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Published: June 28th 2006
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Okay, I hope I'm not bombarding you 'subscribers' with blogs...in actuality, I forgot my journal on a trotro the first day i was here and therefore am using this to remember my experiences...feel free to skim of course!😊 Speakin' of trotros....
1) Trotros are what I call "the ultimate car-pool"😊 I do not believe they are for the faint of heart or the weak stomach...ha....trotros are vans that squeeze 25 or more people into them...they are hot, sweaty, and cramped. Since most of the roads here are unpaved, the trotros rattle and toss as we hit pot-hole after pot-hole, and sometimes it sounds as though they will fall apart mid-travel😊 For tourists, the trotro systems seems chaotic at first, (there is no time schedule for pick-up) and yet in time, it becomes evident that there is some organization to the madness!😊 Trotros are the cheapest form of transportation here and since there is a fixed price, tourists do not have to fear they are getting ripped off. They are also actually one of the safest ways for female travellers going alone (vs. taxis) since there are always other people around. So, everyday I walk to one of the trotro stations (by the time i reach there, i have sweat more than i do in a week's time in the U.S.--ha😊, which consists of hundreds of trotros, ask around until I find the trotro I need, and then begin the journey😊 Most tourists take taxis so I definitely get a few stares, but I also get many nods, smiles, "welcome"s, and other random questions (where are you from?). The entire way to work the trotro is surrounded by people selling things atop their heads---consisting of anything from water to Ghana flags to tummy tucker exercise machines to fried plaintains (mmmm😊 I can't say it's a quiet ride--as the mate (the person collecting money) constantly yells out the window to people who may be interested in getting on. (I seriously think they have a training process to teach these young boys how to yell out...they have the most distinctive yells I have ever heard...you're lucky you're not here to hear my imitation;-) When I want to get off, I yell out to the mate and then the trotro goes to the side. In the whirlwind of trotros, it is definitely possible to get on the wrong one or to get off at the wrong stop, but I have found Ghanaians are sooo friendly and will even take time to personally walk you to where you need to be.
2) I think I will change my name to Adwoa (pronounced ad-jew-wa) when I get back to the States. Okay, just kidding, but I am getting used to folks calling me this name. Why, you ask? 😊 In Ghana, your name upon birth coincides with the specific day upon which you were born. So, one of the first questions I was asked upon my arrival was, "What day were you born?" After some research (mom/dad, you can tell me if this is right😊, we realized that I was born on a Monday. Therefore, my name is Adwoa. So, when someone says their name (Kojo, Kwesi, Kofi, Kwabena, etc) you automatically know the day they were born. There are also specific names for twins (for instance, the name Kakra means the second born twin). The folks here are also given a more European name (such as Paul, John, Mary, etc) so they can choose to go by either their Ghanaian or European name.😊 For now, I'll stick with Katie😊 (although many people here have never heard of such an odd name--ha😊
3) So, Ghana lost in the World Cup to Brazil, but no worries, the moral in this nation always seems to be amazingly high and optimistic ("maybe next time"..."we are so proud of the Black Stars"....) I can't even say I watched the game...I actually came home from work early to avoid the jam-packed roads, and I enjoyed a quiet walk home from the trotro station since everyone was too busy watching the game to yell at me (phew..hehe😊 Their shouts are always friendly ("hello, how are you?"..."welcome, white person!") Most of the time I either say a quick hello or just have a few laughs with some of the folks
and continue home....there is one older man who is teaching me a new Twi phrase as I pass him every day, so that's fun😊 Anyways, even though Ghana lost the game, I am so thankful I was here for the excitement of the World Cup!
Okay, this is getting too long...there is always just too much to say! Anyways, please know I am thinking of you all and wishing you well! Take care and we will be in touch!
Peace,
Katie😊
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Rose
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Hi Katie, wish you had audio so I could hear the trotro yell! I was just complaining about the heat here in NY, but after reading about your adventures, I'm actually feeling quite cool!!! Hugs, Rose