes, it looks like I'll finally be going to check out Rhapsody's! Poet, believe me, it's not by choice that I'm going there, would much rather have abandoned it until the hype fizzled out.
...Just like I am yet to see Titanic. Has that hype died yet?
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Girl Interrupted.
Since Friday I’ve had difficulty sleeping. (Well actually, it’s been going on my whole life, but since Friday it’s been particularly bad). I slept four hours a night Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday and Tuesday night, I only slept two hours per night (Ok, it’s possible that the Grey’s Anatomy season 4 disc that I borrowed from Dee had something to do with the last two nights lack of sleep) and so I’ve been walking around like a zombie for days.
Opening my eyes for too long is tiring, standing up is tiring, yes, anything really wears me out. But as soon as I get into bed, the sleepiness goes. I have to put on a DVD to distract myself from thinking or getting bored of trying to sleep.
Yesterday, I couldn’t take it anymore. At 15:45 I had to leave work to get some rest. Even the ten minute drive to Virgo’s house was a struggle, at every chance I got I’d lean against my seatbelt to rest my heavy head. Got to bed, but it took another 50 minutes to wind down. Then suddenly, I felt it – sleep beginning to drift over me. What a wonderful feeling, when you know the rest is about to come and refuel your body, like a medicine beginning to treat a disease. Then I drifted off, into the deepest, soundest sleep that would have gone on for hours...
…Except instead I was woken up 17 minutes later by the sound of my phone, as an extremely badly timed call came through.
Just another reason to detest MTN :)
Opening my eyes for too long is tiring, standing up is tiring, yes, anything really wears me out. But as soon as I get into bed, the sleepiness goes. I have to put on a DVD to distract myself from thinking or getting bored of trying to sleep.
Yesterday, I couldn’t take it anymore. At 15:45 I had to leave work to get some rest. Even the ten minute drive to Virgo’s house was a struggle, at every chance I got I’d lean against my seatbelt to rest my heavy head. Got to bed, but it took another 50 minutes to wind down. Then suddenly, I felt it – sleep beginning to drift over me. What a wonderful feeling, when you know the rest is about to come and refuel your body, like a medicine beginning to treat a disease. Then I drifted off, into the deepest, soundest sleep that would have gone on for hours...
…Except instead I was woken up 17 minutes later by the sound of my phone, as an extremely badly timed call came through.
Just another reason to detest MTN :)
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Age is nothing but a number?
Yesterday i briefly passed Sharpnet around midday. Opposite me was a man in his late sixties, early seventies. I was so impressed by the fact that he was at an internet café and of course started drifting of into thoughts of how you really can do anything you want no matter how old you are. I know people in their fifties/sixties who don't know how to text so they have to call the nearest person to them when the phone beeps and get that person to read the text and send a reply. These persons would hardly dare sit behind a computer.
But once in a while you see older people who stand out in the crowd, defying those who say "I'm too old to learn about all the new technology" or "in my day we got by, by sending letters, why do I need to know about email". My uncle is one of those people. He, the oldest of the clan made sure that all the oldies around him, siblings, cousins and friends could text so they could keep in touch around the world. And the latest I heard, at 77 he is about to start his own blog!
As I was thinking these thoughts, I realised some issue had arisen opposite me. The older man was unable to open his document and the Sharpnet staff member was trying to sort it out:
"Sir, are you sure you saved it?"
"Yes i'm sure"
"Where did you save it? Is it on a pendrive?"
"No, it's on the desktop." After looking through the desktop file, "sorry Sir, it's not on the desktop. Did you save it right now?"
"No, I saved it on the desktop, this morning before I left the house"
"Oh but Sir, then it's on your home computer's desktop"
"Can't I access it from this one?"
After which the staff had to go through the procedure of saving documents and the benefits of having a pendrive for easy accessible files.
Still, respect to the older man, who tried tackling something that most of his contemporaries will feel too scared to even try understanding.
But once in a while you see older people who stand out in the crowd, defying those who say "I'm too old to learn about all the new technology" or "in my day we got by, by sending letters, why do I need to know about email". My uncle is one of those people. He, the oldest of the clan made sure that all the oldies around him, siblings, cousins and friends could text so they could keep in touch around the world. And the latest I heard, at 77 he is about to start his own blog!
As I was thinking these thoughts, I realised some issue had arisen opposite me. The older man was unable to open his document and the Sharpnet staff member was trying to sort it out:
"Sir, are you sure you saved it?"
"Yes i'm sure"
"Where did you save it? Is it on a pendrive?"
"No, it's on the desktop." After looking through the desktop file, "sorry Sir, it's not on the desktop. Did you save it right now?"
"No, I saved it on the desktop, this morning before I left the house"
"Oh but Sir, then it's on your home computer's desktop"
"Can't I access it from this one?"
After which the staff had to go through the procedure of saving documents and the benefits of having a pendrive for easy accessible files.
Still, respect to the older man, who tried tackling something that most of his contemporaries will feel too scared to even try understanding.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Stop writing!
At Makola, the law school students are getting through their last exams. To think, only a year ago that was me. And what a hectic life we all led for the few weeks of revision and exams. The days between exams we’d survive on minimum hours of sleep, every night from 11p.m. calling each other for cheap conference calls (thank you One Touch, without your free calls after eleven, what would we have done?). If for some reason we were having network issues, we’d wait until after 00.30 when Areeba (now MTN) would start their free calls.
