Monday, August 28, 2006
I started Class today. My professor began the lecture 20 minutes excusing his tardyness with a story about how he was in the hospital and escaped because their was no toilet paper there. I believe his tardyness was more just an excuse to be Vulgar. It was politcal sociology, the class is going to discuss the reasoning behind why some countries entered the "modern world" with democratic governments while other entered with Dictatorships. Should be interesting from a west african perspective considering the political instability in many of Ghana's neighboring countries.
Liberia just recently got a democratically elected governernment. I know this because I spent saturday at a Liberian refugee camp. It was horrific listening to people's stories about the civil wars in liberia during the last 15 years. The camp houses approx. 50,000 people. Even though liberia is now fairly stable, many of these ex-patriots consider the camp in Ghana their new home. Many of them gave birth and raised kids in the camp, and although their "homeland" is safe, they have a new home...
I went to a Wedding Yesterday. My friend Peter brought me there and we both played in the church band during the service. It was nice, although i definitly felt out of place because I didn't know the people getting married. Peter is a great guy. He is the leader of one of Ghana's most famous bands "The Ramblers". He picked me up from the airport when I got here and has been showing me around a lot. Very well respected musician. This has without a doubt been the longest I've been out of the country. I have to say it's been comforting seeing other children of Silicon Valley such as "Google", "Mozzila", "HP" . Knowing that this Global technology spurred out of my local culture is a fantastic feeling .
Liberia just recently got a democratically elected governernment. I know this because I spent saturday at a Liberian refugee camp. It was horrific listening to people's stories about the civil wars in liberia during the last 15 years. The camp houses approx. 50,000 people. Even though liberia is now fairly stable, many of these ex-patriots consider the camp in Ghana their new home. Many of them gave birth and raised kids in the camp, and although their "homeland" is safe, they have a new home...
I went to a Wedding Yesterday. My friend Peter brought me there and we both played in the church band during the service. It was nice, although i definitly felt out of place because I didn't know the people getting married. Peter is a great guy. He is the leader of one of Ghana's most famous bands "The Ramblers". He picked me up from the airport when I got here and has been showing me around a lot. Very well respected musician. This has without a doubt been the longest I've been out of the country. I have to say it's been comforting seeing other children of Silicon Valley such as "Google", "Mozzila", "HP" . Knowing that this Global technology spurred out of my local culture is a fantastic feeling .
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Mahaa (that's good afternoon in Twi)
Things have been changing in the last few days.. I found some musicians that I jam with everyday. They are great.. Half of them are rastas and the other half just laid back people my age. We've all bonded, it's been nice. Music has allowed me to really get inside of their culture. When we play music together we are equals and our protective layers are removed...
they've been teaching me their songs and soon I will teach them some of mine. We have been talking about recording a CD together before I take off in December.
I've also been taking African Xylophone lessons from a man who taught my friend Bryan Hogan a few years ago. He's making me a xylophone by hand and teaching me traditional african music. He's also been taking me out to sample "peto" a ghanian spirit made from fermented millet...
everything is good, however I miss home.. My friends are up to such excitting things and I feel like I am missing out a little bit. But this experience has been priceless, and I am very confident I made the right decision to come. I'm off to sleep. We're going on a cruise tomorrow.
Things have been changing in the last few days.. I found some musicians that I jam with everyday. They are great.. Half of them are rastas and the other half just laid back people my age. We've all bonded, it's been nice. Music has allowed me to really get inside of their culture. When we play music together we are equals and our protective layers are removed...
they've been teaching me their songs and soon I will teach them some of mine. We have been talking about recording a CD together before I take off in December.
I've also been taking African Xylophone lessons from a man who taught my friend Bryan Hogan a few years ago. He's making me a xylophone by hand and teaching me traditional african music. He's also been taking me out to sample "peto" a ghanian spirit made from fermented millet...
everything is good, however I miss home.. My friends are up to such excitting things and I feel like I am missing out a little bit. But this experience has been priceless, and I am very confident I made the right decision to come. I'm off to sleep. We're going on a cruise tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
I gave everyone the wrong number in the last blog entry:
here is the corrected version: 011 233 24 635 0638
I've gotten several requests for my address. I should get this info soon... When I do I'll let everyone know.
I'm going to a club on the beach for my birthday tonight.. woop woop.
hope all is swell.
here is the corrected version: 011 233 24 635 0638
I've gotten several requests for my address. I should get this info soon... When I do I'll let everyone know.
I'm going to a club on the beach for my birthday tonight.. woop woop.
hope all is swell.
Monday, August 07, 2006
UPDATE! To reach me call 011-233-24-6368
The number I gave out before wont work, sorry if you tried!
