at least a thousand words

I’ve been rather lazy with the pictures, so here are a few of my favourites from the past month. Ghana is beautiful and I feel as if every moment is a Kodak one, however, I rarely pull out my camera. Why? A few reasons…

a) Cameras are few and very far between as they are expensive. In Ghana I already have a laptop, my cell phone, an iPod…pulling out my camera is one more thing that sets me apart.

b) As one of the few white people around, I stand out everywhere I go! A camera only makes me more conspicuous.

c) In many cultures taking a photo of an unsuspecting person is a serious violation of privacy. Therefore I often try to ask before snapping…but I’m still a little shy.

Anyways enough talk, here are a few of my favourites:

My view everyday as I bike to work/go for a run/ walk to Church… the soils are intensely red, skies are blue and the sun is bright!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The picture on the right is where I am currently living! This is the inside of the compound and there are rooms all around to form this enclosed space. I usually eat supper perched on the ledge of the circular wall (soon to be a summer hut!).

The picture on the left is the kitchen and where all the magic happens! Dinner is cooked in the silver pot over the fire.  The fire is contained by three stones, which also keeps the pot from tipping over.  It comes in very handy when stirring the TZ (dough-like substance, otherwise known as dinner).  My favourite part of dinner preparation is pounding the pepe (dried hot pepper) in the mortar. So far, its the only thing I’ve really mastered.

 

 

I don’t know who is more excited about the photo I just took in this picture. People, especially children, LOVE having their photograph taken. Cameras are not around very often so when one appears, it is a very serious affair. It’s very difficult to get anyone to even smile!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This looked like wayyy too much fun! After an intense rainstorm, all the kids (who were supposed to be dressed up for a graduation ceremony) ran out and went puddle jumping instead. A few kids stripped right down to the briefs and fashioned their own version of ‘slip and slide’ on a concrete basketball court. Hello road rash!

 

Myself, Meshach (my host brother) and Brian (fellow JF) were tourists for a day at the Crocodile Pond in Paga (right on the border of Ghana and Burkina Faso) Despite its statue-like appearance, this is a living, breathing, eating croc!

That’s all folks! Stay tuned….