Hola amigos!

Qué tal? Qué es la vida? Hasta mucho tiempo no he escrito alguno texto pero ahora tengo algunos minutos para informar.
It's more than one year since I had to come back to Germany and had to leave the wonderful country Ghana. It was an awesome and amazing stay there. I learned so much about the culture and the people there. And when I had arrived back here it was so ... unusual ... Everthing was so strict and there are so many rules. Also the peolpe haven't got time to talk and nearly nobody smiles while walking down the street. It seems like the Germans aren't happy about their lives and the situation they're in, but they should. So many people in the world would be happy to have such good basic principles.

Oh and of course I should show you a current foto of me

For me, I decided to start living in a new and happy way. I started my studies in Bielefeld and this summer I had passed my exams for the second semester successfully. At the moment I'm back home in the house of my parents, because I have holidays. In a few days I have to travel back to the north to be punctual there for work on Friday.
The studies aren't as easy as I thought and also the search for new friends is so complicated. I found just a few new friends but it's enough.
Why I decided to write a new post?
Last week I visited a girl who also plans a stay in Ghana. I gave her as much information as I could. I wanted her to be more prepared than me and because of the long conversation I was remembered by the wonderful time I had. I still have got some adresses from friends down in Africa and I want to write them letters even this week. I will inform you about the response and thanks for the garrulousness to pursue my blog after such a long time :D

Wind of change

Dear population of the earth!
I know a lot of time has gone since I have written the last post. And I'm sorry for. I thought a lot of time about writing something down here once again because there shouldn't be something special about my situation now. What I mean is, in Ghana everything was an adventure and it was interesting to read the stories but now it's different and I'm worried about boring you. But I found a decision and the wish to write something like a diary won. I want to use the blog to inform my friends, those who are intrested in my life, and also for myself to report. I think in future I will be happy to read what happened and how it felt.
At the moment I'm just sitting on my bed in my new room in a foreign city. After my comeback to Germany I started applying for university and at least I got a place here at the university of Bielefeld. I had to search for a flat and to move. The first days were hard and I missed my old life but I think it's the same procedure as all the time. Now I'm here for nearly three weeks and I'm staring to arrange with the new situation. I like my roomies and of course all the other students in my subject. It's more difficult to get in connection to other students than I thought but I found a girl as a really good friend. Her Name is Tatjana and I'm sure we will have a great time here. At first I also thought about trying to swap the university after one semester. The idea hasn't disappeared but it's no longer present all the time.
That's the situation now and I hope it isn't too boring. Only once at least: Some minutes ago I tried to cut my hair and now it looks so crazy :)
I have to work for Chemistry therefore I wish you a good start in the new week. I will write if something special happens ;)

A short walk barefoot through Accra

First I wanted to write in German but I'll start in English, sorry to all of them who won't understand :-) Last Friaday I celebrated a small Goodbye party in my host family with some friends. Hannah came and helped me to prepare a german meal: Semmelknoedel with Schwammerlsosse und Bayrisch Kraut! It wasn't easy with these circumstances but it tasted similar to the original and I was very proud and happy to get something to eat which is surely without meat and fish. It was a great evening.. It makes me sad to think bad, I'm sorry.. It wasn't easy to leave Tepa at the next morning and all of my collueges (Fatao and Yaa and of course Isaac) came once again to say goodbye. Oh I nearly had to cry. But the tears didn't come out and I went to Kumasi to meet with Thomas at STC, the big bus station. From there we started our journey, first to Cape Coast. 

We stayed there for two days and visited the Castle and enjoyed the beach. But down there it wasn't a nice view: everywhere there was rubbish and waste in which pigs searched for food. Therefore we decided to travel along the coast to the west. Our destination: Busua, a small village behind Takoradi. We arrived there in the early afternoon and rest at the wonderful beach for the rest of the day. Next morning we walked along the ocean about one and a half kilometres till big stones we couldn't pass. I collected a lot of shells for you Debo! After two days it was enough, also because the weather changed and Thomas wanted to arrive Accra in time to do some things there. 

Yeah and now I'm still here in the capital and not happy about. The first evening I was really shattered, I only wanted to go home, whether home to Tepa or home to Germany! I wrote Isaac and Yaa some texts when I arrived at the cities and Isaac was worried about the information I gave to him on this evening. He called me yesterday only to ask if it is alright! Very cute, and I miss him, Fatao and Yaa a lot. Also yesterday Hannah has arrived here in Accra and I'm very happy about! In the evening we only rest and enjoyed some food and drinks. Today we wanted to go to the souvenir market but all of us don't feel well. I got a cold of the air conditioner! Only because of a british girl, who turned it on all the time when I have turned it off! In the morning I was so angry and thought about beating her! Tomorrow I want to meet Waltraud once again but she is still not here in Accra, she wanted to call when she arrives but me phone is off and we haven't got light. Without electricity I can't do anything! And at last: I have to buy new shoes urgently! But here in Accra it's very expensive. They wanted to get 30 Cedi! Debi debi debi! That's too much! ;-) 

I will be back at home on Sunday morning and I hope I will get cheese and yoghurt and maybe it's possible to celebrate a barbecue party! Food is wonderful!

Football match!

