ahojte,
tak sa konecne hlasim po sto rokoch s par riadkami, tentokrat o mojich postrehoch ako to tu v Ghane vlastne fici. Kamaratka ma poprosila o par riadkov do seminarky, no a ked som to uz raz napisala tak som si povedala ze preco to rovno neuverejnit, takze tu to je:
Vzdelanie
Co sa mi na Ghancanoch velmi paci je, ze vzdelanie si nesmierne vazia a vedia, ze ak do svojho vzdelania investuju, maju sancu na ovela lepsi zivot ako ich rodicia a stari rodicia. Mozno jednym z dovodov preco si vzdelanie velmi vazia je aj fakt, ze skoly su platene. Od zakladnej skoly, cez stredoskolske vzdelanie az po univerzity, nezavisle od toho, ci je skola privatna alebo statna, kazdy plati rocny poplatok, ktory sa zvysuje so stupnom vzdelanosti a popularnosti danej vzdelavacej institucie.
Vacsina Ghancanov studuje strednu skolu mimo miesta svojho bydliska a vacsina strednych skol je oddelenych na cisto dievcenske skoly alebo cisto chlapcenske skoly. Existuju aj zmiesane stredne skoly, ale oddelene prevazuju.
Univerzity su uz zmiesane a studenti byvaju priamo na Campusoch (vramci arealu skoly). Campusy su vacsinou velmi obrovske (na nase pomery), taky priemerny univerzitny campus na 10 000 studentov a viac.
Studenti maju moznost vybrat si z mnohych smerov a zamerani, je tu vela studentov Business fakult, velmi popularna je tiez Technicka univerzita, potom Computer Science, Actuar science, Mathematics & Statistics, Accounting, Psychology, Social science etc..
Od druheho stupna vyssie je cely vyucovaci proces v anglictine. Na vysokej si mozu pribrat dalsie jazyky ak chcu, francuzstinu, rustinu, cinstinu, spanielcinu, etc.. Vacsina vsak ovlada iba anglictinu a potom ich domace lokalne jazyky, jeden-dva. Dokopy ich maju iba v Ghane 79.
Zdravie
Najcastejsim ochorenim je malaria, ktoru beru asi tak ako my chripku. Proste s malariou vyrastli a tak to neberu tak tragicky ako my cudzinci.
Tiez ako aj v inych africkych krajinach, HIV AIDS je pomerne rozsirene ochorenie, pozitivne vsak je, ze vysokoskolski studenti (s ktorymi vdaka AIESECu som vacsinou v kontakte) su velmi uvedomeli a maju velmi dobru znalost o HIV AIDS. Tiez osveta je celkom dobra, aspon tu v hlavnom meste, billboardy upozornujuce na ochorenie, spevaci ktori podporuju bezpecny sex atd..
Velkym problemom su tu otvorene kanaly popri cestach s odpadovou vodou - jednak je to velmi nehygienicke a jednak je to rojisko komarov a roznych chorob.
Par rokov dozadu vlada spustila obrovsku kampan na pitie zdravotne nezavadnej vody (balena po pol litry v plastikovych vreckach) a predavana za dostupnu cenu. Toto sposobilo viditelne zlepsenie zdravotneho stavu obyvatelstva, vyvstal z toho vsak iny problem, a to poletujuce prazdne vrecka od vody vsade na uliciach.
Celkovo co sa tyka zivotneho prostredia, hlavne mesto je velmi znecistene najma kvoli exhalatom z aut (vacsinou stare modely z Europy a Ameriky, 10 rokov a starsie, neexistuje tu nic take ako emisne kontroly) no a spalovanie odpadov je tu zalezitost kazdeho domu osobitne, jednoducho to zhrnu na jednu kopu pred dom alebo tak, a spalia vsetko spolu, plasty, papier, plechovky, ... Z toho unika do ovzdusia mnozstvo jedovatych plynov. Tiez vacsina pobrezia pri hlavnom meste je znecistena z odpadovych vod ktore z mesta prudia priamo do mora, bez cisticiek.
Doprava
Co sa tyka mestskej dopravy tu v Accre, hlavnom meste, tak premava tu niekolko autobusov (nieco ako nasa MHD). No ale napriklad ja som tu este nikdy ziadnym takym autobusom nesla a tato doprava az taka rozsirena a popularna nie je. Co tu pouzivaju takmer vsetci je TRO TRO. TRO TRO je v podstate taky mini bus (na Europske pomery 6 az 12 miestne, na Ghanske pomery tu do jedneho TRO TRA natlacia aj 16-20 ludi) - no a predstav si taku tradicne stavanu Africanku s velkym zadkom a este dietatom na chrbte, a v tych horucavach, no nie je to zrovna najpohodlnejsie, plus vsetko hrka, natriasa sa cele TRO TRO (spravidla su tieto auta riadne stare a clovek sa sam seba pyta ze ci sa cele TRO TRO nahodou nerozpadne pri dalsej jame..), hudba na plne pecky a tak.. velmi africke :). No ale je to lacny a viac menej spolahlivy druh dopravy. Nemaju tu nic take ako zastavky na TRO TRO (iba na autobusy), proste ludia vedia trasu TRO TRA, a cakaju niekde po ceste. Mavanim ruky TRO TRO zastavis, nasadnes, po ceste od teba "Mate" (pomaha vodicovi v prevadzkovani TRO TRA) vypyta prislusnu sumu penazi a potom ked chces vystupit zakricis nazov miesta a "Bus stop". Po meste su roztrusene TRO TRO stanice kde sa vsetky TRO TRA stretavaju a odtial vyrazaju na vsetky strany do ulic.
Vela ludi to pouziva auta, a ti co si to mozu dovolit, pouzivaju taxiky. Vzdy treba zjednavat predtym ako clovek nastupi. Taxikari nemaju nic take ako taxametre a ludia ich zastavuju priamo na ulici.
Stav ciest sa velmi zlepsil oproti minulym rokom a tak sa ine mesta stavaju dostupnejsimi. Problemom su tu obdobia dazdov, kde ku konci tohoto obdobia je vacsina ciest uplne znicenych a treba ich vsetky obnovit. Tiez spravidla cesty mimo Accry su v lepsom stave ako priamo v hlavnom meste.
Na medzimestsku dopravu ludia vyuzivaju vacsinou cestnu dopravu - autobusy patriace spolocnosti STC alebo potom obdobu TRO TRA, ale na vacsie vzdialenosti (o trochu pohodlnejsie) - tieto auta volaju jednoducho "Ford".
Maju tu zeleznicu ale je dost zastarala a vacsina Ghancanov vlakom v zivote necetovala.
Taktiez existuje vnutrostatna letecka doprava, ale ta je prilis draha, cize drviva vacsina Ghancanov si to nemoze dovolit.
Ghana ma jedno medzinarodne letisko v Accre - Kotoka Airport, ktore spaja Ghanu s vacsinou Africkych aj mimoafrickych krajin. Napriklad denne sa lieta do UK, Holandska atd..
