Ghana is predominately a Christian country. There is a smaller faction of Muslims, but they are located mostly in the Northern part of the country. Ghana is divided into ten regions: Central, Eastern, Western, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, and Greater Accra. We live in the Greater Accra Region. I equate the regions to our states. Each of them has a capital city and a government.
On one of our trips to the store, Michael and I discussed Easter in Ghana. Michael is from the Ashanti Region and his wife is from the Central Region. He told me that while Easter is important to all Ghanaians, it is the biggest holiday of all for those from the Central Region. He refers to the holiday as a “festival,” and described one tradition of the Central Region in particular. Eight to ten men form a group. Five to six of these groups are sent out into the bush to catch a deer. They aren't supposed to kill the deer, but rather they are tasked with bringing the deer back alive. Whichever group brings a deer back first has the honor of slaughtering their animal and sharing it with the rest of the community. Evidently, it is quite an honor.
I naively asked Michael how they actually catch the deer. Do they surround it? Do they jump on it? I’m thinking of mule deer in Nevada that are big, quick, and very strong. I just can’t envision a bunch of men trying to chase down and catch a deer! (Dave assumes that deer here are much smaller than those in the U.S.) Michael laughed when I asked him this and said, “I don’t know how they capture the deer. I am not from the Central Region, and so I have never participated in the ceremony.” I told him that I would love to see it, and he told me he would be happy to take me to the festival. I explained that I didn’t just want to go to the festival, I wanted to go into the bush to see how the men catch the deer. Again, he laughed and said I was not allowed, as I was a woman and I was not from the Central Region. Not even he can go into the bush!
We then turned to Easter in the U.S. I asked Michael if he knew anything about our traditions and he said, “Oh, I saw on the TV that you color your eggs! Why?” I was honest and simply said, “I have no idea.” Honestly, I don’t know where the Easter Bunny came from and how it got mixed up with this important religious holiday. But, I explained to him that yes, we color and decorate hard-boiled eggs. On Easter morning, we hide the eggs around the house and yard, and the kids go on an “Easter egg hunt.” I explained that some of the eggs are plastic and have candy or money inside of them.
Because Easter is so important here, I wanted to do something for Michael and Charity. I actually found some plastic eggs at The Hacienda (the store that gets shipments from Sam’s Club). I filled them with pesawas (coins) and cedis (bills) and told both of them that they had to hide the eggs on Sunday for their children. I bought Charity’s son, Akufo, a bubble gun – you know, a gun that you fill up with water and then it shoots out bubbles. For Nana Akua, Michael’s daughter, I bought a Winnie the Pooh doll not knowing if he would even know what it was. He did! His face lit up when he saw it, and he said, “Oh, Winnie the Pooh!”
There is a Catholic Church not far from our house, and we had considered going today, but we have no way to get there. It’s too far to walk, and I really didn’t want to ask Michael to take us, especially considering our conversation about how important Easter is to his country. I wanted him to spend time with his family.
So, on our first Easter in Ghana while all of you are probably still sleeping, we are sitting in our living room, drinking coffee and chocolate milk. (The Colorado folks might just be getting to bed…thanks a LOT for the 6:30 a.m. wakeup call!) :) The birds are chirping outside, it is overcast, with a light breeze. I haven’t been outside, but the weather is virtually the same every day – hot and humid. Dave is reading USA Today on his iPad, and I am writing this blog. While we miss our friends and families, we are so thankful for technology. We have a Skype date with my family from Colorado scheduled for this evening, and I’m sure we’ll touch base with our Nevada families as well.
Happy Easter to all of our friends and family!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Random Food and Drink Thoughts for the Day
Fruits and Vegetables
Pineapple is YUMMY here. It’s the best pineapple I have ever had. It has a pale, almost white look to it, but it is extremely sweet, and not tart at all, like those in America. They can be purchased from a roadside fruit and vegetable stand for about one cedi, and they are grown locally. I hear the best ones are just north of the city.
Another local fruit is the mango. Evidently, there is a mango season, and I suppose it’s now because the fruit is plentiful at the stands. While I think they are good, they aren’t really my fruit of choice. Dave, however, really likes them.
The avocados grown here are enormous – three times the size of a Haas Avocado. But, once you peel off the skin and start digging in, you don’t get as much fruit as you would expect. There is a huge pit in the middle that takes up most of the space. The avocados lack a certain sweetness or flavor, so they are a little blander than a Hass. I made guacamole the other night to serve with our fajitas, and in an attempt to spice it up added garlic, onions, and lemon juice. It wasn’t like the guacamole that is served in the U.S., but it will do. I’m going to try and sneak back a few packets of guacamole mix on my next trip home in an attempt to add some better flavor.
Plantains are a local favorite and look like a banana; in fact, according to the Internet it is “a close cousin to the banana.” Plantains are bigger and firmer than a banana. I’ve tried one “raw,” and it basically tasted like wax; they are meant to be cooked. Plantains are a staple of the Ghanaian diet and can be cooked in any of the stages of ripeness. When they are green, they are more like a yam or a potato (somewhat bland). As they ripen up and become yellow, they are slightly sweeter. When they become black, they are at their sweetest. They are usually baked or fried. I remember eating a fried plantain on our look-see, and it basically tasted like a bland french fry. I need to try it in a different stage of ripeness, evidently.
Cleaning fruits and vegetables takes a lot more time here in Accra that it did back home. It’s not pesticides that we are concerned with, but rather the cleanliness of the food. Who knows where it’s been sitting, stored, and by whom it’s been touched (and how clean their hands were). So, when I bring the fruits and veggies home, they must immediately be washed. I’ve had three people tell me three different ways I can wash them.
First, when Katherine (the first maid) was at my house, she produced a little bottle called “Microdyrm” that she said Mary (previous house occupant) brought from the states and had her use. She would fill up a bucket of water, add six drops of the Microdyrm, and let the food sit for 20-25 minutes. Then, she washed the food and let it air dry.
Michele, my ex-pat friend who has lived in Peru and Indonesia for a combined total of 9 years, swears by bleach. Like Katherine, she fills up the sink with water and adds one capful of bleach and places the fruits and veggies in the water for 20-25 minutes. The food is then rinsed off well and air dried.
And then there’s Charity. I brought home some lettuce yesterday and she came and asked me how I wanted her to clean it. I gave her the directions using the bleach, since I have no Microdyrm, and she just cringed. She said, “Oh no! That is not safe!!” I asked her how Leslie (her previous employer) cleaned her fruits and veggies. She fills up the bucket and adds salt to the water. I went with her suggestion as I figured Leslie has been living in this country the longest and Charity worked for her the entire time.
Regardless of the way in which the food was cleaned, I haven’t gotten sick, so I guess there’s a little truth in each of the methods; although bleach sort of freaks me out!!
