The best month of the year is going to be here in a few months and I'm excited. I know all the people born in other months are hating right now but, take a second and think. Which month gives a holiday on it's very first day?? No other than July.. this and other reasons make this month one of a kind.
These are the reasons why I LOVE(J'AIME,QUIERO&AMO) this month.
1. I was born on this month.
2. My mum was also born on this month three days before my birthday. In fact I was supposed to be born on her birthday but being stubborn I came three days later.
3.This month stands for summer holidays!
4.Well in the west mid July to August is when there are major sales. In Africa everyday is a sale day your negotiation skills determine which percentage you get off.
5. A lot of events happen during this time e.g weddings,parties etc.
P.S it's 22 days to the D-day and I feel already like I'm getting OLD. I'll explain that later ...
Bisous
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thankful Thursdays.
I want to establish this day as one where I can share with my readers all that I'm greatful for during the week.
This week I am greatful for the ability to cook several African dishes...Yes, it's true I just finished cooking 'Placali'(Ivorian food) with okro stew and it was toothsome. Mmmm!!
Then I realized that I knew how to cook different types of African food because I was blessed to be surrounded by an international community in my school as well as our family friends. I feel like bragging a little so I'll write a list of all the dishes I can do and which African country they are from.
Ghana- Eto, Omo tuo, Jollof Rice, Waakye etc (Except Fufu)
Cote D'Ivoire- Attieke, Fufu(different from Ghana's),Placali
Senegal- Tchep. I have to learn how to do Yassa it's way tastier than tchep!!
Morroco- Couscous.
Kenya- Matoke. My Aunt taught me how to cook Chapati but I've forgotten :(
Next week I will try and do Yassa. It is a Senegalese dish and the ingredients are easy to get namely; mustard,chicken,onions, garlic and it is eaten with rice. I loved it the very first time I ate it hope it turns out great. I used to wish I would marry a Senegalese man.. their food is basically rice*huge grin* and they are usually really tall. Hehehe
Great recipe sites below.
http://www.foodbycountry.com/
http://www.whats4eats.com/appetizers/akkra-recipe
This week I am greatful for the ability to cook several African dishes...Yes, it's true I just finished cooking 'Placali'(Ivorian food) with okro stew and it was toothsome. Mmmm!!
Then I realized that I knew how to cook different types of African food because I was blessed to be surrounded by an international community in my school as well as our family friends. I feel like bragging a little so I'll write a list of all the dishes I can do and which African country they are from.
Ghana- Eto, Omo tuo, Jollof Rice, Waakye etc (Except Fufu)
Cote D'Ivoire- Attieke, Fufu(different from Ghana's),Placali
Senegal- Tchep. I have to learn how to do Yassa it's way tastier than tchep!!
Morroco- Couscous.
Kenya- Matoke. My Aunt taught me how to cook Chapati but I've forgotten :(
Next week I will try and do Yassa. It is a Senegalese dish and the ingredients are easy to get namely; mustard,chicken,onions, garlic and it is eaten with rice. I loved it the very first time I ate it hope it turns out great. I used to wish I would marry a Senegalese man.. their food is basically rice*huge grin* and they are usually really tall. Hehehe
Great recipe sites below.
http://www.foodbycountry.com/
http://www.whats4eats.com/appetizers/akkra-recipe
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Rainy Season +PMS+??? = Poor Psyche
So, I have not been in the greatest of moods for some time now. It seems like the heavy clouds full of rain are not only hovering in the Accra skies but also on top of my head. The weather, PMS, and the visa process am going through are causing my mood to go foul. All of these are just frustrating!!To make matters worse my Dad's van broke down today and I had to push it with a couple of drunk guys and in the drizzling rain :-(
Don't get me wrong I love the rain because I was a rainy season baby. I used to wear my swimsuit and dance in the rain before anyone could see and shout at me when I was a kid. One of my guilty pleasures was sipping warm chocolate and listening to songs from the eighties all wrapped up in my bed but this particular rainy season just feels depressing. I am thankful nonetheless,for the random events that bring a smile on my face like having a great session at Summer Shakespeare(Nubuke) or teaching my Spanish students or chatting with friends.
I don't know why I am even writing but it feels therapeutic. Writing thoughts on paper really helps probably that's the reason musicians write most of their best love songs when they are depressed.
Note to Guys: Whenever ladies are in such moods just listen. DO NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND! I don't think we understand ourselves.
