Weekly Post #7: Getting Over the Hump.

Chune(s) of the Week:

One Ghana (for your pocket) -- EL

Over Again--Edem

Guru-- Lapaz Toyota

(I'll provide 3 videos since I've been slacking on the blogging. These three songs pretty much wrap up my favorite azonto songs. Theres only like 10 in rotation so in actuality I like a decent amount.)



Hello Everyone.

I know I said that I'd try hard to update this thing more often, and I have indeed failed. My sincerest apologies. I will try to briefly update you all on my doings for the past couple weeks or so. I'll TRY and post a link to a public photo album so you guys can see my Ghana pics thus far! It takes forever to upload things so bear with me. Mepaky3ew (Please in Twi).

Last weekend "The Crew" and I went to Bojo Beach! Wow!! What a refreshing trip. We had a great time! The beach was beautiful, clean, and the food was good. We mostly napped and ate and drank a bit. But it was a great break from Accra!!


The weeks go on as usual, my attending all most of my classes. The Ghanian tertiary college system is very lackadaisical. I'm a true believer that you learn much more just meeting and interacting with people than sitting in a hot overcrowded classroom for 2+ hours. Yea... attending class is challenging.

Last week there was some excitement! Syd the Kid and I were asked to model for our friend Milo's clothing line Qui Parle (QP). We participated in both a photo shoot as well as a runway show. Lots of fun!! We got some great shots and the runway show can be deemed a success.

This past weekend, CIEE took us on a trip to the Eastern Region. To be honest, the first portions of the trip were kind of a snooze. We visited a cocoa farm. I managed to steal borrow a cocoa pod and some cocoa nibs. hehe. Next we went to the Botanical Gardens. It was pretty, but I'm not too into trees and botany. I really just wanted to run around and do cartwheels and play tag. *sings It's the kid in me!* The best part of the trip had to be the shopping portion. I bargained a dress from 34 cedis to about 15 cedis (about 7.6 dollars or so). Woohoo!! I also managed to get some bracelets and waistbeads. Horray!!

Yesterday (7 March 2012) was Ghana's 55th Independence celebration. To be honest, I was really surprised as how calm things were yesterday. Ghana is a VERY nationalistic country. Ghanians love Ghana more than they may love their first born. There are Ghanaian (and Jamaican *bullet bullet*) flags everywhere. All over cabs, storefronts, T-shirts, shoes, bags, etc.

Thats about all the update I have for now. Now to try and upload pics. This may take a while!

I love you all and miss you soo much.


*But Shelbs. why is this post titled "Getting Over the Hump"? Well, because this week or so is the first time I have experienced real homesickness since I've been in Ghana. My family is a huge aspect of my life and I miss them sooo much. With the help of American food Sunday's (Sydney made some CRAZY GOOD hamburgers) and "The Crew," I've been doing ok. I was telling a friend why I give so much time to Olisa and Sydney. Thats because here in Ghana, I don't really have a "family" per say. These girls have become my family so we stick close and keep each other uplifted when we're having bad times (like when we have bubble guts).* I would like to give a huge shout out to my mom, dad, bro, carla, auntie cheryl, tiffani, Rebecca, Patrick & Ian, Rebekah (for doing my housing!!!) for helping me through this week! I love you all soo much*

PS. Click these links to get a glimpse at some of the modeling pics! Modeling Pics. Pre-Runway Pics.

UPDATE!! Checkout my Ghana Pics!!!

Weekly Post #6: I don't really do Azonto

Chune of Week:

Kolom--Buk Bak

Hello All!!!!

I know its been a super long while since I've posted. And I sincerely apologize! 

Where do I start. I ended last post discussing The Crew's Taco night! Major success! I wish I had taken pictures but taco night was a true blessing. Olisa and I spent a pretty penny preparing food for some of our friends. We made steak tacos. Sooo tasty! Many Ghanians didn't know what tacos were, so it was a pleasant surprise to know that they really enjoyed our food!!

That following week, I did a lot of nothing to be honest. Just hung out with my friends. The university workers are still on strike, and things don't really look like they are improving to me honest. lol. I just hope my credits transfer! Thats all I really care about. These are the courses I'm "enrolled in" are:

---Twi (Twi is the most commonly spoken dialect in Ghana)

Widely spoken around the country, learning the language has been OK. Learning is relative though... I feel like I'll have a VERY basic knowledge of the language  by the time I leave. At this point...I'm ok with that. 

