Ghanaian Family - Kumi

Menkyea mo! (I greet you all)

First off, thanks so much for all the comments up to now, I really enjoy reading them and knowing you are checking the blog frequently!

So, this Saturday was the first time in a month (yes, really) that the entire family was together. We took this opportunity to get our family shot!

The Kumi have received me as part of their family from day one. As my father, Mr. Kumi, said on the first day, "you are now our son, and I will take care of you as our own". This has definitely been the feeling in the house, from watching football matches on TV, to talking about Ghanaian customs. The comfort in which we share conversation is the same in which we share silence, as if my presence indeed is of a family member who had always been there.

Efua, my mother, runs a restaurant and catering business, conveniently located at the front of the compound. She is an excellent cook, and always makes typical Ghanaian dishes, listing the ingredients, explaining how to prepare it, and from which region it comes from.Although the Kumi speak Fante, a language slightly different than Twi, Efua helps me daily with practicing the language. I can say significant part of my Twi comes from the constant practice at home!

There are also two siblings, Abenaa and Kwasi. Abenaa studies accounting at the University of Ghana's Business School, and has kindly offered me her room. Because she lives in one of the student hostels near the University, we only see each other on Saturdays. However, more than once I received surprise calls in the middle of the week, from Abenaa "just calling to see how's everything".
Kwasi is almost nineteen, and I am happy to have become his movie and football-watching partner. He is a die-hard Chelsea fan, and after Ghana's Black Stars, I'm VERY disappointed to say, an Argentina fan.
Yes, I know, an utter sin. No worries, I will change this by the end of the year.

 This Monday was Mr. Kumi's birthday. As a surprise, Efua and me conspired to get one of his shirts for his measurements. One day after Twi class, Clara and I went to the market to buy some cloth. Then, before going to a kpanlogo drum lesson, I placed the order at a tailor friends with Gidi, my drum teacher.
I'm happy to say Mr. Kumi was utterly surprised, when the wishes of tiri nkwa (long-life to your head) were accompanied by a gift!

The beautiful house of the Kumi.

There is also another member of the family: the dog Grobro. (I'm really not sure how to spell her name, I just call her Grobosinha). Although she growled at me suspiciously in the first few days, I am now received with whimpers and a wagging tail whenever I return home, wake up, or just walk out of my room.

Both outside and inside the house, Ghana just always feels like home. There's actually a song on a commercial on TV here, that says "home is a feeling, not a place". Agreed.

With a special thanks to the Kumi,

Kwame