P.S Icecream and cookies can work magic.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
7 Lessons I learnt from my Father.
Tomorrow will be Father's day and I thought to myself what better way to celebrate my Dad but writing this post. For some few months now I have really seen how I am blessed to have a Father who has always been there though sometimes he has been too much present in my life. My Dad is a very friendly guy(except to my guy visitors), ambitious,generous,disciplined and spiritual. I still remember when I was a kid that my Dad used to seize the oppurtunity of everyone's absence to prepare strange but tasteful dishes. But, no one could never tell the ingredients used. One day I ate something that tasted like chicken but later found it was one of the cute rabbits we had in the house that was grilled. I was so disgusted!! I had a lot of stomach upsets when I was a kid, used to wake up from my sleep and puke endlessly because of something I ate late or something I ate out. They were really serious, there was even one I feel was a near death event. It was frequently my Dad who would stay with me all night and give me medicine or fluids( his concoctions). Dad you really deserve this post and although you can be a 'party popper' at times I still love you.
Before I went to Uni my Dad sat me down and had a lengthy chat with me. I thought he was being over protective or too rigid in his thinking, but now with just one year to go I realize he was pretty much saying the hard truth. The list below are the lessons he told me that fateful day and others I heard almost every single day as I was growing up.
1) "Life is a choice, you can choose to be happy, rich,poor, sucessful anything you want to be". But, its your choice". This is one phrase he LOVES saying, he made us understand that every decision you take makes what you are in the future. You want to be healthier? Eat good food. You want to be a Public Figure? Get Public Figures as mentors. If you decide to not do anything, it will be your 'choice'. Whatever happens will be the result of your choices.
2) My Dad made me understand that no other guy will ever love me like he does. I remember when I was in high schoool and the 'it thing' was to have a boyfriend/girlfriend my Dad kept telling me at random times " I love you, and if it's money you want I will give it to you, don't let any guy tell you that and get giddy with excitement cos' I tell you everytime".
3)" Walk like you have somewhere to go". LOL. It sounds silly but it is actually really true, whenever I am out somewhere and I switch on my busy walk the message that people receive is that I am a confident and busy woman. Try it out someday, it works!
4) We can always do better at what you are doing. If any of you have read my previous posts you will know by now that I dont enjoy washing tons of dishes. During my kiddy years, I would wash everything and leave the biggest pot unwashed and blame it on the hugeness or the fact that the stains on it seemed to not vanish despite my efforts. To those grumblings my Dad would say " You did well but I'll give you a B+ since you could have done better. I hated hearing that from him especially after all the work I had done. Conclusion is, I still could have done better eventhough I didn't feel like it.
5) Any college boy who says he wants to marry you is a big fat liar or is just plain naive. This was one of the things he told me before I went to University. He said from a male perspective it would not be possible because at that age a guy's mind is focused on how he is going to finish school, get a good job and buy a car. LATER .. comes the idea of settling down probably because his mom is forcing him to or all his pals are settling down.
6) Do what you are passionate about and you will never see time passing. My Dad used to work in one of the best banks in Africa and our family used to enjoy the perks until that fateful day when my Pops decided to go to retirement early. I think he was in his late forties and fifties, until now he never regretted his decision. He keeps on telling us there is nothing like being you own boss and getting money from what you love doing.
7) Self-esteem and Confidence will get you places. Whenever my sister, brother or I walk around with our backs bent and head sagging. My dad would lecture on the importance of standing straight and looking confident. He says no one is attracted to anyone who walks around looking like he/she has a burden on the shoulder.
To all the wonderful guys in my life I hope you will be great fathers and one day have a sweet little daughter write a post about you.
Before I went to Uni my Dad sat me down and had a lengthy chat with me. I thought he was being over protective or too rigid in his thinking, but now with just one year to go I realize he was pretty much saying the hard truth. The list below are the lessons he told me that fateful day and others I heard almost every single day as I was growing up.
1) "Life is a choice, you can choose to be happy, rich,poor, sucessful anything you want to be". But, its your choice". This is one phrase he LOVES saying, he made us understand that every decision you take makes what you are in the future. You want to be healthier? Eat good food. You want to be a Public Figure? Get Public Figures as mentors. If you decide to not do anything, it will be your 'choice'. Whatever happens will be the result of your choices.
2) My Dad made me understand that no other guy will ever love me like he does. I remember when I was in high schoool and the 'it thing' was to have a boyfriend/girlfriend my Dad kept telling me at random times " I love you, and if it's money you want I will give it to you, don't let any guy tell you that and get giddy with excitement cos' I tell you everytime".
3)" Walk like you have somewhere to go". LOL. It sounds silly but it is actually really true, whenever I am out somewhere and I switch on my busy walk the message that people receive is that I am a confident and busy woman. Try it out someday, it works!
