6. Around Town - One Two Twi

hanging around in accra is pretty good fun, and between the taxi rides, restaurants and local bars we have started to learn some basic words in twi (one of the languages spoken around accra). like most places, the effort of learning a few words in the local language is well worth the positive response received from locals. 

unfortunately there is no public transport system, so taxis are the only way to go. although they are relatively cheap, there seems to be a negotiation process each time which is more of a 'who cares less' than a negotiation. the person who acts as if they care least about the fare seems to win....not quite the batna approach. it goes a little something like this 

me: hi, how are you today

driver: eh, how are you too

me: i'm good, are you busy

driver: ehhh

me: we're going to east legon, we go everyday for 3 C

driver: oh no no no too much traffic at least 10C

me: no, that seems too much, we pay 3 everyday let's just go for 3

driver: oh no no no at least 8 C for this time

me: ok, have a nice day i will go to someone else

driver (beeping the horn): ok give me 6

me: no thank you i will keep going, the most i'll do is 4

driver: ok ok, come in

once in the taxi and the dance of distraction is over, we can get down to discussing more important things like what day of the week we were born. for instance kofi or kwame means that you were born Friday or Saturday, which explains why a lot of ghanaians have those names...i am a 'quesi' or sunday born.

i will leave you with one of my favorite bumper stickers.... if you get it, please explain it to me: 

'god's time is the best time'

two black stars

eternal flame of ghana's independence (aka jeremy)