Wednesday, July 14, 2010

This morning we got up and went to a bead workshop where we learned how to make the glass beads. It was pretty awesome. Everything was done by hand which gave me such a greater appreciation for them. It was weird to have the other volunteers doing the workshop with us. They just kept talking about how much more efficient the process would be if done by a machine. They clearly have no appreciation for the beauty of handmade things.

The process was definitely tedious, you have to first pound the glass until it’s a dust, then you take cassava sticks an cut them into little tiny pieces and place them in the center of the mold which will make the center of the bead. Then you mix dye in with the glass dust and put the dust into the mold. Then you heat the molds in a fire for 5 minutes and then fire them for 15-20 minutes. Then you let them cool and wash them. We all got to make bracelets out of the beads we made.

After the workshop we went to the bead market. It was amazing. There were so many beads ranging from 50 pesewa to 500 cedi. Some of them were African trading beads that never loose their value and many people invest in them and hold onto them, kind of like gold.

After the market we started our journey back to Cape Coast. We caught a Tro Tro to Accra. When we got to Accra we had to walk a little way to catch another Tro that would take us to Cape Coast. Ellen and I had to use the restroom so we made friends with a vendor who took us to use a public bathroom. It was really nice because we had to go through a market area and she grabbed my hand and showed me where to go. When other people were shouting at me clearly because I'm white, she turned to me and said, “Don’t mind them.” It was super cute. We had to pay 5 pesewa to use the restroom.. Which was actually a concrete room. In the corner there was a small square where the concrete was about three inches lower then the rest of the floor with a small hole in the corner. I did my best to make it in the hole.. but I clearly need practice. By the time I left my shorts and shoes were both wet… oops.

From Accra we caught a tro to Takrodi, which is west of Elmina. It was better then having caught one to Cape Coast because we got dropped off right at our junction and didn’t have to worry about catching another taxi after dark.

Overall, I had a great couple of days. Traveling was totally stress free and more fun then I expected. I’m really happy I ended up going, it was a successful last adventure in Ghana.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

This morning we got up and went to a bead workshop where we learned how to make the glass beads. It was pretty awesome. Everything was done by hand which gave me such a greater appreciation for them. It was weird to have the other volunteers doing the workshop with us. They just kept talking about how much more efficient the process would be if done by a machine. They clearly have no appreciation for the beauty of handmade things.

The process was definitely tedious, you have to first pound the glass until it’s a dust, then you take cassava sticks an cut them into little tiny pieces and place them in the center of the mold which will make the center of the bead. Then you mix dye in with the glass dust and put the dust into the mold. Then you heat the molds in a fire for 5 minutes and then fire them for 15-20 minutes. Then you let them cool and wash them. We all got to make bracelets out of the beads we made.

After the workshop we went to the bead market. It was amazing. There were so many beads ranging from 50 pesewa to 500 cedi. Some of them were African trading beads that never loose their value and many people invest in them and hold onto them, kind of like gold.

After the market we started our journey back to Cape Coast. We caught a Tro Tro to Accra. When we got to Accra we had to walk a little way to catch another Tro that would take us to Cape Coast. Ellen and I had to use the restroom so we made friends with a vendor who took us to use a public bathroom. It was really nice because we had to go through a market area and she grabbed my hand and showed me where to go. When other people were shouting at me clearly because I'm white, she turned to me and said, “Don’t mind them.” It was super cute. We had to pay 5 pesewa to use the restroom.. Which was actually a concrete room. In the corner there was a small square where the concrete was about three inches lower then the rest of the floor with a small hole in the corner. I did my best to make it in the hole.. but I clearly need practice. By the time I left my shorts and shoes were both wet… oops.

From Accra we caught a tro to Takrodi, which is west of Elmina. It was better then having caught one to Cape Coast because we got dropped off right at our junction and didn’t have to worry about catching another taxi after dark.

Overall, I had a great couple of days. Traveling was totally stress free and more fun then I expected. I’m really happy I ended up going, it was a successful last adventure in Ghana.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

This morning we got up and went to a bead workshop where we learned how to make the glass beads. It was pretty awesome. Everything was done by hand which gave me such a greater appreciation for them. It was weird to have the other volunteers doing the workshop with us. They just kept talking about how much more efficient the process would be if done by a machine. They clearly have no appreciation for the beauty of handmade things.

