Quirky things I've heard in Ghana

• Question from restaurant server

"What is food?"

• Question from Ghanaian friend

"What's diaper?"

• Comment from Ghanaian friend while unloading a bag full of African masks

"I brought you some groceries"

• Common phrase used to say "what" or "pardon"

"You say?"

• Called out to me on the street

"Hey, yellow hair"

• Question asked to a volunteer by a Ghanaian coworker, as he pointed to porn on a computer screen

"Do you do that?"

• Dialogue between volunteer (V) and host family member (HFM)

V - "I lost the key to the house, but I lost my cell phone too."

HFM - "Oh sorry (long pause). That's okay. I ate your sandwich."

V - "Okay, I guess I'll go get some chicken down the street."

HFM - "Oh, is it good?"

V - "Yes, it's good."

HFM - "Can you get me some?"

• Text Message

"R u pissed to meet me, think u r so i have to quiet call u. Bye."

• Comment made to volunteer by a Ghanaian coworker

"Oh, you've gained weight. Sorry."

• Comment made to me by a Ghanaian coworker

"You're body is changing. And, you look really pale. Are you okay?"

• Pick-up line by Ghanaian guy while I was lying on the beach

"I imagine that you must have been much, much prettier when you were 21."