Comments and Questions

[Jenna]: Aren't African's really skinny? Why isn't this palm oil getting to them.

No, African's aren't really skinny. Just the one's that are starving to death that you see in pictures at food camps.

[Mom]: When you get home we'll pump you full of fresh fruits and veggies

Thank you. So much. And I won't even have to worry about typhoid.

[Brie]: Lol! You could always use Hyrum. Show them a picture of us and say it's you.

Good point. I do have a picture of you two. And your dog. In the snow. I also have pictures of me with Jeff Stutz, Shawn, Craig, and lots of group pictures. Even my professor John. But I think he's too old for me.

[Brooke]: I want a picture of you with a million little braids, ok?

I'll work on it. I'm not sure I'll let them do my hair again (5-year-olds aren't exactly pro's...)

[Kristin]: What do you mean you "try" to stay in after dark?

Lol, well, when Sister Beck came, she spoke until after dark. That's really the only time in Accra that I've been out then. And once in Teshie for the internet.

[Kristin]: Or you could find out from a local what the fare SHOULD be and then just tell the cabby that that is what you are going to pay him. What's he gonna do? Refuse your money?

Yes, they have refused my money. Believe me, I'm a haggler. If I'm alone, I just move on to the next guy. And it's not that expensive, it would have been less than a dollar...I just wanted a little excitement for once :)

Gas leaks and broken bumpers

Last weekend Gilbert and Edem took 3 of us to this nature reserve where we were supposed to see antelope and baboons. I saw one antelope, from a distance, and I must have been sleeping when the baboons came into sight, because Natalie saw some, but Trey and I missed them. We also some some bat caves. Bats stink (literally).

Driving on the reserve we went over bump, quite like the usually bumps, but this time the car wouldn't start back up. Apparently, we were now leaking gas. There was a trail behind the car and I could smell it. Gilbert did something under the car and we went on our merry way. Something apparently happened to the bumper too, because we stopped at a car place to fix it. While there, three guys tried to get my number, and they mostly settled for me getting theirs, and then we left, thankfully.

In other news, Allie and I go to the orphanage every day in the most ghetto taxi we've ever seen (the program set it up and pays for it; Gilbert used to take us). The front lights have been hit out, there are at least 10-15 cracks running the width of the windshield, there are no headrests, the window handles are missing, it's dirtier than anything, the seats are ripped, door panels are gone, and I found three bugs on me the first day. Oh, and Allie's seat was wet. The engine has seen better days, but we can always hear it coming. We're not sure it's going to last much longer. We don't know how it's lasted this long. I try not to touch anything.

Mercy Orphanage

The moment you've all been waiting for...but it's not very eventful. I went to the orphanage on Monday for the first time. The kids are great. When we get there (about 1:30) most of them are in school. The younger ones are usually napping.

The three little ones are Hope (2 yrs), Charity (5), and Jacob (5). I don't know why they aren't in school. Jacob is super skinny, even skinnier than Ty! Charity and Jacob love little songs like popcorn popping, if you're happy and you know it, and the little piggies. I did the little piggies like 30 times yesterday. I improvise with the whole 'this little piggy had roast beef' thing; it's usually banku. And it's sad when one piggy doesn't get anything, so he usually gets pineapple.

We went on a walk and Allie bought some pineapple for the kids.

There are about 20 of them. The orphanage is super small. All the kids sleep in 2 rooms in bunk beds. At least 2 in each bed. SO different from the orphanage in the Philippines.

After the other kids got home from school yesterday Faith (5) and Charity did my hair. That is, until Martha (13) came over and fixed it for me by undoing all the braids.

We colored. We tried to keep them from hitting each other (a big problem). We tickled. We talked. We hugged.

They make me think of my Filipino babies and it makes me miss them.

I talked to a 14-year old girl named Sheila a lot. She had a lot of questions about America.

Then we said goodbye until the next day.

