Togo is a french speaking country which means that I am typing on a French keyboard. Luckily, I know where most of the key are because what I am typing doesn't match what is on the keyboard. Little bit of a pain in the _____.
So let me begin by saying that jealousy is a universal emotion. Enough said on that topic.
However, with that said, we took a bus (more like a van) to Lome (pronounced Low-May). We left later than we had hoped. Accra (pronounce A-Cra) has the worse traffic I have ever seen in my life. Once we got on the van, it probably took us an hour and a half to get out of the city. After we were leaving the city, the driver stopped the van to look under the hood. Bethel panicked thinking that we should take her kids and go back to her mom's place. I was ticked because I had just spent 50 Cedis to get out of the city and I was bound and determined to get to Lome tonight. I would have to say it was our first knock-down-drag-out since high school.
The van was so hot. It had AC but the driver keep it on low. I think I have lost 10 pounds in water weight from sweating. My ankles are the size of small pineapples.
Some of the roads to the border are paved and some are not. There is road construction but the detours are not very planned, if you can go that way good luck! Needless to say, after two hours of driving somewhere up to 90 mph on paved and unpaved road (my butt is so sore from potholes and speed bumps), we arrived at the border. The border look like a war zone. There is a walking path with the random cement pavers but most of it is dirt. The iron rod fence is place in no particular style. Honestly, I felt like it was out of a movie. Bethel did not have her passport, and I had mine. She had to go in one direction and I had to go in another. I was about to follow her and the guard (for lack of a better word)told me to go another way. I was going to continue to follow her but the guard said "are you going to listen to me or to her?". I thought I better listen to him. What I realized later is that he was a Ghanian and I had already check out of Ghana. He had no jurisdiction to keep me there. However, it was probably best not to find out what the recourse was. The border guard is just a policeman who sits at a non-lit desk with a flashlight and a stamp. I could have received my visa at the border but I am glad that I didn't because it probably would have been too much of a hassle.
Bethel and her husband are in the process of building their home. The house will be beautiful when it is complete. So far it has taken two years to build and they still do not have the toilets in. You have to be patient with the trades or they may never show up again. I woke to someone banging on a sink to make a hole in it. An hour later, they were still banging the same hole. Hopefully, he is not getting paid $50 per hour for it. The nice thing about the house is that my room has AC, that is a beautiful thing. We use the rental house next door for the kitchen and bathrooms. It's a typical rental house and leaves a lot to be desired. It makes me appreciate my landlord.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Hot, Sweaty & Dirty
I was trying to show Esenam, she helps Bethel's mom at the house, what my house looks like but the computer at the internet cafe is horribly slow.
Yesterday, we went to the Togo embassy to get a Visa for me. It only cost $78 here and $150, plus shipping at home so it was probably worth waiting for. Even though, all the people were present that needed to sign off were in the office, we still sat there for three hours waiting for them to approve it. I guess the wait wasn't too bad. I did receive a marriage proposal from it. The unfortunate part was that I couldn't understand a word that he said and Bethel had to translate it for me.
Today, we head to the Makola market. There were THOUSANDS of people, pushing and shoving to look at the same stuff at each store. We can take a taxi for an hour ride and it costs us 7 cedi which is probably somewhere around $5. When we eat out, we have only ate skewers. I wasn't too impressed with the goat.
I told Bethel that I was interested in getting false eyelashes, next thing I know, she is pulling all the vendors from pillar to post looking for someone who did false eyelashes. I felt compelled to get them so 7 Cedi and a lot of glue later, I looked like I was ready to hit the town. Needless to say, later that night, I ripped them all out, now I don't have any eyelashes left...
I picked up some fabric for a shirt and a gift. Mimi, who also helps at Bethel's house, is a seamstress and is making me a shirt and a gift for someone else.
The market is hot, sweaty and dirty. We stopped to eat at a restaurant on the way home. The waitress got made at me because I wiped my chest with the cloth napkin. I asked her if I could but like most situations neither of us understood what each other said. Bethel was a little mad because the lady was so rude.
