New beginnings.

I am officially a worker now! I work for the government and I will be paid by them.(hopefully soon)
It´s so amazing how time goes by fast! Just five years ago I was nervous and excited  that I was going to university and a few years by I am already done.
Last week as I was driving to work, I could't help but observe the new students who were walking on the campus all confused but full of energy for their task ahead. Then, I realized that was me a few months back. It hit me ...A few years ago I was  ; a  university student, an annoyed adolescent, a cute toddler  and a baby. Life goes really fast!
My time schedule has changed, my attitude has changed even my dress style has changed. And the latter is what has affected me most. I used to just tumble out of bed, shower, pick up a shirt, a pair of jeans and a nice pair of sandals, Now, I have to put more effort into dressing. My jeans have been substituted for skirts and it has been a re-orientaion. I am a lady alright and I love dresses and skirts but I never saw myself wearing them five days in a week. Oh well....
Also, my teaching audience has changed it no longer little children but young adults. So I guess there will be a different type of challenge but hopefully the experience I have will direct me.
 On top of that I have started driving. Sometimes as I sit in my car driving I just thank God and laugh at myself. I never thought I would be a fearless driver able to drive myself and others places but here I am now.
This year has been a year of 'firsts' and I feel really blessed. There is more to come for me and I hope so for you too.
This verse comes to mind as I write. Think about it,'now'is only a few seconds behind of 'tommorow' and few seconds ahead of 'yesterday'.

James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

I am greatful in spite of...

1. The Ghanaian football team unpatriotism and lack of profesionalism in the world Cup
2. Increase in price commodities in Ghana
3. Fuel Shortage in Ghana
4. Our unforgiving scorching sun
5. Constant light outs

Because, I have others things to be thankful for; I am alive, my family is fine.

1. I am finally driving!! Got my license and a car :)
2. I am back with George(Dont ask how it happened ;))
3. I'll be moving to my new room...cant wait to re-decorate...
4. I am a graduate!! Done with University!!
5. My birthday is around the corner....
6. My favourite cousin just got engaged
7. My second favourite cousin just got a baby boy :)

So..... decided today to create a happiness jar that will remind me of all that made me happy and will cheer me up whenever I get sad.You will just need an old jar and little strips of paper on which you can write quotes or happy experiences you have lived.

Here are some pictures that could inspire you
https://www.google.com/search?q=happiness+jar+decorations&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GOWyU_u4IKuT0AXGmYCwBw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=631

Late night Musings

Normally think a lot when about to sleep, can have the deepest conversations with myself or God before sleeping. So I keep a book close by, thought I should share my latest thoughts. I kid you not I wrote all this in less than an hour :)

Every single step we make fits into his perfect jigsaw puzzle even our failures and mishaps. We might take a detour and go another direction but end on the first step back to His recovery plan. The master gamer from on high sees our past and future and only He knows the end result. We down below limited in our vision may fret, but we fret for nothing.
I have always been in love, in love with the unknown. . The great mysterious one who spins things in orbit, wakes up the lillies in the morning and causes the moon and stars to shine at night.
How could one listen to a melody and not experience endless joy?
How could one stare at a baby's laughing face and not fall inlove?

Humans must have been created to love. And, if that is the case then we must have been created by someone who has that essence or is that essence.
It is said a novel always has a trace of it's author thus, humans have traits of their creator. I belive that creator is God.
Nothing creates nothing, whereas, something can create something.
We say matter cannot be created or destroyed and that is just energy.That is why water can turn into ice and then gas.
Humans also will turn into ashes when they die becauses they came from ashes. We return to our old state.
He who is transcendent, omnipotent and omniscient is God. There can be no theory or scientific experiment to define this uncertainty. The uncertainty is what makes him God.
One thing we know is that God is love. This explains how it is difficult to explain it, express it or even let it go.
How can we describe this phenomenom? The bible says it is Patient, Kind, Not Envious, it does Not Boast
, it is Not Proud, it is Not Rude, it is Not Self- Seeking, it is Not easily Angered, it keeps No record of Wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. It always Protects, always Trusts, always Hopes, always Perseveres. Love Never Fails.
If I want to understand this love that has always been present around me, and within me then I must become; patient, self-less, kind, humble, hopeful and courageous.
The more I kill my tendencies to be selfish, hateful, rude and all the other vices I become more of my ideal self which is Love and which is the essence of the Creator himself.

