Oburoni, Oburoni

That's what I'm called over here, in Akroso, by people I don't know. It translates as "white person", but literally means "he, who comes from the horizon", which was the Portuguese hundreds of years ago. Some call me Sammy because they cannot pronounce my name, but since my Twi isn't that great either, I'm not the one to judge. My African name, used by the Ghanaians who know me is "Kwaku Bokoo", Kwaku for I was born on a Wednesday and Bokoo for "exercise patience" (kind of ironic, because in Europe I'm the patient one:) . My host father is called Bokoo and he gave me his own name.
On Friday we were brought to our projects. All the people from around Swedru were brought by Tina, the coordinator of the local organisation. The further we went out of Acrra the greater it got. The outskirts consisted mainly of slums. Outside of Acrra is was mainly grass and bush with some tree groups on the hills, but once we had travelled some distance the jungle started. Lots of palms, orange tress, banana palms... I couldn't swipe that smile from my face. On the way we dropped of the other volunteers until we reached Akroso, where only the last six volunteers, including me, remained. Three girls were dropped off before me and two girls were brought to Oda, after I was dropped.
After getting to know my family and giving them the presents I went to bed fairly early, because I was exhausted, mainly because of the heat and sun. The bucket shower felt brilliant. Yes a bucket shower. Basically that's a bucket full of water, with a small bucket to scoop and pour water over my head. The toilet is a small hut with a pit...
One of the girls that arrived here with me left yesterday for Accra because the living conditions were too basic for here. But I can manage and I don't mind the occasional cockroach in the "bathroom" that much:) By now I'm also adjusted to the heat. Dinner was really weird because I ate alone facing a wall. They do not eat together as a family over here.
On Saturday I went farming with the children of the compound. We went into the jungle, where we started digging out roots like kasawa and getting bananas, firewood... The children seemed to know which part of the jungle was their farm and which was the farm of others. I just saw a group of orange trees there and a group of banana palms there. From there my mother received her first call from the jungle:) The reception is amazing, because everybody uses mobile phones instead of landlines. This also means that the calls are extremely cheap. (Fresh oranges straight from the tree are very nice; I also learned to like fresh pineapple over here)

(I climbed on a tree to take that picture)

(My host brother on the way back)

The next day my hostfather took me to church. We were the first because the night before they were at the church until 24:00!!! People strarted coming and the service eventually started. My host father as one of the elders of the church community to the side of the priest. Mostly the service is not much different from ours with exception that the preachiongs have more power and are often followed by an equally powerful Amen from the community. Also part of the service consists of singing and dancing accompanied by music from a small band.
(Pictures and a video will follow as soon as I get to an internet cafe where the USB port is not disabled)
In the afternoon I went to Swedru to have something checked out at the hospital. A fungus probably, but they are not certain either and I only know/ think because I've had it before. Apart from an ointment the doctor perscribed me antibiotics. Surprise, surprise!
This morning my hostmother was making bread, but I couldn't be bothered getting up at 5:30 so I didn't join her:) I'm really looking forward this afternoon because the two German girls that stay at my host mother's as well return from their travelling.