Hygiena
Ako je to tu s hygienov. To tazko posudit a velmi to zavisi od daneho jednotlivca. Z ich kultury vyplyvajuc, prava ruka sa pouziva iba na jedenie a pozdravy atd.. Je to taka “preferovana” ruka. Lava sluzi na osobnu hygienu na toalete a je nepripustne pouzivat ju na pozdravy ludi, a jedenie. Berie sa to ako urazka. Ludia jedia drvivu vacsinu jedal rukami (respektive pravou rukou) a ked pouzivaju pribor, tak iba lyzicu.
Ak to mam vseobecne posudit, v porovnani s nami Europanmi si Africania prilis na hygienu nepotrpia, napriklad mnohi si ruku pred jedlom neumyju, vacsinou az po jedle. Mnoho ludi (najma muzi, ale aj vela zien) moci priamo na ulici, do otvorenych kanalov, co je pre vacsinu nas cudzincov jeden z prvych kulturnych sokov a na hygiene to isto vobec nepridava.
Co sa tyka zdravotnictkych zariadeni, koncentracia nemocnic je najvacsia v hlavnom meste, cim dalej od Accry, tym je nemocnic menej a menej, napriklad obyvatelia odlahlych dedin na severe (kde je ovela vacsia chudoba ako tu na juhu) musia cestovat aj desiatky a stovky kilometrov k najblizsej nemocnici.
Korupcia
Korupcia je tu pomerne velky problem, najma vo vladnych instituciach. Typickym prikladom su miestni policajti – staci im dat maly obnos penazi a su slepi voci akymkolvek nedostatkom na vasom vozidle.
Problemom je napriklad to, ze v Ghane neexistuju Obcianske preukazy – planuju ich zaviest buduci rok. Taktiez vlada vynaklada obrovske sumy na osvetu v oblasti Registrovania narodenych deti a mrtvych ludi. Vodicske preukazy tu napriklad policajti skoro vobec nekontroluju, a tak je uplne bezne, ze ludia jazdia s vodicakom ktory stratil platnost aj niekolko rokov dozadu. Alebo ich so sebou pri soferovani ani vobec nemaju.
“Korupcia” v istej forme je taktiez sucastou ich kultury – ludia radi darovavaju male “pozornosti”, na zaklade ktorych potom ocakavaju “male sluzby”. Toto je tu verejne akceptovany postup v biznise aj v inych oblastiach zivota.
Stupen korupcie je vsak dost relativny pojem. V porovnani s inymi africkymi krajinami je na tom Ghana velmi velmi dobre. Ekonomicky rast je jeden z najvyssich v celej Afrike a co je najdolezitejsie, je tu mier. Celkovo su Ghancania velmi mierumilovny narod. Zivotnu pohodicku si nadovsetko cenia.
Chudoba
Chudoba je velmi viditelna, najma ked clovek pride zo “Zapadneho sveta”. Nezamestnanost je velky problem, vela ludi predava Tovar na ulici, nosia vsetko na hlavach, je to velmi africke.. Tito poulicni predavaci robia svoj biznis ilegalne, ale vlada im to toleruje, je to vzdy lepsie ako keby mali kradnut alebo nerobit vobec nic.
Vela ludi tu zije z menej ako 1 USD denne, co je oficialne OSN vyhalsene ako hranica chudoby. Zivotne naklady nie su vysoke, ale zase zavisi od vyplaty (ak nejaka je). Napriklad ja s mojou vyplatou stazistu 300 USD mesacne (s ubytovanim zdarma), si tu zijem velmi velmi dobre.
Vyplata zavisi najma od stupna vzdelania. Priemerne ludia zamestnani v kancelarii s ukoncenym stredoskolskym vzdelanim zarabaju 100 az 150 USD mesacne. Ludia s ukoncenim Bakalarom od 150 USD do 300 USD. A ludia s ukoncenym Masters priemerne 600 USD az 1200 USD. Zavisi to samozrejme velmi od spolocnosti. Ak je to nadnarodna firma, tak vyplaty su vyssie. Na nekvalifikovane prace ako upratovacky a soferi aut (takmer kazda firma ma vlastnych soferov a takmer kazda domacnost 1 a viac upratovaciek) je vyplata okolo 50 USD az 100 USD mesacne. Tiez som sa napriklad stretla s tym, ze upratovacky v domacnostiach mali dohodu so zamestnavatelom – ubytovanie a strava zdarma, neplatena praca po dobu 2-3 rokov a potom im zamestnavatel zaplati stredoskolske vzdelanie – vyucenie sa nejakemu remeslu (1-2 roky – napriklad krajcirka je rozsirene zamestnanie pre zeny aj muzov). Toto sa mozno nam Europanom nezda ako vyhodna dohoda, ale pre ludi, ktori prichadzaju najma zo severu Ghany, kde je velka nezamestnanost je to to vyborna moznost. Bud by boli doma nezamestnani, alebo pridu do hlavneho mesta kde sa o nich dana rodina postara a este maju zaistene aj dalsie vzdelanie.
Osobne dost tazko znasam vidiet chudobu na vlastne oci, deti ktore nechodia do skoly, nosiac tazke bremena od malicka aby pomohli rodicom a mali co jest, zeny predavajuce svoje telo, ludia zobrajuci na ulici, ktori tak stravia cely zivot. Postihnuti ludia to v Ghane tiez nemaju lahke, vacsinou ich vidiet na krizovatkach a na staniciach ako zobru od ludi z aut peniaze.
Co tu ale funguje ako kvazi socialny system su velke rozvetvene rodiny, ktore podporuju chudobnejsich pribuznych napriklad tym, ze zoberu k sebe domov neter, synovca, ktori im pomahaju okolo domacnosti a rodina im na oplatku plati skolne a oni sa mozu vzdelavat.
Ako som spominala, rodina ktora ma co i len trochu penazi, ma hned sluzku, co i len za male peniaze a takto sa navzajom podporuju.
Po celej krajine tiez existuje obrovske mnozstvo neziskoviek, medzinarodnych aj lokalnych, casto nabozensky zalozenych, ci uz krestanskych alebo moslimskych.
Rozvoj krajiny ako takej
Ghana sa jednoznacne rozvija, ekonomicka situacia sa zlepsuje. Staci len trochu hladat a clovek najde vsetko. Klimatizovane obchody na “europsky” styl, drahe kaviarne a restauracie, biznismeni prevazajuci sa vo velkych jeepoch (jeep je tu znamka toho ze clovek nieco znamena). Najviac zarazajuce su asi tie kontrasty medzi bohatymi a chudobnymi. Na jednej strane cesty je prach a pozlatany stol kde zena predava ovocie a na zemi sa hraju jej tri deti, sporo odete a hladne a na druhej strane tej istej ulice sa do vysky tyci sklenena budova obrovskej banky.