Break-up habits and stomach cramps

I woke up this morning with a sickening feeling,  I had a nightmare in which I had a very bad grade in my semester results. So I woke up said a little prayer and went online to check my results and lo and behold I saw a little C+ perched under a course called Practicals in Psychology. How do I always  feel when something terrible is about to happen? Do I have clairvoyant skills?
To tell the truth this sickening feeling in my stomach has been existant for about two weeks now, it left for a few days and now its back because of this silly grade. It was as if the universe was determined to give me a hard week.
I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years....
It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I love him, I think he is the perfect soulmate for me yet I have a 'but' I can´t shake off. I don´t like the way we communicated(1st but). In my opinion it became to mechanical and monotonous the last few months, it was as if we were each doing it because it was recquired of us. Also, we saw ourselves less and less. He become more like a friend or even an acquaintance.(2nd but)
I thought about how to break it to him without hurting his feelings or breaking mine, spent weeks thinking about it, praying about it and ignoring it. All the while I knew it was impending.
I asked whether we could meet and talk but it wasn´t possible because of his work schedule (3rd but) so we finally decided to talk over the phone which I must say I didnt quite like.  We talked for an hour, I said sorry if I ever hurt him and even asked him to tell me what three things I should change about my character and if he had any ideas on how to make this relationship work. He said ' the decision is yours whatever you decide I am fine with it' that he had made himself psychologically prepared for either way ; whether we continued together or broke up. At one point my ex said he was going to delete the first love message I sent to him. I asked 'why?' He said is a way of moving on and getting himself together. Those words pierced my heart.
 The conversation ended with him saying ' Adom if you are done I will like to go to bed now'.
After a few days of losing my appetite , having insomnia and doubting my decision. A question came to my mind. Why do people after breaking up burn pictures of their patners and destroy everything that proves that they once had a love relationship? In my opinion that is ungratefullness and denial. I decided I wont throw or destroy anything I will put everything in a box and keep it safe. Those 2 years where not wasted,it has formed who I am now. I have a learnt alot form him, I have learnt what it is to fall in love and get hurt. These processes are all part of life. Why erase them? Who knows what can happen in a few years?

Later was going through BBC's website and saw a story of a woman photographer who received a letter from her ex- announcing their break up. She didn't know how to react to it and asked friends to read it and explain it to her. She took pictures of their reactions whilst the read the letter and it is now an exposition portaying human feelings.Her break up later ended with Take care of yourself. I wish my break up conversation ended with 'Take care of yourself'.
N.B check these links
original letter:  http://elizacoleman.blogspot.com/2009/07/random-acts-of-creativity.html
Story : http://virtualwallworld.blogspot.com/2011/12/sophie-calle-take-care-of-yourself.html

No social life all I do is work :(

So, I said in my previous post I was going to post pictures of my vacation  in Abidjan but my holidays have turned into working days. I am working at a clinic that is dedicated to HIV testing and treating people who are already infected. I am working with the counselling department; we normally counsel people who about to take the blood test, we deal with kids who were infected by their mothers and don't know it yet also we give general advice to adults and kids concerning health issues. My mom has a doctor friend who works there and decided she could help me get an internship there.. And I thought it a great oppurtunity to have pratical experience in my field o study(Psychology). I love it when people who were hopeless a few minutes before leave the office with a glimmer of hope in their eyes. But, it is tiring. Thought school was hard work, I am having to rethink now. lol
Just met a childhood friend of mine last week. We just spent the whole afternoon in her house catching up on the past 3 years and surprisingly I was truly content just to sit there have a drink and reconnect with her. Old friends are really Golden
On the flip side, a famous journalist from Ghana who worked at BBC died 2 days ago.His name is Komla Dumor It has been a big shock for people around the African continent. He was a role model to the African youth. We have really lost an African star.
In case you haven't heard about him click on this link.
P.S Do something people will remember you for even when you are dead!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25816646

Happy new year everyone!