The process was definitely tedious, you have to first pound the glass until it’s a dust, then you take cassava sticks an cut them into little tiny pieces and place them in the center of the mold which will make the center of the bead. Then you mix dye in with the glass dust and put the dust into the mold. Then you heat the molds in a fire for 5 minutes and then fire them for 15-20 minutes. Then you let them cool and wash them. We all got to make bracelets out of the beads we made.

After the workshop we went to the bead market. It was amazing. There were so many beads ranging from 50 pesewa to 500 cedi. Some of them were African trading beads that never loose their value and many people invest in them and hold onto them, kind of like gold.

After the market we started our journey back to Cape Coast. We caught a Tro Tro to Accra. When we got to Accra we had to walk a little way to catch another Tro that would take us to Cape Coast. Ellen and I had to use the restroom so we made friends with a vendor who took us to use a public bathroom. It was really nice because we had to go through a market area and she grabbed my hand and showed me where to go. When other people were shouting at me clearly because I'm white, she turned to me and said, “Don’t mind them.” It was super cute. We had to pay 5 pesewa to use the restroom.. Which was actually a concrete room. In the corner there was a small square where the concrete was about three inches lower then the rest of the floor with a small hole in the corner. I did my best to make it in the hole.. but I clearly need practice. By the time I left my shorts and shoes were both wet… oops.

From Accra we caught a tro to Takrodi, which is west of Elmina. It was better then having caught one to Cape Coast because we got dropped off right at our junction and didn’t have to worry about catching another taxi after dark.

Overall, I had a great couple of days. Traveling was totally stress free and more fun then I expected. I’m really happy I ended up going, it was a successful last adventure in Ghana.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Today Nick, Ellen and I ended up going to Krobo. In the morning I wasn’t feeling good and wasn’t looking forward to traveling at all, but I sucked it up and decided to have one more adventure before I leave.

In order to get to Krobo we had to come to Cape Coast and get a “Ford Bus Fast Car” which is actually just a big van and the reason its called a fast car is because it fills up in Cape Coast and goes straight to Accra without stopping. When we were there waiting for it to fill up Ellen had to use the restroom, so she asked a women where she should go. To our surprise the women bluntly asked, “Do u have to shit or urinate?” It totally caught us off guard and was pretty funny.

When we got to Accra we went to the Global Mamas store and I bought a few things to bring home. I was kind of disappointed because some of the things I wanted were sold out, but that’s just life and I guess it made it so I didn’t spend so much money.

Next, went to Koala, which is a westernized grocery store. They had these chocolate doughnuts and Sarah’s birthday is on Thursday so we got one to bring back for her. All the food looked AMAZING, but it was all pretty expensive especially the American brands so I couldn’t justify buying them because I’ll be home in less then a week.

We went to a restaurant in Accra for lunch called Melting Moments. We all split a pizza, it was no American pizza but it was good regardless.

After lunch it was on the road again. We went to a taxi station where we could get a fast car to Ho. The taxi station was INTENSE. Its one of those things where no matter how hard I try to explain it you could only understand if you were there, but I’ll try my best. There are a ton of huge vans piled into a parking lot pretty much bumper to bumper. There are people everywhere and EVERYONE want you to go in their car so they’re grabbing you and pushing you and pulling you every which way screaming, “You! Where are you going?” it was pretty exciting. We ended up telling a man we were going to Ho, he grabbed us and pulled us through all the people to a fast car. We all piled in and waited it for it to fill up. While we’re waiting there are venders selling all sorts of stuff on their head from pure water to toothbrushes. They come to the window of the cars so you can buy things, a total new meaning to drive through.

Although we took a fast car to Ho we actually had to get dropped in Kpong, which is south of Ho, and catch another car to Odemasi. We made it to the Global Mamas office in Odemasi just as it was getting dark. Perfect timing. We phoned Rebecca who is the head of the Odemasi office and she gave us directions to the Volunteer house.