Najvacsiu chybu ktoru my Europania mozeme spravit je, podcenovat potencial Africkych krajin ako aj sucasny stupen rozvoja.
Biznis tu je, moznosti su nekonecne, pracujem v klimatizovanej kancelarii s pocitacom a internetom neustale k dispozicii, mame telefony, fax, auta so sofermi, zmluvy s klientami atd.. Jednoducho to, co najdete aj v akejkolvek zapadnej firme.
V Ghane sa doteraz tazi zlato, su to povrchove bane vlastnene vacsinou zahranicnymi firmami. Tiez je Ghana jednym z najvacsich svetovych vyvozcov kakaam, takze tu najdete mnozstvo plantazi. Taktiez je tu vela tropickeho ovocia, ananasy, banany, marakuja melony a pomarance su tu take bezne ako jablka u nas doma.
Tento rok celila Ghana energetickej krize, pretoze vacsina elektrickej energie je produkovania vodnou elektrarnou na rieke Volta, no a tento rok boli obrovske sucha, takze bol nedostatok vody. Preto bola elektricka energia nieco vyse pol roka dodavana podla dopredu oznameneho rozvrhu. V case ked som do krajiny prisla ja, bola elektrina dodavana 24 hodin non stop, potom 12 hodin bez elektriny (od 6 do 18), dalsi den elektrina 24 hodin non stop a potom 12 hodin bez elektriny (od 18 do 6 rano). Momentalne je situacia stabilizovana a elektrinu mame k dispozicii stale. Este vzdy sa stava ze elektrinu hocikedy pocas dna/noci vypnu, co je sposobene poruchami generatorov. Priemerne sa takyto vypadok udeje raz za tyzden, dva a trva okolo pol hodinky.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Keep your eyes wide open and you find what you`re looking for
It`s almost 11pm and instead of resting after my day at work, I`m sitting at the computer alone in the office, about to create "just few more" AIESEC documents. Sounds familiar? Haha.. :)
I`ve just finished replying on the mails of my friends and browsing on all the blogs of you, my friends and I have nothing else to say than just - wow! Wow guys to all of you who have the courage to share your thoughts, experience, photos, your ups & downs, mostly so far away from home.. Your stories are so powerful and so inspirational. About time to update my blog and try to make it as intereting reading as yours ones is. And thanks to all of you who are writing me your great mails, you can`t imagine how much does it mean to me.
Keep your eyes wide open and you find what you`re looking for.. Today I was searching for inspiration. And I`ve found it in your words. Yet so far away, you, my friends are always here with me.
Thank you for all your support and take a good care of yourself. Wherever you are! :)
I`ve just finished replying on the mails of my friends and browsing on all the blogs of you, my friends and I have nothing else to say than just - wow! Wow guys to all of you who have the courage to share your thoughts, experience, photos, your ups & downs, mostly so far away from home.. Your stories are so powerful and so inspirational. About time to update my blog and try to make it as intereting reading as yours ones is. And thanks to all of you who are writing me your great mails, you can`t imagine how much does it mean to me.
Keep your eyes wide open and you find what you`re looking for.. Today I was searching for inspiration. And I`ve found it in your words. Yet so far away, you, my friends are always here with me.
Thank you for all your support and take a good care of yourself. Wherever you are! :)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
IC 2007 in Turkey (August/September 2007)
Finally my AIESEC dream came true! I took part on IC 2007 in Turkey as a delegate. I`ve been waiting to be able to attend this conference for 4 years – since I`ve joined AIESEC.
I struggled to collect all the money (loaaads of money – especially considering my African salary) and after loads of troubles with Ghanaians getting visas to Turkey, finally – almost in the middle of the conference, we left Ghana on our (longer than we thought) journey to Turkey.
Since we`ve traveled with Kenya Airways, we flew to Kenya first (hooray! Another African country in my passport – paid 15 dollars for Transit visas, Ghanaians had it for free..) and we stayed there for one day (later on I found out from our Kenyan CEEDer that the hotel was famous for the social workers doing their job there, ehm..). I would say that Kenyan nature looks much more like the one we know from Discovery Channel than the one in Ghana. The most surprising thing was, that in Kenya it was cold! Seriously! We were freezing most of the time. And Ghanaians were so much looking forward to see the giraffes for the first time in their lives.. Unfortunately we haven`t seen any. Oh and one more interesting thing: in that small part of the city I`ve been to, I have found 3 Bata shops (shoe shop originally from Czechoslovakia)– 1 of them directly in the hotel premises. Almost felt like hooome ;)
On the next day, we have arrived to the airport expecting to fly to Turkey. The problem occurred when we were told that we don`t fit into the plane, consequently received some dollars as a “Sorry” from the airways and were redirected to fly through Dubai (cool!) to Turkey, but which unfortunately meant also one extra day of delay from the conference..
Dubai was really interesting (well, I`d better say the airport and duty frees were really interesting..) and the Arabic language reminded me strongly on my time in Tunisia last year. Ultimately, we`ve finally arrived to Istanbul. Tired we rushed directly to the sessions in order not to miss any more of the conference.
The best about the whole congress I can summarize into two things: inspiration & friends (meeting old & new). It was really nice to get to know other Africans from our GN and of course meeting my Slovak friends again :) - who btw brought me loads of our home food, drinks and a package from my mum :).
Concerning the turkish organizing committee, my expectations were very low (because of the bad experience from the previous conference EuroLDS two years ago hosted by Turkey, too), yet this years` CC was unfortunately even worse. I know it`s unfair to say it like this – very generally, because some individuals in the team were really extraordinary, yet this is the fact. No more comments on this issue.
It was interesting to see all the GN boards, AI people and most of all, meeting the other MC TMs from all around the world..
I`m still getting used to represent totally different country and GN, after I`ve spent 4 years as @ Slovakia and CEE GN and now here I am – Ghanaian MC and member of Africa GN.
From the sessions the most powerful were the ones with alumni with all their memories and messages to current generation.
Generation of Achievers!
I struggled to collect all the money (loaaads of money – especially considering my African salary) and after loads of troubles with Ghanaians getting visas to Turkey, finally – almost in the middle of the conference, we left Ghana on our (longer than we thought) journey to Turkey.
Since we`ve traveled with Kenya Airways, we flew to Kenya first (hooray! Another African country in my passport – paid 15 dollars for Transit visas, Ghanaians had it for free..) and we stayed there for one day (later on I found out from our Kenyan CEEDer that the hotel was famous for the social workers doing their job there, ehm..). I would say that Kenyan nature looks much more like the one we know from Discovery Channel than the one in Ghana. The most surprising thing was, that in Kenya it was cold! Seriously! We were freezing most of the time. And Ghanaians were so much looking forward to see the giraffes for the first time in their lives.. Unfortunately we haven`t seen any. Oh and one more interesting thing: in that small part of the city I`ve been to, I have found 3 Bata shops (shoe shop originally from Czechoslovakia)– 1 of them directly in the hotel premises. Almost felt like hooome ;)
On the next day, we have arrived to the airport expecting to fly to Turkey. The problem occurred when we were told that we don`t fit into the plane, consequently received some dollars as a “Sorry” from the airways and were redirected to fly through Dubai (cool!) to Turkey, but which unfortunately meant also one extra day of delay from the conference..