Yams, the African potato, and other such foods

I found out recently that I've been lied to the last nearly 23 years of my life. So, you know yams? Aren't they those yummy orange root vegetables otherwise known as sweet potatoes? NO. They are not. Yams are actually about 15 times the size of a normal potato and white. They taste like a potato, but starchier, and not quite as tasty. I've only had them twice so far. Fried, however, they are pretty good. But isn't everything good when it's fried?

Things I've eaten: banku, looks just like this. It's kinda like bread dough mixed with glue. Not too bad though. We ate it with this pepper sauce that was pretty good and spicy, and little tiny crunchy fish. Not my favorite. We've also had kenkey, which is similar, and a little better.

At the time, we've also been served boiled yams, fried yams, beans, fried plantains, boiled plantains, rice, pasta, and everything is served with a tomato-and-palm-oil-based sauce. Usually with fish. They don't serve fruit at all. Or vegetables (besides the sauce). They cook everything in palm oil. Isn't that really bad for you? Can someone look up what I'm going to have to do to detox when I get back?

I don't have a ton of energy here, by the looks of my diet I guess that's understandable.

Oh, and the pineapple was very good.

Faith, Hope, and Charity

What do these have in common? Besides a few religious references? They're all names of children at the orphanage. I went for the first time yesterday and it was great! I have to go now, but I'll write more about it later!

Questions answered

I really enjoy all your comments on my blog. To encourage more, I'll try to comment on your comments and answer any questions you may ask.

[Brie]: What's your roommate like? Should we send you some lotion?

My roommate is awesome. Her name is Laura and she's from Boston. I enjoy talking with her and I'm sad she'll be leaving this weekend. Don't worry about the lotion, but thanks.

[Kristin]: How was the pineapple? That's crazy about the mastercard. You would think that someone whose been there would have said something.

Still haven't tried the pineapple, but got some tangerines that were awful. Threw them away. Mastercard thing...tell me about it.

[Anne]: Can't you go and hide behind a rock??? I would really like to see those pictures.

I'm considering it...they would really sacrifice me, I don't think. I fear more for the safety of my camera in that situation.

[Brie]: Who has time for sudoku when you have things like sacrifices and goats?

Seriously. But I try to stay in after dark, and sudoku is so addicting.

[Brie]: I had a dream last night that you figured out a way to post pictures. I must really be desperate.

I wish that was true. I too am desparate to show you pictures.

[Jenna]: My shower was so nice and warm this morning. I will try to enjoy them for the both of us from now on.

I really appreciate that Jenna. I hope everyone will enjoy their hot showers for me.

[Kristin]: That's crazy!!! A car accident?!? Already?!? You're living on the edge Kelli. What happened afterward? Everyone just go on their merry way?

Yes, the drivers yelled at each other and then we went on our merry way. Most of me flying forward was from him hitting the breaks, not the actual impact.

[Anon]: I love your posts! I am getting excited for when we go over to the other end of that amazing continent. What has your fav. food been?

Who is this? Chris? Anyway, I'd say the fried plantains are probably a favorite. I'll try to do a post next time on all the foods I've tried.

[Nate]: When you get home will you bucket me? Ha ha, couldn't resist.

Only if you'll agree to be my boyfriend.


I have to go...more later!

I need a boyfriend, any takers?

So I kinda lied yesterday. Someone asked if I had a husband and I said no, and then he asked if I had a boyfriend...and I said yes. He even asked if he was white or black. I said white. Any takers? It will totally be worth your time. If I'm really that undesirable I'll just default to Craig. Missionaries can't argue and he won't be home for like a year and a half, so he'll never even see this.

Qualifications:
*Male
*At least 22 years old (unless you're Craig)
*Taller than me (I can't very well have a boyfriend who's shorter than me)
*You have to be okay with the fact that I will be breaking up with you as soon as I get back to
America (unless I meet some really hot British guy while I'm in London, in which case it will be
sooner than that). If you're a really good boyfriend, I may reconsider.
*I'm willing to take on more than one, mixes things up a little, don't ya think?
*You have to come up with a really good first kiss or first date story. Not really necessary, but it
would be fun (if you have already participated in one of the two...make up a more exciting one).