There were three other volunteers at the house, they just got in two days ago and you could tell they were still in the adjusting phase. They were also very much business with no personality or sense of humor. They talked about things like accounting and computer software. Barf. Thank god we had each other. J

Monday, July 12, 2010

Today I worked from the house. Everyone else had to go to the office for one reason or another. Minus Ellen and Apiah I had the entire house to myself. It was very nice to have some alone time and be able to work without any distractions.

I finished drawing flats for all the new samples and started drawing them for some of last years garments that they are going to continue doing in the new catalog.

We are also trying to plan a trip to Krobo for tomorrow to go to the bead market. I really want to go because I think it will be a good experience, and if we do the bead workshop I will learn how they make the glass beads. The only issue is I don’t want to have to deal with the stress of planning and traveling during the last week before I leave.

After work I went to the pool and read for a while. It wasn’t sunny and I kept my hoodie on the entire time, I just really wanted to sit in something comfortable and although the lawn chairs at the pool aren’t that great they are definitely an upgrade from the plastic chairs I have gotten used to. I really can’t wait to sit on a comfortable couch with a big fluffy blanket and socks on.

For dinner we had Red Red at Elis. I haven’t had it since revenge of the red red when I first got here, but I decided I should give it another chance. It was really good and I didn’t get sick, which made it even better.

Sunday, June 11, 2010

Today we went to Brenu and played in the ocean. The weather wasn’t so nice, but it was still nice to be there. I love the beach… another thing I’m going to miss about Ghana.

After the beach we went to Shell to watch Spain vs. Netherlands in the world cup. We were all rooting for Spain for Maria. It was a really good game and Spain ended up coming out on top. Maria was so excited and we were all excited for her.

Tomorrow starts my last week in Ghana. I’m not ready to go home so I just try not to think about. It's crazy how quickly time flies when you're having fun.

Saturday, June 10, 2010

When I woke up this morning I was craving a movie in the theater with a giant popcorn, but since I couldn’t have that I settled for movies on my laptop in my bed. I pretty much laid in bed and watched movies all day it was amazing! It’s so nice to have a day where you literally have nothing to do. That’s probably something I will miss about Ghana, those days seem to be much more frequent here.

Today was the last day of the Elmina festival, so at night we all went to Shell. Wisdom and Amos from the office came out this way to come with us and even Judy, Ellen and Eli came with us. It was a nice change of scenery and there were so many people out.

Friday, June 9, 2010

Today we worked on patterns at the house. There were a lot of patterns at the house that were ready to go out with flats and instructions. I ended up heading to the office around 10am to take the new patterns and try and get them out so they can be sampled and come back on Monday.

When I got to the office I patterned some squares for them to use as a template to cut fabric to sell them as quilting squares. When the squares were cut and came back from the women they weren’t very straight, so I tried making the templates out of cardboard. Hopefully that will help them to draw straight lines.

After leaving the office the few of us who went to the office went to Melcom and bough some groceries. We also went to a new market in Elmina that is smaller and closer to the office. It was nice because it wasn’t so crowded and didn’t smell so fishy. We all pitched in and got some groceries to make a fiesta.

When we went to make tortillas we realized that we bought cornstarch instead of corn flour. You clearly can have a fiesta with out tortillas, so Ellen and I walked across the street to see if they had any flour at Sea Top. Kristina, who owns the bar and who we know fairly well because we hang out there often, told us that she didn’t have any flour but she had some at her house, so she sent someone to go get some for us. She bagged it up and gave it to us. When we asked her how much to pay she said we didn’t need to pay that she was dashing it to us. It was the first time I had been dashed anything. It’s cool cause it means that we’re friends. Its like we bring her business by hanging out there and so she wanted to do something nice for us.

It had been raining a lot all day and it was pretty muddy out. Nick suggested that we all go for a walk. The walk turned into a giant mud fight. Everyone was splashing in puddles and throwing mud everywhere and all the Ghanaians who were around looked at us like we were crazy. Later we realized there was probably a lot of poop in the mud we were throwing as people pretty much just go to the bathroom where ever, but it was really fun and totally worth it. J

Thursday, July 8, 2010

I can’t believe its already Thursday. This week has gone by really fast. It seems like now that I’m getting down to the wire time has really started to fly by. I only have 11 days left in Ghana and I’ll be in the States in 12 days.