Drinks
The most popular drink in Ghana is most definitely water! It is so hot and humid here, it is important to always have water with you. I carry a bottle in my purse, and inevitably, by the time I get home, it’s empty. Although locals can drink from the tap, foreigners cannot. We have a water dispenser in our house and we go through a huge bottle every 2-3 days. You would be surprised how much water you use out of the tap in a single day. It takes some conscious thinking to refrain from putting my toothbrush under the spout each morning, noon, and night!!
Coca Cola is alive and well in Ghana, especially Coke and Diet Coke (or Light Coke, as locals refer to it). I’ve seen Sprite, Fanta, and a few Pepsi’s, but not much else. For those of you who know me at all, I’m a Diet Mountain Dew junkie. I just HAD to pick the one soda that has the most caffeine! I haven’t had one since Sunday, April 3rd, and can’t say that I really crave it right now. I think the stress of the move, adjusting to different food, the time change, and just living in a new country so foreign to me, superseded my caffeine withdrawal! I do drink a Coke or Diet Coke from time to time, but finally made myself some sun tea this weekend. So, all is good in the caffeine department!
People over here like to drink!! Not sure if it’s the Ghanaian culture or just the need for ex-pats to unwind, but we have been inundated with social invitations since we arrived. Again, if you know Dave or I, we are not the most sociable people in the world. We have a close group of friends that we spend time with occasionally, but mostly our free time is spent with our families. Well, over here….we ain’t got no family!! We have been to a pizza/poker night, a 40th birthday party, and three work dinners; all of which included lots of food and even more drinks. I have joined a group – NAWA (North American Women of Africa) – in an attempt to meet people, and have attended two of their functions (more on that in another blog entry).
Beer is the choice of many. Local brews include Star and Club. Either one tastes fine to me. They’re not Coors Lite, but they’ll do. Heinekin and Becks are other beers we’ve seen and purchased.
Lots of vodka is drank here, and everyone puts it in the freezer. I think that’s so that ice doesn’t have to be added to the drink, as it’s a pain the butt to freeze a whole bunch of ice for a large group of people (no, there are no ice makers in our freezers). There are liquor stores all over the place, and I have found the prices to be pretty comparable to those in Nevada. The selection is quite extensive as well. You can buy tequila, Jack Daniels, whiskey, lots of different flavored vodkas, port, brandy, etc. In addition, they have lots and lots of wine in their stores. I even found a Reisling, but have yet to have a glass.
And finally - Milk. Milk, milk, milk. When Dave and I came to Ghana in March 2010, the first morning we got up at the Newmont Guest House (basically a scaled down version of a Motel 6….yes, I said scaled down), we went downstairs to have some breakfast. Ah! There was milk and some cereal set out – something familiar, and so we each took a bowl of what appeared to be corn flakes. As soon as we took the first bite, we knew something was terribly wrong. The milk was 1) warm; and 2) yucky tasting (that’s the sophisticated writer in me coming out). The lack of American flavored milk almost had me refusing to allow Dave to accept this assignment. I love milk – even more than I love Diet Mountain Dew. I need my milk in the morning. Just like my dad needs peanut butter, his daughter needs milk. I don’t drink coffee, unless it’s a Starbucks White Chocolate Swiss Mocha, and in that case Dave tells me it’s just milk with a whole bunch of chocolate and sugar in it! Nothing coffee about it, he claims.
As a result, I came to Accra knowing, or at least thinking, that I would not be able to enjoy my daily glasses of milk. When we first arrived we bought some “milk” at the store, and we have it in our refrigerator. Basically, the milk here is preserved so it can sit on your shelf for weeks and weeks, perhaps even months without spoiling. It has a different coloring (more yellow) and obviously a different taste. I have used the milk with my cereal, and found it to be palatable. But, still….there’s nothing like cold glass of chocolate milk in the morning.
Last week I was invited to a “tea,” where I learned that I could actually buy American flavored milk. So, yesterday I stopped by Shop Rite (the grocery store in the Accra mall), and I bought four pints (I think) of 2% milk. And let me tell you, that glass of chocolate this morning was AWESOME!!! All was right with the world. Dave asked me how much each pint cost and I just told him not to worry about it, but that hopefully gold prices will continue to rise so that I can continue to enjoy my milk!
Pineapple is YUMMY here. It’s the best pineapple I have ever had. It has a pale, almost white look to it, but it is extremely sweet, and not tart at all, like those in America. They can be purchased from a roadside fruit and vegetable stand for about one cedi, and they are grown locally. I hear the best ones are just north of the city.
Another local fruit is the mango. Evidently, there is a mango season, and I suppose it’s now because the fruit is plentiful at the stands. While I think they are good, they aren’t really my fruit of choice. Dave, however, really likes them.
The avocados grown here are enormous – three times the size of a Haas Avocado. But, once you peel off the skin and start digging in, you don’t get as much fruit as you would expect. There is a huge pit in the middle that takes up most of the space. The avocados lack a certain sweetness or flavor, so they are a little blander than a Hass. I made guacamole the other night to serve with our fajitas, and in an attempt to spice it up added garlic, onions, and lemon juice. It wasn’t like the guacamole that is served in the U.S., but it will do. I’m going to try and sneak back a few packets of guacamole mix on my next trip home in an attempt to add some better flavor.
Plantains are a local favorite and look like a banana; in fact, according to the Internet it is “a close cousin to the banana.” Plantains are bigger and firmer than a banana. I’ve tried one “raw,” and it basically tasted like wax; they are meant to be cooked. Plantains are a staple of the Ghanaian diet and can be cooked in any of the stages of ripeness. When they are green, they are more like a yam or a potato (somewhat bland). As they ripen up and become yellow, they are slightly sweeter. When they become black, they are at their sweetest. They are usually baked or fried. I remember eating a fried plantain on our look-see, and it basically tasted like a bland french fry. I need to try it in a different stage of ripeness, evidently.
Cleaning fruits and vegetables takes a lot more time here in Accra that it did back home. It’s not pesticides that we are concerned with, but rather the cleanliness of the food. Who knows where it’s been sitting, stored, and by whom it’s been touched (and how clean their hands were). So, when I bring the fruits and veggies home, they must immediately be washed. I’ve had three people tell me three different ways I can wash them.
First, when Katherine (the first maid) was at my house, she produced a little bottle called “Microdyrm” that she said Mary (previous house occupant) brought from the states and had her use. She would fill up a bucket of water, add six drops of the Microdyrm, and let the food sit for 20-25 minutes. Then, she washed the food and let it air dry.
Michele, my ex-pat friend who has lived in Peru and Indonesia for a combined total of 9 years, swears by bleach. Like Katherine, she fills up the sink with water and adds one capful of bleach and places the fruits and veggies in the water for 20-25 minutes. The food is then rinsed off well and air dried.
And then there’s Charity. I brought home some lettuce yesterday and she came and asked me how I wanted her to clean it. I gave her the directions using the bleach, since I have no Microdyrm, and she just cringed. She said, “Oh no! That is not safe!!” I asked her how Leslie (her previous employer) cleaned her fruits and veggies. She fills up the bucket and adds salt to the water. I went with her suggestion as I figured Leslie has been living in this country the longest and Charity worked for her the entire time.