Madje meine Lieben! 
Yesterday I visited together with Isaac and Fatao the Football match here in Kumasi! And first of all: Ghana won against Congo 3:1! It was a nice game only the rain disturbed the nice feeling. Since days it hasn't rain but yesterday the whole evening. And of course there wasn't a roof in the stadium. Only the VIP seats had the luck and stayed dry. But as an Obroni you've got a special position here in this country. While Fatao and Isaac had to stay in the rain and waiting till it stopped, two smart guys offered me their seats and invited me to sit under the roof :-) You only have to look a little bit shy and without orientation (that's not difficult for me) and you'll find help. Especially the bad boys become friendly and very polite...
After the game there were to many people on the street. We left the stadium some minutes earlier but we hadn't got a chance to get a car to the trotro station. Therefore we had to walk the whole distance and it's a very long way. It rained so strong and there were so many persons that I couldn't see anything. After some minutes Isaac took my hand and guided the right way. Fatao was always behind me, so that I didn't get lost. I was so happy to get a seat in the Trotro but it was to cold. Nothing, really nothing was dry! My whole notes in my bag, my mobile phone, my clothes, everything!
And then we drove back to Tepa, two hours in a windy car. I've never thought about getting a cold here in Africa but nothing is impossible!
Today I want to buy some things here in Kumasi to set footprints in Tepa and in the evening Hannah and me we want to enjoy the nightlife once again!
I don't know when I'll get the opportunity to post something because I'll leave next week.
Best wishes

Bald gehts heim!

So meine Lieben, da meld ich mich doch noch mal! Ich hab jetzt nur noch eine Woche in meinem Projekt hier in tepa, dann werde ich n bisschen durch das Land reisen und hoffentlich rechtzeitig am 18ten Juni in mein Flugezeug steigen.
Because of some English speaking members in my audience I want to summarize the last few weeks in international language so that everybody is able to understand. In the last weeks happened so much. I had a lot of work and also thought about how to support the organization. Of course I had some ideas but the realization is not easy. There are a lot of resources missing or difficult to get here. But at least I found some ways...
Two days ago I was with Isaac in a small village in a rural area without electricity. Most of the population are farmers and go to field very early and come back late in the evening. There is nobody who look after the children and the appearance of them is terrible. They've got injuries on arms and legs and the flights sit in there. This view I will never forget!
It's not easy to see the bad sides of the country but necessary. This country is so different to Germany and I had to get used to so many things. But now it's better, i enjoy staying here. When I arrive Tepa after I spent a weekend in another region it feels like coming home...I love my host daddy Isaac and my colleague Fatao, we've got a lot of fun together. Today in the evening we will go to the big stadium here in Kumasi and watch the match between Ghana and Kongo! It'll be nice!
I'm going to leave my project next week on Saturday. I'll travel to Cape Coast and stay there for two or three days to visit the sights there, the close city Elmina and the Kakum National park. Afterward I'll take the bus back to Accra. If there's enough time and Sonja gets the address, I want to visit her godchild Georgina in Volta region. That's the plan but I don't know what will happen because in this country you shouldn't make plans, it doesn't work!
Leider bleibt mir jetzt nicht mehr viel Zeit! In diesem Sinne! Greetings to everybody! Like you much and miss you! Kisses

Mal wieder auf den neusten Stand bringen ;-)

So meine Lieben, da bin ich wieder! Leider war es mir in letzter Zeit nicht moeglich einen Blogeintrag zu schreiben, grosses Sorry!
Ich war letztes Wochenende mit ein paar anderen im Nroden des Landes im groessten Nationalpark Ghanas, dem Mole Park. Wir haben n bisschen Safari gemacht und n bisschen mit Elefanten rumgetollt! Die sind uebrigens schwarz und nicht grau wie alle denken! Frisch gebadet kann man das gut sehen :-)

Heey das war wirklich ein Erlebnis fuer sich, kann man nur empfehlen. Auch wenn die Fahrt dirthin der Horror war (insgesamt 14 Stunden!)! Aber was nimmt man nicht alle sin Kauf um freilebende Elefanten zu beobachten!
Meien Arbeit traegt langsam Fruechte, hab ich jedenfalls so das Gefuehl. Wir haben die letzten zwei Tage Meeting und Workshop abgehalten, wobei das Meeting fuer mich intressanter war, da wurde wenigstens zum Teil Englisch gesprochen!
Apropos Englisch, ich denke langsam in Englisch, also nicht wundern wenn da mal n paar Worte reinrutschen. Sehr beeindruckend wie ich mich veraendere ;-)
Ich hab noch n paar Ideen, was ich denn unternehmen koennte, um etwas zu bewegen, aber wie einige gesagt haben: Allein meine Anwesenheit aendert schon Dinge. Ja, Debo, ich versuche ein role model fuer die girls zu sein und ich hab auch so n paar kleine, die regelmaessig zu meinem Haus kommen und nach mir fragen. Ich weiss nicht mal, woher die meinen Namen wissen und wo ich wohne, aber ich denke das ist nicht schwierig rauszufinden. Da gibt es keine weiteren Obronis!
Und ja, sei stolz auf mich! Ich lerne langsam die native Sprache Twi! Zwar finde ich es noch wirklich kompliziert, aber Fatao als Lehrer macht sich gut und ich bin zuversichtlich...
Die naechste Woche moechte ich fuer meine Hostfamily kochen, Semmelknoedel mit Schwammerlsosse, ob ich die ingredients alle herkrieg bezweifel ich ja, aber probieren geht ueber studieren. Und es hoert sich so lustig an, wenn sie versuchen den Namen des Gerichts auszusprechen :-)
Und am Donnerstag war ich auf dem Markt und habe mit Nana gemeinsam Stoff gekauft, welchen ich dann gleich zur Schneiderin gebracht habe und am Dienstag kann ich dann hoffentlich mein erstes afrikanisches Kleid abholen -> es wird lila!
Das wars mal wieder, mir bleibt leider immer nicht so sehr viel Zeit! Ich vermisse euch!