I’ve been making a concerted effort lately to make friends in my neighbourhood, talking regularly (and in Twi when possible) to some of the ladies that sell things on the main road.

One in particular had become a friend, and she wanted to cook something for/with me, so I said that I could today. We made fufuo and light soup (a peppery tomato soup that is thin in texture). It was good, and people got a huge kick out of seeing me washing bowls and sweeping up. I wasn’t much good at the main parts of the peeling and chopping (all done in the hand) or the fufu pounding (it’s hard!), but it was tasty. It wasn’t necessarily pertinent to my research, but I’m hoping that by being around and willing to participate in the sorts of activities that show that I’m interesting in Ghana and Ghanaians, I can start making inroads into building some trust that I can then use to learn more research relevant things.

Filed under: Anthropology Daily-Living