Regardless of the way in which the food was cleaned, I haven’t gotten sick, so I guess there’s a little truth in each of the methods; although bleach sort of freaks me out!!
Drinks
The most popular drink in Ghana is most definitely water! It is so hot and humid here, it is important to always have water with you. I carry a bottle in my purse, and inevitably, by the time I get home, it’s empty. Although locals can drink from the tap, foreigners cannot. We have a water dispenser in our house and we go through a huge bottle every 2-3 days. You would be surprised how much water you use out of the tap in a single day. It takes some conscious thinking to refrain from putting my toothbrush under the spout each morning, noon, and night!!
Coca Cola is alive and well in Ghana, especially Coke and Diet Coke (or Light Coke, as locals refer to it). I’ve seen Sprite, Fanta, and a few Pepsi’s, but not much else. For those of you who know me at all, I’m a Diet Mountain Dew junkie. I just HAD to pick the one soda that has the most caffeine! I haven’t had one since Sunday, April 3rd, and can’t say that I really crave it right now. I think the stress of the move, adjusting to different food, the time change, and just living in a new country so foreign to me, superseded my caffeine withdrawal! I do drink a Coke or Diet Coke from time to time, but finally made myself some sun tea this weekend. So, all is good in the caffeine department!
People over here like to drink!! Not sure if it’s the Ghanaian culture or just the need for ex-pats to unwind, but we have been inundated with social invitations since we arrived. Again, if you know Dave or I, we are not the most sociable people in the world. We have a close group of friends that we spend time with occasionally, but mostly our free time is spent with our families. Well, over here….we ain’t got no family!! We have been to a pizza/poker night, a 40th birthday party, and three work dinners; all of which included lots of food and even more drinks. I have joined a group – NAWA (North American Women of Africa) – in an attempt to meet people, and have attended two of their functions (more on that in another blog entry).
Beer is the choice of many. Local brews include Star and Club. Either one tastes fine to me. They’re not Coors Lite, but they’ll do. Heinekin and Becks are other beers we’ve seen and purchased.
Lots of vodka is drank here, and everyone puts it in the freezer. I think that’s so that ice doesn’t have to be added to the drink, as it’s a pain the butt to freeze a whole bunch of ice for a large group of people (no, there are no ice makers in our freezers). There are liquor stores all over the place, and I have found the prices to be pretty comparable to those in Nevada. The selection is quite extensive as well. You can buy tequila, Jack Daniels, whiskey, lots of different flavored vodkas, port, brandy, etc. In addition, they have lots and lots of wine in their stores. I even found a Reisling, but have yet to have a glass.
And finally - Milk. Milk, milk, milk. When Dave and I came to Ghana in March 2010, the first morning we got up at the Newmont Guest House (basically a scaled down version of a Motel 6….yes, I said scaled down), we went downstairs to have some breakfast. Ah! There was milk and some cereal set out – something familiar, and so we each took a bowl of what appeared to be corn flakes. As soon as we took the first bite, we knew something was terribly wrong. The milk was 1) warm; and 2) yucky tasting (that’s the sophisticated writer in me coming out). The lack of American flavored milk almost had me refusing to allow Dave to accept this assignment. I love milk – even more than I love Diet Mountain Dew. I need my milk in the morning. Just like my dad needs peanut butter, his daughter needs milk. I don’t drink coffee, unless it’s a Starbucks White Chocolate Swiss Mocha, and in that case Dave tells me it’s just milk with a whole bunch of chocolate and sugar in it! Nothing coffee about it, he claims.
As a result, I came to Accra knowing, or at least thinking, that I would not be able to enjoy my daily glasses of milk. When we first arrived we bought some “milk” at the store, and we have it in our refrigerator. Basically, the milk here is preserved so it can sit on your shelf for weeks and weeks, perhaps even months without spoiling. It has a different coloring (more yellow) and obviously a different taste. I have used the milk with my cereal, and found it to be palatable. But, still….there’s nothing like cold glass of chocolate milk in the morning.
Last week I was invited to a “tea,” where I learned that I could actually buy American flavored milk. So, yesterday I stopped by Shop Rite (the grocery store in the Accra mall), and I bought four pints (I think) of 2% milk. And let me tell you, that glass of chocolate this morning was AWESOME!!! All was right with the world. Dave asked me how much each pint cost and I just told him not to worry about it, but that hopefully gold prices will continue to rise so that I can continue to enjoy my milk!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Driving in Ghana
Ghana traffic is always interesting. There are 4 million people who live in Accra, and it feels like most of them are on the roads! The roads are paved and there are stop lights at major intersections. What the roads appear to be lacking are lines, in particular. The result is that sometimes traffic moves in rather atypical fashion. The police and military drive wherever the hell they want, mostly right down the middle of the road. Not sure if they are actually on a call, or if it’s just a quicker way to get through the traffic.
The majority of the cars on the road are Toyotas. Every once in a while we will see a Mercedes or a Dodge truck, but they are few and far between. Our vehicle is a white and comfortable Toyota Landcruiser. According to local laws, Dave and I are able to legally drive using our Nevada driver’s license for the first 12 months we are in the country. After that time, we can apply for a Ghananian license.
There are tons of taxis on the road and they look like miniature NYC taxis. Tro-tros (trow-trows) are mini busses. They are all beat up and have seating for 15 people; although it looks much like a circus when they unload. People just keep coming out, as they are crammed into the busses like sardines! They are the cheapest form of public transportation. Sometimes you can find areas marked as bus stops. Otherwise, you look for a crowd of people standing by the side of road looking like they might be waiting for a tro-tro. A person can also flag one down at the roadside by raising their right hand pointing in the direction they want to go. The driver’s mate will shout out the window the route that the tro-tro is taking.
We have yet to even attempt the Ghanaian roadways without our driver. Newmont provides some ex-pats with a driver. Others choose drivers from the “driver pool.” Dave and I have been assigned a driver named Michael. Michael is 31 years old. He and his wife, Mabel, have a 10 month old daughter named Dorothy Nana-Akua (don’t know what their last name is). Michael told me that he and his wife call her by her middle name. “Nana” is the word for king and is given to someone or something that is very precious and loved. Akua (uh-quee-uh) is the name of the day on which she was born (Wednesday). Whenever Michael talks about his daughter, he beams. It’s obvious that she is very special to him.
Michael lives on the other side of Accra. He use to drive for another family, and when they found out it took him two hours to get from his house to theirs each morning on the tro-tro, they bought him a motorcycle. Now he can make the trip in about 45 minutes as motorcycles pretty much dart in and out of traffic. So, Michael drives his motorcycle to our house and parks it on the side of our place for the day. He takes Dave to the office each morning. I tag along if I want to go to the gym to work out first thing. Newmont’s office is probably 3-4 miles, and it takes about 20 minutes. The gym is right close to the office. Fortunately, we are going against the traffic in the morning. By the time I am done working out, the traffic has let up and the trip back is another 20-25 minutes.