On the day of an exam, we’d have a last minute emergency and wake up call at 4.30 a.m. (we, being Dee, N Y and myself). Then by 5 a.m., quickly have a shower, get ready and set off. Arriving at 6a.m., we were well on time for our…9 o’clock exam! It may sound nuts, but with us living in Tema, West Legon and Teshie Nungua, we did not want to tempt fate in any way, by letting ourselves get caught up in traffic. Let’s not forget that an accident on the motorway can delay you by over an hour, and let me not even get started with Teshie Nungua traffic!
So at 6 a.m. we’d be in the Law School car park, actually most of the class would have arrived, all gathering in smaller groups and hanging out, quietly reading, sometimes discussing, and the really relaxed guys joking and laughing for the next two and a half hours before we entered the exam room.
After each exam we’d all drive straight home and crash into bed for a few hours before revision would start for the next topic. As I’d wake up after my post-exam nap, my first thought was usually, how did I get home? This would only lead me to later on think, if I don’t remember how I got home, how did I drive to school and back, and more importantly, what did I write in the exam room??? To this day, I can’t remember what questions were asked and what I answered, it’s all a blur.
One weekend when I stayed at Dee’s house, so deep in exam stress was I that she actually heard me listing cases with their citations (“Asafu-Adjaye v Agyekum 19…, Ghana Law Reports, page …”, “Gyato v Pipim”) in my sleep!
So glad those days are over.
On the day of an exam, we’d have a last minute emergency and wake up call at 4.30 a.m. (we, being Dee, N Y and myself). Then by 5 a.m., quickly have a shower, get ready and set off. Arriving at 6a.m., we were well on time for our…9 o’clock exam! It may sound nuts, but with us living in Tema, West Legon and Teshie Nungua, we did not want to tempt fate in any way, by letting ourselves get caught up in traffic. Let’s not forget that an accident on the motorway can delay you by over an hour, and let me not even get started with Teshie Nungua traffic!
So at 6 a.m. we’d be in the Law School car park, actually most of the class would have arrived, all gathering in smaller groups and hanging out, quietly reading, sometimes discussing, and the really relaxed guys joking and laughing for the next two and a half hours before we entered the exam room.
After each exam we’d all drive straight home and crash into bed for a few hours before revision would start for the next topic. As I’d wake up after my post-exam nap, my first thought was usually, how did I get home? This would only lead me to later on think, if I don’t remember how I got home, how did I drive to school and back, and more importantly, what did I write in the exam room??? To this day, I can’t remember what questions were asked and what I answered, it’s all a blur.
One weekend when I stayed at Dee’s house, so deep in exam stress was I that she actually heard me listing cases with their citations (“Asafu-Adjaye v Agyekum 19…, Ghana Law Reports, page …”, “Gyato v Pipim”) in my sleep!
So glad those days are over.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Lessons of life
They tell you not to mock people. They tell you charity begins at home. They tell you if you continue doing what you’re doing it will become a bad habit. I didn’t listen.
When I came to Ghana I had never heard of Ghanaians (Akans mainly) mixing their L’s and R’s. At first I was fascinated, listening for those mistakes. Suddenly understanding the meaning of “I go frash you”, “these flames will make your photos look good”, “the gardener is cutting the glass” or “crap for Jesus”. Then I was amused. Then I started imitating the mistakes. And mocking them by coming up with my own combinations.
And now, once in a while, I hear myself saying “we’re all going to my pra…place”. And at times I need to slow down and think before saying more problematic words like ‘frolic’ or ‘deliberately’. After less than three years in Greater Accra, I have adopted a mistake usually developed after a lifetime in the village.
Far too late I've learnt my lesson.
When I came to Ghana I had never heard of Ghanaians (Akans mainly) mixing their L’s and R’s. At first I was fascinated, listening for those mistakes. Suddenly understanding the meaning of “I go frash you”, “these flames will make your photos look good”, “the gardener is cutting the glass” or “crap for Jesus”. Then I was amused. Then I started imitating the mistakes. And mocking them by coming up with my own combinations.
And now, once in a while, I hear myself saying “we’re all going to my pra…place”. And at times I need to slow down and think before saying more problematic words like ‘frolic’ or ‘deliberately’. After less than three years in Greater Accra, I have adopted a mistake usually developed after a lifetime in the village.
Far too late I've learnt my lesson.
Friday, 20 June 2008
Reading time
On instructions from the boss, I am now going off to read
this book (bought in Ghana!) which will supposedly make me a better team-leader and hopefully add a few dollars to my bank account. Later on I'm off to Shoprite to buy all the nyama nyama needed for tomorrow's Swedish feast.
Have a good weekend!
this book (bought in Ghana!) which will supposedly make me a better team-leader and hopefully add a few dollars to my bank account. Later on I'm off to Shoprite to buy all the nyama nyama needed for tomorrow's Swedish feast.
Have a good weekend!
Glad midsommar!
(That's "happy midsummer")
Today started of with me being very stereotypically Swedish. Kept my earphones in my ears at the gym even though I was listening to the gym music (ok, maybe that's not Swedish, just my anti-social ways), then whilst getting ready for work, I flicked through the IKEA catalogue and had ABBA playing in the background. Of course during Fernando, I got so distracted that after a while I was just singing to myself in the mirror!
Today is Friday and it looks like I'll have a fun packed weekend. Unlike most people, I actually love staying late at work on Friday, to make sure I finish the work for the week (don't want a disastrous weekend like last weekend) and avoid getting stuck in traffic. After work, I'm meeting Ruby for dinner, most likely at Le Must. Their seafood gratin is divine, but I think it's time I try something new.