So its a new year and everyone is trying to keep up their resolutions and implement changes in their life. That's all good but according to an article I read 3 months from now most people would have slipped back into their old habits. Now that's a shame! lol
I  have decided not to have resolutions this year.  Well, im not going to call them resolutions and write a list.
These are issues that have been in my mind for ages so why give them a name and write them down. Just act now!
Anyways, I am now in Abidjan for the holidays. Woohoo! It is soo lovely seeing old faces. Met with most of my high-school teachers and it is amazing how time flies but some things never change. I am now a part-time teacher and  I now understand what they went through with us :)
There is soo much I want to achieve this year and I am sure you have plans too. I have fears; one of them is that I don´t accomplish my purpose on earth and dissapoint myself and God.  So,let's put it in God's hands and take a step of faith together.
 I'll post pictures soon of my travel and hopefully you guys will find out if I managed to achieve my goals this year.

Gros bisous <3

Lo siento estoy en Madrid.

Guys sorry for not updating for a while, I must admit I have been favouring my other blog at the expense of this one. The link below leads to my other blog. The one I have been chronicling my journey in Spain with, it is partly written in Spanish so that I can excercise my language usage.
 See you there, Adios.http://accra2madrid.wordpress.com/

New land, new rules

Sorry guys, I have been lost from blogosphere for a while. I have been in Madrid (Alcala de Henares) the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes!
Things are different here, I was so happy when I was leaving Accra but now there are a few things that I miss and a few behaviours I find strange here.

One is that everyone assumes my friends and I to be Americans, I guess because we look well to do.
When we say we are Africans it is like we just burst a bubble. So, today we were at a shop buying umbrellas and the woman at the counter asked us " Son americanas". My friend Lisa got really annoyed of the recurrent questions and said "Yes" she made it worse by saying I was from Hawai. Really??

Secondly, whenever we take out huge euro notes like 50 or 100 euros the sale person oggles it and cross checks to see if they are not fake. I don't know if they think all black people are poor or criminals. (Smh)

Thirdly, I really miss African weather. It is summer all year round!! The temperature here is from 7C to 17C, and it is not yet winter. If winter comes "I don die finish". My skin started cracking and becoming really dry so I made up my cream using lavender oil, petal essential water, olive oil, shea butter (my friends and I brought it from Ghana) and our lotions. The result was awesome! My skin looks fed now though it is not at its 100% best.

But, what I love best about Spain is shopping. Their prices to me are so cheap and its autumn time so most summer clothes are ridiculousy cheap. I am going to shop and re-stock my summer clothes. It is always summer in Ghana, right?

Besos a todos, I am off to bed.

Au revoir Ghana

This is my last time writing from Ghanaian soil for some time. I will be away from this land for some months and I am really sad. Today went to do some last minute rounds and ended up buying so much Ghanaian food (gari,shito and fufu mix). My luggage is full of food and hair products but few clothes!

Sorry, for taking so much time to write but I have been during these last few days a tourist, a dedicated choir member(my church had a concert), a disheartened girl(lost my purse again!!) and my big sister's guinea pig. Too much to say but so little time..

So, I will just write down what I will miss about Accra.
The sweet mangoes, bananas and pineapples that are sold everywhere on the street.
The silly adverts that are played non-stop on tv that get etched in your memory for ever.
The beautiful voices of my choir members during rehearsal.
The trendy places like Smoothy bar in Osu, Lizzy sports complex and Kofee Lounge in East Legon.
The love shown by friends family and loved ones.

Au revoir amis et a tres bientot.

Did I step into a circus or class?

