Day 20: July 2nd

Pics coming soon :0)

Today is a free day. It seems the day go by really fast when there isn't much to do for some reason. I said that I would work on my paper or catch-up in my journal today but I got side-tracked. Not in a bad way. Tamera was in my room and we had a really long conversation. It was emotional. I feel like when I share my joys and pains with people it not only is healing process for me but it appears to help others as well. I believe that is why the testimony accept of Christianity is so important. You never know how your story can inspire others or strengthen our emotional and spiritual stamina. So today was not a loss. It had a purpose.

After our conversation we decided to go to Osu to eat. I always insist on 2 cedis for a cab no matter where I want to go, so crossed the street and found a cheap taxi. Every time I get in a taxi I ask the person's name in Twi. Yesterday when we came from the Arts and Crafts market we rode with a guy name Fletcher. I usually ask the drivers all they questions I know in Twi as they tell me to repeat myself in the middle of their laughter. Fletcher told me that taxi driving is a partitme job and when he isn't driving he is the manager as a restaurant called Papaye in Osu. So Tamera and I decided to go to Papaye, got in the taxi and I began my interrogation which apparently is amusing. Usually the drivers chuckle and respond. But today the driver was so tickled I couldn't help but laugh hysterically myself. He name was Kwasi Ado. He thought it was so funny, but he wasn't laughing at me, he was more so excited than anything. He starting saying things in Twi and I would barely pick it up but translating is correctly and he gave me this wide smile and said "You are trying!" It was funny. Tamera was cracking up. He surprised that this was our first time in Ghana ans that we knew at least some Twi. Then he said something that another student on our trip said and another Ghanaian told them. Kwasi said, people from other countries will live in Ghana for years and not know any Twi. But it would be virtually unheard of if someone went to French and didn't at least try to learn some French. The taxi ride ended with him asking me to bring home back to "The States." I smiled, paid him, said bye, and pretended like I didn't remember what he asked. It can be kind of awkward.

We got in to Papaye and it felt like an African Popeye's with better tasting chicken and rice instead on biscuits. It was kind of funny. Fletcher came to our table and said, "Afia! Wo ho te sen?" He remembered my name and decided to quiz me on me Twi. I respond appropriately and he gave his stamp of approval. I feel like the entire hotel staff is now greeting me in the local language after I have greeted them in Twi when before they barely spoke. The woman who is always at breakfast and rarely says anything to anybody and often looks mean, looked at me as said "Ete sen" or "how are you" and smiled. I responded with the same smile. It just gets more and more fun.