My Blog

new beginnings...

Fitnat — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:23:47 GMT

This is weird; I haven't been on Tribe for like forever and I even forgot my passwords, it's been that long... But the times they are a-changing on tribe and whether I like it or not I am being sucked in with the flow. Need to say what's up now and then but the time is tight at the mo. so will do a proper entry soon. Hate the word tomorrow since it never comes but the impetus has been triggered so to save face I have to step up - just not right now. Soon.

Chug-a-lug!

Fitnat — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 22:21:13 GMT

Not to sound bitter or anything but I was recently contacted by the central church committee to act as an advisor for a seminar which they intend to implement; whose goal is to facilitate communication and understanding between german teachers and their african students. Now it's no big shakes cos I've acted as an advisor many times before for youngsters (german) who have never come across an african before and I am part of the program which helps breach cultural 'barriers'. Normally I am interviewed by the mainly german participants so there is more than an element of give and take in that they focus on those issues that interest them. Today however I was asked to; explain how a teacher could best help an african student. My first thought was what's the problem you just treat the african student like every other student. Then I put my german hat on and realised that what I was actually being asked was - how can one alleviate or comprehend the problems of an african in german society. Okey-dokey, not so simple. The thing is most africans don't go walking around as though they are a problem or have a problem they just get on with coping with the challenges of day to day life. Most youngsters want to get on and enjoy the fruits of capitalism and globalisation. They generally don't give a hoot for being 'authentic traditiionalists' that is a truly western fixation based on the value judgement that africans are very much stuck in their past. A never ending quagmire which hinders their advancement in the western world in any shape or form. Big time wrong! Most african youngsters don't give a damn about what their parents or grandparents concede as their 'heritage' they are too busy trying to cope with and live in the now and by trying to create some isolationary truth about their 'true existence' will only work to make them feel alienated and unable to talk with you at any level. I tried to convey these points to my colleague and I hope she got the message as well when I told her I can't answer such a generic topic without specifics - tell me what you want to know and I will use my experience to give you some answers. I know she was a little taken aback and she didn't want to give up her topic bone at first but eventually she realised she wasn't getting the answers she wanted from me, so she will try again at a later date when she has compounded some more concrete questions. That is after she has talked to the teachers who will be taking part in the seminar, of course. Why do I sometimes get the feeling that the more you move forward the further back you get?! The colleague asking for my help is a love and I truly respect her; she is intelligent, assertive knows what she's on about and isn't afraid to ask the right questions when she's clueless - but sometimes I get the feeling that no matter how much I try and explain that 'african's are not the problem' in this cultural dance the less I am believed. Germans have in my opinion a constipated psyche; they view the world in one way and no matter how much information you give them they still manage to shove all the pieces into the wrong holes. For want of a better term- the victims are always blamed for the atrocities they face rather than the perpetrators. The fact that I am african is my problem because the germans can't deal with it?? Oh shag - I should just blow off this negativity and think of something constructive to say but I'm not in the mood and I've run out of words...

rounding up time...

Fitnat — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:16:37 GMT

Yeah well note to self; there's still enough time in this year to tell myself I can make a change in my nasty organisation habits. The added impetus is also that my sister will be arriving in a week so I just have to get my arse in gear by then ( as if...)! Lets just put my ditziness into perspective shall we; I translated a catalogue for an international art group with the foreknowledge that I would charge them most of their bill in spring and the rest in autumn/winter. Well when their rep. called to find out how much they owed me I couldn't even remember what I had done and the extra sheets had gone walkies so I couldn't even guess at what the number in question could be; so what does supreme twat do (you do know I'm talking about me right? Just checking.), I mention the first number that comes into my head which just happens to be the smallest bill known to man. Extreme duh! It is a third of the actual bill by the way, I could tell that the rep. was so happy to hear what I had said she even got chatty on my arse, you have to know germans to know that they don't do small talk, at least not very well. I had definitely made her day, afterwards i told myself it shouldn't always be about the money and at least i know with an offer like I gave them they will be back again in a hurry next year. Ho hum I hope I learn from this debacle. Like put your notes where you can find them because true to form all the translation was nice and tidy in a lovely yellow folder with a copy of the finished catalogue for the first half... Embarrassingly stashed in my Art deco secretaire, cos I had planned to put it on my desk upstairs somewhere in the near future. Go figure, when God was giving out organisation genes where was I?? Anyway with my sisters visit imminent I have been piece by piece collecting and filing the loose sheets of important paper, flying around all over the place. I will not say to no avail, that is too defeatist even for me, instead I will be optimistic and say it is moving along nicely. Now if only I could convince the kids that we don't lve in a dumpster...?

old age with lots of pepper!