Dubai was really interesting (well, I`d better say the airport and duty frees were really interesting..) and the Arabic language reminded me strongly on my time in Tunisia last year. Ultimately, we`ve finally arrived to Istanbul. Tired we rushed directly to the sessions in order not to miss any more of the conference.
The best about the whole congress I can summarize into two things: inspiration & friends (meeting old & new). It was really nice to get to know other Africans from our GN and of course meeting my Slovak friends again :) - who btw brought me loads of our home food, drinks and a package from my mum :).
Concerning the turkish organizing committee, my expectations were very low (because of the bad experience from the previous conference EuroLDS two years ago hosted by Turkey, too), yet this years` CC was unfortunately even worse. I know it`s unfair to say it like this – very generally, because some individuals in the team were really extraordinary, yet this is the fact. No more comments on this issue.
It was interesting to see all the GN boards, AI people and most of all, meeting the other MC TMs from all around the world..
I`m still getting used to represent totally different country and GN, after I`ve spent 4 years as @ Slovakia and CEE GN and now here I am – Ghanaian MC and member of Africa GN.
From the sessions the most powerful were the ones with alumni with all their memories and messages to current generation.
Generation of Achievers!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Tyzdne 4-7
Co noveho v Ghane – tyzdne 4-7
Mili priatelia! Tadaaa, opat sa hlasim z dalekej Afriky s infoskami co noveho :)
KDE A AKO BYVAM
- byvam hned vedla prace, ten isty pozemok
- moj “domov” je maly podlhovasty domcek s piatimi miestnostami s oddelenymi vchodmi: kupelna s WC, 3 izby pre nas stazistky a kuchyna
- vdaka tomu, ze byvam hned vedla prace, staci mi vstavat rano “neskoro” – to znamena okolo 7 – 7,30, ostatni kolegovia Ghancania vstavaju strasne skoro kazde rano, kvoli zapcham na cestach im to trva aspon hodinu, dve kym sa sem konecne dostanu
- momentalne su obsadene iba 2 izby z troch, byvame tam dve stazistky – ja & Anna z nemecka, Ioana z Rumunska skoncila staz pred tyzdnom a uz je znova doma
- okolie je velmi pekne, mame travnik a par metrov od nasho domu je letny altanok so stolom a stolickami. Palmove stromy vsade naokolo su uz pre mna samozrejmost, vdaka obdobiu dazdov je vsetko krasne zelene, skoro ako u nas doma
- pre firmu pracuju dve upratovacky – umyju a pozametaju firmu aj nas dom kazde rano (a rano pre Ghancanov znamena o piatej!! Ich hlasne rozhovory priamo pod nasimi oknami ma vacsinou rano prebudzaju, Gifty a Matilda su ale velmi priatelske a mile). Umyvaju tiez vsetky riady a nase oblecenie – vo vacsine ghanskych domacnosti pracku nenajdete. Podla mnohych Ghancanov je rucne pranie ovela lepsie ako to v elektrickej pracke
- mame troch soferov, ktori pracuju pre firmu a su k dispozicii nam zamestnancom s dvoma autami pocas celej pracovnej doby (od 8 do 17)
- nemame vysavac (tiez zriedkakedy najdete v ghanskych domacnostiach) a teda som nutena moj koberec v izbe “vysavat” kratkou ghanskou metlou z prutia
- zabudnite v Ghane na teplu vodu.. Odkedy som prisla sprchujem sa v takej aku mame ako jedinu – a ta je studena. Vacsinou sme ale radi ze mame aspon studenu, lebo velakrat voda nejde, z nejakeho dovodu ju vypinaju a potom znova - za par hodin alebo niekedy dni - zapnu
- v nasich izbach nie su sklenene okna. Okna su potiahnute iba sietkou proti komarom a zvonka su zelezne mreze a drevene okenice
- moja izba ma dve miestnosti: malu verandu kde mam chladnicku a stol na potraviny a druha miestnost, kde byvam. Mam svoj koberec, siroku postel (ale zato kratku.. :(, jedno kreslo, stol a TV s dvoma kanalmi. Na oblecenie pouzivam kufor s ktorym so pricestovala a zlomeny dreceny vesiak kde sa snazim povesat vacsinu oblecenia na plastove vesiaky
- v kuchyni mame plynovy sporak, takze si mozeme varit (ak zrovna je nejaky plyn v plynovej bombe..), stol, 3 stolicky a celkom v pohode kuchynske nacinie (aj ked vacsina hrncov je aluminiovych)
- zvonka je pozemok firmy obohnany murmi s dvoma vchodovymi branami, ktore sa zatvaraju velkymi zeleznymi pakami zvnutra. Mame dvoch “security” strazcov, je uplne normalne mat sekuritakov tu v Ghane, ma ich vacsina firiem aj sukromnych domov. Ak chce auto vojst do domu, trubia na sekuritakov zvonka, ti im pridu otvorit a zase za nimi zavru. Na taketo vytrubovania z celej ulice si zvyknete a po nejakom case ich prestanete vnimat. Sekuritaci prichadzaju okolo 5 pooobede a zostanu vonku pri brane celu noc az do rana, vacsinu casu prespia, na stolicke alebo na zemi pri vchode
KORENIA
- Ghancania su jednoducho zblazneni do stiplavej papriky (v anglictine pepper, vyslovuju to “PEPA”). Bez papriky sa proste neda varit, jest, prezit! Pridavaju ju do vsetkeho, vratane sladkej ovsenej kase. Ghancania zboznuju stiplave jedla – a ked im nieco chuti, povedia ze je to “sweet” (sladke) – napriklad: “Vyskusaj toto, je to taaake sladke!”
KEBAB
- Ghancania zboznuju maso! Kebab je jedno z ich oblubenych jedal. Velakrat najdete kebab pripravovany v podnikoch, kde ho jedia ako my cipsy. Kebab to su grilovane kusky masa (vacsinou kozieho) na palicke, niekedy na striedacku s cibulou a paprikou no a samozrejme to obaluju na kila v ich stiplavej paprike - “spicy pepa” :)
MASO
- najcastejsie najdete tieto druhy masa: ryby, kura, kozie maso, hovadzie a parky/klobasky. Zvieracie koze su tu povazovane za absolutnu lahodku a preto ich najdete plavat v takmer vsetkych omackach. Africanom to naozaj chuti!
