Congratulations Kwame and Dzifa!

On Saturday, about one hundred people gathered around the garden at Becca Pools in East Legon, Accra, Ghana to celebrate the engagement of Kwame and Dzifa.

Our whole host family spent the week cleaning up the gardens around the house, getting new hair dos, and preparing for the big celebration.

White tents were set up. Round tables surrounded by chairs and topped with floral centerpieces surrounded the ceremony site. Balloons hung in the air and in the pool.

This engagement ceremony is also the traditional marriage – or joining of Kwame and Dzifa’s families.

The groom must bring gifts for the bride and her family. Some of these gifts include, but are not limited to:

-          Pieces of cloth

-          2 Bottles of Schnapps

-          A big suitcase

-          Underwear and brassieres

-          Assorted drinks – mineral/bottled water and soda

-          A bible

-          Slippers and matching bag

-          Jewelry

And a sewing machine or blender can also sometimes be added to the list.

This is in addition to the dowry that is to be paid for the bride. And since Dzifa is so stunning, I am sure Kwame handed over many, many Cedis.

All of these gifts and more are carried in on the heads of Kwame’s family. And Dzifa’s family receive them – including me, apparently, as I became part of the welcoming/receiving line.

A representative from Kwame’s family presents the gifts to Dzifa’s family as they sit across from each other under the white tent.

Kwame’s family is from the Ashanti region in Ghana and speak Twi. Dzifa’s family is from the Volta region and speak Ewe. The pastor made some really inspiring comments (lucky for me, in English!) about marriage as God’s will and we shouldn’t let differences – like tribe – or other divisions – stand in the way. He was much more eloquent and quite the story-teller. I’m sure more stories are to follow from my Sunday church adventures.

The clothing that each family wore represented their region. For example, some members of Kwame’s family wore Kente cloth, which is a type of silk and cotton interwoven fabric originating from the Akan people and known as the cloth of kings. It is royal and sacred – worn only during times of great importance.

Once the gifts were presented, it was time to welcome the bride and groom! Yes, the 45 minute ceremony that preceded was without the couple of honour!

Kwame’s family, featuring the HILARIOUS linguist at the forefront, danced and sang as he joined the ceremony. They greeted Dzifa’s family.

Dzifa’s family then danced and sang her into the tent – followed closely by her younger sister Yvonne. All smiles as Dzifa looked radiant in soft pink.

She asked her father for permission to marry the man she loves.

A bible and rings were exchanged all while SURROUNDED by paparazzi a.k.a. loving family members with cell phones and cameras.

Then we all received delicious drinks – mine a Passion Fruit Alvaro – simply amazing – and then a buffet style dinner was served.

Dinner was followed by dancing well into the afternoon and guests headed home as the sun set around 6pm.

The church wedding is set for a weeks from now and I am looking forward to attending this as well. I’m sure it will be another opportunity to learn about Ghanaian culture, experience an important tradition, and be part of this amazing family.

Better than any episode of Say yes to the dress.

Kwa Pamoja: 3 Peaks 3 Weeks 2011!

This time last year I was preparing to summit Mt Kilimanjaro.

Very slowly. (I definitely mastered the concept of 'pole pole')

As part of the 2010 3 Peaks 3 Weeks Challenge: Africa, I was able to participate in a truly life-changing experience. Together, 11 women from across the world climbed 3 of Africa's highest peaks for peak issues affecting Africa today: the environment, education, and HIV/AIDS. The commitment and learning that I experienced during 3P3W has been a platform for my current work in Ghana.

I loved the experience. And tonight, the 2011 team will make their Kili summit attempt. These incredible women (and some of the best mountain guides in the world - Summits Africa) will start in the dark to make it to the peak around sunrise.

They have raised over $91,000 USD for grassroots East African organizations working towards sustainable change for families in Kenya and Tanzania.

I know how challenging this summit will be. And these girls and guides are in my heart today as they climb for change.

To follow their journey, please check out LIVE updates from the mountains.

To learn more about 3 Peaks 3 Weeks, please click here.

Where did that chicken get its hair did?

With a little less than a week here in Accra, I've had the chance to do and see some pretty cool things.

Firstly, I saw a man wearing a Toronto Raptors Vince Carter jersey on our daily shared minibus (tro tro).

I am sure there will be many more posts dedicated to these tro tros  as they make up the bulk of my non working hours and are truly  a sight to be seen.

Ghana, like many places in Africa, is known for the creative naming of products and places.

So far, I have drank "Christmas is everyday" water and passed "Feeling Wiggy Hair Salon." These are, of course, in addition to the numerous religiously named shops and businesses.

I also have had the chance to see some of the cutest kids - including 2 boys with their mom, wearing pink school uniforms and holding up their too-big pants as they cross the street next to me. Most of the young children are most likely to be found asleep on their mother's back. Pictures to follow.

Driving down the road I saw an ad for some sort of piece of construction equipment called a "Pedestrian Roller"... Um...??? What could that actually be? Curiosity might get the best of me and I'll have to inquire.

Chickens in Ghana are totally free range, which means they walk next to you on the street.
This proves distracting for me as I like to watch them and admire how cute the chicks are, etc. Plus, it proves distracting for curious Ghanaians who can't help but stare at the crazy chicken-loving Obruni!

What is actually the most hysterical are actually all of the chickens with a weave.

What? Chickens with a weave?

Yes.

Somehow all of the fake hair from the roadside beauty parlors ends up wrapped around the ankles of the chickens roaming around.

It doesn't help that there is a cosmetology college across the street from our office.