---Geography of Gender and Development in Africa

This class is very interesting. Lol. Even though it's at 7 AM in the morning, it is bearable because of the men in the class. Using this class and my personal experience as reference, Ghanian men still have very chauvinistic ideals. Startling and offensive, but this class is still very funny. I'll provide one of many examples. One man raised his hand and couldn't understand how/why women in the Western World (America) were still struggling for upward mobility, because according to him "America invests a lot of money and time in women's equality."  According to him, the reason for women's inequality cannot be due to societal and social barriers but because must be because of BIOLOGICAL INFERIORITY. To say I was shocked and appalled was an understatement. lol. I didn't even know what to say or do. That comment woke me up for sure! The lecturer is pretty cool. Class is decent.

---History of Ghana in the 19th and 20th Century

This class has only really met once in the 4 weeks "classes have been conducted". Super big. Super boring. Super hot. Super side eye. Moving on...

---History of Western Medicine in Ghana

This honestly may be ONLY class I actually learn ANYTHING IN. Pretty self explanatory. The lecturer is pretty hardcore (according to Ghanian standards). A lot of reading, but I can't complain. I've actually missed learning.

---Landmarks in African American Literature

This class is also pretty self explanatory. Its interesting to note that Ghanians know NOTHING about African American history. Very ironic. I think I will be doing more teaching than learning. I'm going to educate.


The weekend before last we visited Cape Coast to see the slave castles. Very touching and interesting experience for a number of reasons.

Thats about all I have time to update for now! My laptop battery is dying and the internet in Ghana has little to be desired.


I'll post a few pics a bit later.


I'll try to update you all more frequently!

If you want to contact me, do it through e-mail or bbm! My blackberry is the most functional piece of technology I have here in Ghana. My e-mail is shelbie@gwmail.gwu.edu and my BBM pin is 21DC30E2.


Love you all.


--Shelbs.

PS: The chune of the week is my favorite azonto song. But you may be asking "Shelbie, why dont you do azonto?" To be honest I like the music, but I dont so much care for the dance...at all. Im not a huge fan of Ghanian nightlife to be honest. No-BUENO. Its kinda dry...but whatever. Peace!

Weekly Post #5: They LOVIN the crew...

Chune of the Week:

Crew Love--Drake ft The Weekend

Hello Everyone!!

I know its been a minute since I really sat down and spoke to you all but its been so busy here in Ghana...and school hasn't even really started yet (more on that later).

Let me pick up where I left off.

Last week Wednesday I got my hair done. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I paid a total of about 28 cedis total for the hair and the labor. Thats a total of about 16 American dollars. Thats CRAZY. lol. It got medium/small sized box braids that go down to my booty. Sigh. I love my hair. 

I went from this...

To this.... (Ghanian humidity is no joke!!)

To this... In about the span of a week. God is good...all the time.

(Why yes, that is my mosquito net in the background.)

The particular night in which I took this picture, I had BLAST!!! The crew and I went to this bar for this man named Keith's party. Who would have thought that Keith's birthday party would pop so hard. Big up yuhself Keith. lol. The bar/lounge was called Appetite. Super chic. I digged the vibe. They provided free drinks for a bit while we were there. We chilled, saw and interacted with some bait, and bounced to the next spot...Bella Roma in Osu. lol. This place was live. They had a pretty good mix of music (for Ghana that is). We were all in some type of state so that made the fun even better. I wont go into the intricate details of the night, but we all had a fantabulous time.

(The Crew and I! Thanks again for a great night Keith!)

Moving forward. I think most everyone in my program has forgotten that we have come to Ghana to STUDY abroad. lol. The class registration process at UG is a huge headache and hassle. But I've been doing a pretty good job (in my opinion) to register for courses that will fill major requirements back at GWU. School technically should have started on Monday, but Ghana works at a very slow pace AND the have been some faculty strikes on campus, classes haven't even really started...at all. I attempted to attend two classes yesterday with fail. I will try again next week. Most Ghanian students havent even fully moved onto campus yet. When in Ghana, do as the Ghanians do...slow your roll, bruh.