Michael has been a wealth of knowledge, and during the week I feel like I spend more time with him than I do with my husband! He is available at any time. Dave and I have to share him, and really….Dave gets first dibs! He stays as late as he needs to. If we go to dinner, he sits in the car and waits for us to come out. It’s somewhat uncomfortable knowing that someone is sitting outside waiting for you, while you enjoy a nice dinner in the restaurant (see my “The Help….Ghana Style” blog). If he’s working during his lunch or dinner, we give him 10 cedis (approximately $6 US dollars) for a meal. I’ve been told that Michael will even take us out of town, like up the coast for a long weekend. Evidently, we just provide him with a per diem; about 50 cedis a day. I asked someone where he would sleep, and they said that he will find a place and not to worry about him. O….k…..that’s weird, but again just part of the Ghanaian culture.
When we are stopped at a major intersection, a couple of things happen. Particularly in the mid-morning hours, there are beggars. They appear to be the same ones every single day. Michael told us that they recognize our car, as Rick (Dave’s predecessor) always gave them money. Inevitably, if we end up stopping, they are at our window. They are not pushy or aggressive. They just stand next to the car and put out their hand, with a big ‘ole smile on their face! Secondly, when traffic stops, the street vendors move through the cars selling their wares. They sell water (only locals can drink it), nuts, yams, fruit, cell phone cars, flags, newspapers, magazines, CDs, DVDs….you name it, they are selling it.
I do miss the independence of jumping into my car and going wherever and whenever I want. Everything in Ghana takes a lot of time, patience, and some forethought. Hopefully I won’t forget how to drive in between our trips back home!
The majority of the cars on the road are Toyotas. Every once in a while we will see a Mercedes or a Dodge truck, but they are few and far between. Our vehicle is a white and comfortable Toyota Landcruiser. According to local laws, Dave and I are able to legally drive using our Nevada driver’s license for the first 12 months we are in the country. After that time, we can apply for a Ghananian license.
There are tons of taxis on the road and they look like miniature NYC taxis. Tro-tros (trow-trows) are mini busses. They are all beat up and have seating for 15 people; although it looks much like a circus when they unload. People just keep coming out, as they are crammed into the busses like sardines! They are the cheapest form of public transportation. Sometimes you can find areas marked as bus stops. Otherwise, you look for a crowd of people standing by the side of road looking like they might be waiting for a tro-tro. A person can also flag one down at the roadside by raising their right hand pointing in the direction they want to go. The driver’s mate will shout out the window the route that the tro-tro is taking.
We have yet to even attempt the Ghanaian roadways without our driver. Newmont provides some ex-pats with a driver. Others choose drivers from the “driver pool.” Dave and I have been assigned a driver named Michael. Michael is 31 years old. He and his wife, Mabel, have a 10 month old daughter named Dorothy Nana-Akua (don’t know what their last name is). Michael told me that he and his wife call her by her middle name. “Nana” is the word for king and is given to someone or something that is very precious and loved. Akua (uh-quee-uh) is the name of the day on which she was born (Wednesday). Whenever Michael talks about his daughter, he beams. It’s obvious that she is very special to him.
Michael lives on the other side of Accra. He use to drive for another family, and when they found out it took him two hours to get from his house to theirs each morning on the tro-tro, they bought him a motorcycle. Now he can make the trip in about 45 minutes as motorcycles pretty much dart in and out of traffic. So, Michael drives his motorcycle to our house and parks it on the side of our place for the day. He takes Dave to the office each morning. I tag along if I want to go to the gym to work out first thing. Newmont’s office is probably 3-4 miles, and it takes about 20 minutes. The gym is right close to the office. Fortunately, we are going against the traffic in the morning. By the time I am done working out, the traffic has let up and the trip back is another 20-25 minutes.
Michael has been a wealth of knowledge, and during the week I feel like I spend more time with him than I do with my husband! He is available at any time. Dave and I have to share him, and really….Dave gets first dibs! He stays as late as he needs to. If we go to dinner, he sits in the car and waits for us to come out. It’s somewhat uncomfortable knowing that someone is sitting outside waiting for you, while you enjoy a nice dinner in the restaurant (see my “The Help….Ghana Style” blog). If he’s working during his lunch or dinner, we give him 10 cedis (approximately $6 US dollars) for a meal. I’ve been told that Michael will even take us out of town, like up the coast for a long weekend. Evidently, we just provide him with a per diem; about 50 cedis a day. I asked someone where he would sleep, and they said that he will find a place and not to worry about him. O….k…..that’s weird, but again just part of the Ghanaian culture.
When we are stopped at a major intersection, a couple of things happen. Particularly in the mid-morning hours, there are beggars. They appear to be the same ones every single day. Michael told us that they recognize our car, as Rick (Dave’s predecessor) always gave them money. Inevitably, if we end up stopping, they are at our window. They are not pushy or aggressive. They just stand next to the car and put out their hand, with a big ‘ole smile on their face! Secondly, when traffic stops, the street vendors move through the cars selling their wares. They sell water (only locals can drink it), nuts, yams, fruit, cell phone cars, flags, newspapers, magazines, CDs, DVDs….you name it, they are selling it.
I do miss the independence of jumping into my car and going wherever and whenever I want. Everything in Ghana takes a lot of time, patience, and some forethought. Hopefully I won’t forget how to drive in between our trips back home!
The Help...Ghana Style
Last Spring my Elko bookies and I read the book, “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett. This novel is a story about a young white woman in the early 1960s living in Jackson, Mississippi. She becomes interested in the plight of the black maids working for white women, and ends up organizing the maids in an effort to encourage them to write a book about their experiences. Despite the fact that the black maids prepare the food, care for the children, and clean every part of the home, they are not allowed to use the restroom inside. They must keep their utensils separate from the other household items. They are emotionally and psychologically mistreated. The book was a great read, albeit disturbing. I am not old enough to remember any of the civil rights movement, much less experienced it. The way these women were treated was so primitive and unwarranted. If you haven’t read it….read it!
For about a year, I had a housekeeper in Elko. As much as I enjoyed walking into a clean house once every two weeks, there was something that just didn’t sit right with me. Part of it was having someone in my house that I really didn’t know. I also felt like I was judging her. I didn’t feel like she cleaned to my standards, and I would find myself going around cleaning behind her. And yet, I was sort of intimidated or afraid to tell her to do things differently. I know! I know! I was paying her for a service. As her employer, I should be able to have things the way I want them. But, something inside of me wouldn’t allow it to happen. When I let her go, I felt guilty and never hired another housekeeper.
Now that I am in Accra, not only do we have a driver, but we also have a full-time maid. And when I say “full-time,” I mean she is at my house every single day, all day long. Behind our townhouse is a maid’s quarters. It is a separate building, and for some, their home during the week. For those who go home every night, it’s their “break room.” This is where they go to eat, to use the restroom, and where they go just to sit down on a break.
