Turns out my Ghanaian birthday celebration was similar to how I mark the annual occasion in Canada.
Though the location, music and people differed there was a party, birthday cake with candles and drinks just like home.
My fellow JHR trainer, Jessie Johnston, was kind enough to throw the party within her Labone compound on the Friday (my actual birthday - Oct. 12, a few days after hers - Oct. 9), inviting many of her Ghanaian and obruni (white folk) friends. My invites paled in comparison, but I attribute that to having only arrived in Accra two weeks ago.
The music - a mix of reggae and hip hop - was blaring and many party patrons were already dancing when Alison (my roommate and fellow JHR trainer) and I arrived just after 8:30pm. Party's apparently start and end early for many Ghanaians, leaving obrunis to close it down.
Some of my other fellow JHR trainers were present - Indika and Kevin - who I had not seen for over a week. Joseph, Ghanaian friend number one, had also arrived - and Raymond, Ghanaian friend number two, and Hannah - another fellow JHR trainer - showed up a little later. There were about 20 people present in total, with good food and a grand selection of drinks thanks to Jessie - a positive vibe indeed.
Just as I began to settle into the party and meet people, my cell phone started ringing. The calls were from family and friends who had yet to wish me Happy Birthday. Unable to hear their voices over the music, I moved to the front of the compound and that is where I stayed for a good portion of the night, almost missing the birthday cake candle blow-out and Happy Birthday song for Jessie and I. Though I indeed wanted to mingle and get to know people better, I also yearned to hear from and connect with people from home.
Before I knew it the clock had reached midnight, the birthday party crowd had dissipated and there was still karaoke to be had at Champs - a bar in Accra that also features trivia night on Thursdays and movie night on Sundays. I had promised myself that Alison and I would end the night off with a song or two. A love for karaoke is just one thing we share in common.
So, off Joseph, Alison, Raymond and I went, leaving Hanna behind to get home to bed, as she had a Ghanaian wedding to attend (she was invited by a co-worker) early the next morning.
Surprisingly, Champs was similar to a frat bar in any southern Ontario university town before the anti-smoking laws came into affect. Though it was a mix of Ghanaians and obrunis, the atmosphere was quite overbearing as people pushed passed each other, cramming up to the bar to get a drink.
Alison and I ordered doubles (which took about 15 mins) and prepared ourselves for our big debut on stage. Unlike karaoke participants in Canada, the people singing at Champs were in key and quite good.
Crazy by Gnarls Barklay was Alison's personal selection and Beat It (yes, Beat It!) by Michael Jackson as well as Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers were our duet selections. We scribbled them down on a piece of paper and handed them over to the karaoke host.
While awaiting our turn, we came up with the grand idea to order a round of tequilas for Alison, Joseph and I (Raymond doesn't drink). Joseph had never tried tequila before. But just as they were set down on the bar, the familiar sound of Crazy took off and there was Alison belting it out on stage. I have to say, given the speed of the lyrics and high pitch tone, she did really well despite what she described as an absent reaction from her audience.
Upon her return from the stage, we grabbed the tequila shots and taught Joseph how to lick the salt off his hand, chug back the shooter and suck on the lemon as a chaser. How funny was that!
Beat It came up soon after and that's when the real fun began. Knowing none of the lyrics and having not heard the song in over a decade, we hit the stage to make a mockery of ourselves - Karaoke the Canadian way! Fun indeed with another absent reaction from the audience.
Our night ended soon after that and instead of sticking around to sing Ain't No Sunshine on stage, we broke into it on the street while waiting for a cab.
All and all a great birthday celebration and though celebrated in a similar fashion to those in Canada, one never to be forgotten!
p.s. Thanks to Alison and my other fellow roommates, Jane and Grace, for the makeshift birthday cake including ice cream, cupcakes, chocolate syrup and candies shared with our neighbour's children!
Though the location, music and people differed there was a party, birthday cake with candles and drinks just like home.
My fellow JHR trainer, Jessie Johnston, was kind enough to throw the party within her Labone compound on the Friday (my actual birthday - Oct. 12, a few days after hers - Oct. 9), inviting many of her Ghanaian and obruni (white folk) friends. My invites paled in comparison, but I attribute that to having only arrived in Accra two weeks ago.