Benefits:

to you:
*I'm not needy
*I won't be calling you all hours of the day
*I won't make you take me out to expensive restaurants
*I won't redecorate your apartment or criticize the way you dress
*I won't mind if you don't shave for a few days
*You can easily fend off those crazy girls back at BYU (or wherever you are)

to me:
*When strange men ask for my number I can say, "my boyfriend, (your name here), won't like
it"
*I get to exercise my imagination
*I get a small sense of security knowing I have someone who misses me :)

Leave a comment, facebook me, or email me. Your time (and name) is much appreciated.

Don't worry, I wore a helmet

I was debating over whether or not to mention this because a.) I know how my sisters feel about motorcycles and b.) I know how my sisters feel about me riding on motorcycles with strange guys in Africa. But hey, I thought this was interesting.

So I was headed to the church building to meet some girls that were going to help me get to Accra for a talk by Sister Beck, the general Relief Society president for the LDS church. I don't usually walk alone, but when I do It get a lot more attention. This one guy started talking to me and walking next to me and when I tried to get a taxi he said he would take me. Kinda like public transportation, right? I mean, I get in taxis with strange men all the time. So he gave me this cool bag and we rode on his motorcycle to church (saved me a few bucks too).

Bad side to this story, he totally wants me. He said it's his dream to be with a white woman and when I offered to pay for the ride he said, "I don't need your money, I need you." But, he seems pretty harmless. Really.

More iPod fun

I discovered more exciting things on my iPod. Books!! Among other things I have the Book of Mormon, Harry Potter 4, and Jesus the Christ. How exciting is that?? Additionally, I found lots of talks by general authorities, including some by President Hinckley that I enjoyed this morning. LOVE it!

(if you're wondering, I bought my iPod off a friend, who has every song known to man on it. Thanks, dude!)

Water, otherswise known as MANNA

On Friday, we ran out of water. They filled some buckets with what was left and said it would get here on Saturday. Slighly annoyed, but we were okay.

Now, this isn't drinking water. This is the water we bathe with, do our laundry with, wash our hands, try to stay marginally refreshed, etc. Very important. They do provide drinking water, but it's in the form of bags that look like this. However, we volunteers drink this at meals and buy our own bottled water for the rest of the time. I can get 12 1.5 litre bottles in a box for roughly $7.

Friday I also ran out of clean shirts, so I had to do some laundry. Friday night all the volunteers went out and Gloria said I could use some of the water to bathe. So I did.

On Saturday, we still had no water. This made for 7 rather unhappy volunteers. Saturday night I used my drinking water to bathe. Now I have to buy more, but a small price to pay to be clean for church! Also, I didn't have to worry about keeping my mouth closed.

Sunday. I came home from church (more later) and we still had no water. Laura was getting almost desparate enough to bathe with the water in the open containers in the kitchen (read, slightly yellow and complete with floaties). Finally, Sunday afternoon we got water. Almost everyone immediately did laundry and/or bathed. I hope this was a one-time problem.

To Bucket

[buhk-it] verb, bucketed, bucketing

-verb
1. To wash oneself, without immersion, by pouring cold, clean (hopefully) water on oneself from a bucket. Soap is usually involved.

-noun
2. A cylindrical vessel made of plastic that holds water.

-uses
1. I am going to bucket.
2. Did you enjoy your bucket?
3. Have you bucketed today?
4. If we don't get water soon I may bucket with the kitchen water.
5. I will be bucketing soon.
6. I really need a bucket.
7. Sometimes you just need your bucket.
8. I can't wait until I don't have to bucket anymore.