Tomorrow, the morning will be spent preparing for our Swedish midsummer feast, to be held at K's house, the afternoon will be spent eating all the delicacies. So far it looks like we'll have sill & potatis (herring and potato) with sour cream, Absolut vodka (naturally), egg halves with a tuna mayo mix, cinnamon rolls and...erm greek salad. Well the salad may not be Swedish, but it's summery so we'll allow it.
Then on Sunday, finally, it looks like our Sex & the City marathon might finally happen. Just waiting for confirmation from Dee...
By the way, I'm getting bored of the font colours on the blog, considering changing it. maybe to a grey background with a less shocking font colour. Any suggestions?
Today started of with me being very stereotypically Swedish. Kept my earphones in my ears at the gym even though I was listening to the gym music (ok, maybe that's not Swedish, just my anti-social ways), then whilst getting ready for work, I flicked through the IKEA catalogue and had ABBA playing in the background. Of course during Fernando, I got so distracted that after a while I was just singing to myself in the mirror!
Today is Friday and it looks like I'll have a fun packed weekend. Unlike most people, I actually love staying late at work on Friday, to make sure I finish the work for the week (don't want a disastrous weekend like last weekend) and avoid getting stuck in traffic. After work, I'm meeting Ruby for dinner, most likely at Le Must. Their seafood gratin is divine, but I think it's time I try something new.
Tomorrow, the morning will be spent preparing for our Swedish midsummer feast, to be held at K's house, the afternoon will be spent eating all the delicacies. So far it looks like we'll have sill & potatis (herring and potato) with sour cream, Absolut vodka (naturally), egg halves with a tuna mayo mix, cinnamon rolls and...erm greek salad. Well the salad may not be Swedish, but it's summery so we'll allow it.
Then on Sunday, finally, it looks like our Sex & the City marathon might finally happen. Just waiting for confirmation from Dee...
By the way, I'm getting bored of the font colours on the blog, considering changing it. maybe to a grey background with a less shocking font colour. Any suggestions?
Thursday, 19 June 2008
The difference between cats and dogs.
The world can be divided into three categories of people:
1. Dog Lovers
2. Cat Lovers
3. Ghanaians, who generally don't care for animals except to know what's in the meal their about to "chop".
I have always been a dog lover. Can't stand cats at all. They seem so sly and calculating, always lurking in a corner, looking for how they can trick or attack you. They only bother to show you love when hunger strikes, that's when they brush their furry bodies against your legs.
Cat lovers all speak of how intelligent cats are, which is why you have to win them over before they love you. Look, aren't human relationships work enough without having to also win over the love of a pet? My lovely dog (R.I.P.) loved me from the moment we got her, I never had to jump through hoops for her, so I'll take unconditional love any day.
Every few days, you'll see a dead dog on the side, or sometimes in the middle of the road, usually on the motorway. My heart jumps every time out of sympathy. However, two days ago, as I was driving through Cantonments, I saw a cat about to cross the road. Just as I thought "I have never seen a dead cat on the side of the road", I saw the cat do exactly what I was taught those many years ago in day nursery: look left, look right, then left again, before crossing the road.
The score board now reads:
Cats 1 - Dogs 0
1. Dog Lovers
2. Cat Lovers
3. Ghanaians, who generally don't care for animals except to know what's in the meal their about to "chop".
I have always been a dog lover. Can't stand cats at all. They seem so sly and calculating, always lurking in a corner, looking for how they can trick or attack you. They only bother to show you love when hunger strikes, that's when they brush their furry bodies against your legs.
Cat lovers all speak of how intelligent cats are, which is why you have to win them over before they love you. Look, aren't human relationships work enough without having to also win over the love of a pet? My lovely dog (R.I.P.) loved me from the moment we got her, I never had to jump through hoops for her, so I'll take unconditional love any day.
Every few days, you'll see a dead dog on the side, or sometimes in the middle of the road, usually on the motorway. My heart jumps every time out of sympathy. However, two days ago, as I was driving through Cantonments, I saw a cat about to cross the road. Just as I thought "I have never seen a dead cat on the side of the road", I saw the cat do exactly what I was taught those many years ago in day nursery: look left, look right, then left again, before crossing the road.
The score board now reads:
Cats 1 - Dogs 0
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
In a better mood...
Don't worry, the day turned out ok in the end. I guess all I needed was a good workout and a lovely breakfast.
Have spent the day driving to Tema and back, and roaming up and down town for...semi-private errands. Had a look in the new furniture store at the Tema Motorway roundabout, Blue Gallery, they had fantastic stuff, really nice and different compared to the rest of the places in Accra. Unfortunately I don't think I'm ready to spend $7,000-8,000 on a sofa set quite yet... But go and have a look if you can. Dee recommended it to me and I'm glad she did.
I am now down to the last of my twenty one Cedi coins.
Was a bit upset at first as I wanted them as a collectors item, but have had to use them because I haven't been to the cash point for days. (Note to HFC: if you want more customers, I think, yes somehow I think, that we'll need more than one measly cash point in the whole of Accra. Don't worry about me though, I will definitely be switching to Ecobank before you even set up another one.)
The Poetress assured me that she'd be able to get me some more coins, so I can once again relax. Unfortunately, paying with them is not having the desired effect. Nobody reacts at all. I was hoping people would be a bit excited, or at least frown and say I have given them the wrong think, whereupon I could knowingly smile and say "actually, this is not a 50 pesewas coin, it's a one cedi coin, you know." But nothing!