DROGY, ALKOHOL, CIGARETY
- naozaj pramalo Ghancanov fajci alebo pije, maximalne si daju prilezitostne pivo, z drog som pocula iba o marihuane, ze vraj sa k nej da lahko dostat ak ma niekto zaujem
GHANSKA FAUNA
- Sliepky, kohuty, kuriatka – su uuuuuplne vsade! Doslova vsade! Pobehuju si len tak po uliciach, po vsetkych pozemkoch, dvoroch domov, dokonca ich najdete pobehovat v niektorych obchodoch a takmer vzdy sa vam motaju niekde pod nohami. Vcera sme s Annou videli sliepku s kuriatkami priamo v kanali pri ceste!
- Kozie stada – par kusov alebo naozaj velke, uplne vsade!
- Komare – sietka proti komarom nad mojou postelou, to sa stalo mojou kazdodennou rutinou – vecer pozastrkovat okolo celej postele a potom rano zase poskladat a prehodit dohora. Podla statistiky vas musi postipat 500 komarov kym natrafite na toho, co prenasa malariu. Tak v priemere ma postipe 5 komarov denne. Komare vacsinou stipu za usvitu a ked sa stmieva, takze vtedy sa snazime byt pod mosketeriou, alebo aspon na seba nakydat kopec repelentu. Pre Ghanacanov je malaria uplna samozrejmost a normalne ochorenie, mozno ako pre nas nachladnutie. Ked ma clovek peniaze na to, aby si kupil lieky ked malariu dostane, vacsina foriem malarie sa da lahko vyliecit. O par dni ste zase zdravi.
- Vtaky – su obrovskeee (ako nas orol a este ovela vacsie), poletuju kade tade po nasej zahrade, nad ulicami. Je tu mnozstvo takych druhov, ktore som v zivote predtym nevidela. Niektore su aj trochu strasidelne, ked tak rozprestru kridla az s rozpatim jeden meter..
- Zaby – teraz v obdobi dazdov mame v okoli domov vela ziab. Volam ich megazaby, nie kvoli tomu ze by boli take obrovske, ale ked zacnu kvakat (vzdy vecer a potom celu noc), znie to ako z megafonu. Nechapem ako mozu byt take male a take hlucne…
- Jasterice – najdete tu mnozstvo jasterickiek. Tiez jeden specialny druh zvieratka podobneho jastericiam, volaju ho wall dzeko (alebo tak nejako), tieto zvieratka ktore vyzeraju ako jasterice si lozia po stenach a dokonca aj dole hlavou po stropoch
- Moja prva opica – videla som prvu naozajstnu opicu (no teda okrem tych v klietkach v ZOO). Ta opica proste len tak sedela na pleci chlapikovi co isiel po ulici. Jej dlhy chvost sa jej hompalal na jeho chrbte :) Pocula som ze v Ghane su miesta, dediny kde zije mnozstvo divych opic priamo s ludmi. Dufam ze ked budem cestovat tak na nejake natrafime! :)
OKNA
- Ghanske okna su zlozene z horizontalnych sklenenych tabiel, ktore ak chcete otvorit tak treba posunut packu, ktora tieto sklenene tably vyklapa az do horizontalnej polohy- na zabezpecenie domov vacsina okien ma zvonka zelezne mreze (velmi podobne ake som videla aj v Tunisku)
PIDGIN ENGLISH (alebo tiez zlomena anglictina)
- velmi popularna najma medzi studentami na vysokych skolach. Naozaj to znie ako “zlomena anglictina” – ked nou niekto rozprava, stale mam pocit ze je to normalna anglictina, no s tym rozdielom ze je ovela tazsie porozumiet a len obcas pochytite nejake anglicke slovicko. Je to slang, ktory znie ako keby sa ludom nechcelo poriadne vyslovovat anglicke slovicka, dokoncit vety
OBLECENIE
- muzi zboznuju nosit veeeeeeeeelmi dlhe tricka, az po kolena, Afrika zije HIP HOP-om, HIP LIFE-om, R`n`B a to sa odzrkadluje aj na ich sposobe obliekania a tiez co sa tyka gest, pozdravov a podobne
- latky – nakupovanie latok sa tu tesi velkej oblube – kupite si latku, zanesiete ju “svojej” krajcirke (vacsina –najma- Ghanskych slecien ma svoju vlastnu krajcirku) & tie vam usiju vsetko co si len poviete – africke strihy su velmi pekne
- prekrytie celej lavej ruky kusom latky je ghanskou tradiciou, nepisanym pravidlom. Latka cez lavu ruku vam ako keby zabranuje tuto ruku pouzivat, povazuje sa za vrcholne nezdvorile kyvat lavou rukou, podat niekomu lavu ruku alebo lavou rukou jest – pri jedeni je lava ruka vzdy mimo stola. Dokonca aj ked si ruku umyvaju pred a po jedle (lebo tu jeme rukami), tak si namocia a umyvaju iba pravu ruku. Casto aj pri rozhovore s niekym komu chcete prejavit uctu, lavu ruku drzite schovanu za chrbtom
KLIMATIZACIA
- naozaj hroza! Fakt trpim! Ghancania su schopni nastavit klimatizaciu na 16 stupnov a spokojne si v takomto prostredi hoviet, ale akonahle je vonku teplota pod 25 stupnov tak sa stazuju ze aka je hrozna zima, no jednoducho trpia. Chapete to???
CAS
- Ghana je v pasme GMT + 0. Nulty poludnik prechadza priamo dedinou Tema – nedaleko od Accry
PREDPOVED NA DNES: ZAMRACENE
- teraz v obdobi dazdov je mnoho zamracenych dni, obloha posiata tazkymi mracnami, teplota je okolo 25 stupnov a takto oblacno je aj niekolko dni za sebou. Tieto dni bez slnka su dost smutne, asi si vacsina ludi rovnikove tropy takto nepredstavi.