Fitnat — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:49:47 GMT

Yesterday I watched a most excellent documentary film about sex and old age and I have to tell you I was gob smacked. It was realistic, raw, honest and so enlightening I wanted to take notes... You know how sometimes an element of powerlessness and cluelessness burps through your brain once in a while, when it occurs to you, "hey mate, we're getting old". Weelll this film puts those jitters to rest; if I could age with one iota of style as portrayed by the women mentioned in the docu. then I am well on the way to personal greatness. I was so inspired that I started in on a short story idea, will pass it on if it evolves into a personality worth screaming about. Needless to say as a woman I found the attitudes and opinions expressed by the women in the film both refreshing and a relief. I did not intend to die with the notion that sex was something I did till I was forty then it became a vague memory - sod that I intend to use yoga to facilitate those sex moves not replace them!! That was just the joy of life and love, gutsiness, that was conveyed and expressed in the film. Thank God the generatioin who thought that 'doing it' was little more than nasty have nigh on died out, the baby boomers are liberating old age just as they did their youth and I am truly thankful for it, by the time I get to where they are now, the whole world will be savvy on how to have multiple orgasms at 70! For your info the doc has its own website: WWW.Stilldoingit.com . Do check it out and if you get the chance watch the video I can not recommend it enough.

Back to life!

Fitnat — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:34:18 GMT

Like the Soul to Soul song I'm finally getting back to life in Germany... been in England for ever and coming back here was initially well strange but what the hey, so be it! I have finally sent off my application to Canada and now the year long waiting that is the emmigration process begins. So much flying around in my head that I cant even focus... soon.

Over it!!

Fitnat — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:08:50 GMT

Having had some time to digest the match that ended my interest in the World cup; I have to be reasonable and say that prob. an element of sour grapes was at play in my reaction to the game. Deep sigh!! Thinking about it later I realised if Brasil couldn't even bother to play with gusto and they still managed to beat Ghana by 3:1 then they are most definately in a class of their own. It was just annoying to view their laid back can't be arsed style. Well the usual suspects are now left to play and frankly thats it for me as far as the game goes. I'll stick to newspaper clippings to tell me what's up from now on. Moving on to other topics my attempts to get P.R. in Canada continue; my police clearance data ran out so I have to apply again. Annoying but it helps maintain my desire that I want to leave Germany for good. Surprisingly life here just seems to be getting better and more comfortable and it kind of leaves on wondering why do I want to leave again? Whatever, the ball has started rolling and I don't want to lose the momentum, so forward one and all. I can rethink the whole drama when I have my papers.

Champions in spirit!!

Fitnat — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:17:33 GMT

So it would seem that Ghana is out of the World cup but we fought like lions! I am no expert and as I've said before, no true footie fan but my God didn't we do well. The team were hungry; co-ordinated, drew and commanded the ball enough times to take your breath away. I truly expected them to score at least once but Brazil's three goals were shockers. Talk about tactics; it was almost as though they were sneaking the goals in when we were not watching, oh yeah, that's almost exactly what they did. What about Ronaldo's goal? What a cheeky sod, I've never seen anything like it, the commentator did point out that that type of goal is a trademark of his but as he pointed out it was obvious that Kingson ( an excellent goal keeper by the way) didn't have a clue about that particular style. I don't want to harp on like sour grapes but the Ghanian team deserved better treatment than the bloody referee they ended up with, he was blinder than a mole or maybe he was just being paid like one?? Who knows, they say that football is a bent game, you could almost believe it after that ref.s performance!! Bitterness aside the Black stars did well; in the sense that they were the underdogs but they managed to raise a few eyebrows and grab a few gasps of the unexpected. Ghanaians and Africans in general are always being underestimated and tarred with the incompetent brush; it was nice to see a team who went against the grain, worked hard, played with sportsmanship and flair and managed to put our country figuratively and spiritually on the world map. Maybe with training and time they will prove to be a side to be reckoned with on a broader stage than the African continent. Go Black stars.... Mi daase!!!