Gone are the days of last year early July, when everytime, I swear, every time you'd pay for something with a new cedi note, people would smile and gush and gather round to see what it looked like. My hairdresser thanked me about four times when I paid with a 10 cedi note as she hadn't seen one before and couldn't believe so much money could be found on one note.
Aaah, those were the days!
Have spent the day driving to Tema and back, and roaming up and down town for...semi-private errands. Had a look in the new furniture store at the Tema Motorway roundabout, Blue Gallery, they had fantastic stuff, really nice and different compared to the rest of the places in Accra. Unfortunately I don't think I'm ready to spend $7,000-8,000 on a sofa set quite yet... But go and have a look if you can. Dee recommended it to me and I'm glad she did.
I am now down to the last of my twenty one Cedi coins.
Was a bit upset at first as I wanted them as a collectors item, but have had to use them because I haven't been to the cash point for days. (Note to HFC: if you want more customers, I think, yes somehow I think, that we'll need more than one measly cash point in the whole of Accra. Don't worry about me though, I will definitely be switching to Ecobank before you even set up another one.)
The Poetress assured me that she'd be able to get me some more coins, so I can once again relax. Unfortunately, paying with them is not having the desired effect. Nobody reacts at all. I was hoping people would be a bit excited, or at least frown and say I have given them the wrong think, whereupon I could knowingly smile and say "actually, this is not a 50 pesewas coin, it's a one cedi coin, you know." But nothing!
Gone are the days of last year early July, when everytime, I swear, every time you'd pay for something with a new cedi note, people would smile and gush and gather round to see what it looked like. My hairdresser thanked me about four times when I paid with a 10 cedi note as she hadn't seen one before and couldn't believe so much money could be found on one note.
Aaah, those were the days!
Kermit must die
Written at 5:25 a.m. this morning:
I hate frogs. Those evil little so and so's have kept me up all night with their constant noise. As soon as I'd fall asleep, they'd raise the volume to a higher decibel.
I do NOT function well without sleep! So if you're in the Greater Accra Region today, do not cross my path. Don't worry, you'll recognise me, I'm the one with a dark cloud across my face and bags under my eyes.
Grrr...
I hate frogs. Those evil little so and so's have kept me up all night with their constant noise. As soon as I'd fall asleep, they'd raise the volume to a higher decibel.
I do NOT function well without sleep! So if you're in the Greater Accra Region today, do not cross my path. Don't worry, you'll recognise me, I'm the one with a dark cloud across my face and bags under my eyes.
Grrr...
Monday, 16 June 2008
The thief of time is what now?
So the weekend didn't go exactly as planned... Was meant to be in all Saturday, working, but ended up finding a lot of other things to do instead.
Working towards deadlines reminds me very much of being a student. Was trying to catch up because of my low (illness induced) productivity last week, but slipped right back into later, mañana, mode.
Whilst postponing the work early morning, to bake chapati (!), I managed to convince myself I was slightly disciplined by reading through some work emails whilst “baking”. After eating my bread with a cup of Brown Gold, in front of Scrubs, I reluctantly brought out the laptop to complete an agreement I had barely started on Friday. Finished it and felt so tempted to watch another episode of Scrubs, even though there were so many other agreements to draft.
This led to sudden flashbacks of LLB Law student days in the lovely house in Croydon. E G-A and I would sit and come up with various different excuses for postponing studies until before we knew it, it was 10pm on Sunday night and the final EU law exam was Monday at 2pm! What can I say, I know, we are complete idiots for leaving revising (yes, we began revising at that time!) till 14 hours before the exam, but luckily we both work well under pressure.
After getting through Law School in Makola and the mini nervous breakdown I suffered during first year, I thought I had matured out of last minuteism. And yet once again, I was thinking of potential blog posts, while the work was mounting.
Well, in hindsight I can tell you most of the work did get done...around 9p.m. Sunday evening. Long live last minuteism!
Working towards deadlines reminds me very much of being a student. Was trying to catch up because of my low (illness induced) productivity last week, but slipped right back into later, mañana, mode.
Whilst postponing the work early morning, to bake chapati (!), I managed to convince myself I was slightly disciplined by reading through some work emails whilst “baking”. After eating my bread with a cup of Brown Gold, in front of Scrubs, I reluctantly brought out the laptop to complete an agreement I had barely started on Friday. Finished it and felt so tempted to watch another episode of Scrubs, even though there were so many other agreements to draft.
This led to sudden flashbacks of LLB Law student days in the lovely house in Croydon. E G-A and I would sit and come up with various different excuses for postponing studies until before we knew it, it was 10pm on Sunday night and the final EU law exam was Monday at 2pm! What can I say, I know, we are complete idiots for leaving revising (yes, we began revising at that time!) till 14 hours before the exam, but luckily we both work well under pressure.
After getting through Law School in Makola and the mini nervous breakdown I suffered during first year, I thought I had matured out of last minuteism. And yet once again, I was thinking of potential blog posts, while the work was mounting.
Well, in hindsight I can tell you most of the work did get done...around 9p.m. Sunday evening. Long live last minuteism!
Friday, 13 June 2008
The motorway dance
There's a funny dance going on on the motorway. Ever since the week of many accidents, the police have been patrolling and stopping people for speeding and other offences. Funnily enough, a certain friend of mine didn't know there was a speed limit, he thought we had an autobahn style motorway, and he was shocked to hear it was 100 km/h after following me at 140 km/h (I think he's lying, I never go beyond 120 km/h, well at least that's what I'm saying, don't want to incriminate myself too much).
