The African Culture-What things do you know?

[*JG* 2]

Here is what I know: my fiance has said that he does not mind doing domestic chores as long as I don't go telling his friends about it

A very diplomatic angle

Isn't that men in general? You know they have to uphold that macho image!!!!!!

Oh yeah you know it ! Maybe we can use that as a future bribe.....mop that floor or I will call the guys at the office and tell them you dusted the furniture

with the pink feather duster while you were wearing your apron and I have the picture to prove it..............just being a meanie and don't even care if he does housework, well ok maybe once in a while. Repairs , maintenance and yard work would be great if he would do that.....I despise that.

Pssssstttttt (come closer and swear you won't tell....)

My husband wore 2 inch white platform sandals in a radio contest race against 49 other men in the rain to try and win our daughter front row Hannah Montana tickets & back stage passes. And I DO have pictures already in the scrapbook. He made me swear to never mention it or show the pictures to any friends or family back in Jamaica.

Thanks for reminding me I have blackmail materials!

[Ta Ta 1]

Here is what I know: my fiance has said that he does not mind doing domestic chores as long as I don't go telling his friends about it

A very diplomatic angle

Isn't that men in general? You know they have to uphold that macho image!!!!!!

Oh yeah you know it ! Maybe we can use that as a future bribe.....mop that floor or I will call the guys at the office and tell them you dusted the furniture

with the pink feather duster while you were wearing your apron and I have the picture to prove it..............just being a meanie and don't even care if he does housework, well ok maybe once in a while. Repairs , maintenance and yard work would be great if he would do that.....I despise that.

Pssssstttttt (come closer and swear you won't tell....)

My husband wore 2 inch white platform sandals in a radio contest race against 49 other men in the rain to try and win our daughter front row Hannah Montana tickets & back stage passes. And I DO have pictures already in the scrapbook. He made me swear to never mention it or show the pictures to any friends or family back in Jamaica.

Thanks for reminding me I have blackmail materials!

BWUAHAAAHAAAAAHA ok I won't tell.......... actually that was really kind of him to do that for her.

[ebonyqueen 0]

...did he win the tickets?

[*JG* 2]

...did he win the tickets?

Sadly, no. He won his first race; but lost the semi-finals and never got to those all-important finals.

Talk about belly laughs.....50 guys in 2+ inch high heels duct taped to their feet. It was about 100 times more comical then you all are picturing in your minds right now.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/jom...621337_0004.jpg

He wanted to camp out overnight a few weeks ago in the 8 inches of snow we had to buy them for her 2nd St. Louis appearance in just a few months. I drew the line on that one. Funny is one thing. Freezing to death is another.

[ForeverAmen 0]

...did he win the tickets?

Sadly, no. He won his first race; but lost the semi-finals and never got to those all-important finals.

Talk about belly laughs.....50 guys in 2+ inch high heels duct taped to their feet. It was about 100 times more comical then you all are picturing in your minds right now.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/jom...621337_0004.jpg

He wanted to camp out overnight a few weeks ago in the 8 inches of snow we had to buy them for her 2nd St. Louis appearance in just a few months. I drew the line on that one. Funny is one thing. Freezing to death is another.

You gotta love him for trying! That was very nice, ummm .... funny of him.

[forchika 4]

Here is what I know: my fiance has said that he does not mind doing domestic chores as long as I don't go telling his friends about it

A very diplomatic angle

Isn't that men in general? You know they have to uphold that macho image!!!!!!

Oh yeah you know it ! Maybe we can use that as a future bribe.....mop that floor or I will call the guys at the office and tell them you dusted the furniture

with the pink feather duster while you were wearing your apron and I have the picture to prove it..............just being a meanie and don't even care if he does housework, well ok maybe once in a while. Repairs , maintenance and yard work would be great if he would do that.....I despise that.

Pssssstttttt (come closer and swear you won't tell....)

My husband wore 2 inch white platform sandals in a radio contest race against 49 other men in the rain to try and win our daughter front row Hannah Montana tickets & back stage passes. And I DO have pictures already in the scrapbook. He made me swear to never mention it or show the pictures to any friends or family back in Jamaica.

Thanks for reminding me I have blackmail materials!

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Hello Everyone,

In my research I found books on Yoruba/Nigerian culture that you are allowed to read online. Some will allow you to download in .pdf.

Check it out: www.books.google.com

You have to register to read the books online. Not all will allow you to read or download but it's a start.

You call always check out your public library. Check and see if the public library in your area has a website, if so, you can search their database for books on Yoruba, etc culture, request it and pick it up at the front desk. I found a book on Yoruba to English dictionary but not as helpful as the cassette tapes and book I purchased at the airport in Lagos.

Hakeem and I would like to wish you all a Bless and Happy New Year.

Constance

I found a website that gave me a free download and I've been practicing my hausa. It's so much fun. Mama was so surprised when I sent her a card for her birthday with hausa written in it. It's fun to hear the surprise in Bassi's voice. I told him that I have to learn it quickly cause I don't want my children doing something and I don't know I should be punishing them!

Here is what I know: my fiance has said that he does not mind doing domestic chores as long as I don't go telling his friends about it

What happens at home stays at home!

[blah0323 0]

Here is what I know: my fiance has said that he does not mind doing domestic chores as long as I don't go telling his friends about it

A very diplomatic angle

Isn't that men in general? You know they have to uphold that macho image!!!!!!