Hi summer!

Fitnat — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:11:34 GMT

Its been a while but I'm still alive. Lifes always happier when the sun's shining and today we have a real doozy. My eldest just returned from a week away on her class trip and boy did we miss her. We're really huggy types as a family and when one of us is missing it feels like a clog is missing from our wheel no matter how long they're away. We collected her this morn from the school yard and I can tell ya we acted as though she had been gone for a month, but what the hey at least she knows that she is loved!! My father in law is improving somewhat he has developed some complications in association with his contenance but we're all taking it in our stride. It's hard on him adjusting to the changes in his body the alientating aspect of the changes hasn't depressed him thank the Lord instead he has developed a somewhat darker wit which makes you love and cherish him that much more. We need a holiday desperately; my ideal would be to venture to Vancouver for a month but we've been invited to Greece so we will see, I suspect that our budget will keep us stranded in Europe but never say never. We're still planning to emigrate to Vancouver in the long run so my better half is determined in part not to holiday there cos he reckons it would be a waste of resources; however, my argument is if you've only been to the east coast in Canada the west coast will still be a surprise. I have pointed out the benefits of doing a research trip but he reckons although in principle its a good idea we just dont have the resources to muck around with the idea willy nilly. So who's mucking around?? Whatever weve talked so much about it I'm almost blue black for holding my tongue and being diplomatic. World Cup fever has hit Frankfurt. We were in the city centre this morn after we picked my eldest up; the city has a buzz to it. Its beaut. to hear the english accents of all kinds in between the german. We even saw a couple of Bobbies with guns! A man and a woman as soon as I saw them I wanted to hug them just for the familiarity that they conveyed. A bit of blihty in frost bitten germany. In no way shape or form am I a footie fan but I am definitaly rooting for Ghana this world cup although I am well aware that it would take a miracle for them to win. It would just be nice for some underdog country to win it would put a spanner in the works of the monumental egos of the major world players. German flags have come out in full force and if you have ever been anywhere in Germany at any time after the second world war you know that this is unheard of; the Germans are very low key about their nationalism but it sits there in wait like an infestation. That's why they tend to over dramatise when one of their own does well on the world stage, the said person becomes like a demi-god; in the case of the new pope its not actually far off the mark. Even those who didn't believe in God before suddenly had a reason to seek him out. The day after his name was announced the most popular paper in the country had headlined - We are the Pope! Now with the world cup at play the subdued national pride has come out of the closet. I'm a little wary and God help us if the krauts do win again almost as bad as if England wins. Don't get me wrong, I really wouldn't mind if England won but I would be well afraid to walk the streets after if either of these teams, Germany or England, wins. Todays the first day that I've noticed the youngbloods walking the streets, so far the airs clear but put alcohol into the play and no one can guarantee the good behaviour of the touched footie fans mentality. One of the reasons why my hubby and I left England we couldn't stand the friday night aggression after the pubs closed. That however is another winge for another time, I'm no fan but I do look forward to the Togo and Ghana games simply for the fun of it, for the rest of the play outcomes I will keep tabs on via hearsay, I'm not that much of a fan, actually, I'm no fan and doubt whether I will see one game through. Whatever. The excitement is good for people watching and I'm bound not to get any sleep since I live directly opposite an Irish sports pub which is a beloved local of english speaking visitors.