So these days we all try to keep the speed limit. However, if one car breaks away and accelerates, it seems many of us have the same idea, thinking, well if he's going at that speed, either they'll catch him and be busy charging him whilst I cruise past and if they don't stop him, there's no way they can stop me. So then the fast lane parade speeds up. However if the first breakaway car for whatever reason slows down, maybe to sneeze or answer his phone, who knows, we all screech on our brakes, worried that he has seen a police car.
In fact, any distraction is now cause for concern that there may be a police car on the side of the road. Yesterday I zoomed past a car only to think, damn, was it a police car and did they see me? But as I looked in my rearview mirror I realised it was only a taxi and breathed a sigh of relief and continued. Last Saturday we were all happily going at 115 km/h until the leader of the pack, a trotro, braked to
80km/h as he passed the police and their accompanying speed camera. It was such a hilarious sight (albeit dangerous), seeing the trotro cause a line of eight cars to brake, and reduce his speed to 20km/h below the limit, as if to redeem himself for speeding.
As the dance of breaking and accelerating continues and provides for very entertaining moments, I can't help but wonder: wouldn't it be easier, for all of us, if we just stuck to the 100km/h speed limit?
So these days we all try to keep the speed limit. However, if one car breaks away and accelerates, it seems many of us have the same idea, thinking, well if he's going at that speed, either they'll catch him and be busy charging him whilst I cruise past and if they don't stop him, there's no way they can stop me. So then the fast lane parade speeds up. However if the first breakaway car for whatever reason slows down, maybe to sneeze or answer his phone, who knows, we all screech on our brakes, worried that he has seen a police car.
In fact, any distraction is now cause for concern that there may be a police car on the side of the road. Yesterday I zoomed past a car only to think, damn, was it a police car and did they see me? But as I looked in my rearview mirror I realised it was only a taxi and breathed a sigh of relief and continued. Last Saturday we were all happily going at 115 km/h until the leader of the pack, a trotro, braked to
80km/h as he passed the police and their accompanying speed camera. It was such a hilarious sight (albeit dangerous), seeing the trotro cause a line of eight cars to brake, and reduce his speed to 20km/h below the limit, as if to redeem himself for speeding.
As the dance of breaking and accelerating continues and provides for very entertaining moments, I can't help but wonder: wouldn't it be easier, for all of us, if we just stuck to the 100km/h speed limit?
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Family ties
The gossip grapevine (sorry, that's my sort of news, I can't help it) tells me that Charlotte and Nicola Perrelli (Swedish celebs) are separating. To me, the first thing that came to mind was the huge fight the couple had with Nicola's parents, so that he actually cut himself off from his parents and changed his surname. Don't worry, I'm not going to further disgrace myself by displaying my knowledge of all things unnecessary.
Rather, I'm reminded of something my mum always says: At the end of the day, you only have your family. She's always ensured that us siblings have good relationships with each other and don't let arguments continue, because no matter what, it is only your family that you have for life. Yes, you don't choose your mother, father, sister or brother, but for better or for worse, those are the people you're stuck with for the rest of your life.
I thought of this because I can imagine how strongly Nicola would have fought against his family at the time, thinking "It's me and my wife against them, to hell with them" and now, I wonder what his world will be like when he's broken off from the family he was born into, and suddenly, the family he created has fallen apart.
Part of the charm of life is the fact that you are forced to be raised with a bunch of strangers (really, that's what they are, aren't they?) and you have to aim to make it work because they are the ones who'll give you a kidney or bone marrow when you need it, or simply be the ones you look like, talk like and have relationships with till you die. To make that work is a constant task, but the rewards are amazing. People who come from very close families tend to have a certain confidence, a belief in themselves. If you have close ties, it's like having a backbone that cannot break, no matter what life hits you with, your backbone will keep you standing up.
Although we can create new families with friends and lovers, there is something so unique about sharing DNA with another person, knowing that no fight, no event can break the bond between you.
I can only wonder if Nicola now longs for his family, after the legal bond he thought was unbreakable is showing major cracks.
Rather, I'm reminded of something my mum always says: At the end of the day, you only have your family. She's always ensured that us siblings have good relationships with each other and don't let arguments continue, because no matter what, it is only your family that you have for life. Yes, you don't choose your mother, father, sister or brother, but for better or for worse, those are the people you're stuck with for the rest of your life.
I thought of this because I can imagine how strongly Nicola would have fought against his family at the time, thinking "It's me and my wife against them, to hell with them" and now, I wonder what his world will be like when he's broken off from the family he was born into, and suddenly, the family he created has fallen apart.
Part of the charm of life is the fact that you are forced to be raised with a bunch of strangers (really, that's what they are, aren't they?) and you have to aim to make it work because they are the ones who'll give you a kidney or bone marrow when you need it, or simply be the ones you look like, talk like and have relationships with till you die. To make that work is a constant task, but the rewards are amazing. People who come from very close families tend to have a certain confidence, a belief in themselves. If you have close ties, it's like having a backbone that cannot break, no matter what life hits you with, your backbone will keep you standing up.
Although we can create new families with friends and lovers, there is something so unique about sharing DNA with another person, knowing that no fight, no event can break the bond between you.
I can only wonder if Nicola now longs for his family, after the legal bond he thought was unbreakable is showing major cracks.
Give blood
Happened to read another blog that mentioned blood donations. In Sweden I'd thought of giving blood, but quickly dismissed the idea after hearing that they do not want blood from black people (true story, they're not interested in black blood, no matter how healthy, several people have been rejected). Oh well, their loss, I guess.
