5 Ghana top 5s

Food

5. Cosay (probably spelt incorrectly) - looks like a doughnut, made from ground beans, sometimes a little spicy, breadlike in consistency.

4. Goat kebabs – only when bought from our spot, Feel at home – definitely the best in Bolga.

3. Plantain chips – served with a bit of yazee (ground peanuts and salt).

2. Fan Yogo – strawberry frozen yoghurt, bought from a Fan Ice boy at the tro tro station.

1. Jallof rice – red in colour, made with tomatoes, vegetables, chili, and sometimes the key secret ingredient, ground fish. Delicious!!

Drinks

5. Star – yes, I can’t believe it, but beer has actually made it into my top 5! Still drunk normally with a bit of Sprite to make shandy of sorts

4. Gordon’s Spark – basically alcopop made from gin and fizzy orange juice

3. Smirnoff Ice – just the way it comes at home

2. Red wine+sangria – out of 2 cartons, occasionally made into mulled wine.

1. Shandy – different from 1 above as it comes in a beer sized bottle and very refreshing – only available north of Tamale.

Stupid animals – especially when encountered on motorbike

5. Cows – not nearly so fast as other animals normally, they are more obstacles to dodge. However, one quick, unexpected move and I’m sure the cow would come off better than me. Someone has started letting out their cows at the end of our street – just a small herd of around 10 – as if I didn’t have enough to dodge what with the sewage from the neighbours house, the pig family and goats.

4. Pigs – they only appear at 4 as they are less common than the others – quite fast moving despite how they look, and they have such big families you can be waiting weeks until the whole lot cross the path.

3. Goats – by far the most common of animals encountered, but at least they understand when you beep your horn that they need to get out of the way and not run towards you.

2. Chickens – why did the chicken cross the road? Because they saw a motorbike coming towards them and decided that now was the best time to cross.

1. Sheep – the clear winner in this unfortunate competition, the sheep – who looks nothing like the sheep at home, more of a hairy kind of goat – is by far the most stupid of animals. Sheep do indeed follow each other everywhere, and seem to think that the motorbike horn is a signal to run towards and not away from.

Places to go when it’s too hot…

The few places in Bolga which have AC

5. The Vodafone office – unfortunately, not being a Vodafone customer, this hideout is not the most convenient – there’s only so long you can wander around looking lost in this small office before you are escorted out.

4. The electricity bill paying place – again, only really a viable option at very specific times – they don’t appreciate you going in to thank them for their good service.

3. The Afrikids office – always lovely and cool, and they give you water – but you can’t really disturb these hardworking people too often unless you actually have something to talk to them about!

2. Ubald’s office – one of the VSO Education officers, his office is always lovely and cool – but he is rarely there at the moment.

1. Barclay’s bank – perfect spot to hide out in for a while. Join the end of the queue and wait until you get really near the front, and then hold your head and say “oops, forgot my card today.” Alternatively sit in the waiting area reading a book and no-one bats an eyelid.

Weird and wonderful Ghana

5. The time that Ghanaians get up – when Olke and I go for our slightly crazy 6.15 runs, most people are already on their way to work and school, whereas I’ve just rolled out of bed.

4. Eating so neatly with their hands – Ghanaian food is mainly stodgy foods with soups and sauces, and Ghanaians are very good at eating neatly with only the right hand.

3. Greeting – everyone, everyday – makes for such a nice work atmosphere, but takes ages.

2. How much and what they can carry on their heads – sewing machines, planks of wood, school bags, massive bowls pilled high with fruit, veg, bags of stuff…

1. Ghanaianisms – I’m coming (meaning I’ll go away and come back at some time later today, small small (a very small bit/amount)…(more of these later)