old age

Fitnat — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 20:23:36 GMT

I know when you are really young you never seriously think of ( as a rule) getting old; however with the advent of kids your sense of mortality seems to creep insidiously into your everyday psyche, all of a sudden all the miserably old fuddy comments that you're ma used to come out with seem to slowly make sense. Scary, I know because that has been my brain wave for a while now, it has become so endemic to my outlook that I now accept most aged ideas without comment. It has become a part of my evolution, my maturity. What I have never really truly taken on board or truly been worried about is dying; that is until recently. My father in law who has parkinson's moved in with us after a hospital stay, there was no way he could comfortably or otherwise manage on his own, so we convinced him to move in with us until his parkinsons rehabilitation kur comes into effect a week from now. I thought I knew how much he had deteriorated up until now; his motor skills are painfully slow but it isn't just that its the difficulty and the strain for him of his nigh on every movement which gets to you. I never knew how difficult it was for him he had always made jokes about his restrictions but seeing first hand just what a pain in the butt picking up a kids toy from the floor was for him made me applaud him for his sheer persistence and determination. It made me wonder Lord how am I going to deal with getting truly old and incapacitated. The one doesn't always neccessarily follow the other, but what do you do in the instance when it does. Will I be big enough to deal with it without whining and without venom like my father in law. I swear he's the man and my admiration for him grows daily...

as time goes by...

Fitnat — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 22:45:57 GMT

I sometimes wonder if life really sucks or its just my mood? I shouldn't complain so I won't! Had a truly busy but enjoyable weekend. Spring is finally here and we have been sapping it up in small doses. Went to a spring festival and saw a theatre piece which left me cold. My Canada application is still sitting on my desk but come hell or high water I intend to mail it off by the end of this week. I need to organise my life like yesterday but it's turning into another of those projects which get hauled into do tomorrow; bearing in mind, tomorrow never comes. Have a prof. seminar coming up on wed. and I am so dreading it, to make matters worse it has to be in German and I am pretty sure I'm not gonna be able to wing it. Have written everything in English first and now the translation is begging to be finished, it's a pain... Needless to say I am feeling supremely swamped and stressed but I know that I should just take it on the chin and deal with whatever tripe comes my way. Sometimes my chicken shit ways amaze even me and to think I am 100% Asante, my grandma would be turning in her grave, if I hadn't already decided to snap out of it! Back to work...

changes that make you feel ugh!

Fitnat — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 09:28:53 GMT

Well I've been a bit of a stranger for a while now. Real life seems to have sucked me in with a real pull and I just haven't had the time to keep up with my e-mails let alone tribe! I've been doing some translation work for an art group and since I'm a mother and freelance my hours are inverse to normal workers i.e I normally work laaate nights! The last few weeks have been intense but now I'm into phase two... preparing for a intercultural seminar at the end of March which although gives me a lot more leeway time wise, it still has me running around in a panic; since I can't find any of the references I'm looking for - ugh! The topic seems pretty straight forward at first but the intellectual meanderings associated with it makes the theme somewhat daunting. The idea is to have a round table discussion on the various cultural perceptions of and use of time; specifically to enable Germans who work with individuals from foreign cultures; to better compehend how they may improve not only their understanding but also the methods they choose to use, with said individuals from other cultures. Two "experts" have been called in to provide the principle info. for the seminar; one is a professor of indian studies, I'm the other one who is supposed to dole out inciteful info about african perceptions of time. Oh yeah, it is as daunting as it sounds! To say I'm nervous would be a gross under estimation. I feel overstressed and under qualified right about now esp. since time is flying like the beegeebers and I have yet to find any constructive info ammo on my chosen peoples the Akan, what I've managed to garner so far is not enough to fill a pin head and is sadly anecdotal although from the studies I know of, it is based in fact. Having studied anthropology I suppose the odds are better in my favour but it doesn't blasted well make me an anthropologist. Enough of this self defeatist crap. I will now get my house in order and try and figure out my paper work whilst plodding along...

alien blues!

Fitnat — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 11:47:22 GMT

My sister recently came to visit and it was heartbreaking to actually say goodbye. The kids were balling their eyes out since they adore auntie and no matter how often we say hello or goodbye to one another it always feels new and raw. It's a little bit of 'home' when she comes by and its a relief to be able to talk to someone (other than hubby) from the heart and in all my earthiness without having to worry about what others think or coming across as too exotic! Damn that 'exotic' label which they often use here in Germany to describe when they haven't a clue about other peoples cultures. It is in my opinion more derogratory and a good mechanism for keeping the labelee at arms length. So it was a relief to actually "be" without having to think about the cultural codex or significance of my actions relative to the nasty stares and glares. If your overly loud and black they come a mile a dozen and one thing that my sister and I are when we are together is loud happy and in ya face!! Boy was it refreshing to laugh out loud outside and not give a damn. When she or members of my family visit I realise only afterwards just how repressed I've become. The blacks that I meet here are different from those I know in England. They are a heck more reserved and less inclined to make casual friendships or even conversation. I have my own theories on this but I've run out of time... to be continued!