Mili priatelia! Tadaaa, opat sa hlasim z dalekej Afriky s infoskami co noveho :)
KDE A AKO BYVAM
- byvam hned vedla prace, ten isty pozemok
- moj “domov” je maly podlhovasty domcek s piatimi miestnostami s oddelenymi vchodmi: kupelna s WC, 3 izby pre nas stazistky a kuchyna
- vdaka tomu, ze byvam hned vedla prace, staci mi vstavat rano “neskoro” – to znamena okolo 7 – 7,30, ostatni kolegovia Ghancania vstavaju strasne skoro kazde rano, kvoli zapcham na cestach im to trva aspon hodinu, dve kym sa sem konecne dostanu
- momentalne su obsadene iba 2 izby z troch, byvame tam dve stazistky – ja & Anna z nemecka, Ioana z Rumunska skoncila staz pred tyzdnom a uz je znova doma
- okolie je velmi pekne, mame travnik a par metrov od nasho domu je letny altanok so stolom a stolickami. Palmove stromy vsade naokolo su uz pre mna samozrejmost, vdaka obdobiu dazdov je vsetko krasne zelene, skoro ako u nas doma
- pre firmu pracuju dve upratovacky – umyju a pozametaju firmu aj nas dom kazde rano (a rano pre Ghancanov znamena o piatej!! Ich hlasne rozhovory priamo pod nasimi oknami ma vacsinou rano prebudzaju, Gifty a Matilda su ale velmi priatelske a mile). Umyvaju tiez vsetky riady a nase oblecenie – vo vacsine ghanskych domacnosti pracku nenajdete. Podla mnohych Ghancanov je rucne pranie ovela lepsie ako to v elektrickej pracke
- mame troch soferov, ktori pracuju pre firmu a su k dispozicii nam zamestnancom s dvoma autami pocas celej pracovnej doby (od 8 do 17)
- nemame vysavac (tiez zriedkakedy najdete v ghanskych domacnostiach) a teda som nutena moj koberec v izbe “vysavat” kratkou ghanskou metlou z prutia
- zabudnite v Ghane na teplu vodu.. Odkedy som prisla sprchujem sa v takej aku mame ako jedinu – a ta je studena. Vacsinou sme ale radi ze mame aspon studenu, lebo velakrat voda nejde, z nejakeho dovodu ju vypinaju a potom znova - za par hodin alebo niekedy dni - zapnu
- v nasich izbach nie su sklenene okna. Okna su potiahnute iba sietkou proti komarom a zvonka su zelezne mreze a drevene okenice
- moja izba ma dve miestnosti: malu verandu kde mam chladnicku a stol na potraviny a druha miestnost, kde byvam. Mam svoj koberec, siroku postel (ale zato kratku.. :(, jedno kreslo, stol a TV s dvoma kanalmi. Na oblecenie pouzivam kufor s ktorym so pricestovala a zlomeny dreceny vesiak kde sa snazim povesat vacsinu oblecenia na plastove vesiaky
- v kuchyni mame plynovy sporak, takze si mozeme varit (ak zrovna je nejaky plyn v plynovej bombe..), stol, 3 stolicky a celkom v pohode kuchynske nacinie (aj ked vacsina hrncov je aluminiovych)
- zvonka je pozemok firmy obohnany murmi s dvoma vchodovymi branami, ktore sa zatvaraju velkymi zeleznymi pakami zvnutra. Mame dvoch “security” strazcov, je uplne normalne mat sekuritakov tu v Ghane, ma ich vacsina firiem aj sukromnych domov. Ak chce auto vojst do domu, trubia na sekuritakov zvonka, ti im pridu otvorit a zase za nimi zavru. Na taketo vytrubovania z celej ulice si zvyknete a po nejakom case ich prestanete vnimat. Sekuritaci prichadzaju okolo 5 pooobede a zostanu vonku pri brane celu noc az do rana, vacsinu casu prespia, na stolicke alebo na zemi pri vchode
KORENIA
- Ghancania su jednoducho zblazneni do stiplavej papriky (v anglictine pepper, vyslovuju to “PEPA”). Bez papriky sa proste neda varit, jest, prezit! Pridavaju ju do vsetkeho, vratane sladkej ovsenej kase. Ghancania zboznuju stiplave jedla – a ked im nieco chuti, povedia ze je to “sweet” (sladke) – napriklad: “Vyskusaj toto, je to taaake sladke!”
KEBAB
- Ghancania zboznuju maso! Kebab je jedno z ich oblubenych jedal. Velakrat najdete kebab pripravovany v podnikoch, kde ho jedia ako my cipsy. Kebab to su grilovane kusky masa (vacsinou kozieho) na palicke, niekedy na striedacku s cibulou a paprikou no a samozrejme to obaluju na kila v ich stiplavej paprike - “spicy pepa” :)
MASO
- najcastejsie najdete tieto druhy masa: ryby, kura, kozie maso, hovadzie a parky/klobasky. Zvieracie koze su tu povazovane za absolutnu lahodku a preto ich najdete plavat v takmer vsetkych omackach. Africanom to naozaj chuti!
DROGY, ALKOHOL, CIGARETY
- naozaj pramalo Ghancanov fajci alebo pije, maximalne si daju prilezitostne pivo, z drog som pocula iba o marihuane, ze vraj sa k nej da lahko dostat ak ma niekto zaujem
GHANSKA FAUNA
- Sliepky, kohuty, kuriatka – su uuuuuplne vsade! Doslova vsade! Pobehuju si len tak po uliciach, po vsetkych pozemkoch, dvoroch domov, dokonca ich najdete pobehovat v niektorych obchodoch a takmer vzdy sa vam motaju niekde pod nohami. Vcera sme s Annou videli sliepku s kuriatkami priamo v kanali pri ceste!
- Kozie stada – par kusov alebo naozaj velke, uplne vsade!
- Komare – sietka proti komarom nad mojou postelou, to sa stalo mojou kazdodennou rutinou – vecer pozastrkovat okolo celej postele a potom rano zase poskladat a prehodit dohora. Podla statistiky vas musi postipat 500 komarov kym natrafite na toho, co prenasa malariu. Tak v priemere ma postipe 5 komarov denne. Komare vacsinou stipu za usvitu a ked sa stmieva, takze vtedy sa snazime byt pod mosketeriou, alebo aspon na seba nakydat kopec repelentu. Pre Ghanacanov je malaria uplna samozrejmost a normalne ochorenie, mozno ako pre nas nachladnutie. Ked ma clovek peniaze na to, aby si kupil lieky ked malariu dostane, vacsina foriem malarie sa da lahko vyliecit. O par dni ste zase zdravi.
- Vtaky – su obrovskeee (ako nas orol a este ovela vacsie), poletuju kade tade po nasej zahrade, nad ulicami. Je tu mnozstvo takych druhov, ktore som v zivote predtym nevidela. Niektore su aj trochu strasidelne, ked tak rozprestru kridla az s rozpatim jeden meter..