I stayed at the house again today to work on flats. The power went out pretty early in the day and my computer didn’t really get a chance to charge so I ended up going across the street to the hotel to charge my computer.

While I was at the hotel I Skyped with Mark. I feel like we talked about food a lot, I can’t wait to have a slice of pizza or a Mexi-Melt from Taco Bell. We also talked about what he has planned for the first couple of days after I get home. Thursday we’re going to a Tigers game and then the Canoe Trip is that weekend, so we’re heading up north early Friday morning. I’m really excited; I just hope my jet lag isn’t too bad.

I finished some more flats today, hopefully now that we have flats the women won’t get so confused when sewing the garments because they’ll have something to look at. I also had to write instructions on how to actually construct the garment. It was actually kind of difficult because I’m pretty sure the women don’t know all the English terminology. It was almost like I had to dumb everything down.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Today I started work at the house. I worked on drawing more flats so we can start getting samples made. Around 10am I went to the office to continue working on flats. The volunteers who are working on fair trade are presenting a workshop on proper practices and I wanted to attend it.

I didn’t end up being able to go to the fair trade workshop, because everyone was on Ghana time and the workshop didn’t end up starting until 1pm. I ended up running a few errands in Cape Coast, and then coming back to the house.

At the house I worked on flats some more. They’re looking really good. I’m excited because I will have things from every step of the design process to put in my portfolio.

Samples haven’t been coming back as quickly as they were before. It seems like the women are having a hard time reading our patterns. Its kind of funny because you could give them a garment and they can pretty much make an exact replica, but if you just give them a pattern they get really confused. It’s kind of a big problem and something Global Mamas really needs to work with the women on in the future.

After work I took a shower. It was so nice to be clean. I’m really looking forward to my first real shower when I get home. A shower where there is hot and cold water and some legit water pressure. It’s the little things like that I miss most from home.

Later in the evening we went across the street to Tom and Steve’s house. They brought real cheese with them from England and shared it with us. It was pretty much amazing.

Tuesday, June 6, 2010

I woke up this morning and made rice for breakfast. It was my first time ever cooking rice and I have decided it’s much harder then it looks. It ended up taking forever and didn’t even taste good. I was pretty bummed at my failed attempt to make a delicious breakfast.

I worked from the house today. I worked on drawing flats of the animal softies. I finished the giraffe and worked on the lion rhino and elephant. I also worked on flats of the other garments that are going to be sampled. The romper we sampled came back and the seamstress was really confused on how to sew it because they don’t know how to read patterns. We’re going to try and have flats and typed instructions to send out with each garment from now on.

We took the afternoon off work to go to a Festival in Elmina. The festival was in celebration of the river that runs through Elmina. It was a really cool experience. There was a parade where they carry all the chiefs around on chairs down the street. Everyone was singing and dancing. Then we went down to the boat races. There were so many people you couldn’t really see anything. A Ghanaian man saw me in the back and offered me his spot standing on a bench. I went from not being able to see at all to pretty much having a front row seat. I feel like that would never happen in the states.

After the festival Ellen, Nick and I went to a restaurant that served African and Cuban cuisine. It was really good. I got chicken and vegetable stew with rice. That’s probably the second time i've eaten meat since I’ve been here. We also ordered a glass of wine with dinner, and they just gave us the whole bottle.

After dinner we walked back to the house. Everyone was blaring music it was crazy how many people were out and about celebrating. Apparently the festival lasts all week. I wonder if they will be playing music so loudly every night. Thank goodness for the huge fan in my room that is so loud it over powers ALL other noises or I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.

Monday, June 5, 2010

Today Tanya and her husband came to the office with us. It was fun to show them where we work. When I first got to the office I finished my journals from last week and sent them to Tanya. Then I went to try and extend my visa.