Before Dave and I moved to Accra, I visited with Leslie, one of the veteran Newmont spouses regarding the maid situation. A little background is needed first. Leslie and her husband, Rick, are moving back to the states in June as Dave is taking over Rick’s position with the company. Jeff (Newmont employee) and his wife Mary lived in the house Dave and I are now living. When Mary first moved to Accra, she inherited a maid named Katherine, even though there were many wives telling her that she was not a good worker. Mary felt sorry for her and didn’t want her to lose her job. Jeff and Mary moved from Accra to Perth, Australia the first week of March.
When Leslie and I spoke a few weeks ago, she told me that Mary told her that I should not keep Katherine as my maid. She said that Katherine was simply not capable of doing the job, and that she had tried to work with her, but was not successful in improving her skills. Leslie suggested that her maid, Charity, be transferred to my house. After not a whole lot of thought, I contacted Leslie and told her that I trusted her advice and that I would be happy to have Charity work in our home.
The day Dave and I were dropped off at our townhouse in Cantonment Gardens, a black woman was on the front step. I said to her, “Oh, you must be Charity.” She said, “No. I am Katherine.” Uh oh, I immediately thought. Anyway, Katherine helped us move our suitcases into the house, and was obviously there to stay. I’m assuming that she had officially been assigned to us. That night we went to dinner with a couple of other Newmont folks, and I mentioned the “maid issue.” Dave said something to the effect that we would be fine with Katherine, and that is was “no big deal.” Both of the women said, in unison, “Oh, yes it IS a big deal.” If Mary and Leslie said that you do not want this young woman, then you absolutely do not.
The next day Katherine approached Dave, as I was upstairs. She asked him if he was unhappy with her. He said, “No. Why would you think that?” Katherine explained that she had been contacted by her supervisor who said we had requested Charity work for us. Evidently, one of the women we had gone to dinner contacted whoever is in charge of the housekeepers on our behalf. Later that day, I had to speak with Katherine and explain to her that the decision had been made before we arrived in Accra, and that her work performance wasn’t an issue with us. (How’s that for sugar coating it??) I've only been in Ghana for two days and I've already had to fire someone! Ok....fire is a strong word. She is actually getting reassigned.
The following day Charity showed up to my house for work. As I only had Katherine working in the house for a couple of days, I really didn’t know what to expect on a daily basis. However, once Charity started working….I saw the difference immediately!! With Katherine, each time I left the house, she went to her quarters. With Charity – when I leave the house she continues working.
Charity has a schedule. Every single day she washes, dries, and irons our clothes. And when I say “iron,” I mean she irons EVERYTHING. She irons our sheets, my nightgown, my underwear, and our socks. EVERYTHING! Evidently, the maids are taught this as the clothes collect some bugs during the washing process and even though they go through the dryer, the ironing ensures the bugs are killed before you wear the clothes.
On Mondays and Fridays, Charity sweeps and mops the tile floors. Mopping takes a while as the entire house is nothing but tile. She cleans the bathrooms every day, makes our bed, changes our bed sheets twice a week, sweeps the floors daily, vacuums what little rugs we have a couple of times a week, waters the flowers outside, and cleans up the leaves on the sidewalks. She’ll do whatever I ask of her.
Now, I have to admit that it’s very nice not to have to even think about cleaning another toilet, mopping a floor, or doing a load of laundry. It hasn’t taken me long to get used to it at all. But, then there’s the whole “help” issue. I know she’s getting paid to do what she’s doing, but it’s not much, at least not in American terms. Dave guesses she gets paid 500 cedis a month, which is equivalent to $333 US dollars. I’m not sure she even gets paid that much.
Charity is very respectful of me, although she is extremely timid. She seems afraid to bother me, and approaches me quietly and speaks softly. She rarely speaks, and only when she has a question or if I address her. It’s so unfamiliar to me. I was raised to be self-sufficient and if something needs to be done, I do it myself – or hire someone to do it for me, if it’s beyond my skills. I continue to try and draw her out of her shell by asking her questions about her family and her way of life.
Charity is a single mother who had a child out of wedlock. Her son’s name is Emmanuel Akufo Angong and she calls him Akufo. He is two years old, which is why she goes home every day. I would guess she is about 20 years old – I need to ask!! She has a really pretty face with dimples! I’ll bet her son is cute as well.
Every time I look at Charity I think of “The Help.” I deeply appreciate the work she does around our house, relieving me of the duties I’ve had my entire adult life, and allowing me the time to work, exercise, and play. I find myself thanking her often. There are others that have found the situation here somewhat disturbing, as have I. But, we have been told that this is how it works in Ghana, and the native people consider it “normal.”
If these women told their stories, I wonder what they would say.
For about a year, I had a housekeeper in Elko. As much as I enjoyed walking into a clean house once every two weeks, there was something that just didn’t sit right with me. Part of it was having someone in my house that I really didn’t know. I also felt like I was judging her. I didn’t feel like she cleaned to my standards, and I would find myself going around cleaning behind her. And yet, I was sort of intimidated or afraid to tell her to do things differently. I know! I know! I was paying her for a service. As her employer, I should be able to have things the way I want them. But, something inside of me wouldn’t allow it to happen. When I let her go, I felt guilty and never hired another housekeeper.
Now that I am in Accra, not only do we have a driver, but we also have a full-time maid. And when I say “full-time,” I mean she is at my house every single day, all day long. Behind our townhouse is a maid’s quarters. It is a separate building, and for some, their home during the week. For those who go home every night, it’s their “break room.” This is where they go to eat, to use the restroom, and where they go just to sit down on a break.
Before Dave and I moved to Accra, I visited with Leslie, one of the veteran Newmont spouses regarding the maid situation. A little background is needed first. Leslie and her husband, Rick, are moving back to the states in June as Dave is taking over Rick’s position with the company. Jeff (Newmont employee) and his wife Mary lived in the house Dave and I are now living. When Mary first moved to Accra, she inherited a maid named Katherine, even though there were many wives telling her that she was not a good worker. Mary felt sorry for her and didn’t want her to lose her job. Jeff and Mary moved from Accra to Perth, Australia the first week of March.
When Leslie and I spoke a few weeks ago, she told me that Mary told her that I should not keep Katherine as my maid. She said that Katherine was simply not capable of doing the job, and that she had tried to work with her, but was not successful in improving her skills. Leslie suggested that her maid, Charity, be transferred to my house. After not a whole lot of thought, I contacted Leslie and told her that I trusted her advice and that I would be happy to have Charity work in our home.
The day Dave and I were dropped off at our townhouse in Cantonment Gardens, a black woman was on the front step. I said to her, “Oh, you must be Charity.” She said, “No. I am Katherine.” Uh oh, I immediately thought. Anyway, Katherine helped us move our suitcases into the house, and was obviously there to stay. I’m assuming that she had officially been assigned to us. That night we went to dinner with a couple of other Newmont folks, and I mentioned the “maid issue.” Dave said something to the effect that we would be fine with Katherine, and that is was “no big deal.” Both of the women said, in unison, “Oh, yes it IS a big deal.” If Mary and Leslie said that you do not want this young woman, then you absolutely do not.