- Zaby – teraz v obdobi dazdov mame v okoli domov vela ziab. Volam ich megazaby, nie kvoli tomu ze by boli take obrovske, ale ked zacnu kvakat (vzdy vecer a potom celu noc), znie to ako z megafonu. Nechapem ako mozu byt take male a take hlucne…
- Jasterice – najdete tu mnozstvo jasterickiek. Tiez jeden specialny druh zvieratka podobneho jastericiam, volaju ho wall dzeko (alebo tak nejako), tieto zvieratka ktore vyzeraju ako jasterice si lozia po stenach a dokonca aj dole hlavou po stropoch
- Moja prva opica – videla som prvu naozajstnu opicu (no teda okrem tych v klietkach v ZOO). Ta opica proste len tak sedela na pleci chlapikovi co isiel po ulici. Jej dlhy chvost sa jej hompalal na jeho chrbte :) Pocula som ze v Ghane su miesta, dediny kde zije mnozstvo divych opic priamo s ludmi. Dufam ze ked budem cestovat tak na nejake natrafime! :)
OKNA
- Ghanske okna su zlozene z horizontalnych sklenenych tabiel, ktore ak chcete otvorit tak treba posunut packu, ktora tieto sklenene tably vyklapa az do horizontalnej polohy- na zabezpecenie domov vacsina okien ma zvonka zelezne mreze (velmi podobne ake som videla aj v Tunisku)
PIDGIN ENGLISH (alebo tiez zlomena anglictina)
- velmi popularna najma medzi studentami na vysokych skolach. Naozaj to znie ako “zlomena anglictina” – ked nou niekto rozprava, stale mam pocit ze je to normalna anglictina, no s tym rozdielom ze je ovela tazsie porozumiet a len obcas pochytite nejake anglicke slovicko. Je to slang, ktory znie ako keby sa ludom nechcelo poriadne vyslovovat anglicke slovicka, dokoncit vety
OBLECENIE
- muzi zboznuju nosit veeeeeeeeelmi dlhe tricka, az po kolena, Afrika zije HIP HOP-om, HIP LIFE-om, R`n`B a to sa odzrkadluje aj na ich sposobe obliekania a tiez co sa tyka gest, pozdravov a podobne
- latky – nakupovanie latok sa tu tesi velkej oblube – kupite si latku, zanesiete ju “svojej” krajcirke (vacsina –najma- Ghanskych slecien ma svoju vlastnu krajcirku) & tie vam usiju vsetko co si len poviete – africke strihy su velmi pekne
- prekrytie celej lavej ruky kusom latky je ghanskou tradiciou, nepisanym pravidlom. Latka cez lavu ruku vam ako keby zabranuje tuto ruku pouzivat, povazuje sa za vrcholne nezdvorile kyvat lavou rukou, podat niekomu lavu ruku alebo lavou rukou jest – pri jedeni je lava ruka vzdy mimo stola. Dokonca aj ked si ruku umyvaju pred a po jedle (lebo tu jeme rukami), tak si namocia a umyvaju iba pravu ruku. Casto aj pri rozhovore s niekym komu chcete prejavit uctu, lavu ruku drzite schovanu za chrbtom
KLIMATIZACIA
- naozaj hroza! Fakt trpim! Ghancania su schopni nastavit klimatizaciu na 16 stupnov a spokojne si v takomto prostredi hoviet, ale akonahle je vonku teplota pod 25 stupnov tak sa stazuju ze aka je hrozna zima, no jednoducho trpia. Chapete to???
CAS
- Ghana je v pasme GMT + 0. Nulty poludnik prechadza priamo dedinou Tema – nedaleko od Accry
PREDPOVED NA DNES: ZAMRACENE
- teraz v obdobi dazdov je mnoho zamracenych dni, obloha posiata tazkymi mracnami, teplota je okolo 25 stupnov a takto oblacno je aj niekolko dni za sebou. Tieto dni bez slnka su dost smutne, asi si vacsina ludi rovnikove tropy takto nepredstavi.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
New photoalbum released :)
Dear friends, ready for newest pictures? Check it out: http://picasaweb.google.com/petra.hausnerova/GhanaWeeks58
kind regards,
hausi
kind regards,
hausi
Monday, August 13, 2007
Weeks 4-7
News for weeks 4-7
Dear friends! here I come with updates about how my life goes here in faraway Africa..
WHERE & HOW DO I LIVE
- I live right next to the office of my work, the same premises
- My “home” is a small house with 5 rooms & 5 different entrances: bathroom with the toilet, 3 rooms for trainees and kitchen
- Thanks to living right next to the working place, I can afford to wake up “late” – this means around 7 – 7,30am, the other Ghanaians working in the company wake up very early, because their way to work lasts 1-2 hours in the traffic jams
- Currently only two rooms are taken, now we are 2 trainees in The Capital Group – me & Ana from Germany, Ioana from Romania left Ghana last week, since her traineeship was over
- In front of our home we have grass and few meters away there is a summer hut with table and chairs. There are palm trees all over and loads of green (now that we have rainy season)
- There are 2 cleaning ladies in the premises – they clean the place every morning (normally they come at around 5am and they are the ones who usually wake me up with their loud talking right under my window, yet they are very very nice and kind to us), they also wash the dishes and do our laundry – there`s no washing machine. Many Ghanaians believe that washing in hands is much better than washing machines
- There are 3 drivers – they work for the company and are at our disposal with 2 company cars during the working hours
- There`s no vacuum cleaner in our place, so I “clean” my carpet in the room with short birch
- Forget about hot shower in Ghana.. Since I came I take shower in the only water we have – a cold one. Yet we are happy that we have a cold water at least, because there are many stoppages of water here
- There are no glass windows in our place. Only mosquito nets, iron grates and wooden shutters from outside
- My room consists of small verandah with fridge and table and the second room: there is a carpet on the floor, wide bed (but short :( ), one armchair, table and TV with 2 channels
- In the kitchen there is a gas burner, so we can cook (if the gas bomb is not empty..), table, 3 chairs and quite ok kitchenware (they still use aluminum pots here)
- There are two gates in our premises, which are closed from inside. We have two security guards which is very normal here. If a car wants to get into the house, they honk from outside, security comes to open the gate for you and close it afterwards. The security guys stay out whole & every night, sleeping most of the time in front of the door
SPICES
- Ghanaians are crazy for pepper (they pronounce it “PEPA”). Pepper is simply a must! They add it to all the dishes, including sweet porridge. Ghanaians love spicy food – if they like it they call it “sweet” – for example: “Try it, it`s so sweet!”
KEBAB
- Ghanaians are meat lovers! Kebab is one of their favorites. They chop it in the spots – like we do with chips. Kebab means pieces of meat (normally goat meat) cut into pieces and put on the stick, sometimes with onions and fresh pepper and then of course loads of “spicy pepa” :)
MEAT
- most common are these: fishes, chicken, goat meat, beef and sausages. Animals` skins are considered as a delicacy and so skins are to be found in most of the sauces. Africans really like it!
DRUGS, ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES
- Ghanaians rarely smoke or drink, from drugs I heard a lot about African wheat, they say access is easy if somebody wants
ANIMALS
- Chickens - are everywhere! Literally, everywhere! You`ll find them running around on the streets, courtyards of the houses, even in some shops and around your feet
- goat flocks – everywhere!
- Mosquitoes – mosquito net above my bed becomes part of my everyday ritual before going to sleep and after waking up. Statistics say that every 500th mosquito carries malaria. On average I got 5 bites a day. Mostly mosquitoes are biting and the dawn and at the dusk. For Ghanaians to have malaria is something totally normal and if you can afford to buy drugs you can easily heal it. At least mostly it is so.
- Birds – are very big (like our eagle and bigger) and many kinds that I`ve never seen in my life. They`re a bit scary..