Sicko!

Fitnat — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 17:32:25 GMT

Have been offline for a while and will continue to do so cos I've got the flu but bad. Have been in bed for two days and am going slowly stir crazy!! Have no energy to speak of but wanted to check out tribes new look none the less. Truth be told can't say that I like it but it takes some getting used to I suppose. I miss the dark tones of before...! Back to my bed and my Bill Bryson down under...laters:-(

Antsy!!

Fitnat — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 20:28:18 GMT

I'm getting a little antsy as the days run along. I'm planning to emigrate to B.C and I'm still in the process of filling application forms and the like, I've already sent out my police clearance so I have less than a month to finish everything and send it off... meanwhile my belly is doing serious jitterbugs. I am so nervous about my decision that I have noticed a decided shut down in attitude to my everyday life here. Not a good sign I know but somehow I can't seem to get out of the chicken shit mode! So much is riding on this change and it is not me alone; my husband has he's heart also sent on the move, panic, what if for whatever reason we don't get in, and we haven't told our eldest in detail about our plans, since the wait could take years and we figured that would be too much aggro for her to take in. Unnecessary pressure etc etc. She knows that one day we hope to move to Canada she just doesn't know when; this is not a new idea for her since we've been blabbering about it for a few years now, but as is the case for kids it is not really a reality just yet. Suffice to say her attitude has changed from "Hell no", to "when we move can I have a dog...". Meanwhile my mindset has moved from "Canada is the land of milk and honey" to "oh shite, this is not as perfect as my rose tinted feelings", a firm dose of reality has kicked in; familiarising myself with the politics and history as well as a couple of canadian immigrant sites has brought home to me the potential for some painful experiences. Needless to say I'm feeling really scared right now and the process has hardly begun. Our ultimate goal remains the same and for that reason we will follow through with our objective of migrating but the head work is really getting me down at the mo. I can tell ya!!

Ho hum!

Fitnat — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 12:52:07 GMT

Years hardly begun and I am already beginning to feel funked up. Just spoke to a friend who I haven't seen in years or spoken to for a year; she moved to Heidelberg, which is no excuse but somehow the gel was missing in our conversation. You know that spark of recognition which you have when your speaking to a kindred spirit, it seems like our well just ran dry. I feel that that is such a shame, my good friends are few and far between and I find it really tragic when someone youy have grown to love seems to have either outgrown you or just has nothing more or new to say from a sincere heart. The sighn of caution in speach is an indicator to me that we are not as relaxed with each other as we should have been or could it just be me transfering me feelings with out truly analysing myself... Who knows maybe I'm just thinking too damn much as usual. I can be such a pain to my psyche sometimes! Regardless the moody blues are here for the moment and I am feeling temporarily misunderstood and alone, as I said it could be me projecting again but that doesn't help or change how alone and sad I feel right now. I'm in desperate need of a hug right now. Mush mush...!

Happy New Year!!

Fitnat — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 22:34:02 GMT

Happy new year to one and all. So far the hols. have been a blast. We had friends come to visit from Greece to stay and it was a refreshing change to routine. The only downer was that we didn't get the chance to have much family time before we were invited to a sleep over New Years bash. The downer wasn't so heavy cos we did enjoy ourselves immensely all round its just that we've come to treasure that special one on one time with the kids and having friends around constantly eats into said quality time although it adds a special flavour all of its very own! Well the other news is we've put our hands into the fire and have started the process of applying for permanent residency in Canada. We have been thinking about it seriously for three years and now we've finally managed to get the ball rolling in that we are now waiting on our clearance papers before we send the whole kit and caboudle to the CIC. The whole process is going to take yonks of time; up to two years is the outside estimate but the principle issue here is that we have actually finally got our arses into gear and are putting our dream into reality. To say I'm scared and nervous of the outcome is an understatement but there's no point in professing to want something if you don't fight for it! After all these years complaining about Germany and germans I'm actually at the stage in life where I have come to accept them as they are and I am much happier. Things just seem to be clinking into place of late and the application seems to have come at a time when everything seems to be hunky dory. I'm almost afraid to rock the boat of our measured existence yet I know that in my heart of hearts that it is the right thing to do for us nonetheless it feels like a hard step! We are starting to fulfill a lot of our long term goals and I'm getting real antsy at the prospect of possibly making the wrong decision esp. since we have a family. At the back of my mind I'm thinking what if we screw up and this blows up in our face what about our plans for the little uns will they suffer because of our gypsy tendancies?? Then I just have to remind myself not to do my head in. No one is perfect and it is not surprising that I'm losing my bottle a little bit, it's a big deal to leave your family and bugger off to the never never esp. when your doing it alone!! I just have to trust in the belief that we are doing the right thing. Vancouver is our intended destination... will let you know if we ever get there.