The woman at immigration was so rude. She seriously made me want to cry. I think I would have been fine if someone else went with me, but because I was all by myself it was really intimidating. First she yelled at me for the way I filled out the form. In an email I got from Renee before I arrived in Ghana she gave us instructions for how to fill out the immigration forms when we were on the plane. I filled out my second immigration from following the same instructions, but apparently the immigration officer did not like that. She yelled at me for using an Accra address, and again for putting tourism as my purpose for visiting. It was also difficult because I had a hard time understanding her English. Every once and a while someone else would come in the office and they would talk about me in Fanti. I could tell because they would both stare at me for a minute and then start laughing. Finally she started processing my paper work. They had to keep my passport, which is nerve wrecking in itself, and then told me I had to come back on the 19^th to collect my passport. I leave on the 19^th from Accra, and told her I wouldn’t be in Cape Coast. Reluctantly she ended up changing the date to the 15^th. She gave me a receipt and told me that if I lost it I wouldn’t be able to get my passport back. It just seems crazy to me because there is a quicker turn around on visas when you’re in the states and you have to mail your passport.

When I got back to the office I worked on drawing flats in illustrator of the softies we’re having sampled. I also helped take pictures of some of the new samples that came in so we can send them to Renee and Kristen to get them approved.

For lunch, we took Tanya and her husband to the place where we get those really good egg sandwiches.

We left work a couple hours early and went to the Cape Coast Castle with Tanya and her husband. It was really cool to go there and experience history, but it was really depressing because that is where they used to ship out slaves from. It was almost awkward because you were there with a bunch of Ghanaians, and it was almost like they made me feel like I was personally responsible for everything that had happened.

For dinner we went to Oasis with Tanya and her husband, I got a vegetable pizza. It was pretty much amazing. Its crazy that in two weeks I will be able to eat real pizza again. At Oasis, they had drumming and dancing.

After dinner we came home and went to Sea Top for a drink. We ended up calling it an early night. I came home, read for a while and went to bed.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

HAPPY INDEPENCE DAY!

This morning everyone went to the pool, so Ellen and I made streamers out of Red, White and Blue scraps and hung them on the porch. We also made a sign out of scraps of interfacing that said happy forth of July. It was weird being here, cause obviously no one here celebrates the holiday. We didn’t listen to, I’m proud to be an American or watch fireworks.

Tanya and her husband arrived around 6pm and we all went to lunch at Elis.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Today Ellen and I went to Stumble Inn to hang on the beach. It was pretty much a perfect day. We laid out all afternoon, were fed AMAZING food for lunch and dinner. Hung out with everyone after dinner and bummed a ride back to the house at night.

I think I'm obsessed with the ocean, I don’t really know what it is but I love when the waves push me over, it’s so liberating to me. The down side to spending the day at Stumble is the sand mites. I came home with a million bites again and I know I will be completely miserable tomorrow.

Friday, July 2, 2010

We're Ghana Make History Today!

Today Ghana plays Uruguay in football, if the win they will be the first African team in history to make it to the semi-finals. This is a huge deal, and I’m so excited to be here for this.

This morning, almost the entire design team came to the office. We organized the patterns we have to send them out to seamstresses. Its exciting, because it seems like we have so many done and they have a pretty quick turn around with samples, so we should have them all back by Monday.

For lunch I was introduced to this place that has AMAZING egg sandwiches. I also realized in order to get my visa extended I needed to get more passport photos taken, and there happened to be a place next door that printed them instantly. I stopped by there and sat down in the chair to have my photo taken. I smiled and the woman was like, “ohhh noooo.” So I was like, “Oh, I shouldn’t smile?” and she said, “no, you can smile just don’t show me your teeth.” She was honestly so disgusted. So, needless to say my picture turned out pretty hideous.

I tried to get my visa extended today, but it was a failed attempt. They told me I need to come back on Monday with a copy of my flight details, and a certificate from the department of social wellness in Ghana.

After trying to get my passport taken care of, and failing miserably, I went back to the house to pattern the sleeve to the dress I was working on the other day.

