Go with the flow

The second week is already over. Again with lots of impressions and experiences.

First I was able to get to know our organization through another project. It’s called community farming. Real farming is practiced here and the harvest goes to needy families. It is currently harvest time for peppers and pineapples. The work is very physically demanding, but a lot of fun. Above all, in the end you get a very satisfactory result.

However, since I didn't come here for work, I went on a couple of day trips at the weekend. Firstly we went to Lake Volta. This is the largest completely man-made reservoir in the world. I live not too far from the foothills of the lake. We wanted to enjoy the sunset on the lake. However, on the way there it became clear to us that there would be no visible sunset because various bushfires had broken out that day and the sky was gray with smoke. But ultimately you make the best of the situation. And despite the lack of orange skies, we had fun!

The next day we went to a small waterfall. It wasn't as spectacular as others I've seen, but it definitely has its charm. Especially since you can stand in or behind the waterfall.

My personal highlight of this weekend, however, was my personal introduction to Ghanaian cuisine. The main ingredients are rice, yam, a large root that tastes very similar to potatoes, and plantains. Traditionally people eat with their hands, so the sauces are often quite thick to make them easier to eat. The sauces mainly contain vegetables we know, such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cabbage, carrots and spinach. Spices are definitely not skimped on here and you often have to ask the locals to cook with a little less heat, as our sensitive European stomachs are not prepared for it. Cooking here is done either with gas or directly on hot coals. That was also the case for me. I was invited to cook lunch by Michael, a local I met in town. His big sister and mom were a little skeptical about how good it would be, but I really have to say that it tasted excellent. However, the whole process is very lengthy because since most people here don't have a refrigerator, all food is bought fresh. To do this we go into the village to the various stalls, mine has one vegetable, the other has the other. So it takes about an hour until you have all the ingredients together. Then it's time to cut and cook.

Yam and plantains take about 30 minutes to soften. In this case, since we are using a small grill that only has space for one pot at a time, everything has to be prepared one after the other. However, the end result is impressive.

Even though Ghana is the second largest exporter of cocoa, you can't buy chocolate here. This is mainly due to the lack of milk, as there are no dairy cows here. That's why I prefer fresh fruit for dessert. And you can sink your teeth into this one, it’s that delicious. Papaya and pineapple in particular are currently available in large quantities and can be had for around 60 cents. As a snack between meals, I have found peanuts to be my vice. Roasted and lightly salted, the 500 g bag is available for around €1.50. There's a stand for everything you need, sometimes it's a bit difficult to find the right one in the hustle and bustle here, but the people are very nice and helpful. All you have to do is look around, a little lost, and help will be offered to you. The salespeople are always happy to have a quick chat about your name, where you come from, what you do here, how you like it... If you then throw in a few words of Twi, the main spoken language here, you often get “sample packs”. “Packed with homemade peanut butter or soap.

I won't spend Christmas here in the volunteer house, but on the coast. I'll tell you where exactly and what I'm doing there next time.

I wish everyone a merry and blessed Christmas. Enjoy the time with your families and loved ones. Eat one or two pans of raclette, pieces of meat in the fondue or cookies for me!

Very best regards

Veronica