Conflict

Few years ago, the Buduburam Refugee Camp was under constant attack by unknown men. These attackers were later on known to be Ghanaians. They have their reason of attacking camp residents. They used to attack with spears and cutlasses. Buduburam Camp is located between Kasoa and Winneba on the high way to the road leading to Accra, the capital city of Ghana. This piece of land was to Liberian s that fled from Liberia due to the outbreak of civil war in Liberia. Immediately after the 1997 election which bought former president Charles Taylor to power, the Ghanaians insisted that Liberians should go back home and release their land. These Ghanaians who were claiming the land did not get any backing from their government. The government declared that Liberians who do not want to return home due insecurity should live on the Refugee camp without disturbance. It was against this background that these people used to attack the Camp. Residents who live on the outskirts of the Camp used to feel the weight. Those attackers used to creep in the night and use the speak to hit people in the house. To catch them was very difficult because they did not come to the center of the Camp. During this period of time, my mother and I deserted our house and went to stay with some people who live in the center of the Camp. More people who could afford to live in the Ghanaians' community left the camp due to this inhuman behavior. Unfortunately for the attackers, one night the Buduburam guards arrested a Ghanaian with spear on the outskirts of the refugee Camp and was turned over to the police. This situation really worried more people at that moment because the peace that we used to enjoy was taken away and more people thought that we were about to face the second in exile where we believe to be safer. This conflict came to an end when UNHCR and the Ghanaian government put in place a group called neighborhood watch team to assist the police in maintaining law and order on the refugee Camp and its environs. Now, we are enjoying peace.

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RECESS PERIOD

I used to like one moment when I was in school. Recess was the enjoyable moment I used to like. When I was in School, every school's day in our school has fifteen minutes as recess period. My friends-Tina, Agnes and Delphine and myself chose one food center where the Ghanaian's food called banku is being prepared. As for me, I like that food center for one reason. The banku is sold there cheap and the place is convenient. Tina told me that she likes the place too (food center) because more students from our school do not go there to eat. Most of the students do not like the food. Some students even stand in public and declare that the banku is a sub standard type of food which is eaten most by poor students. It was against this background that Tina suggested that we should not eat this food in the presence of our school mates. If we do, they will tease us. Agnes on the other hand said that, the food center is a very quiet place and no disturbance there. It is highly peaceful. Delphine likes carbohydrate type of food and banku is being prepared from cassava tubers. Each of us can pay certain amount of money towards our recess. Sometimes, an amount of (10,000 cedi) ten thousand cedi is paid each. It means that we can have (40,000 cedi) forty thousand cedi can be on hand for our recess. We always used part of the above mentioned amount for our food. Sometimes when the money is collected on time, we can pay it to the owner of the food center. We really use to patronage owner of the business. As a result, she sometimes gave us credit. We have a way of leaving the school premises during recess period to go to the food center without being noticed by our classmates. Immediately the recess bell is ringed, we shake each other hands indicating that we should meet at the food center. The only embarrassing part of the banku is that, after consuming it, we can sweat a lot in class. I used to the banku to the extend that I can still buy it even since I left school.

City Life

There is a big difference between living in the village and the city. I did not know until my mother and I went to Accra to spend some days there. My mother and I were too excited when we were informed about the visit. It has been my mother dream to see Accra one day because of its beauty that most people have been talking about. While we were on the bus from the Camp to Accra, my mother and I continued to ask questions about Accra. To our greatest surprise, our bus stopped to the first red light. As for me, I am aware of the light and its function because I have traveled to Accra on several occasions. I did not hot tell my mother what red light really means. Why our bus has to stop to the red light including other buses, said my mother? Ma Martha said, when the light appears red, it indicates that all cars should wait for other cars on the other side of the road to pass. The only way the bus will go through is when the light appears green. When the light appeared green, the buses continued the journey. We were very tired and hungry when we got to Ma Martha's house in Accra. After a five minute rest at Ma Martha's residence in Accra, Ma Martha asked one of her children to locate the bathroom door to my mother to have a bath. Ma Martha did not tell my mother that it was shower in the bathroom not bath bucket that we can use on the Camp. When my mother entered the bathroom, she kept looking around in the bathroom; she kept looking around in the bathroom for five minutes without seeing a bucket with water in it. She only saw soap and a towel in the bathroom. While my mother was in the bathroom, I was listening to her attentatively whether she was bathing. To my surprise, I noticed finally that she was not taking bath because she did not know shower and how to use it. I quickly rushed there and there was nothing I could do because I did not know shower too. Please call Ma Martha to come and educate us on what to do to take bath. Please do not tell her in the presence of her children so as to avoid us being considered as uncivilized people, said my mother. I quickly called Ma Martha and explained to her what is going on. She quickly pressed one of the buttons on the wall and the water began to drop from up. We all were surprise!! After bathing, she asked all of us to go to the market and to buy food to cook and also to view the market too. While going to the market, we got to the main street. Everybody was waiting for the traffic to be free before crossing. My mother and I faced another big obstacle. My mother was too afraid of the cars in traffic. When the traffic is a bit free, Ma Martha will ask as to cross but my mother insisted on several occasions. She said that we should find a red light to stand near it. Ma Martha suggested that we all should hold hands and cross at once. I really reasoned with her because this could be the possible way for us to cross. We all crossed and went in the market and returned home the same way. My mother and I had story to tell people in our community when we returned on the Camp. My mother always talks about what she experienced during our visit. It was a wonderful visit and experience.