In Ghana, I'm not sure if there are any regular blood-giving drives. Have heard of an NGO having a blood-giving day once, but since then, I haven't heard anything else. Will have to investigate further.
Katerina, the blogger, speaks passionately about feeling refreshed after donating blood. Well, I think we'd all feel good, knowing we may have saved three people's lives. Of course, I don't know what an anaemic person like myself is thinking, my blood's useless to them! But what Katerina said really made me start thinking.
Imagine your blood flowing in another persons blood streams. Isn't that amazing? I wonder how spiritual people look at it. Surely some people will feel part of the person will disappear with the blood. What an influence one could then be in another person's life! I would love to have my blood flowing in a KKK leader's veins. How confused he would be!
Meanwhile, I wonder how the idea of giving blood is handled in Ghana. I remember some years ago, and maybe even now, people didn't want human hair extensions just in case there was something evil in that other person's hair. How much stronger wouldn't that "evil" be in the person's blood?! But I guess in sickness, you leave these thoughts aside and choose life.
What are your thoughs on giving blood? Done it before? Done it in Ghana? Tell me!
For now the only blood donations I am doing...are to those damn mosquitos!
In Ghana, I'm not sure if there are any regular blood-giving drives. Have heard of an NGO having a blood-giving day once, but since then, I haven't heard anything else. Will have to investigate further.
Katerina, the blogger, speaks passionately about feeling refreshed after donating blood. Well, I think we'd all feel good, knowing we may have saved three people's lives. Of course, I don't know what an anaemic person like myself is thinking, my blood's useless to them! But what Katerina said really made me start thinking.
Imagine your blood flowing in another persons blood streams. Isn't that amazing? I wonder how spiritual people look at it. Surely some people will feel part of the person will disappear with the blood. What an influence one could then be in another person's life! I would love to have my blood flowing in a KKK leader's veins. How confused he would be!
Meanwhile, I wonder how the idea of giving blood is handled in Ghana. I remember some years ago, and maybe even now, people didn't want human hair extensions just in case there was something evil in that other person's hair. How much stronger wouldn't that "evil" be in the person's blood?! But I guess in sickness, you leave these thoughts aside and choose life.
What are your thoughs on giving blood? Done it before? Done it in Ghana? Tell me!
For now the only blood donations I am doing...are to those damn mosquitos!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Hi
Back again, slightly better. The weekend was strange. Woke up on Saturday feeling a bit off, slightly tired. Towards midday I was shivering, feverish, stiff shoulders and neck and drifting in and out of sleep. Then, for about an hour I felt completely well and mentally started making Saturday plans. However, very quickly I was back to shivering, fever and drowsiness. Stayed in bed until Mensah drove me to H & S's house. There, I longed for a nice woolly jumper whilst S talked about how hot it was. Stayed up later than I wanted to because it felt anti-social going to bed too early (why think of such things when sick?!?).
Then on Sunday I woke up after a very good night's rest, feeling revitalised with not an ache or ailment in sight. It was so odd, I couldn't help but wonder if i was sooo sick I thought I was well.
Had lunch at Akinyi's in the Silver Bells estate, managed to visit the Poet's for the first time and saw K's new car. Stayed in the Regimanuel area the whole day and really enjoyed the day.
Then, Monday morning: shivering, joint aches, drowsiness and dizziness. What's going on???!
Suspect it's malaria, as this clearly is malaria season (which season isn't?) and my body is currently covered in mosquito bites after mosquitos have attempted to turn every piece of my body into their own personal victory hill over the past few days. But at least I'm glad to be back online. ;)
Then on Sunday I woke up after a very good night's rest, feeling revitalised with not an ache or ailment in sight. It was so odd, I couldn't help but wonder if i was sooo sick I thought I was well.
Had lunch at Akinyi's in the Silver Bells estate, managed to visit the Poet's for the first time and saw K's new car. Stayed in the Regimanuel area the whole day and really enjoyed the day.
Then, Monday morning: shivering, joint aches, drowsiness and dizziness. What's going on???!
Suspect it's malaria, as this clearly is malaria season (which season isn't?) and my body is currently covered in mosquito bites after mosquitos have attempted to turn every piece of my body into their own personal victory hill over the past few days. But at least I'm glad to be back online. ;)
Monday, 9 June 2008
Got the sickies.
Ill today, well since Saturday. Not sure if it's malaria, typhoid, flu or exhaustion. At this point it culd be any of them. Will let you know when I know. Fingers crossed it's exhaustion or flu.
The powers that be made sure I couldn't do housesitting my way. Well, bring it on, I'll fight back. ;)
The powers that be made sure I couldn't do housesitting my way. Well, bring it on, I'll fight back. ;)
Friday, 6 June 2008
Bohemian rhapsody
I feel I have to redeem myself. Maya's earth is beginning to look too dreary to its readers. Unless I write something more cheerful, I'm sure you'll all leave me. So I'll try and avoid the following words for a while: death, die, too young, funeral, crying, tears, body bag and...fed up.
If I succeed, promise to shower me with comments (good or bad, doesn't matter, it's just fun to read your opinions).
So instead, let me write about a less gloomy (but still my usual whining) topic: the deprivation we suffer from in Ghana. In Ghana we may never starve, freeze to death or live a life of loneliness, but there is a very real possibility that we'll d.. (darn, I can't use that 'd' word), pass away from boredom. The entertainment scene is scarce. A full night out consists of drinks at Monsoon or Twist from 10.30p.m. onwards. Sometime after midnight we all continue to the awful, cold, crowded (can you tell i'm not a fan?) Office. After wondering why we paid (if we paid) to get in, we then walk the whole 15 metres to Cinderellas. Since Cinderella has been a bit dry lately, the night ends early, around 2.30a.m. There are other nightclubs, Boomerang, Aphrodisiac and Monte Carlo, but it seems no one goes there any more, well, actually we may pass Monte Carlo once every six months.