Hey Guys, remember I mentioned previously that I was attending a PR/Marketing class? Well, tomorrow will be my last day and frankly I am elated as well as saddened by this fact. Why elated? Because, going for this class in the evenings was not easy (fine, I admit laziness) because I had to contend with traffic, hunger and tiredness. On the other hand I am saddened because of the uniqueness of the people in my class.
The class takes place in a small hall that has existed for more than five decades but, which surprisingly is still in relatively good shape except for the cracking sounds of the floor boards whenever it's stepped on. There is only one door which serves for entry and exit. Thus, whenever one is late and enters the class he/she comes face to face with the lecturer and students. Although, there is only one door and a few windows the temperature is always cold. I literally had to wear a sweater to class everyday. Why? Because some  ancient air conditioning system decided to punish us with  freezing cold air.
Despite all these elements I enjoy the class because of the students. We are about thirty people from different backgrounds, religion,jobs and even ages.
The student body varies from a Hajjiah who is a midwife who relates every marketing or PR question with scenarios she had in the labour ward or in her clininc. She uses every opportunity to market the services that are available in her clinic like adult circumcision etc. Can you imagine??
Next, we have a funny guy who works at a local radio station called Peace fm. Everything about this guy is hilarious; his smile, his clothes( bright neon shirts) and his english. He has a thick Ashanti accent(if you are Ghanain you will know) so, most of his l's are pronounced as r's. It takes a huge effort for him to say a complete sentence in english. When he finally does I have a huge grin on my face. I absolutely like this guy, he will make you happy every time.
Then we have the "three high class babes". They always come in late, looking fresh with their brazillian weaves cascading down their backs. Sometimes instead of staring at the lecturer I will be staring at their heels or their designer bags!
So, by tomorrow I will have a PR/Marketing certificate and the great thing about it will be how fun it was learning in the class that seemed more like a circus.

Visa Process 2

I would not have taken so long to write the sequel if I had not gotten my visa. I am sure I would have been ranting and blaming the embassy but since I escaped that ordeal, it has made me complacent.
 Guess that is the same thing that happens with childbirth right? During labour, women go through the worst pain ever but when the baby is out and they are staring into their child's eyes all the past pain is forgotten.
 Anyways this is no excuse, my sincerest apologies.
 On to the story, I was called on my phone twice to report to the embassy. One of the most annoying things about this particular embassy is the fact that people queue outside the entry gate waiting for the guards to grant them entry. And, to make make matters worse the main entrance is adjacent to one of the busiest streets in Accra so all those who go through this visa process are likely to be stared at by passerby's, commercial cars and all sorts of people. It is embarassing! All I want is a student visa for a year not a resident permit...furthermore there is recession affecting most of the European countries. Why would I want to stay there??
Next,  the door is opened up for you, there are routine security checks and you are ushered into a small hall (my livingroom is even bigger) where you join another queue. There one meets all manner of people. Some coming from small towns all over the country who have been waiting for their visas for ages, business women and young guys applying to schools outside.
I wonder why Africans like travelling out so much, if you tell me to go through this process again I would decline. I have applied for several visas but this particular process was very ANNOYING.
The worst part of it was when I went for the visa and opened my passport... I saw a three month visa!
So, as usual I asked a whole lot of questions to the guy behind the counter and he said " Don't worry, when you reach there your school will help you extend it to a year". I was so confused, why would they give me a three month visa when I specified I was going to be schooling for a year??
When I came back home and showed it to my mum she was like " so is for this three month visa that you went through all of that stress".
 Thank God I am through this, and I'm gonna enjoy all I can from this visa because I worked for it.
Hasta la vista.

Visa Process 1

Sorry people for not posting for a while now. I have been soo busy from getting my visa to attending two evening classes; one on writing skills and the other on PR.

I am proud African and Ghanaian but at times I have regrets. An example of such a time is when I am applying for a visa. If you are a third world citizen and have ever applied for an international visa you would understand my sentiments.  It can be compared to Darwin's survival of the fittest theory. In this case the prey was me trying to escape from the strange guards, the slow process and all the other formalities I had to go through.