It's been a few days since my last update. Let's get this out of the way--I'm alive and have had no diarrhea yet. However I have had a lot of rice.. rice pudding, steamed rice, spiced rice, beans with rice, pasta with rice (that one was odd), rice with rice... You get the point. If Bubba, from Forrest gump, lived in a third world country he would have eaten just like me....
The past few days have been pretty intense. I went to a village and played soccer with kids.. Afterwards they asked for money to pay for the ball to be filled up. I put out. Then the kids asked for Pen's for school... I didn't have enough for everyone...Didn't want to start a fight so gave away none. Kids asked "where's my money" as if they were entitled to their guests disposible income.
poverty is a complicated issue. It's really been a shock seeing 8 people living in a small african hut after seeing 4 people in a palo alto mansion so recently....
untill next time,
Willi
Once again! 011-233-24-6368 : call me with Skype
The number I gave out before wont work, sorry if you tried!
It's been a few days since my last update. Let's get this out of the way--I'm alive and have had no diarrhea yet. However I have had a lot of rice.. rice pudding, steamed rice, spiced rice, beans with rice, pasta with rice (that one was odd), rice with rice... You get the point. If Bubba, from Forrest gump, lived in a third world country he would have eaten just like me....
The past few days have been pretty intense. I went to a village and played soccer with kids.. Afterwards they asked for money to pay for the ball to be filled up. I put out. Then the kids asked for Pen's for school... I didn't have enough for everyone...Didn't want to start a fight so gave away none. Kids asked "where's my money" as if they were entitled to their guests disposible income.
poverty is a complicated issue. It's really been a shock seeing 8 people living in a small african hut after seeing 4 people in a palo alto mansion so recently....
untill next time,
Willi
Once again! 011-233-24-6368 : call me with Skype
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Hey everyone.
I got to Ghana on Saturday but haven't been able to get on the internet until now. This is not however because of a lack of aces but rather a lack of time. We've all been keeping busy. By "we" I mean myself and the other UC folk here in Ghana. Were going through the process of orientation which is in reality like GHANA BOOT CAMP. No joke. We wake up at 6:30am, have special lectures (special because school hasn't really started..These ones are just for us), learn Twi (the most prominent of Ghana's 50+ local dialects), eat rice (with assorted meat/garnish), learn about the traditions (sometimes by trial and error), and dance the night away. Yes... After dinner it's time to boogy.
It's been an exciting and at times a difficult few days. I've never felt so out of place in my life. When walking around the market with Americans the locals say overnight! (the Ghanaian word for white man)
It's also been difficult balancing time between being with locals(feels: stressful, wonderful, uncertain, warm) an Americans (feels: comfortable) . I've been constantly with people. The only alone time I have is like 2 or three minutes in the morning when my roommate is in the shower. This will change though when school starts in about a week. I also need to play trumpet. It's crazy. Haven't played in like 2 weeks. That's been getting me a little depressed. However, I have played some African percussion and flute.... Pretty sweet. Anyways, this weekend we're traveling a bit around the country. I have a cell phone now and you should call me or use SKYPE! It's super cheap. My number is 011-246368, the number might not work... If it doesn't email me... (just remember I'm 8 hours ahead of you)
much love,
Will
I got to Ghana on Saturday but haven't been able to get on the internet until now. This is not however because of a lack of aces but rather a lack of time. We've all been keeping busy. By "we" I mean myself and the other UC folk here in Ghana. Were going through the process of orientation which is in reality like GHANA BOOT CAMP. No joke. We wake up at 6:30am, have special lectures (special because school hasn't really started..These ones are just for us), learn Twi (the most prominent of Ghana's 50+ local dialects), eat rice (with assorted meat/garnish), learn about the traditions (sometimes by trial and error), and dance the night away. Yes... After dinner it's time to boogy.
It's been an exciting and at times a difficult few days. I've never felt so out of place in my life. When walking around the market with Americans the locals say overnight! (the Ghanaian word for white man)
It's also been difficult balancing time between being with locals(feels: stressful, wonderful, uncertain, warm) an Americans (feels: comfortable) . I've been constantly with people. The only alone time I have is like 2 or three minutes in the morning when my roommate is in the shower. This will change though when school starts in about a week. I also need to play trumpet. It's crazy. Haven't played in like 2 weeks. That's been getting me a little depressed. However, I have played some African percussion and flute.... Pretty sweet. Anyways, this weekend we're traveling a bit around the country. I have a cell phone now and you should call me or use SKYPE! It's super cheap. My number is 011-246368, the number might not work... If it doesn't email me... (just remember I'm 8 hours ahead of you)
much love,
Will
