Diaries of a Ghanaian Saudi Princess- Part I

I went to Saudi Arabia from the 2nd to 6th of December for the Gulf Africa Investment Forum and witnessed another part of the world! It was the most amazing experience ever! I'll be telling you about my experience in several parts through a diary I kept while I was away. Tried my best to keep it as short as possible, but I guarantee you that it is a must read!!!

Diaries of A Ghanaian Saudi Princess

2nd December 2010

“I’m not Ethiopian”

After an arduous week we finally make it onto Ethiopian airlines. In my humble opinion, Ethiopian airlines in Ghana, is the epitome of quality service and customer comfort. The services they provided certainly helped the journey begin on an excellent note. I came across several individual who mistook me to be of Ethiopian descent. These individuals consisted of flight attendants as well as citizens of the country. To my surprise, some were so convinced of my ethnicity to the point where they engaged conversation with me in their local tongue which is Amharic. When I told them I was not Ethiopian, the reactions I received were varied. Some were so convinced of my ethnicity that it resulted in the nudging of their spouse for confirmation to take a closer look at me. Others got offended and gave me the “I can’t believe you are Ethiopian and don’t speak your language, shame on you!” look. That was an experience in itself. At the airport at Addis Ababa I saw a lot of Muslim women, either on a journey to Mecca or returning from Mecca. To my surprise, the women were more colourfully draped than I expected. Seeing all those women dressed in black Abaya’s (that’s what they are call it) made me feel out of place. Luckily I had visited Nima (in Ghana) before embarking on my journey and had purchased one to take along with me. I quickly reached into my back and covered up as to not offend their way of life.

Working my way through the Saudi Arabian immigration was a breeze since I now looked like an Arab! I have come to the realization that I may have a unique ability to blend into various cultures. I stood in awe as I observed all the women draped in black Abaya’s and the men in crisp white Kaftans’ with their Ghutrah’s (red and white checkered head gear with the black crown on it). I noticed a lot of cloth and silk drapes all around the airport. Then I thought to myself, you can have a bad hair day and still look fabulous! All the males carried themselves as kings and I could not help but wonder if they felt that way as well.

3rd December 2010

“Kicked out of Restaurant”

Upon arrival at my destination, I slept for about 5 hours and woke around 4am and went downstairs for breakfast and to prepare for the conference. I was truly anxious to confirm whether my research of Saudi Arabia and its customs were true. My boss, Mr. Edward Boateng sees me for the first time since my arrival in Saudi Arabia and was overwhelmed with laughter at my Abayan outfit. He stated that he did not find it necessary to go to such a great extent of wearing the clothing of the Saudi women. I on the other hand disagreed entirely. According to my research and the taxi driver who drove me from the airport, he stated with his Arabic English accent “as a foreigner you have 24 hours from airport to hotel, next day Abaya!”. That was the first full sentence he was able to make in English so naturally, I cracked up with laughter. Before leaving Ghana, it was my intention to follow the concept of “When in Rome do as the Romans Do!” and that is exactly what I did.

At breakfast at Golden Tulip in Saudi, I noticed people were staring at me. Especially the men, well there weren’t many females around! I wasn’t sure why. Either it was because I wasn’t fully covered (showing only my eyes) or they couldn’t figure out if I was Arab? I proceeded to eat my breakfast and went to register for the conference.

As we got to the gate of the conference, we were stopped and our taxi driver and the guards at the gate of the King Faisal Conference hall exchanged some Arabic words. Soon after he said “sister in the back (pointing at me) not allowed inside!” Naturally I was stunned and confused especially since I had travelled all the way from Ghana for this conference. I thought to myself “Clearly there had to be something wrong because I registered for the conference as a woman and so why didn’t they tell me this?!” So we explained that we were here for the conference and he finally let us in! I was amazed but had just experienced my first encounter of being a woman in Saudi Arabia.

After registration Edward, Isaac Yankson ( My favourite Camera man) and Myself decided to head out to town to get some Saudi Arabian food to eat! So we asked and found a fast food joint near the hotel. We get to the restaurant venue and realized that they were all closed for prayers. It turns out people in Saudi Arabia pray five times a day so each and every time they go to pray everyone closes their stores and business seizes for the 20 minutes that they pray. It’s quiet normal to find some people not praying either because they have already prayed or have plans to do it later on. Working hours are usually as follows, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4p.m. till 10p.m. if I remember correctly. Even with that, if prayer time falls within those hours everything closes temporarily. So we waited outside the fast food place for about 10 more minutes and entered. We really wanted to sit down on the floor where they had carpeted the place and had these little center tables to sit around with people, but as a woman I was not allowed to sit there so we sat on the table. Shortly after trying to order, someone who appeared to be the manager of the place literally pointed at my boss from a distance, shook his finger in a disapproving manner and pointed his thumb out the door ushering us to leave! Yes, leave because I was a woman and wasn’t allowed to eat with men in an open area. So we got take away and left. It turns out that you are only allowed to eat in areas where they have family sections (where they basically use room partition to hide the women who eat with their husbands). As the day progressed we met up with the Ghanaian delegation and that marked the end of my interesting day.

Watch out for Diaries of a Ghanaian Saudi Princess- Part II

EXACTLY 1 Year Later

Its exactly one year later and I just know that I have to let y'all know my ups and downs..THE REALITY of moving back to Ghana. ITS STILL THE BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE!! Is it a BREEZE? Heck no! I think I've been working the hardest I have ever worked and am earning the lowest I have every earned, yet somehow I still feel fulfilled. I don't know if its about the job that I do, or the air around me, or the sun that hugs me every morning because really I feel I've been a lot happier since I've been home.