I started my visa process in May! Can you imagine...I had to first get the requirement list which is eighteen items long.
I had to get a police report
I had to go for a medical report
Legalize my birth certificate in Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire ( Although I'm Ghanaian the Spanish embassy insisted that the document needed to be legalized in country of birth)
 Send legalized birth certificate to Foreign Affairs.
Get letters from my University here and others from the University in Spain. etc
The process was tiring and I just got the visa last week. I had to call the embassy three times although they were pretty mad when I did. The third time was the charm, if I had not called I wouldn't have known my visa was ready.

P.S there will definitely be a part two (2). Stay tuned.

                 " After all" by David Crowder, absolutely LOVE this song!
           Maybe I should just learn the guitar and make a couple of people happy :)

And the Oscar for best funeral goes to....

Yesterday, Accra was clothed in red and black. I mean literally what I am writing; cars, shops, streetlights. humans and even some dogs were dressed in the attire. For those who are unaware to Ghanain customs, the colours red and black are worn to funerals especially if the person who passed away was perceived to be young or died unexpectedly. On the other hand, white and black is worn to funerals where the person died at an old age due to natural causes.
Well, in this case our Pres. Atta Mills though sick and who had been rumoured dead on countless occassions was honoured with a massive funeral service.
It was a three day event. On wednesday he was laid in state for public viewing and it continued till Friday. There were long snaking queues of people desperate to have a glance of their President.The lines spun from the Parliament building to The State house; where the mortal remains of our passed president was laid in state.  The number of people there did not reduce during those three days. Whether it was morning,afternoon,or evening the crowds were still there.
Most tv stations had representatives lined all along the territory either conducting interviews or snapping photos of celebrities present.  On friday the number of paparazzis covering the funeral service quadupled. All tv stations showed live footage of the president's burial service.
The burial sevice was gargantuan! In attendance were seventeen heads of state from Africa and elsewhere, even Hillary Clinton was present. The mortal remains were transported by horses, the navy,police,army were there to ensure security, there were doves that were released into the sky(umm dunno what for), the army gave twenty gunshot salutes and to crown it all three planes sprayed the country's flag colours.
My big brother said a funny but truthful statement as we watched the funeral service live on tv. He said "I knew Ghana would not dissapoint when it comes to funeral, we have done the best funeral ever. Even, Princess Diana's funeral does not come close to this" I burst out laughing, but on a more serious note what he said is so true. How much money did this funeral cost?
I am a proud Ghanaian. But. Ghanaian  funeral rites and services are in my opinion our most wierdest custom. I do not understand why people dance,eat and look for potential marriage partners at funerals. I do not understand why we pay chief mourners to cry for the dead person. I do not understand why the whole funeral service takes several hours. I just do not comprehend.....

N.B here is an article written by the New York Times on Ghanain funerals.
      These are articles on Atta Mills Funeral.

 Love this video and I am dedicating it to all girls. God loves you!

Why music is my religion.

Everyday I wake up from dreamland only for my eardrums to be assaulted by a cacophony of noises.
Birds chirping incessantly outside my window, my neighbours bickering about something trivial or someone shouting my name as if the whole world depended on my response to survive.
That is when I yearn to return to that place of serenity, where it is Me and my thoughts.
So, I put on my earphones and in a matter of seconds I am shut off from the world.
All becomes still,quiet and peaceful.  Just as the earth was without form and void in the beginning of creation. Then I press the play button.
Immediately, I am ushered into a musical realm.  And, it as if God pronounced those magical words "let there be music", and there was music.
But, the creative process does not end there. The sound begins subtly and rises up to a frenzy.  It starts with two sticks hitting each other then a tin of foil which sets the tempo, guitar strings being strummed and a pair of piano keys being played. A symphony has begun.
I am transported to another world.  I become oblivious to baby wails, police sirens, car honks, and all other deafening noises.
I close my eyes and wrap myself in that liquid love, that musical serenity.  The melodious voices and pulsating rhythms drown all my worries and fears.
Then I become one with the music.