The music - a mix of reggae and hip hop - was blaring and many party patrons were already dancing when Alison (my roommate and fellow JHR trainer) and I arrived just after 8:30pm. Party's apparently start and end early for many Ghanaians, leaving obrunis to close it down.
Some of my other fellow JHR trainers were present - Indika and Kevin - who I had not seen for over a week. Joseph, Ghanaian friend number one, had also arrived - and Raymond, Ghanaian friend number two, and Hannah - another fellow JHR trainer - showed up a little later. There were about 20 people present in total, with good food and a grand selection of drinks thanks to Jessie - a positive vibe indeed.
Just as I began to settle into the party and meet people, my cell phone started ringing. The calls were from family and friends who had yet to wish me Happy Birthday. Unable to hear their voices over the music, I moved to the front of the compound and that is where I stayed for a good portion of the night, almost missing the birthday cake candle blow-out and Happy Birthday song for Jessie and I. Though I indeed wanted to mingle and get to know people better, I also yearned to hear from and connect with people from home.
Before I knew it the clock had reached midnight, the birthday party crowd had dissipated and there was still karaoke to be had at Champs - a bar in Accra that also features trivia night on Thursdays and movie night on Sundays. I had promised myself that Alison and I would end the night off with a song or two. A love for karaoke is just one thing we share in common.
So, off Joseph, Alison, Raymond and I went, leaving Hanna behind to get home to bed, as she had a Ghanaian wedding to attend (she was invited by a co-worker) early the next morning.
Surprisingly, Champs was similar to a frat bar in any southern Ontario university town before the anti-smoking laws came into affect. Though it was a mix of Ghanaians and obrunis, the atmosphere was quite overbearing as people pushed passed each other, cramming up to the bar to get a drink.
Alison and I ordered doubles (which took about 15 mins) and prepared ourselves for our big debut on stage. Unlike karaoke participants in Canada, the people singing at Champs were in key and quite good.
Crazy by Gnarls Barklay was Alison's personal selection and Beat It (yes, Beat It!) by Michael Jackson as well as Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers were our duet selections. We scribbled them down on a piece of paper and handed them over to the karaoke host.
While awaiting our turn, we came up with the grand idea to order a round of tequilas for Alison, Joseph and I (Raymond doesn't drink). Joseph had never tried tequila before. But just as they were set down on the bar, the familiar sound of Crazy took off and there was Alison belting it out on stage. I have to say, given the speed of the lyrics and high pitch tone, she did really well despite what she described as an absent reaction from her audience.
Upon her return from the stage, we grabbed the tequila shots and taught Joseph how to lick the salt off his hand, chug back the shooter and suck on the lemon as a chaser. How funny was that!
Beat It came up soon after and that's when the real fun began. Knowing none of the lyrics and having not heard the song in over a decade, we hit the stage to make a mockery of ourselves - Karaoke the Canadian way! Fun indeed with another absent reaction from the audience.
Our night ended soon after that and instead of sticking around to sing Ain't No Sunshine on stage, we broke into it on the street while waiting for a cab.
All and all a great birthday celebration and though celebrated in a similar fashion to those in Canada, one never to be forgotten!
p.s. Thanks to Alison and my other fellow roommates, Jane and Grace, for the makeshift birthday cake including ice cream, cupcakes, chocolate syrup and candies shared with our neighbour's children!
2 comments:
Sophie -
It all sounds so wonderful. Happy belated birthday. You blogs are so optimistic and excited. It's wonderful to read. I miss you and I miss our yoga class. As is my usual M.O., I still haven't sorted out a class and I don't do it at home often enough. There just seems to always be something else on my plate that needs my attention. It's not very yogic to let these things stand in my way, is it?
It sounds like your having a wonderful time. Enjoy, learn, grow. I look forward to your next note. In the meantime, much love.
Jen
beat itttt
beat itttt
no one could ever be defeeeated
we are amazing
happy birthday again
it was my pleasure to be part of it.
xoxoxox "Elizabeth"
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