Brother and Wife

We have had some funny experiences with teenage men (17-25) and really old men (80-100). So, we could just be walking along in the market, as a family, and people will greet us in weird and strange ways.  For example:

Teenage men: Good morning/afternoon/evening, my brother (Rockwell), my lady (my mom), sir (my dad), my wife (me!).

Old men:Good morning/afternoon/evening, my son (Rockwell), madam (my mom), my brother (my dad), my wife (me!).

It's really awkward when they say that. Then they ask, "Will you be my wife?"  "No way!" is my response. And frankly, none of them have been very attractive (that's a good thing).

Sometimes in stores female cashiers call Rockwell their "husband". He just says "No.".

Bathroom,Toilet or Washroom?

People all around the world have different names for the bathroom (that is how Americans say it). Europe and West Africa- toilet and/or washroom. My friends here have told me that they don't want to call it bathroom because it sounds like the person would go there to bath (we say bathe), so there would be no toilet. Well, in my mind I am thinking, well the word wash room means no different to me, but I guess it means something different to them. Maybe we should just call it toilet.

I have seen some pretty funny bathroom signs for men and woman. I saw one at "Davis Noodle City", I don't have pictures of that, sadly, but they were very funny. I have also seen one this past week on our trip to Burkina Faso (the country just north of Ghana). We were at a national park called Mole, and we were just about to leave for a safari, when me and Rockwell both had to go to the bathroom (or should I call it washroom, or toilet?). We had just got to the door and looked up to make sure we were not going in the wrong room, and we both said," Oh my gosh!" (you will see why when you see the pics) then we started to laugh and called my parents over (they laughed to).

These two are from Mole National Park

These two are from my dads project site

We also heard of another way to go-on-the-road. It is called a "flying toilet". 

Here are the steps you need to go through for a flying toilet:

#1- Find a polly bag (grocery bag)

#2- Defecate in the polly bag

#3- Tie a knot with the handles of the polly bag

#4- Throw it out the window (yuck!)

Apparently this is one of the biggest problems Ghana is facing.

What is School Like in Africa?

School is so different here. Especially since I am the only(and the first) white person at my school.
During our morning assembly I am the only one who did not know how to: march, sing their songs (and there are a lot of them), recite the Lord's Prayer or Ghana's Pledge, sing the school song, and their National Anthem, etc. We also have to bow/curtsy to our headmaster (principal), and greet every adult with "Good Morning/Afternoon Mr./Mrs. So-n-So". If we don't do this, we get in trouble, serious trouble.

Some funny /different highlights from the first three weeks:

1. A kid asked me "What's all over you face?"  I was confused for a second then realized, oh, it's my freckles. I said "These are freckles." He said "They're not supposed to be there, are they?" I said, "Yes they are. They're permanent." The kid said "Oh, okay." and walked away.

2. My science teacher taught us how to stretch our face. He told us not to laugh because it was a great way to get through the day, without getting face cramps. :) It included a lot of cheek-puffing, tongue-sticking out-ing, weirdness. (we couldn't help but laugh!)

3. During break I went to the bathroom (they call it a washroom). A girl ran up to me and asked "Are you going to urinate?" Awwwkward. I responded "Yes, I am going to urinate." trying not to smile.

4. If you read my blog post "Tidbits from Orientation" you'll understand this one: My Religious and Moral Education (RME) teacher calls me "Americana", and all my other teachers call me "Obrunee". According to the school rules, they should all be caned!

5. My RME teacher called on a boy who was unable to answer a question. She yelled "If you are unable to tell me (the answer), I will crucify you!"   Ummmmm, okay.

6. ALL of our work must be completed in blue ink (even math!), or you will get a big fat ZERO followed by a question mark. In the States, the teacher would ask you nicely to redo the work in pencil.

7. Math is the easiest subject for me. We were doing our class exercise and I finished the work in less than a minute. When I stood up to turn in my work, they were all surprised. As I walked back to my seat they all started clapping. I did NOT know what to do to that, so I just sat down quickly and started reading.

This has been a real adjustment for me. I'm still wondering if I will ever get used to it.