sporting my togolese flag at the togo v. cameroon football game!
so it's been almost a week since i've updated! but, i didn't update because there's really nothing to be updated on. last week was a pretty boring week. it was REALLY hard being back in ghana right after having been in morocco with my friends. gillian and i are trying to stay positive though, and hold each other accountable to making the best out of the last 6 weeks we have here.
this weekend was fun, though! last night (friday night) some friends and i went to the "coca cola party." i know, sounds as vague as it was. anyway, coke had some sort of radio contest, and the winner of the contest had a party thrown for him by coke. a ghanaian friend of one of the students on the program invited us to come along, so that's what about 10 of us did last night. it was at the silver star tower (one of the nicest, biggest buildings in ghana) on this balcony terrace level. everyone was decked out in red and white, and there was dancing and live performances and...CAKE! we all know how i get around a cake. anyway, as pathetic as this sounds, my friend stephanie and i waited until the cake was cut and passed out before we left.
stephanie and i called the nyu night driver, to come pick us up and take us back to solomon's. at night on the roads in ghana, police do roadside checks, where they shine a flashlight in your car and make you slow down or stop so they can inspect. it's not usually a big deal, and happens every night. because our vans are like huge, 15 passenger white vans, i guess they're an easy target for the police to stop. anyway, they stopped us and LONG story short, the police were threatening to detain our night driver at the cantonments police station for driving without his license. whenever our driver would try to explain why, for legit reasons, he didn't have his license on him in the car, the cops would get super defensive and start screaming at him "i don't care what you say, i'm in charge!". our driver was being nothing but absolutely respectful and compliant in every single way and these cops behaved like 5 year olds, exploiting the tiny bit of power they have. in the end, our driver wasn't detained, but did have to leave the van on the side of the road while he walked us home and then walked to his boss's office to get his license and the car's information before walking back to the van to give the cops the info. essentially, that experience was just a sad reminder of how even in progressing and developing nations, corruption, power struggle and greed are still very much at play.
today, marykate, stephanie and i went to makola market (yes! i went to the market and i didn't freak out!). marykate knew right where she was going, which made navigating and shopping a whole lot less stressful. we went solely to buy fabric, as i have a lot of things i need to get made for people! let me just say, i bought TONS of fabric, and none of it was for me! i'm really excited to have marjorie start making you all things :)
then, anika, marykate and i went to the togo embassy to meet up with alex, a togolese citizen who works at the embassy. marykate made friends with him when she got her visa a few months ago, and he invited her and some of her friends to the togo v. cameroon football (soccer) game that was today! so we met up with alex and some of his co-workers and headed to the accra stadium. the game was SO much fun, and we were all decked out with our togo flags. the best african football player, emmanuel adebayor, plays for togo, and cameroon is the best african team. so needless to say it was a pretty intense matchup, but togo came out victorious 1-0!
gillian and i went to the hospital again tonight. she has a sinus infection and so we got her some antibiotics and hopefully she'll be good as new in no time. i'm ready for my roommie to feel 100%!
tomorrow i plan on doing homework all day, working on other school-related things, and resting. maybe i'll take some fabric over to marjorie. marykate and i are also thinking about trying a new tailor, fred. we'll see!
hope all is well on the home front! ya'll send me updates please! missing you and can't wait to see you in just a few short weeks!
love love love
alex, me, marykate and anika at the game!
2 comments:
Hi Honey! I was so happy to read your update and to see your sparkling and beautiful face at the Togo Cameroon game. You look cute displaying the Togo-Cameroon flag. That was a fun and different experience for you! The coca coke party sounds as though it was a hoot - and the bonus of cake made it worth the effort for you. Your night driver experience must have been scary and nerve wracking - bless the NYU driver for keeping his cool. Glad he got you girls home o.k. and you are safe. Also glad you had a good experience at the Makola Market and got some more beautiful fabric! Please know how much we appreciate your getting things made for us - what a lovely and treasured gift that will be for each of us. Takes effort and love and I thank you honey. You have a wonderful and safe Sunday. I hope Gillian is feeling better. You are a generous and loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. I love you very much Elizabeth Jane. Momma
Hi Sweetpea! You looked adorable holding the Togolese flag. Go Togo!! Anika's face has the most beautiful bone structure. Very regal looking. Congratulations on a successful excursion at the Makola Market and quest for fabric! I will definitely send you my table measurements today. The party sounds like it had all the makings of a really good time, a nice location, music, friends, and cake, cake, cake! Sorry to hear about the police stop. One wonders why they feel the need to stop people if there is no evidence a law is being broken. I suppose there are polite, respectful people and rude, disrespectful ones in every occupation anywhere you go. Please let G know, I hope she feels better soon and am praying for her wellness. What a great friend and roomie she has been to you and vice versa. Have a wonderful Monday EJ. I love you tons. Isha
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