Weblink about Ghana

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share with you an interesting link I found about the history, culture, and language of Ghana. This website was launched from Barbados in 2007 in order to honor the 50th anniversary of Ghana's independence. Here's the link: http://www.twi.bb
Check it out whenever you get the chance.

See you soon,
Patrice

Thursday, January 14th

On January 14th, class began with a short exercise focused on our homework assignment, in which we had to describe five things that matter to us the most in this current stage of our lives. In the exercise, we had to render these five things in drawings. It was interesting to see a common thread amongst our five choices, especially as we indicated the importance of family, friends, and pets; passion for creativity; accomplishing goals; and supporting one's self.

Taken from what we discussed in the first exercise, in the following one we were given the opportunity to interview each other in pairs as a way to gain a better understanding of who we are. After the interviews, we had to produce a container that represented or characterized an aspect(s) or personal traits of each interviewee respectively. One purpose of this exercise was to give us a firsthand experience with approaching, meeting, and learning about people. Also, it highlighted what we retained and found intriguing about the person we had just interviewed. This can be indicative to being respectful and considerate to those we meet for the first time by listening to what they share about themselves as well as acknowledging who they are.

Keeping in line with being culturally sensitive, another way to be respectful of another culture is appreciating and learning some of the language. In the last part of our class we learned some words in Twi, one of the official languages in Ghana. So, on that note I would like to say Mma Ajo (Good Evening/Night)!

Wednesday, January 13th

First class! Today, we talked about how we will fulfill our sketchbook journal requirement while in Ghana. Our journals will be primarily used to document our personal experiences -- capturing what we see, what we hear, and how we feel. Guest artist/speaker Jan Baker joined us to discuss different ways we can approach our sketchbook journals. She showed us some examples of her own sketchbook journals from her travels to India, Vietnam, and Europe. She described the journal as being like a "friend you travel with" and later explained that the journal is a space where we can also preserve our memories. Through drawing, collaging, sharing our sketchbooks with others to draw in, writing, layering, etc., we can take a more introspective look at who we are in relation to our new context.

Later, Jan conducted an exercise where we took a closer look at some published sketchbook journals and had to share why we chose the journal we did and spot a page that stood out to us the most. The exercise proved to be very helpful because it gave us another glimpse at how we can approach our own sketchbook journals. Some things Jan recommended that we incorporate into our sketchbook journals include: attaching envelopes into them in order to store important things we find; keeping a calendar of our travels; listing books or music that we enjoy while we are in Ghana; making our book unique by decorating it or covering it with textiles from the country; etc. She also provided some examples of supplies we could possibly travel with, which include, small-sized colored pencil and/or watercolor sets, a pencil, a pencil sharpener, Scotch magic tape, micron pens (since they are water- and fade-proof), and a small scissors.

Towards the end of our session, we watched a film about Kokrobitey Institute which gave us another perspective of its programming. It also gave us a sense of how recycled materials are reused -- for example, the students at Kokrobitey converted flour and sugar sacks into hand-sewn bags. In the closing of the film, the phrase ART IS LIFE, which appeared carved into stone or clay, was highlighted -- reminding us how art can be used as an effective tool to enhance how we live and how we experience life.