okey-dokey!

Fitnat — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:31:22 GMT

Somehow my sense of timing sucks. This is not a new thing but a life long trait which is right now gettting on my pissing nerves. Sometimes I get so fed up of my bad habits... nuff said. Talking to my self online hardly does any good. Been meaning to update for a while; went back to the kindergarten. One off the assistants called and asked me to come in last friday since xmas is looming scarily near; she wanted me to talk to the kids a little about what it is like to celebrate xmas in Ghana. Well bearing in mind that my audience wasn't on average more than 6, there wasn't really that much to tell. Basically it runs like this; in Ghana we celebrate christmas on the 25th, as is the case in most anglo-orientated countries, unlike the germans who celebrate on the 24th. Most of the day is spent in Church where a variety of events have been arranged for the congregation. One week before, on the third advent guest churches and their members are asked to join the local congregation to celebrate and sing together. It's like a jumbo chorister affair. On Christmas day itself although a lot of time is spent in church (at least four hours) it is a family day. A day when the extended family and immediate family get together to not only remember Christ's birth but also to commemorate the day who could not be there to join the rest of the family and ancestors this Christmas. After the service the family return home eat together and the children then get their presents; which usually comes in the form of clothes and toys. Door to door choristers also pop around; they sing songs in exchange for some sort of treat or small financial donation. My mum said decorations as we know them were not the norm but she used to decorate plantain leaves with chillies. Creative without end that's me mum!! The following day however is the real cracker when every one lets loose and really parties down. Traditionally called Boxing Day in England, Dec. 26th is the time when the kids get to dress up and play around. They no longer have to be so well behaved and serious. Today is the day when a collective feast is organized. All the favourite goodies are prepared like; Fufu with peanut butter soup, fried yams, awakyei, fried plantains, jellof rice, fried snappers, kenkey, doughnuts. We tend not to favour desserts as a rule but if a given family choses cakes are also prepared. Oh dear, my mouths watering just thinking about it. Now is also the time when the kids exchange toys that they have made themselves between themselves. In a nutshell that's a ghanian xmas and that is more or less what I told the kindy kids; I had also prepared some fried plantains since I was pretty much convinced ( and rightly so) that the german kids had never seen a plantain in their lives. For the most part it went over well. The layout or format was very much like a school assembly and the kids loved the little insights. Hopefully the images I conveyed and brought with me stick.

I survived!