Female Soccer

Among Liberians, most people know kicking balling to be the sport played by most Liberian girls. This kickball sport has not gained any international recognition. Moreover, this sport is practiced only among Liberian females. I was astonished when I saw a group of Ghanaian girls who play soccer. Those girls have the same skills and stimuli the boys or men have. I feel too impressed and excited whenever I see those female soccer players. I always have at heart that one day I will play soccer if I have the opportunity. Last year, a group of females who have been playing soccer with some Ghanaian girls came on the refugee camp to settle there. They are about five. I will not mention their names to avoid conflict. They are very strong and have men appearance. If you see them for the first time, you will consider them to be females. They look like men really!!! Those girls made sure that they take exercise every morning on the community football field. Sometimes they ran around the football field ten times. After staying a while with us on the camp, they started encouraging others girls to join them to form a football team. They really tried their best and won a meaningful number of girls. The female soccer team began famous and strong due to its performance. Majority of my friends like Tina, Agnes, and Delphine joined and started training. One like me, I declined from the team because I could not cope with the training and the requirements. Moreover, my mother was totally against the idea of girls playing football. My mother advised me several times to desist from such practice. The female soccer team became more famous and strong in the community when they defeated their counterparts from Tema, another community in Accra. I can remember that game was played on a Saturday evening and it ended three goals to one in favor of our team. I used to like that sport but criticism and mockery from people in the community caused me to back off.

The Internet

More people thought that computer literates knew how to use the internet but I was surprise when I got confused for the first time when I attempted to use the internet. I got impressed and attracted by the way more young girls like me on the refugee camp nevigate through the internet. Some of them type their letter without looking at the keyboard. I thought they were magicians. One day I asked Sammie, a Ghanaian who uses the internet most of the time to teach me the internet. I am too busy to teach you but I will introduce you to one of the cafe attendants so that she can help you, said Sammie. The next day, Sammie and I went to the internet cafe and he introduced me to her. After explaining our purpose of going there, the cafe attendant, Madam Alice, told me that she does not have problem with teaching me but I have to buy some hours because she does have free time at the cafe. I told her that I will come back the next day. I consulted my mother about it. There is no money now my daughter, said my mother. All efforts failed in gathering money to buy time. I therefore suggested to my mother that I will use two days to do some domestic works for madam Alice, the cafe attendant. I went back to madam Alice and told her that I will do some works for her for two days. Some of these works include: washing clothes and cooking for her house for few days. She agreed and bought me some hours at the internet cafe. I was taught for one week. After this period, I was able to send email to friends, chat and search for information. Madam Alice did not teach me everything concerning the internet. For example, the idea of uploading pictures to the computer was very strange until a friend of mine called Agnes. Anyway, Madam Alice did extremely well for me because she laid the foundation and I am improving upon it. I really thank Madam Alice for teaching me. Now, I can boost of what I know about the internet.

Sport

FEMALE SOCCER

Among Liberians, most people know kicking balling to be the sport played by most Liberian girls. This kickball sport has not gained any international recognition. Moreover, this sport is practiced only among Liberian females. I was astonished when I saw a group of Ghanaian girls who play soccer. Those girls have the same skills and stimuli the boys or men have. I feel too impressed and excited whenever I see those female soccer players. I always have at heart that one day I will play soccer if I have the opportunity. Last year, a group of females who have been playing soccer with some Ghanaian girls came on the refugee camp to settle there. They are about five. I will not mention their names to avoid conflict. They are very strong and have men appearance. If you see them for the first time, you will consider them to be females. They look like men really!!! Those girls made sure that they take exercise every morning on the community football field. Sometimes they ran around the football field ten times. After staying a while with us on the camp, they started encouraging others girls to join them to form a football team. They really tried their best and won a meaningful number of girls. The female soccer team began famous and strong due to its performance. Majority of my friends like Tina, Agnes, and Delphine joined and started training. One like me, I declined from the team because I could not cope with the training and the requirements. Moreover, my mother was totally against the idea of girls playing football. My mother advised me several times to desist from such practice. The female soccer team became more famous and strong in the community when they defeated their counterparts from Tema, another community in Accra. I can remember that game was played on a Saturday evening and it ended three goals to one in favor of our team. I used to like that sport but criticism and mockery from people in the community caused me to back off.