4) We can always do better at what you are doing. If any of you have read my previous posts you will know by now that I dont enjoy washing tons of dishes. During my kiddy years, I would wash everything and leave the biggest pot unwashed and blame it on the hugeness or the fact that the stains on it seemed to not vanish despite my efforts. To those grumblings my Dad would say " You did well but I'll give you a B+ since you could have done better. I hated hearing that from him especially after all the work I had done. Conclusion is, I still could have done better eventhough I didn't feel like it.
5) Any college boy who says he wants to marry you is a big fat liar or is just plain naive. This was one of the things he told me before I went to University. He said from a male perspective it would not be possible because at that age a guy's mind is focused on how he is going to finish school, get a good job and buy a car. LATER .. comes the idea of settling down probably because his mom is forcing him to or all his pals are settling down.
6) Do what you are passionate about and you will never see time passing. My Dad used to work in one of the best banks in Africa and our family used to enjoy the perks until that fateful day when my Pops decided to go to retirement early. I think he was in his late forties and fifties, until now he never regretted his decision. He keeps on telling us there is nothing like being you own boss and getting money from what you love doing.
7) Self-esteem and Confidence will get you places. Whenever my sister, brother or I walk around with our backs bent and head sagging. My dad would lecture on the importance of standing straight and looking confident. He says no one is attracted to anyone who walks around looking like he/she has a burden on the shoulder.
To all the wonderful guys in my life I hope you will be great fathers and one day have a sweet little daughter write a post about you.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Is Africa really moving foward?
I , like several African's around the globe think that western media like BBC and Aljazeeera constantly show the worst things about our continent. But, this month I have watched two documentaries one about baby trafficking in Nigeria and the other about the "Nigerian Mafia". It sounds unbelievable but it is so painstakingly true. So, I ask myself how Forbes and IMF published that the fastest economiesn the world are countries from Africa. Also, most African countries are said to be moving from low income economies to middle icome enomies but in my opinion this report is partly true because there are international companies investing in this continent and it is now common to see huge skyscrapers , American fast food chains and the youth tweeting on their blackberries. But, could this be a smokesscreen to keep us from noticing the real issues on the ground that are happening in the little towns all around the continent of Africa.
Today I was saying to a freind that a whole lot of things piss me off including those gloomy stories the international media portrays about Africa. He asked me a simple question ' But, are those stories true?" I had to admit that eventhough those stories are degrading they are true.What are we doing about it? Nothing.
The baby trafficking documentary that was shot in Nigeria had a profound effect on me. The best word that sums up my feelings is a word in french "boulverse". It is unbelievable that mothers and fathers give up their infants to a middle man who looks the highest bidder and sells the child. One of the victims the reporters interviewed said her two babies were sold by her boyfriend in her absence. The boyfriend is now lying in jail but in his defence he said he needed money and also he signed a contract with the dealers without even understanding what he did. So should we then blame these actions on poverty? NO! I believe that there are some basic rights that cannot be tampered with and one of them is Life. Forftunately, the woman(victim) got help from an NGO they tracked her boyfriend and were able to rescue her first child but the other was sold. I was speechless for a while after watching the video and what made it more astounding was the fact that these acts are ongoing in a neighbouring country. Who knows whats probably happening here?
There are sucess stories in Africa but these will never come to the limelight if we dont adress the atrocious acts happening in the slums,ghettos or villages. We seriously do not need USAID or UNHCR coming to help us, we just need leaders and citizens who would stand up for what is right.
N.B Below are some links to the documentaries I have seen this month, they are eye opening.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/africainvestigates/2011/11/2011113071310331931.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2011/05/201152583557883925.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/08/201189141348631784.html
Today I was saying to a freind that a whole lot of things piss me off including those gloomy stories the international media portrays about Africa. He asked me a simple question ' But, are those stories true?" I had to admit that eventhough those stories are degrading they are true.What are we doing about it? Nothing.
The baby trafficking documentary that was shot in Nigeria had a profound effect on me. The best word that sums up my feelings is a word in french "boulverse". It is unbelievable that mothers and fathers give up their infants to a middle man who looks the highest bidder and sells the child. One of the victims the reporters interviewed said her two babies were sold by her boyfriend in her absence. The boyfriend is now lying in jail but in his defence he said he needed money and also he signed a contract with the dealers without even understanding what he did. So should we then blame these actions on poverty? NO! I believe that there are some basic rights that cannot be tampered with and one of them is Life. Forftunately, the woman(victim) got help from an NGO they tracked her boyfriend and were able to rescue her first child but the other was sold. I was speechless for a while after watching the video and what made it more astounding was the fact that these acts are ongoing in a neighbouring country. Who knows whats probably happening here?
