Guy's Night 2009!

Ghana Log 15

You'd think it would be really cool to be the only couple guys in a big group of girls. For the most part, it is. But, every once in a while you need a break.

On Friday, the only two guys at the NYU compound (the other two were AWOL) hit the town. I wish I had more video to work with, but I think the YouTube clip I created is still fun to watch.

We went to Champs, which was really similar to a New York bar, and Tantra, a packed Osu club. A few of the girls crashed the party at Champs, but we were actually glad to see them.

The photo on the left is from my favorite comic of all time, Y: The Last Man.

Garin in Ghana

Ghana Log 14

My friend Garin has a fun blog called Follow Garin in Ghana that I recently helped with.

One of his friends from Florida sent him a list of misconceptions about Africa, so I did my best to clear them up.

It's crazy to think that in a few days I will have been living in Africa for one month.

You can view the article HERE.

Also, during research for an article I'm doing about African-Americans coming to Ghana I discovered that Garin probably has ancestors from England. So, considering my ancestors come from Scotland, he is the one oppressing me...in a roundabout kind of way. It seems strange considering he is such a nice guy, but now everytime I look at him I want to yell, "Freedoooommmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Obama Wrap-Up

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I feel like I am following this guy around.

So far, I have had seven published stories about Barack Obama. Three were on NYC Pavement Pieces, one (about Obama political buttons) for the New York Daily News, one in Socialist Worker, one in amNew York, and, as of yesterday, one in The New York Amsterdam News.

I also got my first ever photo credit for a story in The AFRican Magazine.

I also have written a lot about his policies on my blog. I even had a poll asking visitors if they cared about him visiting Ghana (72 percent said "Yes" and 27 percent said "No").

My personal views on the political system in the United States are much different than the president's supporters so I don't want to risk this blog becoming an "Obama blog." Regardless, I'm happy for each and every visitor to The Mid-Twenties.

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“In America the President reigns for four years, and Journalism governs for ever and ever” - Oscar Wilde

Africa Bites

Ghana Log 11

Well, it was going to happen eventually.

The hardest part about living in Africa, and one the things that has made life for Ghanaians so hard, is disease caused by a poor water supply. It is all too easy to get this bad water into food and, I assume, I ate something with contaminated water.

On Monday, I woke up feeling a little sick. I first took care of a student that had been throwing up all night and then went to class. The whole morning I felt like I might throw up myself, and then around noon it finally hit: I threw up more than I ever have in my whole life. At least 8 or 9 times.

Then, I went home and slept for four hours. When I woke up, it was the same thing all over again. Basically, my body was doing anything possible to get rid of something inside me. It was gross, painful, and exhausting.

Four other students ended up being sick too. We think it was from the same Chinese restaurant, but who knows. I'm happy to say, after a truly brutal 24 hours, I'm back to my old self.

I guess having stomach problems is part of the African experience.

My First Published Story from Ghana!

Ghana Log 9

Yesterday, Barack Obama visited Ghana and it was time for me to get to work. I wrote three stories for three different publications. It was a real challenge because I had to have different sources for each story and had to write them differently. It was rough, but by 7:15 p.m. I had submitted all the stories.

My first story published from this amazing country was in am New York.

You can read it HERE.

Obama Song is a Hit in Ghana

Ghana Log 8

Blakk Rasta, a Ghanaian reggae artist, created a hit song called "Barack Obama" that is all the rage here in Ghana.

You here it blaring on radios all across the capital, Accra.

Tomorrow I will go to the Convention Center where Barack Obama is speaking, and then attempt to follow him to the Cape Coast. I'm sure I'll be hearing this song A LOT.


You can read the lyrics Here.

Obama Excitement Grows in Ghana

Ghana Log 7

While wandering around Green Court, an area close to Labadi Beach, I met a 22-year-old student named Lovelace Telleh. I noticed that he wore a cross around his neck and we found out that we were both Catholic, so from that point of reference we started to hit it off. It turned out we shared an interest in music, writing, and talking about girls.

I was a bit nervous, at first, that Lovelace might not be as genuine as he seemed, but I was wrong. He helped me travel all around Accra, translated for me during interviews, took pictures for me while I interviewed, and taught me a lot about Ghana.

At the end of the day, I gave him some money for a taxi and he wouldn't take it! But, then I insisted and he finally took it. So, not bad for a Ghanaian. Anyways, he was an awesome guy and we will hang out again soon.

EXCLUSIVE: Baboon Risks Death in Harrowing Escape!!!!

Ghana Log 6

In a blatant disregard for his own life, a baboon known only as "Fred", runs across the highway in this exclusive clip obtained by The Mid-Twenties.