Fitnat — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 23:17:00 GMT

I would have posted what happened at the kindy earlier, only we decided to chill out for the weekend and only returned to normal life today... Well, I think it went well; not surprisingly I was a little nervous about meeting the director of the kindergarten because I was unsure as to whether we would be on the same page. Previously I had only spoken to two of her assistants and we had got on famously but its not guaranteed that the chief and I would get on like a house on fire. I had planned for us to brain storm, so in true dynamic journalist fashion I had brought my quintessential notebook and pen plus a couple of accoutrements which I thought might be of interest to the kids. Anyway as far as I understood it we were to discuss all the delightful possibilities for titillating little minds. Bearing in mind that I would need my adult head on that day I had the presence of mind (or so I thought) to ask my hubby to come along and watch our daughter whilst we were there. Imagine my suprise when upon entering we were heralded into a room to dump our things and then were immediately escorted into an open classroom with a room full of seemingly stunned, since they were so quiet, kindy kids! Where was the director?? No where to be seen, apparently they had changed their minds, without informing me beforehand and wanted me to... get in touch with the kids!! Heepers Jeepers my smile was stuck on and strained I can tell you. Like the trouper I was before my incarnation as SAHM, I decided to just dive in and pretend that it had been planned that way all along. Screw adult intervention. I wasn't too sure how to begin so I came in as loud and friendly to throw out the cobwebs of fear and uncertainty that I saw on many of the kids faces. They didn't know what to make of me and that was all for the good. Eventually I noted that the ice had been broken and the more outgoing of the kids helped to build up a convivial atmosphere. After introducing ourselves; through questions asked and answered I allowed the kids to dictate what I would present to them driven by their own curiosity. It worked and flowed. More importantly the kids had a blast! Eighteen in total and each as cute as a button, a couple looked like miniature lions and acted like it; with their 'impress me or die' attitude, somehow I managed to get them all around, by teaching them a few songs in Twi. Songs are the arsenal of every teacher of under fives, I swear, when the mites get restless bellow out a song and watch them react like mesmerized snakes!! Each time the noise level rose an octave above what is reasonably comfortable for a normal adult, I delved into my bag and produced yet another curio from Ghana, the list included: a fly swat made out of goats skin and tail, an Akwaaba doll, a bush devil made out of bronze but I didn't want to scare the blighters so I kept that one in the bag, a book about a young boy called Kofi who talks you through his everyday life and the people who are part of it, an excellent book with spectacular photography a real gem, and lastly a handful of personal fotos taken from when I was last in Ghana; of kindergarten and school kids in the Bechem and Brong Ahafo area. Last but not least a mini talking drum which I practically had to pry out of the little peoples hands once they got over their nervousness of not being able to play it properly. How the hell can you play a drum badly at five?... geez Germans can make a neurosis out of crossing the road I swear!!!! Of course I'm well aware of it being the parental influence that's why I made the last comment. I was relieved and exhausted after the presentation because it was so unexpectedly placed in front of me, so I was seriously winging it, but to all intents and purposes I think that it went well. The children were so endearing. One little vietnamese girl who had hardly spoken the whole time except to say her name verrry quietly asked me at the end if I would come out and play with her. I was so charmed I would have followed her home and back. A few of the kids were very affectionate, holding my hand whispering little keepsakes, it definately left me with a warm glow. The point of the exercise I realised at the end wasn't so much what I showed the kids but rather who I showed the kids 'I am'; that is a Ghanian who is big and dark but not at all scary and who could relate to them in a way that was open and humourous. Most of these kids will not get the chance to have a relationship with an African, at least this way our little session allowed them to appreciate that we are normal and not as exotic as the wider adult population would have them think. Not that exotic is a bad thing but when it is used to negatively differentiate and create an unnatural distance and fear, no good can come of using that term or device. Sure we are not cut from the same cloth culturally but our similarities far out weigh our differences. They are never too young to learn that lesson. I guess it didn't hurt that I had my little munchkin with me, she was running around charming the pants of anyone who came into her visier. Kids can relate to other kids so easily. Although my youngun is only 18 months she fitted right in and acted as though she had always attended the kindy. Amazing!! I'll load up the piccys I took in my next post, at the mo. they are in Berlin along with hubby we forgot to download them earlier.

winter just sneaked up on me!