The next day Katherine approached Dave, as I was upstairs. She asked him if he was unhappy with her. He said, “No. Why would you think that?” Katherine explained that she had been contacted by her supervisor who said we had requested Charity work for us. Evidently, one of the women we had gone to dinner contacted whoever is in charge of the housekeepers on our behalf. Later that day, I had to speak with Katherine and explain to her that the decision had been made before we arrived in Accra, and that her work performance wasn’t an issue with us. (How’s that for sugar coating it??) I've only been in Ghana for two days and I've already had to fire someone! Ok....fire is a strong word. She is actually getting reassigned.
The following day Charity showed up to my house for work. As I only had Katherine working in the house for a couple of days, I really didn’t know what to expect on a daily basis. However, once Charity started working….I saw the difference immediately!! With Katherine, each time I left the house, she went to her quarters. With Charity – when I leave the house she continues working.
Charity has a schedule. Every single day she washes, dries, and irons our clothes. And when I say “iron,” I mean she irons EVERYTHING. She irons our sheets, my nightgown, my underwear, and our socks. EVERYTHING! Evidently, the maids are taught this as the clothes collect some bugs during the washing process and even though they go through the dryer, the ironing ensures the bugs are killed before you wear the clothes.
On Mondays and Fridays, Charity sweeps and mops the tile floors. Mopping takes a while as the entire house is nothing but tile. She cleans the bathrooms every day, makes our bed, changes our bed sheets twice a week, sweeps the floors daily, vacuums what little rugs we have a couple of times a week, waters the flowers outside, and cleans up the leaves on the sidewalks. She’ll do whatever I ask of her.
Now, I have to admit that it’s very nice not to have to even think about cleaning another toilet, mopping a floor, or doing a load of laundry. It hasn’t taken me long to get used to it at all. But, then there’s the whole “help” issue. I know she’s getting paid to do what she’s doing, but it’s not much, at least not in American terms. Dave guesses she gets paid 500 cedis a month, which is equivalent to $333 US dollars. I’m not sure she even gets paid that much.
Charity is very respectful of me, although she is extremely timid. She seems afraid to bother me, and approaches me quietly and speaks softly. She rarely speaks, and only when she has a question or if I address her. It’s so unfamiliar to me. I was raised to be self-sufficient and if something needs to be done, I do it myself – or hire someone to do it for me, if it’s beyond my skills. I continue to try and draw her out of her shell by asking her questions about her family and her way of life.
Charity is a single mother who had a child out of wedlock. Her son’s name is Emmanuel Akufo Angong and she calls him Akufo. He is two years old, which is why she goes home every day. I would guess she is about 20 years old – I need to ask!! She has a really pretty face with dimples! I’ll bet her son is cute as well.
Every time I look at Charity I think of “The Help.” I deeply appreciate the work she does around our house, relieving me of the duties I’ve had my entire adult life, and allowing me the time to work, exercise, and play. I find myself thanking her often. There are others that have found the situation here somewhat disturbing, as have I. But, we have been told that this is how it works in Ghana, and the native people consider it “normal.”
If these women told their stories, I wonder what they would say.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Ins and Outs of Shopping
One of our favorite things about Elko is that we were practically a stone’s throw away from the grocery store. If we needed something, we just stopped on our way to or from work. On the weekends, we spent a couple of hours doing our entire shopping. Not so much here. This is like any big city, and shopping for groceries is at least a 3-4 hour event, and that is if you just need some milk for your cereal! Not only is the traffic unbelievable, but there are multiple stores to visit. OK….to be honest, if I wasn’t looking for particular items; namely inexpensive fruits and vegetables and American products, one stop would probably do.
My first official shopping trip was taken with Michelle, and thank God for her! She knew all the right places to go, and had great advice for me. After buying a $10 head of lettuce at a grocery store, I found a much more reasonable fresh fruit and vegetable stand. I was able to purchase a big basket of food for just 20 GHC (cedis - equivalent to $13 US dollars). The assortment was quite large and I was able to buy apples, mangos, green onions, avocados, star fruit, carrots, a cantaloupe, and some limes. You should see the size of the avocados – they are three times as big as U.S. fruit. Once you cut into it you find the pit inside is also three times as large, so the overall amount of fruit you get is not as much as you might think. Once I brought them home, my maid simply washed them up, and they were ready to eat. I bought just a sample of the variety offered. The stand also had watermelon, honeydew, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes….I was delighted!
I randomly find American products such as Ramen soup (yea Taylor….you can come and visit me and still eat!), Uncle Ben’s rice, Ritz crackers, and Rice Krispies. So, when I see something I recognize, I purchase it, as you never know when they might carry it again! There are lots of products that come from Lebanon, consequently, the labels are in Lebanese. It’s sort of a crap shoot on what you are buying.
There is this one little store called “The Hacienda,” and from time to time they get shipments in from Sam’s Club. Michelle is on their “text messaging” list and so when they get a shipment in, she’ll receive a text. This is the store where I found Welch’s Grape Jelly! Yippee! Now I can eat my peanut and butter sandwiches!!
South African meat is probably the best meat you can find in Accra. Again, there is a little store, “Stellar’s Catering” that has a variety of meat, chicken, pork and fish. All of the meat is imported and they receive their shipment at the first of the month. I was able to buy some bacon, rib eyes, t-bones, and pork chops. We’ll see how they taste over the next few weeks.
Oh, the all-important alcohol. Well, you can buy just about any flavor of alcohol you want, but wine appears to be a favorite; especially red wines. I did find a reisling, but have yet to try a glass. We’ve been drinking Star beer, but was tipped off at a party the other night….Ghanaian brewerys are not the most sterile places. In fact, this gentleman called Star, “malaria in a bottle.” I quickly switched to Heineken – why tempt fate?
Dave and I attempted to go to a furniture/grocery store on Saturday, and decided that might be the last time we do that. What should have been a quick jaunt down the street to grab some food and check out some furniture ended up being a three hour car ride! We had to go by the mall, and as is typical at any mall, Saturdays are BUSY! The advice we have been given is if you want to go to the store on the weekend, do it on Sunday at 11 a.m. That’s when everyone is in church. Hey! Maybe I should be there with them! God knows we could all use some spirituality and prayer….especially in West Africa!
My first official shopping trip was taken with Michelle, and thank God for her! She knew all the right places to go, and had great advice for me. After buying a $10 head of lettuce at a grocery store, I found a much more reasonable fresh fruit and vegetable stand. I was able to purchase a big basket of food for just 20 GHC (cedis - equivalent to $13 US dollars). The assortment was quite large and I was able to buy apples, mangos, green onions, avocados, star fruit, carrots, a cantaloupe, and some limes. You should see the size of the avocados – they are three times as big as U.S. fruit. Once you cut into it you find the pit inside is also three times as large, so the overall amount of fruit you get is not as much as you might think. Once I brought them home, my maid simply washed them up, and they were ready to eat. I bought just a sample of the variety offered. The stand also had watermelon, honeydew, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes….I was delighted!