There are sucess stories in Africa but these will never come to the limelight if we dont adress the atrocious acts happening in the slums,ghettos or villages. We seriously do not need USAID or UNHCR coming to help us, we just need leaders and citizens who would stand up for what is right.
N.B Below are some links to the documentaries I have seen this month, they are eye opening.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/africainvestigates/2011/11/2011113071310331931.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2011/05/201152583557883925.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/08/201189141348631784.html
Monday, June 11, 2012
It has been ages since I have posted a new song, that explains why I felt my blog was missing something. During one of my usual scoutings on youtube I stumbled upon this group from New Zealand. Their genre is hard to describe because they play the ukelele, manjo, electric guitar and drums. Hope you enjoy the video as well as the song :)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Letter to my No.1 blog fan
Dear, Bernadito, bundle of joy(pain),best buddy ever.
This post should have been written probably a year ago and my sincere apologies for that. I know your head is swelling right now and that is why I advise you to pause your reading this very instant and go wash your face because this could just be a fiction of your imagination. For all my other fans like Marie-honore, Mr G. and the rest do not be jealous of this post it was conducted in the most ethical and transparent process. LoL.
These are the reason's why I think Bernard deserves this special post:
1. He was one of the first people I told about my blog.
2. He has been a loyal follower.. I think. If not, my other fans should stage a coup d'etat.
3.He has an awesome sense of humour
4. He uses my blog posts as evidence that "I am an old soul"(his words)
5.I promised to write him a post ages ago.
P.s Benard you can finally breathe a sigh of relief and seriously you should start a blog because you have so much stories to tell of your village expeditions or as I coined 'ghanatrotting'. You always come back telling me of random events or pertinent issues that affect our rural areas which am certain most Ghanaians know nothing about. If you ever listen to me and own a blog make sure you make me your number 1 blog fan!
This post should have been written probably a year ago and my sincere apologies for that. I know your head is swelling right now and that is why I advise you to pause your reading this very instant and go wash your face because this could just be a fiction of your imagination. For all my other fans like Marie-honore, Mr G. and the rest do not be jealous of this post it was conducted in the most ethical and transparent process. LoL.
These are the reason's why I think Bernard deserves this special post:
1. He was one of the first people I told about my blog.
2. He has been a loyal follower.. I think. If not, my other fans should stage a coup d'etat.
3.He has an awesome sense of humour
4. He uses my blog posts as evidence that "I am an old soul"(his words)
5.I promised to write him a post ages ago.
P.s Benard you can finally breathe a sigh of relief and seriously you should start a blog because you have so much stories to tell of your village expeditions or as I coined 'ghanatrotting'. You always come back telling me of random events or pertinent issues that affect our rural areas which am certain most Ghanaians know nothing about. If you ever listen to me and own a blog make sure you make me your number 1 blog fan!
Where did my vacation go?
I am three weeks into my summer holidays *clear throat* I beg your pardon 'rainy season holidays'. It has been raining almost every single day and I now have a couple of bizarre rain stories under my belt like the "sugar daddy saga". To make matters worse I feel like my schedule has not really changed except that am not going for long boring lectures. My itinerary involves church, hospital, my mum's school and Nubuke an arts center I'm volunteering at.
My friend Benard (the 3rd mention would be the charm) calls me an enigma and I concurr. Here I am complaining, but if my vacation was plain boring and idle I would have felt really useless. First I was complaining I had no internship lined up for me and later was confused on whether I should go to Cote D'ivoire but now I am just dreaming of relaxing with sunglasses at the poolside.
I want to spend these months doing stuff I love but also learning a skill. So I have started learning nail art kind courtesy of Youtube, am helping kids in a drama class and I am going to join a chinese class.
I will post pictures of my nail art soon, hope I get positive feedback :)
Bisous.
My friend Benard (the 3rd mention would be the charm) calls me an enigma and I concurr. Here I am complaining, but if my vacation was plain boring and idle I would have felt really useless. First I was complaining I had no internship lined up for me and later was confused on whether I should go to Cote D'ivoire but now I am just dreaming of relaxing with sunglasses at the poolside.
I want to spend these months doing stuff I love but also learning a skill. So I have started learning nail art kind courtesy of Youtube, am helping kids in a drama class and I am going to join a chinese class.
I will post pictures of my nail art soon, hope I get positive feedback :)
Bisous.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)