The chickens have better hair than I do at the moment... The humidity doesn't help! :)

This weekend my host sister will have an engagement ceremony, Which is also a traditional wedding. Looking forward to it and I'll make sure to take lots of pictures. A more serious post to follow... just wanted to share some of the Accra-life highlights so far.

From Amsterdam to Accra...

The Amsterdam Airport is lovely. With cozy chairs, live piano, and a cool water massage table... Aimee and I were amused as we wandered around for an hour or two before our connecting flight to Accra.

Our flight from Amsterdam to Accra was not without surprises. What good luck that the middle seat was empty, that the plane wasn't freezing and that my legs were no longer feeling restless.
I was asleep before takeoff as it was about 8am EST and I didn't sleep very well the first time around. What woke me up?

The Pyrenees.

Between France and Spain - these mountains are a breath-taking aerial view. However, my view was slightly interrupted by SEVERE turbulence.

Not joking when I say severe.
The plane was shaking, we were taking a few nose dives as we hit air pockets and it really just felt like a roller coaster.

With my stomach in my throat, I tried to avoid the panicked expression that matched my anxiety level. I don't think I was successful as I tightened my seat belt and prepared to be tossed around a little. The woman in the row over was nearly hysterical.

But we pulled through. No harm, no foul. Just the mountains, the pilot explained later over the PA. The plane is built for this- yes it can be frightening, but nothing to worry about.

Mountains. They shake you up. It's their nature to push you to your limit.

As we flew directly due south from the Netherlands, we got to see the most incredible views of the Sahara desert - just hundreds of kilometres of sand dunes shaped by the wind. Truly stunning.

And as we rolled slowly into Ghanaian airspace, the sun. It looked like we were chasing the most beautiful red glow of a new home.

Fire. Warmth. Adventure.

Finally, the day has arrived.

And I am embarking on a new adventure.

Right now I am alone in the airport... well, ok. Not technically alone, (which would probably be problematic and a massive security breach!) But feels this way because I have checked into my flight about 4 hours early.

That's what happens when you Dad decides to take up piano lessons and has a regularly scheduled Thursday appointment. And if you know about the public transit options to  YYZ - you don't complain.

But, anyways. I am through security and enjoying free wifi compliments of Pearson.

 Check out the complete lack of people behind me in the airport. Hahaha. Ok, one guy, maybe?

Today was a mishmash of a day. Chatted with the incredible Sarah Young, one of my heroes, who of course brought on the first sad pre-trip tears. The rest have been out of frustration for TD Bank, etc. But I won't get into that... it's just the kind of thing you don't need right before you leave the country for 5 months.

On top of that, I spent the day with my Mom and my Dad. Incredibly supportive and helpful in the home stretch.

I think I have everything. And if I don't, I am confident I can live without it.

Don't fret - we made a last minute trip to the grocery store for ziploc bags, oreo cookies, and a bottle of maple syrup for my new Ghanaian family.

I hope to make them pancakes soon. It's a big bottle.

On top of just packing stuff, my lovely friend Jon just back from Costa Rica (and tanned!) posted something really interesting on his Facebook. I thought I would share.

The website is If It Were My Home and it compares common markers of quality of life between countries. And asks the question... what would your life be like if you were born in another corner of the world?

I learned...

If Ghana were my home instead of Canada, I would...

have 10 times higher chance of dying in infancy

 

be 4.8 times more likely to have HIV/AIDS

 

have 2.7 times more babies

 

die 20.74 years sooner

 

use 98.52% less electricity

consume 96.56% less oil

 

make 96.09% less money

 

spend 97.93% less money on health care

 

experience 22.74% more of a class divide

So on this flight, instead of just turning on the latest rom-com and enjoying complimentary KLM drinks... I will be thinking about these numbers. What they mean. The privilege that comes tied to them. And just how fortunate and blessed I am.

Wish me a safe flight - next update from Accra!

Lots of love,
Heather

1 Week - 7 Days - 10080 Minutes - 604800 Seconds

This time next week, I will be on my way to YYZ.

That's airport code for Pearson International Airport in Toronto... and where I'm departing from for Ghana on January 20th.

Accra will be my home. Right there on the coast. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Bordered by The Ivory Coast, Burkina Fasco, Benin and Togo. And I can't wait.

I fly through Amsterdam. An airport that is quickly feeling like home. Just 2 flights. Not too shabby - thanks KLM.

I've been reading local papers. And I suggest

Think Ghana

Modern Ghana

Ghana Web

Ghana News

Make sure to share any good articles you find about Ghana! I can't wait to read them.

A new year, a new adventure...

The final stretch until my departure for Ghana on the 20th is less than 2 weeks away!!!

                                                        This is how excited I am!!!

And with only a week left of work to wrap up projects and set up the spring for a good friend who will be taking over the portfolio I've been managing for the past 4 months!

It's all very exciting, but extremely nerve-wracking.

Some of the good and exciting news is that our support team from CCI - mostly the wonderful Nika -  has introduced me to some of the other volunteers who will be joining me at Pro-Link in the upcoming months.

I think it will be cool to have two additional volunteers there to share the journey. And, since their mandates are so different, but complimentary, I think there will be great potential to share ideas and learn from each other. I am particularly interested in Melissa's work in Monitoring and Evaluation as this is a skill I want to continue to develop and apply.

Also, I am looking forward to speaking with Kari this week who has been at Pro-Link since September. She is going to be a wealth of knowledge as to how I can finish preparations over these last few days and ease into a transition into Pro-Link professional culture.

Plus, I am sure she will be at the airport welcoming me to Accra with these women...

Until then, I am googling, reading articles, and spending time with friends and family who tell me they will miss me dearly.