New Ghanian Family, and African Cup/dance class/ school/haircut/homesickness/physical sickness

New Ghanain Family, and African Cup/dance class/ school/haircut/homesickness/physical sickness

About a week ago, I got a call from some Ghanaian cell phone number asking if I was Jason and that they wanted to meet me. Apparently, since my mom is a vice principal back in the states, one of her student’s family lives here in Accra, Ghana. After my cell number made it to the Ghanaian family, they sort of adopted me. Two brothers, Isaak and Parez, drove 45 minutes to pick me up at the University and took me away deep into the heart of Accra, Ghana near a small fishing village (Coco Beach) where they lived. Upon arrival I was enthusiastically greeted by the rest of the family, Aunts, cousins and family friends all excited to see me like I was a long lost brother. The family surprised me with a picnic on the beach. The Aunt made about 8 Ghanaian dishes just for me to sample. The entire family would watch as I sampled the foods to see if I liked it. All the food was amazing (something that I have not experienced much of at the University) except for one dish. After giving it a taste, I hesitantly asked what it was. The Aunt smiled and said sea slug. Yes, you read correctly….. sea slug. So my appetite was pretty much ruined at that point but I didn’t want to appear rude so I continued to eat the pounds of food they had prepared. I swear these are the nicest people I have ever met. They said that if I ever needed anything they are here to help and I am officially part of their family. They even have planned weekend trips to take my peers and myself on around Ghana and want to make a lobster dinner next time visit. They welcomed me to stay in their house and hit up some Ghanaian clubs/ reggae concert/ see a Ghanaian national soccer game. The Aunt and sister call me once a day just to check in and make sure everything is going well… They didn’t even know me yet dedicated so much time, and money to throw me a little welcome party. The family lives in a stone house behind their little candy shop which looked like it may not have had running water or electricity. What an amazing experience! I got to meet the village locals and for the first time actually feel like I was not just a tourist but actually part of a Ghanaian family. They wouldn’t even let me pay for gas even though I insisted. $20 to them could mean several days of working but they said I was the guest and to save my money for souvenirs.

After the tour of the small poor fishing village, I went back to their home and had Coconut wine, ate bankou (spicy fried plantains) and watched Ghanaian music videos (similar to a low budget BET or MTV music video) They then drove me 45 minutes back to campus and dropped me off. I felt so much better knowing that there was someone I could go to in case there was an emergency or I just needed help. I visited them again yesterday and they took me to “Reggae Night on the Beach” which was a lot of poorly sung Bob Marley but was definitely fun.

Today Ghana beat Nigeria in the semifinals for the African Cup and I swear the entire nation of Ghana when absolutely crazy. Cabs were laying on their horns. All the Ghanaians in the Hostiles were frantically sprinting around screaming at the top of their lungs the Ghanaian anthem. Students sprinted up and down the street next to the hostile with huge Ghanaian flags. I even saw two cars doing celebratory donuts in the dirt parking lot crash into one another. They both got out, laughed about it, and got back in their respective cars and continued doing donuts in the parking lot. No joke, Its was the craziest thing I had ever witnessed. They were not even upset they had just crashed! The entire city went crazy from this soccer win. I can only imagine what will happen if we win the African Cup this Sunday. The people here live and breathe soccer. I have already had 2 classes canceled because they were during a soccer match. We haven't quite reached that point with the Sacramento Kings.
Dance class

As you may have know from previous posts I have been demoted twice from dance class and am now placed in “remedial” African dance with 17 year olds. Me being the only white and 21 year old in the course it is pretty much a "let's stare and laugh at the white boy" class. The dance professor has reached a point where he doesn’t even give me suggestions anymore. He has resorted to just laughing while I attempt to dance like the other Africans.
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I don’t understand school here
To be honest, it just doesn’t make sense. Some professors read off a script and repeat each sentence like 3 times while everybody transcribes the lecture. That is when professors are so kind as to grace us with their presence. A quarter of the time they just don’t show up or show up late. I don’t even know if I am correctly registered which makes me nervous but apparently things just “work themselves out here” whatever that means. Whenever I have an important administrative question – the reply is always just don’t worry about it, it should work itself out.
I think I am taking:
1. Xylophone
2. African Drumming
3. Traditional African Dance
4. Poli Sci – Problems of Development in Africa
5. Poli Sci – Africa within the global system
6. Poli Sci – Methods of Political Research
7. Poli Sci – Modern Western Political Thought.

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Haircut
Nothing here is ever just a mundane experience. My hair was so long that I finally gave in and went to a local barber. Both of the barbers argued over which one of them would be able to cut my hair. I told them I just wanted a trim. Of course they are not used to cutting white man's hair so I now officially look like "50 Cent." My hair is borderline shaved with a straight bang line in the front (similar to most African American haircuts). It looks absolutely ridiculous (a white man with a black mans hair cut) but it's definitely nice to not have long sweaty hair. I will try and upload some pics of this beautiful new fashion. I’m sure you will get a kick out of it.
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Homesickness has finally hit me.
I was sick to my stomach and thought I had to vomit (likely from eating something that had gone bad. I ran to the bathroom only to find that there was no electricity nor running water so I couldn’t even see the toilet nor would I be able to flush. So, I sat at the edge of my bed in the heat (about 98%) and just waited for the sickness to pass. It's times like these that I really miss the small things we take for granted in the US. Sanitary food / ability to use the bathroom/ and a fan.

I also have dreams every night I am back in the States. When I wake up in the morning I am the most homesick. I would love to just see my family/ friends/ and my puppy (Buddy Holley) for just a weekend and return back to Africa. I was able to Skype my mom and dad with a 20 second delay but it was still so nice to see them. My mom and dad e-mail/ call me daily updating me on Sacramento and just to check in. Many of my friends also send me messages. I am so lucky to have so many people that care about me and honestly those are the people that are keeping my sanity here in Africa. Thankfully, my homesickness only lasts for about an hour or two every day and then I become busy with the day. I absolutely have no regret choosing Ghana to study. As hard as it is to adapt to an impoverished lifestyle, I can honestly not a day goes by where I don’t have an amazing experience to write about. So, to all my readers – please continue to e-mail me at jmanholley@msn.com. I LOVE hearing from you and look forward to short time I am able to obtain internet every week. Its about 10:40pm and I still have some reading to complete before lecture tomorrow at 7:00am so off to work. Miss you all!
Best,
J

PS this weekend we are taking a fieldtrip to the waterfalls and monkey sanctuary in the Volta region. I think that is where the Ga or Ashante tribe lives so that should be interesting so expect some cool stories. Also many have asked me to upload more pictures. I have some AMAZING Pics but it takes about an hour to download each Pic with this internet here but I will do my best.