Welcome to America

""Welcome home! You look happy to be back." The White Immigration officer said to me, beaming. "I am. I've been gone for a while!" And I really was at that moment. The new "scan your passport and adjust your weave for a picture" system was impressive to me. No more long lines. I was digging …

A Woman’s Lot In Life?

Would his wife be willing to meet me? Find a baby-sitter for the kids and join us for dinner? The two bigger issues that remained undiscussed were the fact that 1) I could go out and stay out late because I was single and had no children and 2) our Ghanaian society makes it pretty darn clear on who stays home. It’s lenient such that married men can stay out late if they like and rarely have to answer to anyone. And no one thinks ill of them for socializing with other women while their wives stay home. My “going-dutch on everything” feminist self went out the door as I graciously accepted the spread before me and ate my way through a 150 cedi meal with my ex and his best friend, a fellow classmate, also married I should add. Throughout the meal, I wondered whether he splurge like this on his wife? Whether he would he still ask to hang out with me if I was married? Was it easy because I had no one to answer to? Would this change if I did?

Kaneshie Overhead (Part I)

I arrived at the bus depot at the bottom of the Kaneshie Overhead with a few minutes to spare. We had arranged to meet at 2pm to catch a bus to T'di and from there take one of the trotros to Busua. I hopped into the front cabin of one of the vans in the …

The Hug (Part III)

PART II Every afternoon in Accra felt like 90 degrees, although I'm sure there were variations. To be out of Accra and it's bustle was a treat, but to be in cool 70 degree weather was heavenly. I floated away staring into the Aburi mountains rising before me. I was mesmerized by their mere existence …

The Hug (Part II)

PART I The tour ended when we entered the farm-house from the kitchen. He grabbed us a couple of Castles and then showed us to the front porch. It was a small one but it had room for the three of us. I was too nervous to share the long chair with him so I …