Obruni Wedding Crashers

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We meet with Logan and Jeneke in the afternoon, we had received a call from Pricilla saying she was on her way to meet up outside our dorms so we could all go to watch our friends perform later that day. Priscilla eventually showed up with a white SUV, her father and his driver. Her father was on his way to a meeting and had offered to give us a ride. Chantel and I found out that Priscilla’s father had just returned from a business trip from Kelowna. He was setting up relationships with the nursing school in the Okanagen. It was really neat to meet someone that actually knew where we came from (other than Reuben and his colleagues).

The place of performance was actually at a wedding. Our first Ghanaian wedding, my first weeding crashed. Everyone was so hospitable. We enjoyed music, singing and dance performances from our friends and even some delicious food, even though we had told everyone we were not staying, it didn’t mattered to them, we had to eat. So we ate and then left.

CHANTEL - It’s official, we are Obruni wedding crashers! Its customary at the wedding to drink the local gin that’s being offered so I was obliged to take the first swig when we arrived at the wedding. That’s one hard hitting beverage, just about fell off my chair but the Ghanaian boys were pretty impressed that I didn’t choke - ugh that is the last time I try that stuff, the taste stays with you for the rest of the day!

AN - Today I experienced my first tro-tro ride. We took it back to campus because Loan had to meet her program mates to attend a super bowl party. Funny, a super bowl party in Ghana... interesting that all the Americans found it so important to meet for the super bowl game. I know I’m thinking something about this scenario, but I don’t know what it quite is. Something between the lines of, how neat that these American can bring some traditions from home to Ghana to share a common bond among each other, and these bloody Americans and their ability to assume they will be catered to no matter where they go in the world.

CHANTEL - Ok so I am far too tall for a Ghanaian tro-tro, my knees flat out do not fit in them so I end up with broken knee caps at the end of each ride. Also none of us had to go to church today because within minutes of settling into our seats we were handed pamphlets from a fellow passenger on the gifts of God. This devoutly religious man decided that we needed to be preached to with the word of God so he delivered a booming sermon for most of the journey.

AN - In the evening Chantel and I decided to join our friend Pricilla to MaxMart, a department/grocery store. This store clearly caters to Westerners and rich Ghanaians. Most, if not all the food and products were imported and name brands. Prices were often more expensive then the equivalent at home.

Upstairs, MaxMart had a little cafe style restaurant that served “Western food” that consisted of pastries, sandwiches and other finger foods. They also served coffee, and not the instant stuff that we have been drinking, but the stuff made from grinded up coffee beans and espresso machines. This was definitely a relief for Chantel to have some “real coffee”. Especially after figuring out that perhaps the daily headaches were not from the malaria pills, but instead, from the coffee withdrawals.

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Comments

[marilyn]

Wedding crashers and kneecap crushers
What about the ceremony itself? And what was the food like? Music? Dancing? Who attended? How much does peanut better cost?