People of Ghana speak Twi (pronounced Tree), it's the language of the major tribe in Ghana. People, who live in the city, don't know all the Twi words, so I understand about a third of the conversation. Whenever, I care to listen, I have Bethel translate or I tell them to speak English. Most people know English,
We stopped by the liquor store to get some beer. Prophet Mighty just happened to be there. He told me that I had two kids and that God was watching out for us. He said that Bethel and I had a close bond like the two Musketeers without knowing us. So that this point, I am starting to believe him...until the kicker...He told me that I was going to get a marriage proposal from someone that I was going to spend the rest of my life with....Ok, at that point, I wanted to start laughing hysterically. He prayed for my kids, my future husband and my career. Even though you have to take that with a grain of salt, I almost believed him. Regardless, I took his number and told him I would call if it came true.
I tried to put some pictures up but the internet guy can't figure it out. We are going to Togo on Thursday so I will try to get them up then.
Love ya,
T'ya/Tanya
Yesterday, we went to the Togo embassy to get a Visa for me. It only cost $78 here and $150, plus shipping at home so it was probably worth waiting for. Even though, all the people were present that needed to sign off were in the office, we still sat there for three hours waiting for them to approve it. I guess the wait wasn't too bad. I did receive a marriage proposal from it. The unfortunate part was that I couldn't understand a word that he said and Bethel had to translate it for me.
Today, we head to the Makola market. There were THOUSANDS of people, pushing and shoving to look at the same stuff at each store. We can take a taxi for an hour ride and it costs us 7 cedi which is probably somewhere around $5. When we eat out, we have only ate skewers. I wasn't too impressed with the goat.
I told Bethel that I was interested in getting false eyelashes, next thing I know, she is pulling all the vendors from pillar to post looking for someone who did false eyelashes. I felt compelled to get them so 7 Cedi and a lot of glue later, I looked like I was ready to hit the town. Needless to say, later that night, I ripped them all out, now I don't have any eyelashes left...
I picked up some fabric for a shirt and a gift. Mimi, who also helps at Bethel's house, is a seamstress and is making me a shirt and a gift for someone else.
The market is hot, sweaty and dirty. We stopped to eat at a restaurant on the way home. The waitress got made at me because I wiped my chest with the cloth napkin. I asked her if I could but like most situations neither of us understood what each other said. Bethel was a little mad because the lady was so rude.
People of Ghana speak Twi (pronounced Tree), it's the language of the major tribe in Ghana. People, who live in the city, don't know all the Twi words, so I understand about a third of the conversation. Whenever, I care to listen, I have Bethel translate or I tell them to speak English. Most people know English,
We stopped by the liquor store to get some beer. Prophet Mighty just happened to be there. He told me that I had two kids and that God was watching out for us. He said that Bethel and I had a close bond like the two Musketeers without knowing us. So that this point, I am starting to believe him...until the kicker...He told me that I was going to get a marriage proposal from someone that I was going to spend the rest of my life with....Ok, at that point, I wanted to start laughing hysterically. He prayed for my kids, my future husband and my career. Even though you have to take that with a grain of salt, I almost believed him. Regardless, I took his number and told him I would call if it came true.
I tried to put some pictures up but the internet guy can't figure it out. We are going to Togo on Thursday so I will try to get them up then.
Love ya,
T'ya/Tanya
Sunday, December 19, 2010
I am here!
I finally made it!
The plane ride to Accra was long and I was trying to sleep but I forgot to take my muscle relaxer before I drank all my water. The man that sat beside me was from Liberia, he spoke so softly, I couldn't hear a word he said.
As we were approaching Accra, the plane went in to some serious turbulance. All I could think of was, yep, it would be Murphy's Law, that we would crash moments before we were suppose to land. It took about an hour to get through customs.
Bethel and I both cried when we saw each other, I know we were feeling the same way about the visit. I probably would have been more talkative but I was (and still am) beat tired.
