Good Treats, Eats and Reads

Having heard so many references to my blog lately, I can’t help but feel compelled to… well… blog of course!

The MUST read for anyone spending much time in Ghana: The Imported Ghanaian by Alba Kunadu Sumprim.

Saturday I decided to explore a new part of Ghana, well to me anyways- Osu. It’s quite popular for shopping, dining and whatnot and while I wasn’t really in the shopping mood, I felt compelled to experience Accra while I had time left- don’t want to have any regrets once I return.

As I walked toward the main strip to catch a tro-tro (12-16+ passenger van that serves as public transport), I decided to stop and buy a bottle of water as I didn’t know how long this journey would take.

Ducking into a store to grab some water, I bumped into a woman who teaches at the American school that I have known since my first few weeks in Ghana. We chatted about my break to the US and her trip to Togo and when I was telling tales of my week, she suggested that I read ‘The Imported Ghanaian.’ Her rave reviews had me sold! She also showed me where to buy delicious juices and her favorite juice was back in stock now, no longer ‘finished.’

So naturally, I grabbed a small juice box and large, chilled water. As I got on the tro-tro, I elected to sit in the back to watch everything unravel and take it all in. As I sat there, I drank my juice box, feeling like an elementary student who just boarded the bus, headed for school.

There was a transfer of tro-tros and of course I went the wrong way! I started to head into the Military 37 (the stop was 37 Light) and asking guards and military personnel where the tro-tro was. They pointed me in the other direction and found a woman headed that way to match me up with. Maria was polite and made sure I safely crossed the street with her. She was a military nurse and ensured I arrived at my proper destination before letting me out of sight- such a sweet woman!

As we arrived to Osu, I got off at Koala Hotel, as also suggested by my friend at the store. I found the store she had talked about: Global Mama’s. They are a fair trade group with the cutest clothes that are quite transferable to wear in the US without much eyebrow raising at all! Without really planning on it, I spent most of my money in one spot, which was quite alright :) Of the three dresses I got, the main reason I purchased one, was because the labels have written on them the names of the women that sewed the garment and the dress I selected was sewn by Julia (a little conceited) and Adwoa (the name of one of my “boss’s” and one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met). Having a dress that can also represent the deliverables Adwoa and I produce on a regular basis and benefit women with the same names, is kind of nice.

So three dresses and a necklace later, I do my duty to continue walking. Shortly, I stumble upon the sole, SOLE fastfood restaurant in Ghana. That’s right my friends, KFC. (FYI the most popular fastfood restaurant in China- KFC, why? It was the first! Smart, smart company, I see how they operate :) So I got some French fries (no mashed potatoes here) and two pieces of spicy chicken. Quite funny, as I was walking in, a “teenage” chick (not a baby but not a hen) was a bit lost a roaming around… outside of the KFC. So needless to say when the security man opened the door- I told him one got away! (That is so something my mother would say…)

Afterwards, I headed back on the street and passing a household goods stand saw the glow of the greatly wanted: adapter! Don’t get me wrong, the office had given me an adapter, but when the 3^rd prong broke (it’s made of plastic and basically flips the trigger that allows the other two ends to go in and transfer electricity) so for months, I had to carry an ink pen with me that I could use the lid to stick into the 3^rd prong (plastic of course, it was grounded anyways but not worth being risky over) and would have to slyly flip the trigger with the pen lid, push the other two ends in and get my hand out of the way in time for the trigger to be flipped and the two prongs to go in. When he quoted me 2 cedi (~$1.50) each, I bought two!

Walking a little more I decided it was time to go back. I finally caught a tro-tro and at one stop, a random man on the sidewalk stuck his head in the side back window and said “something something tro-tro.,” to me. Most of those in the vehicle turned to look at the man and then at me and I just sat there- while I think it might have been meant to offend, it’s hard to offend someone when they have no idea what you just said :)

Eventually I made it back, quite satisfied with my day out.

The next day I purchased “The Imported Ghanaian” and started to read it this evening drinking a Gulder beer as I waited for my Redred with fried plantain and goat meat to arrive. It is awesome! The author was born in Ghana but at a young age her parents moved to the UK, which greatly influenced her. Planning to return to Ghana and fit right in, her upbringing in the UK defies the easy transition but is extremely relatable to an American, even though I understand there are still differences in her experiences and mine. Every few pages I had a huge grin on my face and sometimes even laughed out loud- it is that good, that true, that believable and allows me a humorous release that no, it’s not just me. I can’t thank the woman who recommended it to me enough, but I bought both of the authors books on good faith and being quite satisfied will read it quickly and pass it on to another deserving and needing foreign volunteer like myself.

Relaxation through Visualization

Yes, this is my first post since my return to Ghana. While this great revelation occurred before I left, it's been one of those weeks where I needed to draw upon visualization for relaxation.

I've heard that when you are stressed, it's good to visualize something to focus your mind and calm your nerves. This reminds me of meditation where one can repeat a mantra, focus on breathing or visualize something. While I hope to become better at drawing upon visualization as a way to manage stress, when it usually comes to me, I'm in great need and so far, it has worked each time I've tried.

After being halfway through my Friday after work beer and still feeling stressed, I wondered what it would take for me to finally relax and visualization dawned on me- and it worked again!

A few months ago, after a frustrating afternoon, all the little things were starting to get to me. As I sat in the truck driving from point A to point B, I was getting really worked up and didn't see an end to the stress in sight. Then, I saw a cow walking across a military shooting range.

In Ghana, shooting sports isn't like the U.S., so practice for accuracy and is viewed as a military activity. While no one was at the shooting range, I saw this cow walking from one side to another, as if it were walking in the line of fire of all the potential shooters. This struck me as odd and grabbed my attention. I've been to shooting ranges, but never saw a cow at one before, yet wasn't too surprising because cows, goats, sheep and swine often roam freely, fending for themselves where food is concerned.

All of a sudden, I imagined myself at a shooting range back in Missouri (no cows or other critters included).

When I need help relaxing because of STRESS and choose to visualize, my thoughts don't go to the beaches of Costa Rica, the Swiss Alps or even the coral reefs in Thailand, but instead, I go to a shooting range in Missouri.

Shooting requires one's full attention, concentration and body. Physically, you must control your form, grip, aim and breath. Mentally, you must concentrate on the target and outside factors. To pull the trigger, you need complete absorption into the activity.

A gun is a humbling piece of metal. It contains so much force and potential that knowing you are handling a tool like this in just your hands, leads to (what I hope is) an extreme appreciation and cautiousness when using.

In order to even think of pulling the trigger, one must be reassured that the gun is being properly handled from using the safety lock, to loading, pointing (whether loaded or not) and that everyone at the range is in consensus of when to move and when to stay put- safety is first.

Range shooting requires complete focus, both mentally and physically, all while remaining humble at the tool in your hand. When it's actually time to shoot, so many things have already gone through one's mind and the moment you are about to pull the trigger, knowing you are already in the proper stance, take a deep breath, aim the gun at the bulls eye of the target, slowly exhale and as your whole body is in sync, pull the trigger, already prepared for the recoil.

With that much concentration, it's not possible for me to hold on to all of the stresses and issues floating in the air above my head because I have just put my entire body, mind and humility into one single act. Just thinking about aiming at a little circle on a sheet of paper, and all of the focus required, has a calming effect, even if I am thousands of miles and months away from being on a range.