Little is known about Fred other than he is, in fact, a baboon, and was given his name by a mysterious and good-looking red-haired reporter.

WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Nightlife in Accra

Ghana Log 5

If there is one thing the notoriously slow Ghanaians are fast at, it is handing you a beer.

The nightlife in Accra, Ghana is vibrant and growing. I still have so many places to go, but here are some of the ones I have gone to thus far:

1. The Chelsea Hotel and Jazz Tones - Located in my neighborhood of North Labone, the Chelsea Hotel hosts a variety of musical acts ranging from jazz, to soul, to reggae.

Beers are about GH¢ 1,50 - 2,00. A large Star beer (a local beer that tastes a bit like Heineken) is only GH¢ 2,00.

The service here is pretty bad, so I would recommend buying two Stars at once.

2. Reggae Night at Labadi Beach - My favorite thing to do, so far, is to go on Wednesday nights to one of Accra's most famous beaches for reggae night.

I always thought of reggae as a Jamaican thing, but everywhere you go in Ghana there are amazing reggae artists.

Labadi Beach is right on the Atlantic Ocean and although locals tell you not swim in there, it is a common occurrence (at least when this reporter is there).

If you are a girl, don't go there alone. Ghanaian men, in general, are very aggressive and the only chance of them leaving you alone here are if you are with a guy.

3. Ryan's Irish Pub - This bar in Osu is nothing but white people.

As expected, the prices are also just for white people. The food is really good, but spending $12 (USD) for bangers & mash doesn't sit well with me.

I guess, maybe, if I am having a "Ghana overload" I would go there, but if I wanted to hang out with a bunch of chain-smoking, drunk, obnoxious Americans I would just go to Ace Bar on E. 5th Street back home.

4. Twist - One of my American friends invited me to this North Labone bar our third night here. It's small, and expensive, but the DJs are great and it has the best mix of ex-patriots and Ghanaians that I've seen.

I could sit here writing about all the details, but there is only one thing that matters about this place: every time I go I have a good time.

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A Haiku for You

Ghana Log 4

I wrote a haiku about life in Ghana using three metrical phrases of 5, 7, 5 moras (sometimes I veered off).

"Monday in Accra"

Accra's sun is strong
Rain comes to a stubborn end
The O'bruni is red

Lizards move swiftly
Frogs croak in rain puddles
Crows eat on the roof

Street kids hustle goods
No school for these poor chaps
Can you spare a cedi?

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Hearts of Oak Soccer Match

Ghana Log 3

Yesterday, I went to a soccer match at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.

I'm working with the students on a whole package about the match; We are going to have a slideshow, a video, and a print story on Africa Dispatch.

I have posted a video below of the Hearts of Oak player, Eric Gawa, scoring the winning goal against Eleven Wise FC.

The Hearts of Oak is the top team in the Ghana Football Association.

Settling In

Ghana Log 2

Ghana is the greenest place I have ever been.

As soon as we walked off the plane we were surrounded by huge palm trees, hundreds of trees and plants that I have no idea what they were, and vines covering everything.

Driving to our apartments we saw streets so packed with people that they were spilling out into the street, cabs (colored with orange panels in the front and back) driving crazier than NYC ones, and Ghanaians selling everything you can imagine in the middle of the road.

The first few days are a bit of a blur.

My ears were severely clogged coming off the plane and my cold was pretty bad that first day. Luckily, as can be expected, my cold went away very quickly. It must have been my nerves. Each day I woke up feeling better and better.

I've been here five days and love it.

The people are so friendly it is sick. I'm met with an unbelievable curiosity everywhere. I can seriously walk out my apartment and not see a single white person all day. Everyone stares - which sucks a bit - but they all are extremely eager to be interviewed (a huge contrast from reporting from in NYC).

Two days ago I got lost in our neighborhood in Accra, North Labone, and I met two Ghanaians, David and Juice, who helped me get to a restaurant. I had been lost in the blazing sun for over an hour and was extremely stressed out. They decided to stop what they were doing and walk 20 minutes with me to the ChocCheese (the weirdly named restaurant). They didn't ask for anything in return. It was amazing.

I have a gigantic apartment to myself and love my job. The undergraduate students are really cool and we are quickly becoming friends. My job is extremely rewarding - helping students work on stories and report actually rivals my experience teaching in California.

The main thing I needed to get used to was the unreliability of things. The water goes off, the internet is almost never working, the power goes out at least four times a day, and food at restaurants takes about an hour to come out - if you're lucky. Still, I find it kind of refreshing; I feel like my mind is becoming clearer without so many distractions.

I want to stay longer than I am set to be here. In fact, I've already been asking around about extending my flight.

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The photo in this article is by my friend Stephen Zook. Check out his excellent Dateline Accra blog.