I have attended two classes though. African Dance Techniques and my Twi class. Both I enjoy. African dance is truly awesome. Its fun, interactive, and a serious workout. I would post a pic of me in action, but I look sweaty and gross, so I think not. Twi class is awesome as well. I'm taking my Twi learning very seriously. Although English in the official language of Ghana, Twi is most widely spoken. It comes in very handy when trying to bargain as well as understand what creepy men are saying about you. I digress.

I am about to head out to buy some groceries for Sunday night. The crew and I have dubbed Sunday nights "American food night." Last Sunday Syd and Yvonne threw down and made some slamming American style spaghetti. This weekend Olisa and I are attempting taco night. lol. This should be interesting. I dont get the vibe that there are a lot of Mexican options in Ghana, but we are going to give it a try. A lot of our Ghanian man friends haven'e ever really heard of tacos. They are about to be in for a TREAT. 

Talk to you guys real soon.

Love you all,

Beezy!

Weekly Blog #4

Chune of the Week:

This is the biggest dance/music craze in Ghana. Azonto! Check it out!

Hello Everyone!

Time for a quick update!
I'm having a pretty great time in Ghana!! I love it here!! Its hot but its good. THERE IS ALOT OF WALKING!!!!!!!! I'm going to be so slim, trim, and tan when I get back. The food is...repeititve. But good. I eat alot of chicken and rice. I think I'm going to stick with eating beans. I love beans!!

My room is cozy. I really enjoy being in it alone...
But I should be getting one soon :(

IM GETTING MY HAIR DONE TODAY!!!!
Horray! Im so excited. Natural hair and Ghana's humidity dont get along...at all. A lot of shrinking.

Today the water went out for the first time. lol. As this one boy put perfectly, Ghana is conveinently inconvenient! Things are cheap and easilly accessibly, but all the interactions and shady and you have to bargain.

I'm still really enjoying myself though!
I feel like I'm on vacation. School starts on Monday. This regsitration process is goign to be a HUGEEE headache. Especially to get my credits to transfer to GW -__-

I'll update pictures as soon as I can.

I love you all!!!


--Shelbie

Weekly Post #3

Chune of the Week:


Vybz Kartel--Summer time
(Bring yuh umbrella cos di sun ah bun)

OK. It's not exactly summertime. Buttt the weather here in Ghana is hot but not unpleasant...yet. It's the "dry season," but March is said to be VERY hot...but I digress.


Week 1.



I am in GHANA!!! OH. EM. GEE!!!
This is surreal. I can't believe I'm really here!! 


What a journey it has been already.
The flight was well. It took of a little late (like an hour -__-), but nonetheless it was a smooth 10 hour flight. I slept a majority of the time. When I was't passed out I was eating and talking to this awesome guy who sat next to me on the flight. He works for the government doing IT work all over the globe. Literally everywhere. He was awesome. We talked about our families, dogs, travels. Super cool guy.


After I got off the flight I got my baggage (took a little while, I got scared!) and then boarded the bus.


Arrived at the hotel. We'll be staying here until Saturday and the moving into our respective dormrooms/home stays. The hotel is super nice. The food is good. AND THEY HAVE FREE WIFI!!! (perfect segway to this awesome story I cant tell).


SOOO...when I discovered we had free wifi, I was stoked. I open my computer, attempt to boot it up...and


black screen. beep...beep...beep.
what. the. heck.
A bit of panic.


Some girls I met told me to charge it to see if it would work. After dinner I check it.


black screen. beep...beep...beep.
what. the. heck.
more panic.


an hour later. FULL ON PANIC.

I used my roommates computer to check what the problem is. My RAM decided to act a fool! So, I being the innovator that I am, managed to use my earring to unscrew the back of my computer. Successfully I was able to remove the ram, shake it so it would get its life together, and the put it in. I powered on my laptop. AND IT CAME ON!!!!! CHALE! I'm so happy. I cant even express it. I almost cried. What are the chances that my laptop would break on the first day!!!


And here I type on my beloved laptop to my beloved readers. 


So where do I begin. The food in Ghana is delicious. Spicy and tasty. I am pleased.
The people in my program are cool! 
I am pleased so far. 
We dont start school until the monday after the one comings...the 27th I believe. They have so many activities planned for us that force us to get over the awkward phase and get to know the country better.