My visit to the computer school

My visit to the computer school

When I arrived on Buduburam Camp newly, I did not know computer. I only used to hear the name from people who had seen, touched and used it before. I and my mother used to listen to people who had used it as they talk about the way it is used. It was my wish to use computer one day. I and my mother really used to wonder how computer really functions. My mother sometimes asks people whether there is a human being within computer who performs the work it does. The establishment of internet cafe and computer school on the Refugee Camp cleared my doubt a lot!! My first time to touch computer was the time when Tina took me to a computer school which belongs to her uncle. I was very happy when Tina promised to take me to her uncle's computer school because I wanted to use our visit to really see computer and touch it as well. Before going to the computer school, I informed my mother about our visit to the computer school and she was so excited for me to go there. The following day, when we got in the school, Tina introduced me to her uncle. After Tina's introduction, the real business began. She went strictly to the point. There is something in your school that is so precious to my friend, Maibel which she has been wishing to touch, see and use one day until the world can come to an end. People in our community had talked about it a lot to her but she wants to see for herself. I have told her lot concerning it, but she is not satisfied, said Tina. Tina's uncle could not comprehend what she was aiming at. Please be bold and precise and tell me the purpose of your visit and stop wasting my precious time, said Tina's uncle-Mr. Kabo. My friend, Maibel wants to know more about computer and use it if possible. This is her first time to see computer, said Tina. The shameful part of it is, Tina did not tell her uncle in secret but infront of the students. When Tina ended, all the students laughed for a while. I was too shame but there is nothing I could do because I wanted to know so that my doubt can be cleared. Mr. Kabo gave me a seat which has a computer infront of it and started explaining some of the parts of computer to me. I was taught for an hour. I felt relief and happy after my first time to be educated about computer. When we returned home, I told my mother about Tina's uncle being hospitable to me and my mother extended thanks and appreciations to Tina for taking me to her uncle's computer school. I also told my mother how shameful it was when Tina told her uncle that I have not touched or seen a computer before. Do not be shame when you are seeking for knowledge, said my mother. I visited Mr. Kabo's computer school for a week and at the end of the day, I was able to learn something good about computer. It was in that school I learnt how to use the internet as well. The first time I used the computer was like I was in heaven. What a great experience!!

Resettlement

The Frustration of Resettlement Program

The resettlement program has been put in place by the American government in order for families who fled their countries of origin because of war to re-unite with their families who live in America.
When commenced newly, the process sweet and smooth but now, it has some frustration and and disappointment. The priority one for refugees who are allowed to be given assylum based on founded fear of persecution in their countries of origin. Priority three for those whose families residing in the U.S.A and Europe and who filed an affidavit of relationship. This is how the priority three goes like this: after a family in America filed an affidavit of relationship through an agnecy in America ad verified by the American Immigration and satisfied by the Immigration of America, the agency through which you were filed for, will send your file to the agency's branch in your country of residence. After a few months, the agency in your country of residence will notify the family for an interview. Many families jubilate when they see their names being posted on the bulletin of the Buduburam Refugee Camp. Some will start imagining the life that they will live in the U.S.A when they have been qualified by the American Immigration who are conducting the interview. The entire process comprises of five stages- prescreening, Immigration inteview, declaration of results, medical screening, orientation and finally departure. There are rules and regulations governing the process too that people who are sitting for interview have to abide by. For example, applicants should be 20 years and below, single person, suit the age he or she has. As the result of the above mentioned conditions, most applicants who are picking chance, will always dress in the way that will portray them to the interviewers to be young. Some applicants can undertake fast and prayer just for their family to be successful. The day to get interview results is like a judgement day. Some of our neighbors who have sat on such interview before told us that some applicants who failed the interview developed hepotension and some even fainted as well. Some of the unsuccessful applicants cried from the fence in Accra, where the interview is being conducted to the refugee Camp. Some will pack their belongings and leave for Liberia if they are not successful. I can not sit on the refugee camp and see my friends who and I attended the interview to be departing for America. It will be better that I go back to Liberia to start a new beginning, said an unsuccessful applicant I met in our community. For the successful applicants, the day will be a remarkable one and will give thanks to God for his mercy and divine favor. Some may even extend their celebration in the Church, while others go to the night club and drink liquor. When it is time for the successful applicants to depart, they will buy some new jackets, some can sew african gowns and other good clothes. It is very enjoyable and interesting to see suffering people going to an environment that has job opportunities.

Repatriation

The repatriation program has been organized by the Ghanaian government and UNHCR to help refugees who want to return to Liberia. Living on the refugee camp began very tough since the withdrawal of UNHCR’s supports. All aids have been stopped immediately after election in Liberia. Although security situation in Liberia can not be assured hundred percent but some Liberians who can not afford to live on the Camp and in Ghana without the assistance of UNHCR left with no option but to return to their country f origin. These returnees are carried back by air and water. The first step is, you register with those responsible and time can be given to you for an interview. After the interview. They are given bags to put their clothes and other luggage. Those who go by air are given limited luggage weight. They are allowed to carry 30 kilo weight of bag while those who go by sea or ship can carry unlimited kilo luggage. Some of refugees can be joyous when leaving the refugee Camp. UNHCR can promise that certain amount of money will be given to them when they get in Liberia. This promise alone motivated more people to register and go back. When the scheduled to depart for reaches, they (returnees) will carry their entire luggage to the Buduburam football field where the busses from Accra awaiting them to carry them either to the port or Air port. On several occasion, I have witnessed their departure. They can start singing from the Camp until they reach to Accra. I can imagine how happy they can be when going home (Liberia) after spending over one decades in exile. To their greatest surprise, the amount of money UNHCR promised to give them was not the amount of money they gave them when they got in Liberia. I met a woman by name of Diakan and this is what she said: I and my children were given the amount of five American dollars each to pay transportation to go and find our people. Some who have returned to Liberia have turned to internal displaced people in Liberia again because they do not have house to sleep in. Can you imagine that? It is very shameful to live like a stranger in Liberia. My mother wanted to register and go back to Liberia. After telling me about her intention, these are the questions that asked her. Do we have house in Liberia presently? Where are we going to be? Or do you want us to live in displaced Camp like others who had returned? My mother did not give me any answers to these questions. I finally told her that it will be better we stay in the refugee camp than going home now.