So as you can see, the entertainment scene gets boring after three or four...weeks. For me, being here for almost three years, going out has become a once-in-a-while thing, when the visitors come to town and force you out.
So, visualise starving dogs feasting on a dead rabbit, and you can imagine the hype over Rhapsody, the latest place to open in town, at the Accra mall (isn't it a restaurant?!?). EVERY social event is now scheduled at Rhapsody, from the official ones like the Obama celebration meet up, to the hanging out on a Friday night. The Poetress even sacrilegiously suggested we eat there instead of our usual sushi at Monsoon!
Yes you may say this is an "i-lands problem" (industrial country problem as opposed to a third world problem, any English word for that?) but on a Friday afternoon, it's an all too real problem. ;)
As for me, I may not know how I'm spending my Friday night, but the next few days will be spent baby- and housesitting at H's on Spintex Road. I suspect H, his wife S and I may have different opinions on what makes a good housesitter, as I look forward to inviting lots of friends over. I may even create my own Rhapsody!
Have a good weekend!
If I succeed, promise to shower me with comments (good or bad, doesn't matter, it's just fun to read your opinions).
So instead, let me write about a less gloomy (but still my usual whining) topic: the deprivation we suffer from in Ghana. In Ghana we may never starve, freeze to death or live a life of loneliness, but there is a very real possibility that we'll d.. (darn, I can't use that 'd' word), pass away from boredom. The entertainment scene is scarce. A full night out consists of drinks at Monsoon or Twist from 10.30p.m. onwards. Sometime after midnight we all continue to the awful, cold, crowded (can you tell i'm not a fan?) Office. After wondering why we paid (if we paid) to get in, we then walk the whole 15 metres to Cinderellas. Since Cinderella has been a bit dry lately, the night ends early, around 2.30a.m. There are other nightclubs, Boomerang, Aphrodisiac and Monte Carlo, but it seems no one goes there any more, well, actually we may pass Monte Carlo once every six months.
So as you can see, the entertainment scene gets boring after three or four...weeks. For me, being here for almost three years, going out has become a once-in-a-while thing, when the visitors come to town and force you out.
So, visualise starving dogs feasting on a dead rabbit, and you can imagine the hype over Rhapsody, the latest place to open in town, at the Accra mall (isn't it a restaurant?!?). EVERY social event is now scheduled at Rhapsody, from the official ones like the Obama celebration meet up, to the hanging out on a Friday night. The Poetress even sacrilegiously suggested we eat there instead of our usual sushi at Monsoon!
Yes you may say this is an "i-lands problem" (industrial country problem as opposed to a third world problem, any English word for that?) but on a Friday afternoon, it's an all too real problem. ;)
As for me, I may not know how I'm spending my Friday night, but the next few days will be spent baby- and housesitting at H's on Spintex Road. I suspect H, his wife S and I may have different opinions on what makes a good housesitter, as I look forward to inviting lots of friends over. I may even create my own Rhapsody!
Have a good weekend!
Accra cries on the 6th of June
Today is Sweden's National Day. For the past three or four years (am I right?) it's been a national holiday, so I'm feeling a bit jealous, especially as the weather seems great there at the moment. But I guess we had African Union day last week so it's even. And anyway, the 6th of June has never really been celebrated, so I'm not missing out on anything really. It's funny, but quite natural I guess, that countries that have been independent and never really oppressed don't enjoy their national day as much as the others.
Of course, it's already in the name. Independence day is so empowering, today we celebrate our independence, yay! National day - today we celebrate our nation? Naah, it doesn't have the same pulling factor. That's why even in Sweden I think syttende mai (or something like that) is more noticeable. That's 17th May, when the Norwegians celebrate their independence. Similarly, I am sure more Brits know of St. Patrick's day (17th March, Irish day) than St. George's day (some don't even know it exists), think it's 26th April, or somewhere around there.
Back in Accra, today is the day of G's funeral. I didn't go. Could blame it on so many things: I'd only met him a few times, I had several work meetings this morning, I still don't have my Roger to take me around and I didn't have any funeral clothes with me. I thought I would go, but somehow during the week I have subconsciously changed my mind. Partly because H left the country and I would have gone with him, but partly because...it's too much, too hard.
From the little I knew of G, I know it's going to be so sad to sit in church and hear people tell stories of his life and person, watch his family and probably everyone else, break down in tears over the fact that he died so young and with recent events it just feels like the week has already been too sad and death has come too close to home.
Fittingly, the skies above Accra opened up and cried and wailed for all of us this morning. I'm sure the tears of heaven stopped as G was being laid to his final rest.
Of course, it's already in the name. Independence day is so empowering, today we celebrate our independence, yay! National day - today we celebrate our nation? Naah, it doesn't have the same pulling factor. That's why even in Sweden I think syttende mai (or something like that) is more noticeable. That's 17th May, when the Norwegians celebrate their independence. Similarly, I am sure more Brits know of St. Patrick's day (17th March, Irish day) than St. George's day (some don't even know it exists), think it's 26th April, or somewhere around there.
Back in Accra, today is the day of G's funeral. I didn't go. Could blame it on so many things: I'd only met him a few times, I had several work meetings this morning, I still don't have my Roger to take me around and I didn't have any funeral clothes with me. I thought I would go, but somehow during the week I have subconsciously changed my mind. Partly because H left the country and I would have gone with him, but partly because...it's too much, too hard.