Today we had a pretty long orientation, and then we went to the mall.
I got the chip for my blackberry and its up and running BUT my bbm doesnt work...nor does my e-mail. So I'm going to fix that on saturday along with getting a modem for my laptop so that I stay updated on the intertubes. I also need a new iphone cord. THE ACCRA MALL AS A APPLE STORE!!! And you guys thought I was going to a super underdeveloped country. *kisses teeth*.


Today (Friday) we had another incredibly long day of orientation. Then we went to dinner at this Ghanian restaurant. Yummy. And then the dancing begins. Ghanians got the moves. :) :) 


Any who. I'll update again sometime next week.




Love you all.




-Beezy

Weekly Post #2: And I'm off!

Chune of the Week: Wyclef Jean Feat R.Kelly & Cannibus--Gone Till May 27th November Remix

Week 0.


Ok I won't really be gone till November. I'll be back in May. BUT 4 months is a pretty long time!!!

Today, in about 11 hours, I leave for Ghana. Yea, like 10 hours away, Gold Coast, away from all my friends and family Ghana. Oh. Em. Gee.


This is a surreal moment for me. I can't believe this day has really come. The nerves are definitely here. For sure. 
I want to dedicate this post to everyone that I TRULY love and will miss while away!


The Fam:

The ones who made me. Mom and Dad, I love you guys so much. You've created a wonderful specimen. Your progeny may not have been bountiful, but quality is better then quantity. I hope I am making you proud and I'll miss you tons!! 

The are very few words I can use to convey how much I love this guy. My body guard, my best friend, my brother! Keep up the good work, and I'll see you when I get back. Please take care of your parents, Rufus, and your Cool-Hwhip. Buy some Hwheat thins with that too.

From This....

 

to this...

  

I thought about only adding this girl in my friend section, but this girl is not a friend, she is my sister. Not biologically, but spiritually. Over 10 years of friendship will do that to you. We are even starting to look more a like. And she's successfully infiltrated my family. There's no getting rid of her. My ride or die. We have a lot of plans in the future, and a lot of years left ahead of us. Love you Rebecca!

(Not Pictured but equally important: Carla aka W, Aunt G, Grandma(s), Sharon, Ms. Jeanette, Aunt Cherly, Aunt Marva, Aunt Roberta, Aunt Juliet, Aunt Sharon Aunt Jackie, my cousins and everyone else I may have forgotten! I love you all!) 

My Friends:

My Oldest, Newest, and Truest Friends, I LOVE YOU GUYS!! So So So So much. Funmi, Indy, Gigi, Janel, Rebekah, Katie. Idk what I'd do without you women. Yall are beautiful and smart and funny and perfection. Rebe I'll miss you baby. No one can replace what we had. ;-). Kimm!! Make sure you remember my brazilian Bikini and my haviannas. I want coral. Funm Funm, stay up in Paris :). Buy nice stuff. Indy and Gigi, next year will be magic! Katieee! I can't believe we are going a whole year without living with each other. This is tragic. But next year is going to be NASTY. 

My friends are models yall.

And finally, the Prince Himself. Cornbread aka Rufus aka Cornilicus Breadicus aka Chewy aka Little Man aka THE PRINCE:

The best friend a girl can have. We fight and then we cuddle. A true stallion. Love you Corny! Be good boy and take care of Mommy!

OOOK. I'm done being sentimental. I love everyone. Stay posted. I'll try to update again as soon as I can with my flight experience and first thoughts, etc. See you guys soon! 

Love you all,

Shelbizzle.

Weekly Blog #1.

Chune of the Week:

Batty Rider--Buju Banton

Week -1. (Negative one because I haven't left America yet.)

A week from today I will be en-route to embark on my 4 month vacation *ehem* scholastic retreat in Ghana. As the days swiftly come and go and that date comes nearer, the crippling reality of leaving my family and friends for such an extended period of time is setting in. To say I'll miss my family and friends is an understatement. I'm sure I'm going to cry a few bajillion times. My family (close friend included) is by far the most important thing in my life. I gotta keep it together.