Plastic Bottles

These days, people of the camp, both young and old are engaged in selling water plastics. According to people, these old water plastics are used for recycling. There is a company in Accra that asked people to collect them and they will buy them according to bag.

People who got the information first hid it from the rest because they were getting their daily bread from it. When I went to visit Tina and Agnes, I gave them the information about the plastics and they said it is impossible to sell plastics especially the ones that are old and dirty. Additionally, it is shameful for one to do this job. People in the street there will consider you to be a mad
person.
Despite of their discouragement, mom and I joined the group the next day and we started picking the plastics too. Within few hours, we were able to pick one bag full. From one area to another, mom got tired and she decided that we should go home and rest so that we can get strength for the next day. We went home and rested.
The next morning, we started picking plastics again from one area to another. We tried our best to get one bag filled again with plastics before 12:00pm.

We went home and mom prepared a nice food for us to eat. I experienced what Agnes told me about picking plastics. It is indeed shameful and portrayed us like mad people. Every community we entered, we were looking interesting to the people. All eyes just on us. More people wondered how much are we going to get in return after selling those plastics.
For the whole week, we got two bags and they were kept on our porch. After a few days, the agent who can buy the plastics came around with his car.

We all carried our bags of plastics to the car and he purchased them. At least we were able to get some money from selling the plastics. When mom got the money, she asked me what should we do with the money? I told her to keep the money so that we can buy water and soap. We used some of the money to buy water and soap for some days. It really helped us too.

Plights of Gardeners on Buduburam Camp

Buduburam Refugee Camp is part of Central Region. This Region, in Ghana is not conducive for growing vegetable crops due to its hot weather condition. In addition to the hot and sunny weather condition, the soil texture can not support crops. Moreover, another problem added to the above mentioned is the lack of water. Gardeners have to carry gallons of water over some kilo meters in order to water their crops. Some of our neighbors are engaged in such job. My mom and I wanted to do such work too but it involves lot of hard works when the gardeners go to their gardens early in the morning, they will work until in the evening time before they come back home. I met one of the gardeners by the name of Blamo and this is what he had to tell me: the garden work is a hard task but it is profitable, said Mr. Blamo. He told my mother that he lives on the garden to pay some of his children’s school fees. Moreover, he stated to my mom too the difficulties involved. My mother thought that the work is easier to do. She wanted us to make the garden so that we can sell the crops to pay my school fee and buy some books for my study. She and I went to the garden several times to see how the work is like. The garden work is not only tough but has disadvantages and frustration for those gardeners who do not have money to buy materials like- fertilizer, cutlasses, hoes, etc… In the absence of the above mentioned materials, gardeners find it difficult to bring up their crops good. Some of them do not have good harvest due to this problem. As the result, their efforts are gone in vain because they do not realize good money from their crops due to poor harvest. The hard works have negative impact on their health as well. Some of them look like malnourished persons. Most of them do not look healthy at all. Many people on the camp advise their relatives and friends to desist from this so called garden works but this is what some of them have to say: I do this garden work in order to sustain my family and settle some domestic problems. If I quit this job, I will not be able to carry on my obligation as family head, said one gardener. I felt bad when I listened to them expressing themselves. With all these hardship and frustration, then I asked myself, when will these problems come to an end? Are we going to suffer until death? I pray that God should change this situation around one day.

The Missing Honey

In the Jayway community, it is forbidden to cut down tree that host the honey beast. The traditional people of that community believe that the honey tree has been placed there by their Gods. The chief of that community offer prayers to the honey tree. The chief by the name of Jolo, advised his people strongly and the surrounding villages not to violate the law or else the rafts of their Gods will come upon them. There are three boys who left the refugee Camp and went in that forest and cut the tree down. Jerome, Jerry and Peter stole the honey and brought it on the Camp for sale. They took the honey in the market and sold them to the people and went as far as the police station and sold some to the police as well. When the chief of |Jayways community notice about the honey tree, he quickly sent emissary to the authority on the Camp to search for the people who stole the honey otherwise; those who stole the honey and the buyers will de instantly. The messenger of the Camp went around and announced it to the residents. People who did not know about the stolen honey and bought it became concern. I personally met a woman by the name of Fatou. She cried at the market a lot. We shall die if nothing is done to appease the traditional people, said the woman. It was told in the refugee Camp that some years ago, some boys stole goat from the community close to the camp and consumed it. They sold some to other people. When the owner of the goat found out that his goat was stolen, he use juju to kill all those who ate the goat and the thieves themselves. Most people who are aware of this story do not want to see the repeat of it. Because many innocent people died from the behaviors of few people. Tina, my friend became concern and came to my house to find out whether my mom did not buy some of the honey and I told her no. WE are safe, said Tina. The authority of the camp searched for the doers and there was no avail. They therefore contributed certain amount of money with a goat and gave to the chief of Jayway community as ransom to the stolen honey. They begged him to appeal to his Gods to be compassionate and forgive them. He accepted their appeal but warned strongly that when it is repeated, he will be left with any option but to destroy lives of those who are involved.