From the little I knew of G, I know it's going to be so sad to sit in church and hear people tell stories of his life and person, watch his family and probably everyone else, break down in tears over the fact that he died so young and with recent events it just feels like the week has already been too sad and death has come too close to home.
Fittingly, the skies above Accra opened up and cried and wailed for all of us this morning. I'm sure the tears of heaven stopped as G was being laid to his final rest.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
More troubles?
I was about to say finally I have sorted my laptop out, but then I noticed the bottom desktop toolbar is frozen, hm... Perhaps the free antivirus wasn't so good after all, but I guess it's better than having one that keeps popping up to remind me that the antivirus I'm using is blacklisted.
Today I'm fed up, (that's even my facebook status at the moment). Can't take it anymore, the two agreements I have been working on since Monday are just not being completed. Once again I've lost my legal mojo! What to do? Luckily, I am still waiting for some information before the agreements can be signed so that's my excuse for now.
I also don't have a car today, because I felt the brakes sounded a bit tired so I decided to leave it at home to be fixed instead of risking breaking down or crashing into someone else along the way. Got a lift to work with my mother, still don't know how I'll get back to the better part of Greater Accra ;) this evening.
To continue my whining I can add that I'm sooo hungry, really should have made sure I had breakfast this morning, but didn't and now I have to wait for Virgo to finish his many meetings before he takes me to lunch. Today seems to be busier than most days, or as we say here, today he's hot paa!
So for now, as I'm going cross-eyed from staring at agreements for too long, my stomach is screaming for food, I feel the beginnings of a hunger induced headache and the only thing keeping me happy are my beautifully frenchmanicured nails that I had done yesterday at Exquisite Nails (Oxford St, Osu), I can firmly inform you that
I AM FED UP
Today I'm fed up, (that's even my facebook status at the moment). Can't take it anymore, the two agreements I have been working on since Monday are just not being completed. Once again I've lost my legal mojo! What to do? Luckily, I am still waiting for some information before the agreements can be signed so that's my excuse for now.
I also don't have a car today, because I felt the brakes sounded a bit tired so I decided to leave it at home to be fixed instead of risking breaking down or crashing into someone else along the way. Got a lift to work with my mother, still don't know how I'll get back to the better part of Greater Accra ;) this evening.
To continue my whining I can add that I'm sooo hungry, really should have made sure I had breakfast this morning, but didn't and now I have to wait for Virgo to finish his many meetings before he takes me to lunch. Today seems to be busier than most days, or as we say here, today he's hot paa!
So for now, as I'm going cross-eyed from staring at agreements for too long, my stomach is screaming for food, I feel the beginnings of a hunger induced headache and the only thing keeping me happy are my beautifully frenchmanicured nails that I had done yesterday at Exquisite Nails (Oxford St, Osu), I can firmly inform you that
I AM FED UP
Monday, 2 June 2008
Thinking, mourning, rejoicing
Hm, sorting out laptops is still delaying. New ones are supposed to be bought (by the company) but we probably won't have them till the end of the week, so slow blogging till then.
Another week, another death and another birth. Is that really how the world is meant to be? Is it really normal that my 35 year old friend's wife dies 6 weeks after giving birth to her second child? Is it normal to become a father for the second time and 6 weeks later have to travel to America to pick up your new baby and transport your wife back in a body bag? Seems so unbelievable and yet it's true. My heart goes out to T and his children, especially the 4 year old who'll wonder why mummy never came back to Ghana.
In the midst of this another friend bounces in to tell the joy of his baby boy born yesterday and I am thrown between emotions of sadness and joy. The world is a funny place. So many things happen in such short spaces of time that we are forced to react suddenly and adapt to new experiences. Is it any wonder a year can seem so long, and yet this one is flying by so fast?
Tomorrow it's a year since J was born to A and DW, the day after, NY had his daughter, well his wife did, whilst we were busy revising. It seems so shocking that these newborns, or even pictures of ultra sounds, are now walking and somewhat talking. At the same time, sitting and revising for exams seems worlds away, and even seeing J when she was six weeks or so old, seems like ages ago, I can hardly remember being in Sweden.
Too many thoughts, too many wonderings, too much mental exhaustion, back to work now. Will reply to comments another day.
Another week, another death and another birth. Is that really how the world is meant to be? Is it really normal that my 35 year old friend's wife dies 6 weeks after giving birth to her second child? Is it normal to become a father for the second time and 6 weeks later have to travel to America to pick up your new baby and transport your wife back in a body bag? Seems so unbelievable and yet it's true. My heart goes out to T and his children, especially the 4 year old who'll wonder why mummy never came back to Ghana.
In the midst of this another friend bounces in to tell the joy of his baby boy born yesterday and I am thrown between emotions of sadness and joy. The world is a funny place. So many things happen in such short spaces of time that we are forced to react suddenly and adapt to new experiences. Is it any wonder a year can seem so long, and yet this one is flying by so fast?
Tomorrow it's a year since J was born to A and DW, the day after, NY had his daughter, well his wife did, whilst we were busy revising. It seems so shocking that these newborns, or even pictures of ultra sounds, are now walking and somewhat talking. At the same time, sitting and revising for exams seems worlds away, and even seeing J when she was six weeks or so old, seems like ages ago, I can hardly remember being in Sweden.
Too many thoughts, too many wonderings, too much mental exhaustion, back to work now. Will reply to comments another day.
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