We arrived at her mom's house. There is no running water so they boil water on a BBQ like pit. Bethel cooked out side. I have pictures but there is no USB cable on the computer at the internet cafe. I realize I am not in the US anymore.
We took sometime to ourselves and went and had a beer. I forgot that beer bottles internationally are twice the size of American ones and I am having problems typing. LOL!
Love ya, more to come.
Tanya/T'ya
The plane ride to Accra was long and I was trying to sleep but I forgot to take my muscle relaxer before I drank all my water. The man that sat beside me was from Liberia, he spoke so softly, I couldn't hear a word he said.
As we were approaching Accra, the plane went in to some serious turbulance. All I could think of was, yep, it would be Murphy's Law, that we would crash moments before we were suppose to land. It took about an hour to get through customs.
Bethel and I both cried when we saw each other, I know we were feeling the same way about the visit. I probably would have been more talkative but I was (and still am) beat tired.
We arrived at her mom's house. There is no running water so they boil water on a BBQ like pit. Bethel cooked out side. I have pictures but there is no USB cable on the computer at the internet cafe. I realize I am not in the US anymore.
We took sometime to ourselves and went and had a beer. I forgot that beer bottles internationally are twice the size of American ones and I am having problems typing. LOL!
Love ya, more to come.
Tanya/T'ya
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Let the Adventure Begin...
I am still thinking that this trip is not a reality. It's just about 6 am and I am playing around on the computer, when I really need to get moving. Loren is coming to pick me up at 7, but he is notorious for being late.
Let's hope, I have packed everything I need...I don't know that I can shove anymore into the suitcase. Lol!
Off to enjoy the last high pressure shower that I'll have for a few weeks.
Let's hope, I have packed everything I need...I don't know that I can shove anymore into the suitcase. Lol!
Off to enjoy the last high pressure shower that I'll have for a few weeks.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me!
Today is my birthday. Like most birthdays, when you get to be my age, are more just another day. I haven't received a birthday present or a birthday card but I have received a lot of posts on my facebook page so that is good enough for me.
When I was in college, I had four goals for myself. The first was to graduate from college. Did that.. Second was go to Europe, I did that in 1991. Third was to get out of debt, I go in and out of that but I am in the black so I have accepted this. The fourth was to see my BFF from 10th grade Bethel again. Her dad had shipped her back after our junior year. We were so close at one point. I always knew that we see each other again. It will happen in two more days. It took me almost 20 years to complete this goal.
I feel like I have been running around today like a chicken with my head cut-off. I wish I was more the type that could start early and finish early rather than waiting until I know I can meet the deadline. Anyhoo, I am pretty much pack at this point.
My sister is flying in tonight at 10:24 pm, my flight is at 9:52 am. I can see that I probably won't get much sleep tonight.
I can't believe it!!! I am leaving for Accra, Ghana tomorrow. It's finally here.
I hope to use this as a blog so those of you who are interest can follow.
Love ya,
Tanya/T'ya
When I was in college, I had four goals for myself. The first was to graduate from college. Did that.. Second was go to Europe, I did that in 1991. Third was to get out of debt, I go in and out of that but I am in the black so I have accepted this. The fourth was to see my BFF from 10th grade Bethel again. Her dad had shipped her back after our junior year. We were so close at one point. I always knew that we see each other again. It will happen in two more days. It took me almost 20 years to complete this goal.
I feel like I have been running around today like a chicken with my head cut-off. I wish I was more the type that could start early and finish early rather than waiting until I know I can meet the deadline. Anyhoo, I am pretty much pack at this point.
My sister is flying in tonight at 10:24 pm, my flight is at 9:52 am. I can see that I probably won't get much sleep tonight.
I can't believe it!!! I am leaving for Accra, Ghana tomorrow. It's finally here.
I hope to use this as a blog so those of you who are interest can follow.
Love ya,
Tanya/T'ya
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