[origin: third world countries like Africa and the Philippines that generally aren't blessed with hot water heaters and water streaming from a wall]

Spiders on my head

To clarify, there was only one spider on my head. I was teetering on something trying to attack the big spider in my room when a smaller one fell on my head. You better believe I jumped down and shook my entire body like I was having a seizure. It fell. I killed it. Then I killed the big one. Later on I killed one in the bucket room. Today I killed another in my room. My roommate, Laura, has been killing them too. Yesterday we noticed that our walls and ceiling have shoe marks everywhere from our wild hunting. I wonder if, after we leave, they'll go in there and ask, "how in the world did they get a footprint on the ceiling?"

Snap me!

This is what Africans say when they want you to take a picture of them. I went out on Thursday and Friday and took pictures of the kids around my 'neighborhood.' It was soooo fun. They are so freaking cute and I wish I could show you pictures!!! There were about 20 or so of them following me around and they all know my name now :). One thing I love about photographing people with dark eyes is that everything reflects in them. It's so cool. Some of them were fighting over holding my hand, but usually there'd be 5 or 6 holding onto my arm. I think they like me.

In my travel book it says that this is a bad time of the year to photograph Ghana because of all the dust and haze in the air, but they weren't talking about photographing people!! I couldn't pay for better afternoon light. It's really incredible.

We Thank Thee, oh God, for a Prophet!

Anyone who's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is probably already aware of this, but I felt I couldn't post anything more of my trip before I mentioned the passing of our beloved prophet and leader. President Gordon B. Hinckley was an incredible man, prophet, father, husband, friend, etc, and we have been incredibly blessed to have him be a part of our lives.

He's been the prophet of my generation and I'm sure we all love him and will miss him. We should all be very thankful for the organization of the priesthood and support President Monson right now. President Hinckley is now with his wife he loved so much and many dear friends.

Thanks mom for sending me a text in the middle of the night so I could know!! I was able to attend a meeting last night in Accra in which Sister Beck spoke, the general Relief Society president. She mentioned that she was on the committee for President Faust's funeral, so I'm sure she'll be headed back to the states to help out. All our living leaders need our prayers right now. I love this church!

Seat belts? What seat belts?

I rode my first tro-tro the other day. Tro-tro's are similar to Jeepney's, of course. They're actually vans with a few extra seats, and of course, no seat belts. What do they do? Rip them out of every vehicle in the country? Well, we do have seat belts in the front seats of our car (which is only for specific purposes, Gilbert drives us). But, honestly, the back seat? What happened there?

I keep hearing that you're much more likely to die or get injured riding a tro-tro or other public transportation than malaria or anything else, but I'm not sure I believe it. However, while riding our tro-tro into Accra we did hit another car. That was fairly exciting. I was in one of the converted seats on the edge of the bench, so I just grabbed the bench that was in the front to the left. It really wasn't bad though.

The roads here are great. In Teshie everything is dirt and you don't have to drive on the right side of the road, just wherever you can. It's akin to riding a roller coaster. I'm astounded the cars still run. Half the time I'm pretty sure I could walk faster than we're able to drive.

Cell Phone

Ah, the wonderful world of technology. I got a cell phone the other day, finally. My number is 011 233 248 122216. Feel free to call me if you like, but I certainly won't expect it. I can call you for pretty darn cheap, so if you wanna talk, let me know :).

More of Ghana

First order of business, I'll try to post in fairly short spurts as I always have a hard time reading 12 pages of someone else's blog or email, and this way you can pick and choose based on how interesting I make the title. I feel like my life isn't really all that interesting right now, so if it comes off as boring...well, it kinda is. I'm not used to life so slow. You know me. It is different, which I guess is the only thing that makes it interesting. I can't post pictures, but I'll do my best to entertain you.

So, some things that are pretty typical around here. Everyone carries everything on their heads. They have got to have some serious neck problems! Some of those things have got to weigh 40 pounds in fruit and water. Honestly. Also, all the women carry the babies on their backs. Pretty cool. The older children carry them too sometimes.