Saddest Day in Ghana

I was in the car with Abena(my sister) on the way to our writing class  when we received a call from Kweku(my brother). He said " Abe and Adom come back home, Atta Mills is dead". I was stunned and I thought he could not be serious. So, we switched our radio frequency to Joy Fm and BBC. The news was been confirmed. That is when it dawned on us it was true. I thought of his wife now a widow, the fact that he had no biological children, the state of the nation now that we are heading towards an election.
John Atta Mills was a very humble man and a responsible statesman. I know realize how Ghanaians were blessed to have such a leader. The saying "One never knows the value of something till it is lost".  We teased him, made songs about him and even movies like 'Atta the mortuary man' to ridicule his illness. There were always rumors about his illness, he has been pronounced dead many times but friends and foes. Well, today it is official yet nobody wants to believe it, we wish it was all a joke. 
Next time we have a good leader let us appreciate him and strive to be at peace with everyone regardless of their tribe or political party.
 Goodnight Ghana and my condolences.

I'm a Year Older!

Today is the first time I am blogging as a twenty year old *applause*. I  am OLD or YOUNG judging from which angle you are looking at it . When I was thirteen all I wanted to be was twenty and now I just wanna go back to being eighteen because I feel that in a few years I will be out of my parents nest or I might wake up soon to see a gray hair. Nonetheless, I feel so grateful to God that I made it this far because just last thursday I lost a school mate or better said a small sister, Leslie. She was in a few classes lower than I but, it is impossible to forget her because she had such an attitude. She died in a car accident on her way home after clubbing with some friends.None of them survived.She was only seventeen.

My prayer today is that I will use all my years to serve,help,encourage and be a blessing unto people.
As long as God gives me life I would be happy and cherish every moment of it and continually give him all the praise.

Have a Great day!

My Mom has got Swag!

LOL. I am laughing at the title of my blogspot but I must admit it is true.The ladies in my family know how to dress and love looking good. My grandma is eighty and she still has swag. She still puts on makeup and she loves to put on strange nail polish colours on her toes!! 
So I was going through my Mum's stuff and I saw this lovely picture. I love her dress style.
And, today just seemed the perfect day to post it because it is her birthday. LOVE YOU MOM!

P.S  She was wearing a mini dress..I don't think I can go out of the house wearing something like that!

Who invented high heels?

Last two weeks I wore high heels for four hours straight without sitting. I was an usher at a huge gala event for the opening of a King city. A city that would have all amenities (hospital,schools,malls etc). It was an evening where the 'creme de la creme' of Ghanain society met and dined. But, I didn't really notice them because all I wanted to do was finish my job, get my cash and let my sore feet relax. Two other facts that I deem necessary to add are: 1) They were the first heels I ever bought.  2) They were quite high for an "amateur high heels wearer" like me.

So, my job was basically greeting the distinguished guests with a smile, asking them for their invitation cards, directing them to the bar for champagne as I gave their card to the IT desk for them to crosscheck their names on the list and later lead them to their seats. It sounds easy right? But, it is not!! It made me appreciate girls who do beauty pageants, ushers and models. I  wore these heels for a couple of minutes and common sense told me to go change into my sister's heels. They were much more comfy and I had walked in it several times especially during a fashion show a few months ago.

Don't they look comfy! I wore these for three hours but later a bunch of girls and me went to the change room and wore slippers. Our boss never found out because our clothes were long and covered the shoes underneath.
So who created high heels why do we women endure such pain? Well according to my research, heels originated in Egypt it was worn by the higher social class. Later, they were hieroglyphics that were found that showed the use of heels in Rome and Italy. In Italy it was called "chippone". Those heels were really tall and was said to impede women from cheating on their husbands.
Well I love heels but I have decided to wear them only if I am going to be walking from a car to a seat and back to the car when the event is over. My shoes shall not rule me!