The Cold Season

In Ghana, cold is expected to come in January every year. This year, the cold is very severe. The cold really has severe impact on people. Some people really admire the cold season while others do not like it again. People who like the cold will say that, they do not feel heatly at night and do not feel the severe sunshine during the day. I met my former school mate at the market, and she really looks different to me. Her hairs and skin color just changed. Her skin and hairs just looks dude or white. When I saw her from distance first, I asked Josephine, are you ill? It is cold that made me like this, said Josephine. She totally disagreed with people who like the cold. ON the other hand, Josephine asked me and said, what are using on your body and hairs that your skin is shining? Please help me too. I told her pay me some money before I can help her. I am willing to give you any amount of you I can afford if you will help me, said Josephine. I invited her to my house and gave her some of the cream that my mom bought from the market. IT resists cold and makes the skin to shine including the hairs. She was so happy to get this great cream from me. In some neighborhood, gather wood in the day and in the night time, they make fire and everybody sits around the fire. With the fire, no cold can use them. This can also be done again in the morning too. One thing that I like about sitting around the fire is the manner in which the chairs are placed around the fire. The fie is in the middle and chairs are placed around it. In the community, family sits in group and hearts their body. If it is your first time to see this, you may think that they are holding meeting but is not meeting. Some people on the other hand do not like to sit around fire but they use some heatly jacket they can wear to resist the cold. The first I saw people with jacket, I thought, it could not resist cold. I was convinced when Tina brought her jacket to my house and I wore fro some minutes. I did not really feel that there was cold. She told me that jacket was imported to them by one of their brothers who live in the USA. They are too fine anyway we do not have people abroad to import jacket as such to us will go in the forest in search of wood so that we make fire to heat our body.

My School Days

School days are the best. I indeed enjoyed the few years I stayed in School. Some of my best friends were: Marie,

Joy, Prince and Emmanuel. When I was attending School, I used to like those friends because they were all brillant students.

We had special time after school hours, we can meet and have general study together. Marie was good

at mathematics, Joy was good at General Science, Prince was good at History, Emmanuel was good at Environmental

Studies and I was good at English Language. As for me, Mathematics was my big problem in school.I hardly

understood mathematics. As a result, I used to go to Marie's house regularly for study just for me to be able to be among the

passing number. The most interesting and enjoyable part of my school's days was when our princepal- Mr. Williams togther with other teachers organized the inter schools quizzing competition, also known as meet the challenge. The year this competition was organized, I was in class 6. I can remember that year when we were chosen to represent our class.

We represented our class and became victorious in the competition. More interestingly, the talent shows, queen contest and inter schools' tournament organized by the Central Education Board. These occasions are used to expose students who have talents.

It was during one of the school talent shows I met Tina, Agnes and Annie. Those three friends danced well during a talent show

I can remember. Their performance and skill on the stage made more students to create a lovely feeling for them.

Our class organized an excursion to the Akosombo Dam, the biggest dam in Ghana that supplies the entire nation with electricity.

At the end of every school year, we had a picnic, that is each student will be asked to pay certain amount money for us to buy rice and soup and other things so that we can have a little get together. We ate together and have fun.

All these came to an end when my mother could not afford any more to pay my school fee. I was asked one day by the Principal

to stay away from school because my mother is incapable of paying my school fee. All of my joy and quest for knowledge died down. Most of my friends and class mates visited me several times and comforted me. Mom and I cried and cried!!! Up to this time,

I do not like to pass around the school premises because it makes me to feel bad and miserable when I see some of my class mates who are stay continuing their education. Now, I am just sitting home and doing nothing.

A Journey to Hunt Frogs

There are several kinds of frogs. There are frogs that live in the water, some live on the land but all of
them can go to where there is water and come back on shore. They do not have permanent living place. Not all frogs can be eaten, especially the ones with hard skin. It also has odour. It is popularly called toad frog.
The ones that spend most of the time in the water and come on shore for sunlight, has soft skin and make noise when they are grouped together. This frog is used for soup for most people in my community who can not afford to buy meat, fish from the market regularly.
There are two boys in my community who hunt for frogs regularly. Through this, they are able to buy food and copy books for school. Due to the fact that they hunt for those frogs and sell them to the community, they are called frog hunters.
Tom and Jacob are very good at their work. When I went to visit their mother, I saw the frogs stored in a big pen in water. Some making noise but not as compared to the ones that have not been caught. It was amazing to me to see frogs in a pen alive. I asked their mother where are your children? They went to collect some money in return of the frogs that they sold to people,
said their mother. I made an appointment with them to find out how the hunting is carried out.
The next morning, I told my mom everything concerning the frog hunting. This is not done by girls but only boys do that, said my mother.
I said mom, I will make an attempt and I know the boys will help me through. I purposely want to do this in order for us to be able to get some frogs for soup for a week or more, I tried to convince her. You can go with them but be careful, said my mother.
After convincing my mother, I went back to Tom and Jacob to let them know my desire. When I told them about taking me along when they go for hunting, both of them laughed at me for a while and Tom said, are you willing to pay the price for hunting frogs? Will you be able to go through pain, asked Jacob? Their questions portrayed different feeling about the hunting. They asked me to purchase a fishing line, fishing hook and prepared my food to take along. \