I randomly find American products such as Ramen soup (yea Taylor….you can come and visit me and still eat!), Uncle Ben’s rice, Ritz crackers, and Rice Krispies. So, when I see something I recognize, I purchase it, as you never know when they might carry it again! There are lots of products that come from Lebanon, consequently, the labels are in Lebanese. It’s sort of a crap shoot on what you are buying.
There is this one little store called “The Hacienda,” and from time to time they get shipments in from Sam’s Club. Michelle is on their “text messaging” list and so when they get a shipment in, she’ll receive a text. This is the store where I found Welch’s Grape Jelly! Yippee! Now I can eat my peanut and butter sandwiches!!
South African meat is probably the best meat you can find in Accra. Again, there is a little store, “Stellar’s Catering” that has a variety of meat, chicken, pork and fish. All of the meat is imported and they receive their shipment at the first of the month. I was able to buy some bacon, rib eyes, t-bones, and pork chops. We’ll see how they taste over the next few weeks.
Oh, the all-important alcohol. Well, you can buy just about any flavor of alcohol you want, but wine appears to be a favorite; especially red wines. I did find a reisling, but have yet to try a glass. We’ve been drinking Star beer, but was tipped off at a party the other night….Ghanaian brewerys are not the most sterile places. In fact, this gentleman called Star, “malaria in a bottle.” I quickly switched to Heineken – why tempt fate?
Dave and I attempted to go to a furniture/grocery store on Saturday, and decided that might be the last time we do that. What should have been a quick jaunt down the street to grab some food and check out some furniture ended up being a three hour car ride! We had to go by the mall, and as is typical at any mall, Saturdays are BUSY! The advice we have been given is if you want to go to the store on the weekend, do it on Sunday at 11 a.m. That’s when everyone is in church. Hey! Maybe I should be there with them! God knows we could all use some spirituality and prayer….especially in West Africa!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
We're on the Other Side
After an 18 hour trip, we finally made it to our new home. We had a bit of trouble going through customs; or at least ONE of us did. I went through with no problem, but Dave was stopped because his Visa was expired. I had noticed that mine was expired several weeks before we left Elko, so Dave contacted the guy he was replacing here in Accra, but was assured that it was no big deal. Well, evidently, it WAS and IS a big deal. Dave was taken to this other area to fill out paperwork for a temporary Visa. In the meantime, I was…..here it comes……ON THE OTHER SIDE of customs! They wouldn’t let me go back, and it was a little scary to be separated in a foreign country. I could barely see him, and wasn’t sure what was going on. About a ½ hour later, and with his wallet $150 lighter, he was let through. Yep, one of our first orders of business is to get updated Visas!
Felix, a Newmont driver, picked us and our nine suitcases up at the airport and basically dropped us off at the door of our townhouse. Fortunately, Katherine “the maid” was here and let us inside. We proceeded to unpack our staff and get a feel for the house. We then went to the store as there was basically no food in the house, with the exception of some boxed milk, juice, and bread. We walked through the store in rather a fog, trying to figure out what was what. Even figuring out something as simple as whether or not butter was actually butter was difficult – guess that’s what lack of sleep can do for you. Food is unbelievably expensive here. I remember that from our look-see trip, but now that I actually had to BUY some of the items, I was appalled. We paid almost $10 for a head of lettuce.
Dave’s boss here in Accra is also named Dave (Schummer). His wife, Michelle, have two children Stone and Tori. Dave S. is in New York City this week, but Michelle called us to welcome us to Ghana. She said that she had a few things that she would like to bring over and invited us to dinner last night. Since what we got at the store the first day would hardly allow us to piece together a meal, we quickly accepted her invitation. When Michelle arrived, she bore fruits. Well, not actually fruits, but a basket full of goodies including Ranch Beans, of all things. One of the only U.S. brand vegetables I have seen. She knows right where to get them….at the office furniture store. In Ghana, you just don’t ask why. She’s planning to take me there tomorrow as she has found other goodies at that particular store as well.
We kept ourselves up until almost 10 p.m. that first night, hoping to retrain our internal clocks. We slept soundly until almost 10 a.m.!! I feel pretty rested today; Dave is still a little foggy and tired. After getting ready and having some lunch, we headed back to the store – this time with a list of things we needed. I went two days without using my flat iron as although my hair dryer would work in the converter, the iron wouldn’t.
We also had Michael, our driver, take us to a fitness gym we had heard about – Pippa’s Fitness. You should SEE IT! It’s awesome. It’s the most modern facility I’ve seen in this city, and I can’t think of a better place to have one than right here! As most of you know, I’m a gym rat, and finding a place to work out has been somewhat of a stressor for me. Well, things are now much better as I have a nice, cool, and very clean facility I can visit every morning.
For those of you who know the inside joke, Jamal made it with us with just one of his sunglasses lens missing. He's been next to our bed and hasn't been out yet. We'll get a picture of him soon, when things get a little more routine here.
Life in our new home is most definitely different. The one thing that remains constant is each other. As long as we have each other, we’ll be fine. Also, a schedule will help. Dave is off to work tomorrow morning, and I’m off to the gym. That’s a pretty good way to start the day.
Felix, a Newmont driver, picked us and our nine suitcases up at the airport and basically dropped us off at the door of our townhouse. Fortunately, Katherine “the maid” was here and let us inside. We proceeded to unpack our staff and get a feel for the house. We then went to the store as there was basically no food in the house, with the exception of some boxed milk, juice, and bread. We walked through the store in rather a fog, trying to figure out what was what. Even figuring out something as simple as whether or not butter was actually butter was difficult – guess that’s what lack of sleep can do for you. Food is unbelievably expensive here. I remember that from our look-see trip, but now that I actually had to BUY some of the items, I was appalled. We paid almost $10 for a head of lettuce.
Dave’s boss here in Accra is also named Dave (Schummer). His wife, Michelle, have two children Stone and Tori. Dave S. is in New York City this week, but Michelle called us to welcome us to Ghana. She said that she had a few things that she would like to bring over and invited us to dinner last night. Since what we got at the store the first day would hardly allow us to piece together a meal, we quickly accepted her invitation. When Michelle arrived, she bore fruits. Well, not actually fruits, but a basket full of goodies including Ranch Beans, of all things. One of the only U.S. brand vegetables I have seen. She knows right where to get them….at the office furniture store. In Ghana, you just don’t ask why. She’s planning to take me there tomorrow as she has found other goodies at that particular store as well.
We kept ourselves up until almost 10 p.m. that first night, hoping to retrain our internal clocks. We slept soundly until almost 10 a.m.!! I feel pretty rested today; Dave is still a little foggy and tired. After getting ready and having some lunch, we headed back to the store – this time with a list of things we needed. I went two days without using my flat iron as although my hair dryer would work in the converter, the iron wouldn’t.