But even still, as the days approach, I realize more and more that this experience and this get away will be one best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I've been battling a world of emotions for a while now. I go through bouts of highs and lows. I try very hard not to plague my friends with these feelings though they are ongoing. Haven't let up. As much as I try to convince myself that they have subsided, they have not.

A new fresh and inviting environment is exactly what I need. I don't know if I could successfully get through another semester in DC right now.

Long story short, I'm scared, but excited! I know this is best.

On a different note...preparing for this trip has been stressful and EXPENSIVE. Good grief. Vaccinations and anti-malarial medication has cost me about $300.00 total. Crazy.

I owe a lot of thanks to my family (mom, dad, brother, Auntie Glo-rida (Gloria), Fairy Godmother Millie, etc) for assisting my financially. I have been working a lot as well, fighting through my fatigue. My life is constantly go, go, go and yet when I have nothing to do I feel anxious. Everyone says that when you go abroad (to anywhere outside the US) you will be amazed at how much slower the pace of life is. I need that.

Once my money is in order (I want to earn and collect as much as I humanly can), I'm going to treat myself. No, I dont plan on going crazy and spending all my hard earned dollars through frivolous spending. I want to get quite a few pieces made in Ghana and do shopping for an assortment of textiles (beads, fabrics, jewels, butters, soaps etc). Trynna make sure my money is right so I can live the way I want to live. Uzzimee?

Of course I have still been shopping for clothing in America though...naturally. I don't believe in malls so I've been doing my shopping online and at thrift stores. Old Navy is on the come up. I'll leave it at that.

After doing some reading about what people wear in Ghana, I've decided to leave most of my pum-pum shorts aka batty riders at home along with my crop tops. Idk how true this is, but a lot of the travel sites say that Ghanaians don't appreciate shorts that are too short and don't particularly care for midriff bearing blouses. Poop. Oh well. I have an arsenal of maxi dresses, skirts, jeggings, leggings, and fancy blouses. My plan is to get fully dressed and beat my face most days out of the week. I'm in the pursuit of a Premier League-er. LOL. I'll still sneak and pack one or two shorts and crop tops though...

I began packing yesterday, and am already tired/overwhelmed. I hate packing but I'm well on my way. My first bag will be filled with...stuff. Between Mommy and My Fairy Grandmother (Millie), I am STOCKED with any type of anything you can imagine. Literally. We went to REI (and they went to Costco) and bought almost everything. I am forever grateful. I even purchased my first back pack...I think ever. Its a blue NorthFace. I like it. That, along with bug spray and other mosquito repellants, towels, shirts, chap-stick, and a ton of other miscellaneous things (every drug/ointment imaginable) have begun to fill my first bag. This bag will also consist of my shoes, makeup (my face will be BEAT), and other random toiletries.

My second bag will be filled with clothes, exclusively. As much as they advise that I pack light, I will pack every piece of clothes I want to bring. Period. They are mine. I want to bring them. Done deal.

I digress.

I still haven't completely figured out what I'm going to do with my hair. I HIGHLY doubt I will be wearing it in loose styles. I'll probably put in some minitwists this weekend. That will hold me for about 3 weeks. Hopefully 4. Then I plan of getting my hair braided up in Ghana. Yea...my hair has become the least of my concern as time goes on. My have times have changed...

My regimen is/and will remain very simple. Wash whenever I feel necessary. Condition. Deep Condition if I feel fancy. I dont co-wash anymore. I only wet my hair on wash days. I wear my hair stretched or in protective styles 99% of the time. If you leave it alone it will grow and be healthy. I leave my head alone. And its growing. I plan on taking advantage of Black Soap and shea butter while I'm there. Idk why I would need much more than that. Ok...I'll bring a leave in conditioner too.

I would like to clarify the proceeding statement a bit though. Leaving your head alone does NOT mean being negligent. I keep my hair moisturized with Herbal Essences Long-Term relationship and avocado butter (most of the time). I tie my hair down with a doobie or sleep on a satin pillowcase (most of the time). My hair has been doing pretty well. We have a chill relationship.

Hmm...I think thats about it. I have unlocked my blackberry, so if you have a pin still, send it to me. BBM-ing internationally is a wonderful thing! (I'm going to miss my IPhone)

Anyway doe, I'll be sure to keep you guys posted with any further developments.




Love you all,



-Beezy