The next morning, by 3:00A.M, we began the journey. From the Camp to the river is about one hour thirty minutes. When we got to the river, with all our fishing equipment in our hands, they asked me to watch them for ten minutes and I did. When Jacob caught the first frog, it made some loud noise as if a young baby is crying. I got afraid and asked questions- can the frogs bite? can it harm people? They laughed at me once more.
After while,Tom said to me, you can now start. I took the flower and placed it to the fishing hook and began to throw the flower that attracts the frogs attention and they began to come to the flower. When they came very close to me, I changed the flower and put a piece of sponge on the side of the fishing hook exposing the hook so that it will be abe to hook the mouth or any part of the frogs.
For the first time, I hooked one frog and put it in my basket. Not only the frogs made me afraid but also the big river and big tree under which we were sitting. I enjoyed the cold weather under the tree as well.
That day I caught twenty five flogs and brought them home to my mother. She was so happy to see me with the frogs. The next day, she cleaned the frogs and washed them gently and dried some. Some of the dried frogs were cooked for some time as soup for our rice.

Our House

When my mother and I first settled on the refugee camp, UNHCR got a peace of land from the Ghanaian government and gave it to the refugees to build their shelters. We were living together with a lady from Liberia too whose children are grown up. They built a two room house where we lived together. My mother and I did not build a house our own because there was nobody to help us to build a house for us. After some year on the refugee Cap, UNHCR withdrew her support and the Ghanaians authority on the camp to stop to the expansion of the Camp. It means no refugee now is allowed to build house. If you want to build a house, you need to buy the land from the Ghanaian. The family that we lived with in the same house sold the house unknown to us before they left for Liberia. To our surprise, we were asked one day to leave the house simply because the owner has sold it. When the time reached for us to urn the house over, we begged one of our neighbors to help us to sleep on his porch and agreed. The porch was our room for few months before we came across a man who asked us to move into his small room. We were so happy because at least we will have a place on our own and we will have privacy as well. This man has been helping us with his room for three years now. Few weeks ago, he came to the house and asked us to find different place. I can not continue to allow you in my house anymore because some of my family members are coming from Liberia to live on the Camp and I do not accommodation for them, said the house owner. He gave us the grace period from January 2008 to March 2008 to turn the house over. When left, my mother and I went in the room sat for a while wondering what to do. But there is no solution because we do not have money to rent house. My mother started crying!!! I comforted her and told her that if there is no way to find rent then we will beg our neighbor to sleep on their Porch. This house situation is really worrying us. Sleeping on the porch too is risky to human’s health.

Watch Night

The 31st of January is observed at the end of every year because most people around the world use this day to go to Church and give thanks to God for his protection, mercy and forgiveness he has over their lives. Both Christians and non- Christians observe this day in our community. Some traditional believers hold the belief that January 31 night, by the time of 12:00pm, the old year, when it is about to depart in order for the New Year to come it will make a heavy sound to indicate to people that the year has ended. After hearing this story from some older people in the community, I told my mother and she has different thing to say regarding year end. She disagreed with the belief of the traditional people that the old year makes heavy when it is departing for the new to come I have observe the 31st January every year because it is the end of the year. I go to church to give thanks to God for keeping me safe to enter the New Year, said my mother. I said to my mother, this year I will go with you this year to observe this day and to find out whether the old year can make heavy nose or sound when getting into the new year. That night when I got in the church, I sat in a quiet place where I will be able to listen attentatively to every sound. We were in the church from 8:30p.m to 12:00p.m. Approaching to 12:00pm, the Pastor started preaching his year end sermon. By 12:00p.m, the pastor announced to the church that the year has ended. To my surprise, I did not hear any noise from the old year. People in the church raised a song of praise and all everybody began to sing and hug each other. When I went home, I asked a woman near our house by the name of Fatouma. Ma Fatouma, I did not hear any heavy sound from the old year as traditional people believe. She said: this is a belief that had been passed onto to us by our ancestors but some may not be true, but we do not stand in public and question what they believe. I was having problem with most of these beliefs when I was much younger, said Ma Fatouma. I fell little bit relief from my quest of knowing the true and reality. But it is a big secret between Ma Fatouma and me.