We also had Michael, our driver, take us to a fitness gym we had heard about – Pippa’s Fitness. You should SEE IT! It’s awesome. It’s the most modern facility I’ve seen in this city, and I can’t think of a better place to have one than right here! As most of you know, I’m a gym rat, and finding a place to work out has been somewhat of a stressor for me. Well, things are now much better as I have a nice, cool, and very clean facility I can visit every morning.
For those of you who know the inside joke, Jamal made it with us with just one of his sunglasses lens missing. He's been next to our bed and hasn't been out yet. We'll get a picture of him soon, when things get a little more routine here.
Life in our new home is most definitely different. The one thing that remains constant is each other. As long as we have each other, we’ll be fine. Also, a schedule will help. Dave is off to work tomorrow morning, and I’m off to the gym. That’s a pretty good way to start the day.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
See You on the Other Side
OK, for those of you who are so lame that you haven't seen one of the best movies EVER...Apollo 13, "See you on the other side" is NOT in reference to life after death, as my son thinks.
The Apollo 13 mission was launched on April 11, 1970, and was the third Apollo mission intended to land on the moon. The craft was successully launched toward the Moon, but the landing had to be aborted after an oxygen tank ruptured, severely damaging the spacecraft's electrical system. This is where Tom's other famous line, "Houston, we have a problem," came from. The flight was commanded by James A. Lovell (Tom Hanks). While Lovell and his crew were experiencing great hardship caused by limited power, loss of cabin heat, shortage of potable water and the critical need to jury-rig the carbon dioxide removal system, engineers on the ground were scrambling to find a solution to get them back home safely.
I don't understand physics or gravity (other than something that goes up must come down), but part of the engineers plan was to sort of catapult the craft around the moon by using the gravitational pull of the earth. As they were catapulting, the crew would lose complete contact with Houston. So, right before they were to make the move, and not knowing if they would regain communication, Tom Hanks said, "See you on the other side."
There is your history lesson for the day, son. Don't you wish I was a college professor?
The Apollo 13 mission was launched on April 11, 1970, and was the third Apollo mission intended to land on the moon. The craft was successully launched toward the Moon, but the landing had to be aborted after an oxygen tank ruptured, severely damaging the spacecraft's electrical system. This is where Tom's other famous line, "Houston, we have a problem," came from. The flight was commanded by James A. Lovell (Tom Hanks). While Lovell and his crew were experiencing great hardship caused by limited power, loss of cabin heat, shortage of potable water and the critical need to jury-rig the carbon dioxide removal system, engineers on the ground were scrambling to find a solution to get them back home safely.
I don't understand physics or gravity (other than something that goes up must come down), but part of the engineers plan was to sort of catapult the craft around the moon by using the gravitational pull of the earth. As they were catapulting, the crew would lose complete contact with Houston. So, right before they were to make the move, and not knowing if they would regain communication, Tom Hanks said, "See you on the other side."
There is your history lesson for the day, son. Don't you wish I was a college professor?
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Flying Away
The day we leave Elko is almost here. Our flight is scheduled to leave Monday, April 4th at 5:30 a.m. (bright and early). The last few weeks, leading up to this day, have been somewhat exhausting and emotional.
We took some time away from Elko to visit Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. Tracy and Steve Dilts opened up their home in Henderson to us for a long weekend. My sister and her husband joined us. We took in some MWC basketball games, a couple of rounds of golf, a little bit of gambling, and a whole lot of laughing! "Walking in bad cheese," and "I'm for peace," were our weekend mottos. It's amazing how silly adults can still be when they get together! Thanks Tracy and Steve for a fantastic weekend of fun!
Between our two jobs, my book club, and our friends and family, we went to six going away parties in the past two weeks! It's amazing how many friends and family we have here in Elko, and they are all going to be missed dearly. Saying goodbye to our children has by far been the hardest....and we haven't even had to say goodbye to Daniel, yet (he's going to take us to the airport).
We have five suitcases filled to the brim, with two more carry-on pieces of luggage yet to be packed. Our bedroom is looking pretty damn empty, as not only are all of our clothes packed, but I've taken down the pictures and other wall hangings, making room for Daniel to move in when we leave.
The number one question we continue to get is, "Are you excited?" I'm not sure the adjective I would use is "excited." Rather, we are a little anxious; anxious to get started, anxious about the things we will encounter, and anxious about the changes in store for us. We're not just moving to another part of the U.S., but to a whole different continent and culture. We both know that we have made a good decision, and we are planning on taking advantage of the unique opportunities afforded us by this move. Our first R&R is in August and I'm already brainstorming on the place(s) we can visit. And no, Libya and Egypt are not on the list, so don't worry mom (Nancy) and mom (Joann)
Our flight out of Elko will take us from Elko to Salt Lake City to New York City and then to Accra, Ghana....our new home. But, know that Nevada and Wyoming (for Beth) will always be our true homes. Fortunately, technology will allow us to stay connected through Skype, email, and texting. If you don't have Skype loaded onto your computer....get 'er done!
Thanks to all who have supported us in this new phase of our life. As Tom Hanks so famously said in the movie, Apollo 13, "see you on the other side."
We took some time away from Elko to visit Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. Tracy and Steve Dilts opened up their home in Henderson to us for a long weekend. My sister and her husband joined us. We took in some MWC basketball games, a couple of rounds of golf, a little bit of gambling, and a whole lot of laughing! "Walking in bad cheese," and "I'm for peace," were our weekend mottos. It's amazing how silly adults can still be when they get together! Thanks Tracy and Steve for a fantastic weekend of fun!
Between our two jobs, my book club, and our friends and family, we went to six going away parties in the past two weeks! It's amazing how many friends and family we have here in Elko, and they are all going to be missed dearly. Saying goodbye to our children has by far been the hardest....and we haven't even had to say goodbye to Daniel, yet (he's going to take us to the airport).
We have five suitcases filled to the brim, with two more carry-on pieces of luggage yet to be packed. Our bedroom is looking pretty damn empty, as not only are all of our clothes packed, but I've taken down the pictures and other wall hangings, making room for Daniel to move in when we leave.
The number one question we continue to get is, "Are you excited?" I'm not sure the adjective I would use is "excited." Rather, we are a little anxious; anxious to get started, anxious about the things we will encounter, and anxious about the changes in store for us. We're not just moving to another part of the U.S., but to a whole different continent and culture. We both know that we have made a good decision, and we are planning on taking advantage of the unique opportunities afforded us by this move. Our first R&R is in August and I'm already brainstorming on the place(s) we can visit. And no, Libya and Egypt are not on the list, so don't worry mom (Nancy) and mom (Joann)
Our flight out of Elko will take us from Elko to Salt Lake City to New York City and then to Accra, Ghana....our new home. But, know that Nevada and Wyoming (for Beth) will always be our true homes. Fortunately, technology will allow us to stay connected through Skype, email, and texting. If you don't have Skype loaded onto your computer....get 'er done!
Thanks to all who have supported us in this new phase of our life. As Tom Hanks so famously said in the movie, Apollo 13, "see you on the other side."
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