Africa gets cold?

Happy New Year to all!

It's been awhile since i've written. Too many things have happened for me to tell you everything but i'll do my best. And I'm tired i've been on the computer for close to two hours now. haha, but don't worry, it's not expensive, two hours is the same price as one hour in Techiman.

So, yes Africa gets chilly. SO chilly that some mornings i can see my breath!!!! Can you believe that?! I sure couldn't the morning that first happened. So Harmattan is upon us, cold in the night and morning and quite warm in the day. It's drier, but still doesn't feel as dry as a Michigan Winter, although the dust makes up for it. My poor lungs are crying with the dust, smoke, and exhuast fumes.

For christmas my landlord bought a goat and killed it, Although i didn't get to see that becuase christmas afternoon i went to the peace corps suboffice and had a nice americna meal, complete with pot roast and carrots and potatoes, stuffing, green bean cassorole, and snikerdoodle cookies! mmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!! and i also picked up the lastest copy of Harry Potter! I was very sad at the end, why's she gotta kill everyone? The last what, three books, someone good has died? Oh well, it was nice to read it, but it also made me homesick. People in Ghana think it's strange I'm reading a book about wizards and even more strange that in this book there are good wizards and a school to learn about magic, cuz in Ghana, there are only bad witches and wizards, and only bad magic, maybe someone will read Harry Potter and start doing good magic? but when isay that, i'm only laughed at! haha

Then on the 27-29 i went back to Krobo to stay with my homestay family. It was almost like going home. It was really nice to see everyone, I wish i could've stayed longer. My father, being MP, has got a lot of money now, so Freddie the eldest (21) has a brandnew laptop! NICE! Just like in the US with a CD burner and everything! haha, so i got to help teach him how to play the games, spider solitaire, free cell, solitaire, hearts, minesweeper.....but then he spent the whole time playing the games, boys, the same everywhere! hehe. And I got to finally see my Maame's farm, and help pick tomatoes, but she would only let me pick about 15 and then told me to sit down! So i tried! it was a very long walk, up and down steep hills to get there! I was again surprised at how far it was. So it was a very nice visit, and i hope to visit them again.

Oh! while i was away at Krobo, my cat, Obolo, got run over by a taxi!!!! well only his leg did, but now i think his left back leg is broken! the vet is supposed to come soon. you know, i'm really annoyed with my landlord. he's worse than a parent. he doesn't let me do anything on my own and he told the community if someone wants to invite me somewhere they must first ask him!!!!!!!!! what is that about? he's not my parent, and he's not my supervisor. I have fine judgement in people and if i make a mistake and something bad happens then it's on me. i feel like i'm in prison in my own home. i have to get up the courage to talk to him. you see he's very scary, he wants things done his way, he's always right, he always has to talk, god. anyway, i'm having some difficulties with that. He also told some people I said somethings which i did NOT. anyway, he only comes to Foase onteh weekends, I can't wait for him to go back to work, he's been in Foase for teh christmas, ugh.

So new years' eve, i didn't do much, i went to bed at 8pm. But New Years Day was a busy day. I went to the Presbytarian CHurch with my friend Abena and her mother, and then i came home before church finished becuase it was supposed finish at noon but i left at 1240 and it was still going and Appiah, my landlord, said i was to have lunch with him at the house between 12 and 1 anyway, when i got back to the house, he gave me a short lecture on Ghanaian time and being on time, etc. I think he was drunk by then. He was very drunk the whole day. OK here's the good part. the happy part. Marbollo, a youth club (youth meaning 20s) put on a New Year's Party! It was amazing! Chrissy, you remember the CSA conferences? It was like that, with guests and food, and then dancing! And yes I danced, and yes people were surprised and said that i've done well...and oh my,the Obruni is dancing, haha, so many pictures were taken. But it was a good time and i hadn't danced in a while. SO that was nice, I didn't stay for the whole party cuz it's like miami and lasted until about 5am. and well, i need to go to bed by 12 midnight as we all know, haha, actually 12 midnight is the latest i've seen in Ghana, i didn't think i could stay up that late here, haha. But it was very very nice.

So, besides feeling like a trapped little girl at my house, everything is going well.

I miss you all!

Kristina