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...some kitchy stuff...

-first: open link in new tab, volume up
- second: read:

Its 16 miles, to the promise land
and I promise you, I'm doing the best I can
now don't fool yourself
in thinking you're more than a man
cause you'll probably end up dead

i visit these
mountains with frequency
and i stand here with my arms out
now some days, they last longer than others
but this day by the lake went too fast

and if you want me
you better speak up- i won't wait
so you better, move fast

don't fool yourself
in thinking you're more than you are
with your arms outstretched to me

now its 16 miles to the promised land
and i promise you i'm doing the best i can
now some days, they last longer than others
but this day by the lake went too fast

and if you want me, you better speak up i won't wait
so you better move fast

and somedays they last longer than others
but this day by the lake went too fast
and if you want me, you better speak up i wont wait
so you better move fast

One year ago...

I learn to sing 'If you're happy and you know it clap your hands...' in twi

We went to Ghana without any idea what would expect us. I am very happy that my sister Lisa went with me, after Tsukasa has recommended the YPB to do a volunteer job in Africa. I am asked very often what we did there, and I answer: we lived, with the people. We made children laugh, we helped to vet them before the dispensary, we taught them whatever we found appropriate to teach and I hope we could show the people there that we care. We the white, rich people from developed countries. Everybody stared at us during the whole stay there, fingers were pointed at us. We were warmly welcomed, and I am incredible thankful for that. Very often during my stay there I was unsatisfied with myself, I was disappointed that I could not help sustainable. After I came back a friend told me that the name for what I did was ‘development- tourism’. I have not found a more accurate term, so let’s just call it development-tourism without valuation.
All the time during the stay there was a strange atmosphere. It was like everybody was thinking, what are you doing here? What are you doing to earn your food? I felt lost very often. I felt useless and I didn’t know what to do. Rashid offered me help twice, but I couldn’t admit how hard it was for me. Our programs were good, and now I can look back and be glad what I did, because I know now that I can not change the way of life of other people.
One occasion there symbolises all the issues of Africa for me:
When I discussed with Rashid about Ghanaian politics and responsibilities. Coming back to that discussion once later I asked why people here don’t better their living conditions themselves. That people get to known the world and its demands. And Rashid answered: Maybe you should just teach us how to think. He talked about us white Europeans that we should teach black Africans how to think. We made the rules that this world obeys, but everybody has to handle them, whether they want or not.
One year ago I came back to paradise. The welcome greeting on the airport was a bee stinging my ass. *smile*



I love these kids...