Convention, and last days

Hello again,
I will put up a few more pics of convention... :)

Here we are at convention, This is Auntie Teiko and I. She was my seamstress, and made my "African" convention outfit.

This is Mariam and her brothers and her mom. Her mom is Auntie Betty's sister.

Getting ready for supper

Auntie Joanna, myself and Leslie Kumire (from Zimbabwe)

Auntie Betty, Auntie Joanna, Uncle Vincent, Auntie Koyo

Alize Hand, and I

The Oyortey Family

(Matey, Ami, Vincent, Philip, Betty)

My sistah.. Ami ;)

Colm McKay and I

My "Sistah's"

Ami and Esther and Mariam

The Nigerian friends that were there

Lorpu Koiwood and I

Alan Cooke and Colm McKay

Patricia and Mariam

The Benin Workers

Silas, Leontine, Kaarina, Alize, Serge

Family resemblance :)

Ami and Philip (brother and sister)

Philip and I

a little cutie

A sing song after convention

the girls sleeping quarters

the bathrooms and showers

(long drops, and buckets of water to shower)

The Oyortey house at convention

with the boys tent up top and tarps up

saying goodbyes Monday morning after convention

Our favorite old lady, she is somewhere between 95 and 100 years old.

No-one knows her age, including herself. She couldn't speak English, so we used translators to talk to her.

When convention got under way, the house filled up with extra people, and so I had to move out. The neighbor was so nice and offered me a bedroom in their "boys quarters" which is a little house all by itself on her property. I was there for about 10 days. It was literally the next gate over so was very convenient! It was quite a nice place to stay, and I was free to come and go as I liked, so was quite lucky it saved me from going to a hotel.

So this was my bedroom there.

Alan directing the folding up of the tent.

Uncle Vincent and I taking a break from the cleanup :)

The cleanup went well, and was finished up by a big game of football!!

Here's Philip and Colm battling for the ball

Here's some of the spectators. Football is a big thing you know :)

Philip and the kids...they all love him

Philips mom n dad-Betty and Vincent

Ami and I

Dansoman (Accra) Convention 2010

Beautiful Ami

Fifi playing bball with his buddy.

Notice the athletic footwear being used here, Nike has nothing on this :)

Ami and I went to get our hair braided.

On our way to town one day we saw these BIG cows strolling through the streets, unattended.

Every country seems to know about Crocs. . .

but this is a new style, pink and blue

Philip took me to his mom's work one day. She is a secretary in an office here.

Auntie Betty in her office.

Philip and I went to a nice restaurant one evening to celebrate

our "one year" and my birthday.

Yumm, this was the best food we've had in Ghana!

Steak and Chicken cordon blue.

US :)

This super cute little Mami ;)

Pricilla and Mariam

Another football game. Philip and Matey battle it out

Philip and this little cutie, she is so serious :)

Ernest and Esther (cousins)

Esther and Me

More cousin love, Ami and Fifi

My family for the past 3 1/2 months.

Matey, Ernest, Philip, Ami, Vincent, Marium, Betty, Teiko, Esther, Koyo, Fifi

And me with my family :)

My last sunday in Ghana, Photo opportunity

Having fun

I cooked one last "Canadian" meal, Spaghetti and meatsauce

I suppose it's italian but we eat it often and they don't Finished it up with some homemade rice pudding.

I was quite proud of this also :) it was Yummy!

These are good boys here in this country :) Doing the dishes

Jamaica (one of the friends) and Matey

One of the nights before I left, all of us kids went out for supper, one last time to all be together

This was one of the best fast food places we went to. I wish we found it earlier.

Delishioius fried chicken and fries.

Yummy Burger too

Ami and Fifi

Another day on the town, you just never know what you're going to see.....

anyone need a coffin?

around town

You just never know what you will see in Ghana...even a license plate from Calgary!

I can't believe I forgot to tell you that this is how the drinking water is sold here -sachet's worth 5 cents. The price did go up to 10 cents Aug 1st, and that was hard for everyone.

I realize I never showed you my bedroom in the Oyortey's, so this is where I spent 3 months :)

Philip, Ernest and I went out a couple nights night before I left.

This was our favorite hangout, called Timesquare-yummy Alvaro (pear drink) and Orange Juice. :) They knew our order every time - slightly predictable.

Us with the cool artwork in Timesquare.

The boys, Philip and Ernest

Out and about again, notice the shoes on this little cutie....All kids when they learn to walk are wearing flip flops, it's too hot there for shoes

This is the "circle" at night. This is the main hub for busses and taxi's in the city.

A very very busy place!

This is looking down from the overpass, this is the big market at Circle.

Last night together :(

Was a sobering last day at the house. But we still managed to have fun

and have a smile on our faces.

At the airport...before the tears!

I had a 10 hour stopover in London on the way home. This was made much easier because I got to spend time with Philip's Aunt and Uncle and cousin's that live in London. Auntie Nana picked me up from the train, and took me to Morning meeting, and then back to the house and fed me :)

Auntie Nana, and Uncle Zagba(Vincent's brother)

Nuerki, Zagba, Nana and Tetteh (2 of their children were not there and I didn't meet them)

Me with Auntie Nana(whom I met last year at convention in Ghana), Nuerki and Tetteh

Then I arrived home in Calgary. I'll put the rest of my adventures in Canada in another post.....

Thanks to you all for your interest in my blog and for all the comments. It definitely made it easier to put in the hours to make the blog for you all. I can say that this was an excellent opportunity for me, and it opened my eyes again. I have travelled a lot, but until you live in a country, right in the culture, you don't really get the feel of it, or understand how it all works. If any of you ever get an opportunity to go to Ghana, - or Togo or Benin for that matter, please let me know and I can help you out with some of the little things.

Please keep in touch, my Calgary number is (403)-828-0318 and I'd be happy to chat. My email is: leha_321@hotmail.com if that's easier.

I don't know who all has been watching, but hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks again,

Leah