After work we went across the street and hung out for a while, and eventually made it to ladies night at the hotel. It was very interesting. There was a five cedi cover for boys, and we ordered small beers, which were 3 cedi a piece. That seemed so outrageous to me, it was pretty much as bad as U.S. prices.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Today is Republic Day. On July 1, 1960, Ghana became a republic of the British Commonwealth.

I celebrated today by going to the pool and watching a movie on my laptop.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Today on the way to work Nick and I were put in charge of carrying a computer monitor, but not just any computer monitor a super old school big and bulky computer monitor. It wasn’t really heavy just super awkward to carry. Originally we were going to charter a taxi to the office that will pick us up from the house and take us directly to the office. However, chartering a taxi is almost more then 5 times the price of taking a shared taxi, so I told Maria we could just take the monitor in a share taxi. It was quite the journey. First of all, its Wednesday and its already difficult to get taxis on Wednesdays due to the fact that Tuesdays are no fishing and so on Wednesdays the fishermen catch a lot of fish and drivers would rather take the fish then take us. Secondly, we had this bulky screen with us, which made people not want to take us even more.

When we finally got to the office we realized that everyone thought someone else was bringing the patterns to the office. My whole purpose in coming to the office today was to work with seamstresses sewing new patterns. I thought Jessica was bringing them, but turns out she only grab the patterns she made and said she thought Sarah was bringing the rest, but Sarah didn’t even come to the office today. This further proves previous point that we have bad communication.

Since I was already in Cape Coast, and now I had nothing to do, I ended up running some errands. I stopped by the store and got some more laughing cow cheese and noodles, I also stopped by a couple little shops on the way and did some souvenir shopping.

When we got back to the house the plan was to work on the patterns we started earlier in the week. When we got to the house everyone else used all the stiff working on other patterns, so there was nothing to make our patterns on. I ended up working on the scrap jewelry samples. We made one of the necklaces they said they liked its like a bigger necklace almost like a scarf. It turned out ok, but I can’t see the people they’re trying to target wanting it.

Today is our new friend Steve’s birthday, so after work we went to meet them at the bar across the street. It was fun all their friends from work were they’re and one of them made pineapple upside down cake. It was delicious.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Today I worked from the house. I’m not sure how I feel about working from home. On one hand its super nice because you don’t have to leave the house. On the other hand I wear my pajamas all day and I seem to eat more.

Some of the designers stayed home in the morning but ended up going to the office later in the day. I traced and put seam allowances on the sloper pattern we made last week so that someone could bring it to the office with them and we could get it sampled. I also wrote out instructions for the skirt we made and sent the romper as well.

For the rest of the day I started drafting a pattern for a shift dress with three quarter length sleeves. I think it will be really cute. It was actually the design I liked best when I submitted them last week. But, when we got feedback I thought they didn’t like it and was pretty bummed, but it turns out that they did like it and their comments were just mixed up. The bad news is that when their comments got mixed up we thought they were saying they liked the romper, but turns out they didn’t and we already made the pattern for it. It’s really cute but they said they don’t know how it will fit they’re target market. I’m not sure they know exactly who their target market consists of. Maria said we can sample it anyways so that nice at least it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

When everyone else came home the patterns I sent to the office came home as well. This is really frustrating. We have very bad communication between the design team. I’ve have definitely learned the importance of communication while being here. I have also realized how much I take email and wireless Internet for granted. It would be so much easier if we could all just shoot each other emails because it would ensure that everyone has received the same information and is on the same page.

For dinner we went to Eli’s. She made Salad and Spicy Rice. It was so good. I think I also take eating raw vegetables for granted when I’m home. Even though I don’t usually like vegetables much its one of the things I crave the most here. “The others” had a plan to take the leftovers home with them, but they never share and they’re rude so we ate as much as we could so there wouldn’t be leftovers. We clearly might not be that polite either. J

After dinner we went to C-Spot, the bar across the street, and hung out for a while. Our new friends from across the way came to C-Spot later to hang out. It was a good time. Its nice to have other people to talk to besides the same couple people all the time. I talked with the head honcho of their NGO for awhile about Global Mamas. It seems like he doesn’t really agree with or understand what they’re trying to do, but then again sometimes I don’t either.