Category: World Wanderings

When I was young, I was bit by the travel bug. Since then, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have the ability to not only travel to numerous countries around the world, but also live in foreign countries. These posts include stories about my travels, cultural differences and travel tips.

stacks of canned goods such as tomato paste, oil, ketchup, mayonnaise, powered milk and spice

Winneba is Where the World Meets

January 6, 2017

Globalization. It’s a big concept that means a lot of things to different people. As technology, inventions and innovations have made travel and transport easier over the years, it’s only logical that bits and pieces from countries and cultures would scatter like seeds on the wind across the globe. And while the majority of the people in my community will likely never go far beyond West Africa, they are rather well versed in the world, through commodities and ephemera. Here are some of the things that make Winneba a global town.

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The Quirks of Ghanaian English

January 3, 2017

When I tell people I live in Ghana, one of the first questions I get asked is what language do I speak there. There are more than 70 local languages spoken throughout Ghana, but English is the national language – a holdover from the British colonization.

However, just as American English is different from British English, Ghanaian English has it’s own distinct rhythms and quirks. Here are a couple phrases you might hear in Ghana, and what they mean.

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view is from behind of a model with a colorful cape draped over her shoulder

A Look at Ghana Fashion and Design Week

November 4, 2016

Ghana is just like many other countries. There are the rural areas, far from the cities and capitals where people struggle to make ends meet. There are towns and regional capitals with large universities that are young and vibrant. And there are major cities, including the capital of Accra, where there are major cultural events, the wealthy elite in their fancy cars and creative movers and shakers pushing artistic growth. Last month, the three of those came together at Ghana Fashion and Design Week.
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the cover of a Ghanaian passport

Difficulties of Traveling as a Ghanaian

October 28, 2016

As I shut the door and settle into the front seat of the nearly dilapidated taxi, the customary greeting tumble out of my mouth. “Good afternoon, how are you?”

“Fine and you too?” the driver responds.

“I am also fine,” I chirp back in a friendly ritual that is repeated throughout my day.

A few beats go by and then the driver asks, “What is your country?”

“The United States”

“Ahhh, America! I wish to go there.”

“By the grace of God,” I reply. This is probably the fifth time this week that I have either heard this desire or have been asked to take someone there this week. And the truth is, my citizenship opens a lot more doors than Ghanaian citizenship does.

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young thai children wearing traditional clothing carrying pictures of the thai king and queen

Death and Loss of the King in Thailand

October 25, 2016

It’s been a little more than a week since King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej died. His passing is a tremendous event in Thailand, and as such the next year has been declared a year of mourning for the Land of Smiles. Many people who haven’t spent an extended amount of time in Thailand, and even some who have, don’t understand what the King meant to the Thai people or are confused about what significance he had to them. The story of the Thai monarchy is a difficult one, however, understanding that history can provide greater context for the reasoning of the masses of Thai people donning black.

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a chart showing the different iterations of Thailand's constitutions and how democratic they were

Thailand’s Newest Constitution

September 27, 2016

Last month, the Thai people voted on a referendum for a new constitution, their 20th constitution since 1932 when King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) acquiesced to the demands of a bloodless coup. It passed with 61% of the vote, with 59% of eligible voters participating. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

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a young man in a marching band playing the trumpet and looking at the camera

Winneba’s Brass Band Festival

September 20, 2016

Music is seemingly everywhere in Ghana. It’s rare to have a truly quiet moment outside of normal sleeping hours, and even normal sleeping hours don’t always stop the tunes from wafting through the neighborhood. There is a proud history and tradition of music in Ghana, particularly the homegrown genre of highlife, which is a fusion of 1950s jazz, swing and brass bands and traditional Ghanaian drumming, beats and guitar styles. But highlife wouldn’t exist without the influence of brass bands.

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a man wearing traditional clothing and holding large feathers

Celebrating Afahye in Cape Coast

September 13, 2016

It was dark and the evening was in full swing. Traffic was simply not moving anywhere, forwards or backwards, and there were competing sound systems every 10 meters or so. People crowded throughout the streets, hands grasping sausages on sticks or bottles of beer, shouting to friends, jockeying to get a good position to watch some dancers or dancing themselves. Not only was it Friday, it was the night before the climax of the Afahye (uh-fah-SHAY) Festival in Cape Coast

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A transparent picture of a boy on a canoe overlaid with #Stop Slavery Ghana

Combatting Modern Slavery in Ghana

August 12, 2016

A couple months ago, the US State Department released the 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and it was not good news for Ghana. For the second year in a row, Ghana was placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, which means that if the government does not make significant anti-trafficking efforts, next year Ghana must be downgraded to Tier 3, losing around $600 million of aid from the United States.

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