- Frogs – now during rainy season there are many frogs in our place. I call them megafrogs because almost every night there is a concert with frogs` singing. They are very noisy…
- Lizzards – there are many lizards, too. There is another animal similar to lizard, they call it wall jacker (or something like that), these small lizard-like animals climb the walls and ceilings
- my first monkey – I`ve seen my first real monkey (apart from the ones from ZOOs). The monkey sat on the shoulder of a guy walking the street. Just like that! :) I heard there are some places in Ghana with many wild monkeys directly in the villages. I hope I`ll see some! :)
WINDOWS
- Ghanaian windows are cut into horizontal glass panels and can be opened while pushing the lever down – they open up to horizontal position
- as a security on most of the houses you can find iron grates (similar to the ones I`ve seen in Tunisia)
PIDGIN ENGLISH (also called broken English)
- most popular among university students. Sounds really like “broken English” – when I hear it I still have an impression that I hear English, yet is like a slang, like if ppl are tired of talking, finishing sentences
CLOTHES
- men love loooooooong t-shirts, up to their knees, Africa lives for HIP HOP and this reflects also the way they dress
- fabrics – very popular here – you buy fabric & you go to “your” taylor who sews the African dresses for you
- traditionally the left hand is covered by the piece of cloth or often hold behind the back while greeting or while eating away from the table, since it`s considered as not clean
AIR CONDITION
- Awful! I`m really suffering! Ghanaians are able to put AC on 16 degrees and feel totally comfortable like this, while when there is 25 degrees outside they are freezing and suffering badly. Does it make sence???
TIME
- Ghana is GMT + 0. Greenwich meridian crosses the village called Tema – nearby to Accra
WEATHER – CLOUDY DAYS
- because it`s rainy season now, many days the sky is full of heavy clouds, these days without sun are sad and colder
Dear friends! here I come with updates about how my life goes here in faraway Africa..
WHERE & HOW DO I LIVE
- I live right next to the office of my work, the same premises
- My “home” is a small house with 5 rooms & 5 different entrances: bathroom with the toilet, 3 rooms for trainees and kitchen
- Thanks to living right next to the working place, I can afford to wake up “late” – this means around 7 – 7,30am, the other Ghanaians working in the company wake up very early, because their way to work lasts 1-2 hours in the traffic jams
- Currently only two rooms are taken, now we are 2 trainees in The Capital Group – me & Ana from Germany, Ioana from Romania left Ghana last week, since her traineeship was over
- In front of our home we have grass and few meters away there is a summer hut with table and chairs. There are palm trees all over and loads of green (now that we have rainy season)
- There are 2 cleaning ladies in the premises – they clean the place every morning (normally they come at around 5am and they are the ones who usually wake me up with their loud talking right under my window, yet they are very very nice and kind to us), they also wash the dishes and do our laundry – there`s no washing machine. Many Ghanaians believe that washing in hands is much better than washing machines
- There are 3 drivers – they work for the company and are at our disposal with 2 company cars during the working hours
- There`s no vacuum cleaner in our place, so I “clean” my carpet in the room with short birch
- Forget about hot shower in Ghana.. Since I came I take shower in the only water we have – a cold one. Yet we are happy that we have a cold water at least, because there are many stoppages of water here
- There are no glass windows in our place. Only mosquito nets, iron grates and wooden shutters from outside
- My room consists of small verandah with fridge and table and the second room: there is a carpet on the floor, wide bed (but short :( ), one armchair, table and TV with 2 channels
- In the kitchen there is a gas burner, so we can cook (if the gas bomb is not empty..), table, 3 chairs and quite ok kitchenware (they still use aluminum pots here)
- There are two gates in our premises, which are closed from inside. We have two security guards which is very normal here. If a car wants to get into the house, they honk from outside, security comes to open the gate for you and close it afterwards. The security guys stay out whole & every night, sleeping most of the time in front of the door
SPICES
- Ghanaians are crazy for pepper (they pronounce it “PEPA”). Pepper is simply a must! They add it to all the dishes, including sweet porridge. Ghanaians love spicy food – if they like it they call it “sweet” – for example: “Try it, it`s so sweet!”
KEBAB
- Ghanaians are meat lovers! Kebab is one of their favorites. They chop it in the spots – like we do with chips. Kebab means pieces of meat (normally goat meat) cut into pieces and put on the stick, sometimes with onions and fresh pepper and then of course loads of “spicy pepa” :)
MEAT
- most common are these: fishes, chicken, goat meat, beef and sausages. Animals` skins are considered as a delicacy and so skins are to be found in most of the sauces. Africans really like it!
DRUGS, ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES
- Ghanaians rarely smoke or drink, from drugs I heard a lot about African wheat, they say access is easy if somebody wants
ANIMALS
- Chickens - are everywhere! Literally, everywhere! You`ll find them running around on the streets, courtyards of the houses, even in some shops and around your feet
- goat flocks – everywhere!
- Mosquitoes – mosquito net above my bed becomes part of my everyday ritual before going to sleep and after waking up. Statistics say that every 500th mosquito carries malaria. On average I got 5 bites a day. Mostly mosquitoes are biting and the dawn and at the dusk. For Ghanaians to have malaria is something totally normal and if you can afford to buy drugs you can easily heal it. At least mostly it is so.
- Birds – are very big (like our eagle and bigger) and many kinds that I`ve never seen in my life. They`re a bit scary..
- Frogs – now during rainy season there are many frogs in our place. I call them megafrogs because almost every night there is a concert with frogs` singing. They are very noisy…
- Lizzards – there are many lizards, too. There is another animal similar to lizard, they call it wall jacker (or something like that), these small lizard-like animals climb the walls and ceilings
- my first monkey – I`ve seen my first real monkey (apart from the ones from ZOOs). The monkey sat on the shoulder of a guy walking the street. Just like that! :) I heard there are some places in Ghana with many wild monkeys directly in the villages. I hope I`ll see some! :)
WINDOWS
- Ghanaian windows are cut into horizontal glass panels and can be opened while pushing the lever down – they open up to horizontal position
- as a security on most of the houses you can find iron grates (similar to the ones I`ve seen in Tunisia)
PIDGIN ENGLISH (also called broken English)
- most popular among university students. Sounds really like “broken English” – when I hear it I still have an impression that I hear English, yet is like a slang, like if ppl are tired of talking, finishing sentences
CLOTHES
- men love loooooooong t-shirts, up to their knees, Africa lives for HIP HOP and this reflects also the way they dress
- fabrics – very popular here – you buy fabric & you go to “your” taylor who sews the African dresses for you
- traditionally the left hand is covered by the piece of cloth or often hold behind the back while greeting or while eating away from the table, since it`s considered as not clean
AIR CONDITION
- Awful! I`m really suffering! Ghanaians are able to put AC on 16 degrees and feel totally comfortable like this, while when there is 25 degrees outside they are freezing and suffering badly. Does it make sence???
TIME
- Ghana is GMT + 0. Greenwich meridian crosses the village called Tema – nearby to Accra
WEATHER – CLOUDY DAYS
- because it`s rainy season now, many days the sky is full of heavy clouds, these days without sun are sad and colder
Monday, July 16, 2007
New photos :)
Celebrating my first month in Ghana today! Let`s celebrate with me - with newest pictures online :) http://picasaweb.google.com/petra.hausnerova/GhanaWeek4
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