Oh yeah you know it ! Maybe we can use that as a future bribe.....mop that floor or I will call the guys at the office and tell them you dusted the furniture

with the pink feather duster while you were wearing your apron and I have the picture to prove it..............just being a meanie and don't even care if he does housework, well ok maybe once in a while. Repairs , maintenance and yard work would be great if he would do that.....I despise that.

Pssssstttttt (come closer and swear you won't tell....)

My husband wore 2 inch white platform sandals in a radio contest race against 49 other men in the rain to try and win our daughter front row Hannah Montana tickets & back stage passes. And I DO have pictures already in the scrapbook. He made me swear to never mention it or show the pictures to any friends or family back in Jamaica.

Thanks for reminding me I have blackmail materials!

That was so thoughtful of him, but I just can't imagine men in heals trying to run.....

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Oh yeah you know it ! Maybe we can use that as a future bribe.....mop that floor or I will call the guys at the office and tell them you dusted the furniture

with the pink feather duster while you were wearing your apron and I have the picture to prove it..............just being a meanie and don't even care if he does housework, well ok maybe once in a while. Repairs , maintenance and yard work would be great if he would do that.....I despise that.

I don't mind doing housework too much. I agree with the repairs and shoveling snow and yard work (except for my vegetable garden). The maintenance on a house is so much work. Those can be his domain. I told him I am making a list of his responsibilities. He laughs but he knows I'm dead serious!

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

...did he win the tickets?

Sadly, no. He won his first race; but lost the semi-finals and never got to those all-important finals.

Talk about belly laughs.....50 guys in 2+ inch high heels duct taped to their feet. It was about 100 times more comical then you all are picturing in your minds right now.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/jom...621337_0004.jpg

He wanted to camp out overnight a few weeks ago in the 8 inches of snow we had to buy them for her 2nd St. Louis appearance in just a few months. I drew the line on that one. Funny is one thing. Freezing to death is another.

That's hilarious but sooooooooo sweet! He's a keeper!

[Zee Bee 61]

There are certain things that my fiance will never have to worry about like laundry. When I used to live with my sisters we would take turns. They would leave the clothes in the drier so long that they became all wrinkly. I HATE THAT. So, instead, I offered to do the laundry. So much better for my sanity

Aother is the kitchen. This is another area that I am very particular. I do not like having people in my kitchen with me. I like my solitude. If he wants to cook that is fine with me (he's a good cook....yum) but helping me is out of the question. And I need to have all my dishes done before I go to bed. I do not leave pots and pans in the sink overnight

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

There are certain things that my fiance will never have to worry about like laundry. When I used to live with my sisters we would take turns. They would leave the clothes in the drier so long that they became all wrinkly. I HATE THAT. So, instead, I offered to do the laundry. So much better for my sanity

Aother is the kitchen. This is another area that I am very particular. I do not like having people in my kitchen with me. I like my solitude. If he wants to cook that is fine with me (he's a good cook....yum) but helping me is out of the question. And I need to have all my dishes done before I go to bed. I do not leave pots and pans in the sink overnight

Bassi INSISTS on helping in the kitchen when I'm cooking. It slows the process down, but it's so much fun! He's beyond silly. His mom said he used to do the same thing with her. I hope it will be similar here. I say hope because you know when you're on vacation and cooking by choice it's not the same as after a 12 hour day while helping the baby with her homework and trying to get dinner done quickly. Bassi eats everything I cook with relish. I LOVE cooking for my man.

I don't dislike dishes in the sink, but I find that if I empty the sink every night, in the morning it makes me smile when I go in the kitchen. The room feels lighter somehow. But I run the dishwasher so it's not time consuming and since I make three meals a day in my kitchen, I usually have a full dishwasher every night. When the dishwasher is full, I run it and prop the door open to air dry the dishes. If the cat doesn't close it. He hates cabinet doors open in the kitchen. obessessive compulsive cat, go figure!

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Bassi is very protective. Almost over-protective. He thinks I do too much. If we go shopping in Accra, he won't let me carry bags. It's interesting because I see women going by with boxes on their heads and he won't let me carry a bag of groceries. He also seems to be aware of where I am all the time when we are together. I think I feel protected when I'm with him. Not like I would step out in front of a car to "test" him. But I'm used to fending for myself. I always took care of myself and my baby. Even in my previous marraige. It's very different to feel so very well taken care of. I should say that when I'm in the center of his family, I feel that all of the men are that way. One wife is every man's wife so they all sort of "watch" over us. I can remember talking with Bassi's sister in law one evening and we got up to get something to drink and two cousins asked us what do you need. Samira told them we want water but I can not drink from the well. So they sent one of the kids to fetch two bottles of water for us. And we just continued talking and laughing.

[His Glory 25]

Does anyone know a good cookbook that teaches ghanaian dishes? and also some cameroonian dishes. My husband said he loved the food in cameroon. I know how to follow recipes but dont really know how to cook. I was raised on TV dinners and some hispanic dishes.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

I found some, but it's hard to know how authentic they are. I asked for help the other day and got a couple recipes that I can feel sure are more authentic.

UPenn has some recipes on their website. ghanalounge has a bunch of recipes. I also found something called cookbookwiki. They have a section on Ghana. Amazon has some books listed mostly as West African Cooking. One book called True Ghana Delights (i think) looked interesting but I don't think it's authentic. I think it changes the traditional recipes to make it a bit high-brow and I haven't learned how to make the basics yet. Another good place to check for recipes is blogs. There are some missionaries in Ghana who have blogs and list recipes that they learned from native Ghanaians while there. Those are probably authentic.