Fitnat — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 21:13:15 GMT

Here I was enjoying the glorious colour weave of autumn. Chillin with my layer work clothing convinced I had all the time in the world to get my head around winter preparations when BAM I went out this morn. and practically froze my 'lumps' off!! EEE-GIT!!! Not only was it ice cold outside but it was friggin damp and ice cold. You get the gist I was not pleased. Now I really have to invest in some winter drags 'cause all that I have is not wearable outside of my own yard. Tomorrow's a big day. I'm off to a kindergarten in the suburbs; they asked me to come and talk about Ghanian life; specifically xmas, to some of their little people. Its part of an international cultural project which is to teach kids from around the world about different cultures. This particular initiative is to take place around and specifically for christmas but the kindergarten that I will be involved with want the arrangement or transfer of info. to last longer than just xmas. They made the good point that xmas is not enough time to open little kids eyes and hearts to how other people/kids live in the world. The principle of the project is that kindergartens from around the world are coupled together or twinned if you prefer... with children from different countries, then exchange letters, pictures and other memrobilia to help one another understand how the other half lives. An excellent idea and the whole project has a perverse name like 'gnomes of the world unite' (just teasing!- I can't translate it that's my problem). Whatever it's called I think its an excellent premise for a better understanding between cultures. As I've often said if everyone had to study anthropology or other peoples cultures in a realistic way the world woud be a better place. Grabbing people when they are kids is the key... anyone ever read 'Native Tongue' then you'll know where I'm coming from - I digress. So the partner group to this german kindergarten that I will be going to is a Ghanian kindergarten in Tamale; ironically way before I was born my mother used to be a school teacher there! Oh how the world turns... I intend to give the kids a bit of a tactile treat so I'm taking along amongst other things a wooden Akwaaba doll and a talking drum to let the little mites rap and roar. I pray the gitters don't overwhelm me 'cause little people can get reaaaal scary when they are amongst their own kind; I know I trained as a teacher before I had the wisdom to drop out of the course, now it seems that at every turn in my adult life I end up teaching somebody something intentionally or not. What the hey maybe it's my Karma speaking or God trying to get a message through and I'm too dumb or scared to pay attention. Whatever the case scenario I intend to give it my best shot and enjoy the experience.

Bugger, bugger bugger

Fitnat — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 23:21:48 GMT

Just my luck! The blasted entry is lost. I'm off to bed, this is too depressing... tomorrows another day.

road to recovery

Fitnat — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 23:18:41 GMT

Thanks 'd' for your suggestion. The authors name sounds vaguely familiar, I will order the book just out of curiousity for something new! You will not believe what just happened to me the ghost in this machine just screwed me over. I have spent the better half of an hour writing a commentary for my blog; and looking at the sparceness of my writing, You know that's a big deal, I digress anyway this bloody system wouldn't let me upload because I needed to re-log in, then due to some error on Tribe net not only does my entry disappear which I tried to submit 5 frigging times... Oh Lord I should just shut up ramblings are boring. Let's see if this idiot entry goes through..

diddle land

Fitnat — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 22:50:30 GMT

I've recovered from the flu but the down side is that I feel completely listless. Bugger it all I really wanted to get into a good book and I always read three books at the same time when I'm dawdling yet now I'm in the mood for a real sci-fi humdinger and nothing in my yard takes my fancy! I probalbly sound like a spoilt brat but who cares; there are way more important things in the world but I'm in the mood to be self indulgent at least for five mins. Sometimes it's a pain in the but to be always reading something or rather I should put it out as always having the need to read as if I feel half alive if I'm not sqeezing my fat nose between pages. Being a sci-fi nut means I have my library of dedicated writers whom I follow, problem is I've been there and done that with most of them and have read all I've got so I'm in the zone for new blood but no names are coming to mind. Any suggestions out there I've done the purists so I'm feeling out fantasty now; I tend to favour female writers but I'm getting over that slowly.. any suggestions to light up my book stand would be appreciated.

Fitnat — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 15:12:54 GMT

finally

Fitnat — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 15:12:43 GMT

I was wondering when I would finally get the hang of this site to be able to load up my first blog. Well here it is... Pinch punch the first day of the month and no return!! It's a pretty muggy foggy Frankfurt at the mo. and I'm house bound since I have a delightful case of flu. I haven't gone stir crazy yet although I am here imprisoned with two other beings under the age of 10. To cheer me up eldest is subjecting me to an overdose of German hit music... You have no idea! Be thankful. I shouldn't slag it off too much since some German pop is actually good esp. Xavier Zaidoo and Glashaus. Although technically speaking they are more likely to fall under the def. of new soul but I won't bore myself with pedantics. Seeed is the bomb but sadly she hasn't discovered reggae yet. So I have to make do with the likes of Sarah Connor who is do-able but you just want to squeeze the life out of the catterwauling of Yvonne Caterfield. Or Lord help us Jeannette; they are both poor imitations of the one and only Britney Spears; who I can't stand anyway let alone a blasted copy! You can tell that I am pooped my heads swimming and I have no idea what the heck I'm saying anymore. Time for another cup of sage tea and a nap; I just now have to convince the other two that they are tired.