Beach Party

After Christmas, every young girl and boy in Wolo Town will like to go to the beach to enjoy themselves for the day. I and my friends-Tina, Agnes have been watching this event for two years and wonder what to do to be part of the most talked about Beach party. As for Agnes, she is very anxious and wants to know the details of every event that may occur and that have occurred in the Town. She always goes around people and asked for the activities undertaken at the Beach. When Agnes gathered her findings about the Beach party, she called Tina and me and explained everything to us. We began to get excited emotionally. I therefore asked, what should we do to be party of this Beach Party? I have found out everything pertaining to the trip, said Agnes. These are the requirements each of us needs. Registration fee for the trip, a new bath towel, food, etc. these are the major requirements. We gathered our registration fees and paid to the head of the organizer of the trip. A day to the trip, Tina suggested that we all sleep in one room so that we can cook our food in the morning on time so as to avoid lateness. The name of the Beach is called La Pleasure Beach. This name was given to that Beach due to the lot of pleasure activities that occur there. We slept in my little room and discussed throughout the night. Just imagining how the trip will be. The next day, early in the morning, we cooked our food and put the food in a big cooler with some soft drinks. We all bought new bath towels. We left the house and joined the long queue awaiting the bus to take us to the Beach. To our greatest surprise, we saw a fleet of bus coming to the town to take us to the Beach. We got in the bus and started singing from the town until we go to the Beach. We enjoyed the music and cold weather as well. Shared drinks with friends and had fun. I will not miss any trip to the Beach again until I can leave from the country, said Agnes. This is my first time to enjoy music and interact with people of different backgrounds, said Tina. We took some photographs and each time when I look at them, it reminds me of the trip. The trip was marvelous and colorful.

What A Wonderful Day

There is a man in my community by name of Dennis. He married legally with three children- two boys and a girl. His wife's name is Mary. Dennis is a tall and black man. This man loves writing a lot until he is being hired to write project proposals, speeches and other works that involve writing. He has nearly all equipment that can help a writer to make his works easier. He has equipment like- a laptop, pendrive, typewriter and digital camara. He dares not to give it up one day. It was this man that I asked to do me a favor by borrowing me his digital camara. Can you imagine that Mr. Dennis asked me to wait for the next two days to consult his family then he will get back to me. He finally got back to me and asked me to give some genuine reasons why am I asking for his camara. I stated the intended purpose briefly and he moreover asked me to go back to his house the next day so that he can educate me on how to use it and how to download the pictures to the computer. The next morning, I went to his house and he taught me how to use it. Finally, he warned me to take good care of it. You will buy brand new one when you make the least mistake to spoil it. Borrowing the camara out is like taking the life of someone away. He warned me over and over and again!! When my mother saw it in my hand, she asked; daughter where are you carrying the tape? I responded mom, this is a digital camara. I explained the fuctions to her. She said this is my first time to see this. At our house, I asked one of my neighbors by name of Flomo to take our pictures. Flomo started with me and took few for me. When he flashed my mother, she asked whether there was fire coming out of the camara. Everybody around us started laughing. That day was a memorial and remarkable day for us becuase this was our first time to use digital camara. I finally took the camara to the internet cafe and the cafe attendant helped me to upload the pictures to the computer. What a wonderful day!!!

Betrayer

Sawah is a poor little girl from a very poor family. Her mother’s name is Mamie.

Their family is the most talked about in the community they live due to the high level of poverty they find themselves. Sawah’s father, Kojo died some years ago from an illness which of could survive when there is money. At certain point in time, Sawah’s mother fell sick and she needed some money to treat her mother. She went all around people who she thought could help but all effort in carrying her mother to hospital failed. There is no help coming from friends and family members. But there was a man by the name of Kwabena that promised to help her out of the situation if she can sacrifice to render certain service. I want to you to take some kilo of cocoin to the U.K. After selling the cocoin, all your immediate problems will be solved, said Kwabena. But Mr. Kwabena, the drug dealer did not mention to Sawah the risks involved. The little girl sawah who wanted a savior to come her way to safe her from her situation, accepted Mr. Kwabena’s proposal. Sawah only told her mother that she was going for holiday in the UK to come back within the shortest possible time. When she got to the air port, while going through security check, she was caught with the cocoin and sentenced to prison for twenty years.

While in prison, she cried, cried and cried!!!! She expressed regret while crying:

He (Kwabena) never told me that I will go through security check.

He never told me that I will be arrested and jailed for 20 years.

He never told me that I will die in prison.

He never told me that my mother will die while I am in prison.

She shouted, Oh God what am I going to do?

New Year's Day

On New Year day, my friends ˆ Agnes, Annie and Tina decided to go to an entertainment center and entertain ourselves with music and drinks. It is the constant habit of some girls to go to entertainment center, listen to music and take in some drinks of their choice. It was against this background that we went there. Additionally, we really want to experience how one can feel to listen to music all night and drink liquor. When we got to the club, Agnes asked one of the club attendants to give us ten bottles of Malta Guinness. Just imagine four persons calling for ten bottle of Guinness. Everybody was excited and eager to taste it first thinking that it was sweet like soft drink. When Tina opened one of the bottles and tasted it, she set the bottle back on the table without telling the rest the taste of the drink. The rest of all tasted and were disappointed of the taste. It was so bitter!! We do not want to leave the drinks on the table after we have paid for them. We tried our best and drank the liquor but all of us did not drink the same quantity because some people were drinking with greediness. Out of the ten bottles, Tina alone drank four bottles and she was not able to leave for the entertainment center to her house. Agnes on the side vomiting excessively. We were like television people in the club watching. At the end of the day, we all decided not to go to the night club again and drink.

