Fourth update
Back in Cape Coast - believe it or not! :) Christian has birthday today so we are celebrating him, and tomorrow we go to Anomabu (a beach place) for one night to relax a bit.

And I sure need some relaxation - this week has been hectic! Good, however.

Monday was draining me for energy - so much to think about. The week coming up (Jasmin's last) was filled in with plans and I also needed to think about what to do with school and timetable when Jasmin leaves. It was a good day, though, with good results at the tailor (two new dresses) and a nice chat with Mom and Dad :)

Tuesday was hectic! But slow at the same time, since everything took way much longer than it was supposed to - and therefore the day became hectic… Anyway, after reading lesson in JSS Dacosta wanted to bring Jasmin and I to see the palace of a so called King who Dacosta is PRO (Public Relations Officer - I think..) for. We were supposed to leave at 9am - we left Akonfudi at 10am, and then we had to go to a close by public school to collect some science books (we waited in the car for 30 mins..). This was followed by a pick up of the photographer (who was hired to take some photos in Jasmin's last days) and afterwards a "short" visit at Dacosta's extended family, where a cousin died the week before (this took maybe 30 mins), and THEN we drove to a small town from where we took a tro-tro up a bumpy road heading towards Kushea, where the King's palace is.
At 12.30 we arrived (3,5 hours after the time we should have left Akonfudi…). Silly photos were taken - the Ghanaians loved it, though - and then we saw "the palace": a Westernised house with extraordinary furniture. Seeing Dacosta's amazement was so funny, and Jasmin and I tried to be just as amazed even though we really weren't :) It was really nice to experience this palace- and king-thing, however, since it is so far from the "normal" Ghana, and we also had a lovely lunch in a dining hall with a HUGE table eating rice and salat(!) and having sodas and water from bottles (instead of plastic bags). My interest for the king was awakened when I saw some photos of him being with Prince Charles, Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela - at that point I realised that he actually is someone… King is the Ghanaians translation of the word Nana, which - I think - is more correctly translated into Chief Executive (whatsoever that is…).
At 4pm we were back in Akonfudi (after a second visit at the family of the dead cousin) very exhausted - it was time to rest :)

Wednesday was a good day. Reading lesson was a big success. Jasmin and I were doing extra reading with the weakest pupils in class 6 beginning from the basics about how to pronounce the letters and not only the names of the letters. It went very well and we even read some longer words! I know it sounds crazy but it is really progress. When I tried to hear them read in the class I couldn't get a single word out of them and at this lesson they were speaking and trying and doing their best - it was just awesome! It really showed that this is the way forward. It I can teach one single pupil to read it is my entire stay worth it.
In the evening Jasmin and I visited Ben at his place in Foso where we cooked a nice meal together and had a good time.

Thursday was a good day as well. Reading lesson was again a success and after the reading Jasmin and I went with Dacosta to one of his farms, his orange farm, from where we got plenty of amazingly tasty oranges! Mmh :) I also had English lessons in class 6 where I began teaching I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are, you are, they are - they have never learnt this before! So once again: back to basics. It, however, seems like they will understand it quite fast - fingers crossed! The exercises they made had good results luckily :)

So it has been a good week all in all. I am excited about next week where I am going to be more on my own, since Wednesday is the only day where Jasmin will be there (she is travelling until Tuesday and leaves Ghana on Thursday). On Sunday I will need to plan the upcoming week since I am going to teach all Jasmin's lessons - more work to be done!
I am enjoying myself and also the weekends with lovely company.

By the way, to be added to last blog post regarding Ghanaians difficulties when it comes to the English language:
- Pronounce th as t, so three (3) is tree, thousand is tousand, Matthew is Mattew (really difficult when learning their
names: sorry can you spell your name please? Ahhh: Matthew!) etc.
- Mix up he and she (since it is the same word in Twi), which makes it very difficult when they use pronouns about
persons: Then Sarah came, and he was very beautiful, and older than his brother - she is 20…

Ghanaians - in no particular order
Response 'fine' to everything, if they don't speak English, e.g.: me: Goodmorning, them: Fine
Don't go to school if there is heavy rain up till 9am
Use newspaper as toilet paper (in my village at least…) and pee everywhere
- they only use the toilet for doing no. two, so they must really think that my digestion is incredible high, since I go to
the toilet several times a day…
Extremely hospitable! Everybody is always welcome/invited
- when passing somebody who is eating you always get the sentence: you are invited
- you never accept the invitation, though, it is just polite to invite
Love to yell oburuni in a friendly tone after white people (also adults)
- I have begun yelling obibini (black person) back, which they love :)
Do not at all plan (anything!) - they sure live in present
Are very dependent - they cannot think for themselves (most of them at least)
Talk/discuss in a hard tone, which makes it difficult to find out if they are angry or just discuss something
Ask for presents all the time, which is really hard to get used to.
- E.g.: I am going to Kumasi and when telling people this they simple say (without please): bring me apple/bread/present,
even people I don't know.
- I find it rude but it is just their way apparently… They don't mean it in a rude way. But still.
Are very good at discussing religion openly and in a good friendly tone
- Muslims and Christians live side by side and are good friends
Love to tell how much they have done and how they have troubled themselves for one's sake
Very helpful
Very slow in getting things done (it takes ages!)
Don't keep time (and have sooo many excuses for it)
Invite themselves (e.g. to stay for dinner or go out without paying)
Use lots of money on 3-days funerals
Love to sing, drum and dance
Are very happy and laughing
Love when oburunis speak a little of their language :)

When Ghana is best
Driving in tro-tro, loud Ghanaian music from the stereo, surrounded by smiling Ghanaians wearing colourful clothes, looking trough the windows seeing nice scenery or Ghanaian culture, having a nice breeze in one's head, and just enjoying. This makes me smile.

Walking through my village watching village people do their things: sweeping the earth, children bathing in the middle of everything all covered in plenty of white soap foam, women making fufu or washing clothes, men sleeping or on their way to their farms, kids having fun playing with each other and with very simple toys or dancing to the loud music that always is played. This also makes me smile.

That is Ghana, and it is beautiful.

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I hope you are all good.

All the best,
Signe