Like I said, I live in this compound. All the volunteers speak English. They're all pretty cool. Big Mama (quite the appropriate name) cooks most of our meals. They made us 2 Ghanaian meals yesterday and they were really good. I wish they'd cook like that for us all the time. It seems they're afraid we won't like real Ghanaian food, so they kinda cheap out on most of the time.

I did laundry today. You know, in a bucket. We do everything in buckets.

One of the other volunteers went to get a haircut last week by someone named Precious. We don't think he had any idea...Which reminds me that we're told that being gay is a crime here. Oh, and only wear camo if you wish to risk your life, or your freedom.

An Exciting Discovery

My ipod has sudoku on it. And another volunteer has an ipod charger. I love my ipod. Enough said.

Sheep go to heaven, Goats go to hell...

I have never seen so many goats in my life. Even at David Haupts house. I've never seen so many sheep either. They roam the 'streets' like stray dogs. But they have those too. While walking to the internet cafe today a pack of them started barking at me. I'm not afraid of dogs, but when dogs like that start freaking out on me, I get a little on edge. I don't think I could kick that many hard enough.

Anyway, the goats are everywhere. And you can hear them all day. And much of the night. I'm not entirely sure their purpose, but I think they eat them. I'm considering becoming a vegitarian. Anything from America that's raised in a cage has got to be better than anything here that's free-range. Everything is free-range.

Don't go to the beach...on Tuesday

So I was talking with the other volunteers about the beaches here and they told us not to go to the beach on Tuesdays. When we asked why they said there's some religion that does sacrifices. I said, "Cool! Can I go take pictures?" to which they responded, "They could sacrifice you." I guess not...

Mastercard, not everywhere you want to be

Apparently, Africa doesn't like the Mastercard (thanks a lot Wamu). So here's a tip. Visa is where it's at. If you want to go to Africa, forget the the mastercard at home. Practically worthless, so I hear. I haven't seen an ATM that takes them yet, but hopefully we can find a bank that does. Too bad I didn't bring more cash, but thank goodness I brought some! Hopefully we can figure something out.

Oh, and I bought a pineapple today. I'll let you know how it is.

I'm Here!

Yes, I managed to make it to Africa safe and sound, and mentally and emotionally stable...so far. Airplane ride was okay, watched "The Office," "Heroes," and "Transformers" on the plane and "Lost" on my ipod. Probably not the best choice for a trip over the ocean. Hopefully the rest of my luggage will get here tonight, thankfully they didn't lose my main luggage.

I'm staying in a small complex with 6 other volunteers from America, Germany, and Switzerland. There are 3 bedrooms for volunteers, a kitchen, dining room, a few more bedrooms for the people that care for us, and a few 'bathrooms.' We get three 'meals' a day and all the volunteers eat together.

Food so far is...interesting. I don't know how long my Trader Joe's supply will last. Africans apparently eat a lot of starchy foods. A lot. I don't think we're ever going to get fresh fruits and vegetables. Breakfast is usually white bread. And you all know how much I love white bread. They leave some margarine on the table too. Yum. They don't feed us the super cultural foods like fufu or banku, but we get a lot of rice and some things that I don't recognize. There's also a lot of fish. But I don't think fish is supposed to taste, or smell, that fishy.

Right now I'm going through a culture and language program, which only lasts a couple of hours a day. I'm with Trey and Natalie, who flew in the same day as me. We're learning Twi. Most of the alphabet is the same, except for a letter that looks like a backwards c and one that looks like a backwards 3 (they still have e and E though). I start at the orphanage next week.

Weather's not bad. Fairly dry and hot, but not too hot. WAY better than the 15 degrees I would be experiencing in Provo.

A ton of the stores have religious names. Some of my favorites include "God's First Photo Studio," "Grace of God Cosmetics," and "God's Hand Hair Cuts."

Unfortunately, the computers here are ridiculously slow (I'm going through some serious Mac withdrawls), so I won't be able to upload any pictures. As soon as I get back I'll be going through them like mad and uploading to my blog then.

More fun interesting things later. Until then.