HOW TO PREPARE PALMBUTTER SOUP AND RICE

The way of preparing African dishes varies from African country to another.

Preparation of African dishes also depends on the tradition of the people of that country. Below is the common way of preparing palm butter soup and rice.

In cooking, the soup is prepared first before the rice. The palm nut is carefully washed and cleaned out of all dirt. After that, you put it in the cooking pot and put certain quantity of water there. Finally set the pot on the fire and allow it to boil for thirty minutes or more so that the palm nut can get done. There is no précised time for the palm nut to boil but there is an indication that it is done after it has boiled for some minutes. The common indication is the cook should use the cooking spoon to take few palm nuts and squeeze them with his fingers. When they peal, then it means that they are done. When you notice that the palm nuts are done, empty them from the pot to the mortar and pound it. After that, you put water in the pounded palm nuts and squeeze them with your hands. You separate the palm nuts from the other. At this point, the soft portion of the palm nut will be useful. You mix it with water and squeeze it wit your hand two or three times and finally put the mixed water in a filter and clean it gently. After this is done, then you put the water, which color has changed to red, in the pot again and set it on the fire. When you set it on the fire, you can either decide to put meat or fish there. It can boil for an hour or more to get done. When the palm butter soup boils for some minutes, then you put pepper, salt and magi cube there so that the taste of the soup can be delicious. When you notice that the soup is getting done, you can now set the rice water on the fire in different pot. When it starts boiling, then you wash the grain of rice gently and put it in the hot water and allow it to boil as well. When the grains of rice become soft then you reduce the quantity of water in the rice so that it will not become too soft.

When you notice that the water in the rice has reduced then you reduce the fire also so that the rice will not burn.

Finally, you can put the rice on stem which means reducing the fire under the rice and stir it using cook spoon to ascertain whether it is ready for eating. When it is ready, then you dish it up. Dishing up means sharing the soup and rice. The soup can be placed in different pen while the rice in another pen also. The food is shared in pair. Both soup and

rice.

My Future Dream

I thank God that I am able to see this day in a joyous and glad mood.
I and my friends always talk about our future plans or dreams especially when we see people on television performing their duties in the careers similiar to our future dreams.
Three of my permanent friends, Tina, Agnes and Annie will sit under the tree infront of my little shelter each night during our free time and discuss about our plans. We all have different areas of concentration when it comes to future career or occupation. As for me, I want to be a computer specialist to educate my people when I return home to Liberia. There are several reasons why I chose to be a computer specialist. Computer illiteracy rate in my country(Liberia) is very high. I want to learn computer and also educate my fellow citizens as my national contribution. Sometimes my friends make fun out of me saying a person who wants to be a computer specialist does not know computer software courses. I sometimes feel bad and funny within myself when I hear this remark but I always keep my dissatisfaction to myself and keep the hope that one day my dream will come to reality.

Living Condition on the Budumburam Refugee Camp

The Buduburam Refugee Camp was founded in 1990 to host numerous Liberian refugees who fled their homes from Liberia because of the civil war. It is situated between Kasoa and Winneba near the capital City of Ghana called Accra. The sixteen tribes of Liberia are represented on the Liberian Refugee Camp in Ghana. The Refugee Camp is lively and interesting due to the activities within it. The living condition on the Bujumbura Refugee Camp is tough and discouraging. There are people who are fully depending on their people either in Europe, Asia or America for supports while others engage into businesses to sustain their families. People who have their relatives abroad receive monthly help from them. But in general, the bulk of rest of the people depends on themselves for survival. Some make garden, sell water, open entertainments centers and even some do hard labors jobs just to survive. Due to the hardship on the camp, most children or young girls and boys engage themselves into some deviant behaviors just to make life easier for themselves. Some of these behaviors are - prostitution, drug abuse, lesbianism, homosexuals, etc... Most of the young girls are abandoned or living without any parental support or care. They therefore, live on prostitution to pay school fees, feed themselves and to meet other necessities for life. Most of the young boys and men sell drugs and take drugs excessively with the notion that anytime the is taken in, its reaction is high argue. Some men also have sex to each other for so called self satisfaction. All of these practices make the camp dangerous and interesting. The leading entertainments centers on the Camp are the video clubs and night clubs. Next to these above is the ghetto. Most people who can afford to eat three times a day also consider clubbing to be their tradition. They must visit the night club before the day comes to an end. Any stranger or visitor who enters the camp may ask question whether indeed this is a refugee camp. All these behaviors of other refugees give the outsiders or visitors the belief that Liberians are no longer refugees in Ghana but just do not want to return to their country of origin. The question that I always ask myself is who should be considered as refugees? The few people who can not afford to live normal life? Or should people who are living like citizens of Ghana be considered as refugees? This question is very hard to answer because everybody has been given an identification card by UNHCR and they are recognized by the Ghanaian government and out of Ghana. I think it will be fair on the part of those who are suffering to get some aids from UNHCR then those who are enjoying and have everything at their disposer. This situation is frustrating and confusing. God should really help us.