So as you all know events is my true passion, but ever since I started presenting on business news I decided that well the only way for it to get better than it already is is if I put my all into it. So i made a decision to do events on a part time basis and focus on business news as a full time reporter. A new challenge i guess. Its been ridiculously hectic and I do not envy reporters. Writing a story in 2 minutes with videos and words is hard for a person like myself who likes to talk a lot! The news room is filled with pressure constantly, with other VJ's, producers and editors and wow can we argue!! In fact 2 days ago I felt like i made a big BIG BIG mistake moving over from full time events and part time presenting to Full time presenting and part time events! See I can organize events with my eyes closed! I know exactly what to do and how to do it and with reporting..WELL lets just say its a completely new field. A field that im willing to explore, but yet to determine my love for it.

Great news though is that due to my presenting on business news I've gathered enough experience to start THE BEST SHOW GHANA IS YET TO WITNESS....THE BE BOLD SHOW! Can you believe it?! Just recently I got approved in hosting the be bold show on eTV ghana. Its in the works and I am very excited about it! Right alongside the event itself which will be happening this year Jan 7th & 8th 2010. Its going to be crazy right here in Ghana! ARE YOU READY TO BE BOLD?!!!!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have made this possible. Every message, every word of encouragement brought US this far!

BIG KISS & HUGS and cheers to NOVEMBER 1st (the day I arrived in Ghana!)

The Backbiting Bug

I know that we all talk about this all the time how its in our nature to pull each other down. We do it all the time. Its like its fun to watch someone falling down a slippery slope. Either its funny because the slope is slippery and the person missed it or its just great to see the person falling so that you can rise for a change? I see it at work all the time. People take things so personal. So what if your proposal was not picked? NO its not because someone did juju on you or because the boss likes him more! Why cant it just be because maybe this time your work sucked! Yes so pull it together and come up with a better suggestion next time. In reality what happens is his idea was not selected so he blames it on her for being selected and gossips about her to a colleague who listens and then when working with the same girl later own has his prejudice because now he judges her for being picked. Eventually you have teams of people around based on events that have happened at the office. Group A are all those that have a lot of complaining to do about the same person or issue instead of trying to figure out what they can do to make it better, Group B are all those jealous about someone advancing to the next level so just find all these excuses to bring the person down. Group C are all those independent people that keep a grudge over the smallest issues and never talk about it. And then theres my group--Group Zero--who really couldnt care less! I literally come in and out of work. I work 12 hours a day in all sorts of departments and come accross so many characters and see so much going on around the office and I wonder WHERE IS ALL THIS ENERGY COMING FROM?! I read a quote that said "You know your busy when you have too little time in day to worry and too tired at night to not enjoy your sleep". Point is we are no longer in highschool for things to be taken so personally. If you have time to backbight and bicker then your not doing something right. If you have a problem with someone, sort it out with them and forget about it. Give them a chance or cut them out. Whats the point of back and forth, "oh im not talking to that guy, because bla bla bla" your wasting your energy on unimportant things! Do you agree that fighting someone takes more energy than being friendly or on an "ok, we work together so lets get along terms with the person?" So if you know that bit of information try and use less energy to be more effective and effiecient. Not to say that Group Zero doesnt mess up sometimes. Sometimes I hurt peoples feelings, I say things or do things that im not supposed to and it hurts them or makes them angry. When I hear it I try to change what it is I have done to make the person feel better. Sometimes I fail, most of the time I pass. So I always try. We're not perfect right, but we can try to be.

So you are officially a backbiting bug if you are one of those people that complains about ghanaians being the way they are and yet do the same thing by belonging to GROUP A, B or C. Why are you happy when someone is slipping? Is it because the person is mean and they finally desrve whats coming for them? Is it because of something someone has told you? or do you just like to be ahead so wanna see the next person falling? Can you just join Group Zero and have flaws but be willing to change things around? Yes I do believe that we can be loyal to each other and we can help eachother not be backbiting.

The worst is when you hear a foreigner say yeah Ghanaians are not loyal to eachother, infact they pull eachother down. It hurts deep in my soul, because even though I've said it too I dont want anyone else to say it!!!! Can we change and destroy the backbiting bugs within ourselves? or is this just wishful thinking?

Keep yourself BUSY this week, but not too busy to comment on my blog. ha ha ha.

Holiday tomorrow! YAYYYYYY! Need I read over this blog? Im hungry so I cant..sorry for any typos or messed up train of thought...

Enjoy

Its TIME!

Its been a while I know, but i JUST have to get back into this habit of blogging. I have so much to say, so much has changed! Some are miracles others are just hard hard work. Either way I thank God everyday for all the blessings. SO question is why am I back again? Yeah it was a bit stressful with all the work around me and everyone that knows me knows I despise routine! A bit funny when life is a routine in itself...wake up, dress up, work, eat, play, sleep...so i decided to take a lil break, then a break turned into more ideas, and then I just lost focus. THEN 8 months later I get 2 weeks off from all kinds of work and I'm back refreshed and really ready to get back into action!

Did you know that BE BOLD 2 is in the works! YES YES YES the planning committee have begun the crazy meetings and planning! Its intense, but its happening live and colored. Fri. 7th and Sat.8th of January 2011 marks the 2 special days that you need to schedule in your calendars! Its going to be AMAZING! Keep an open for the flyers and posters! and you and i both know that word of mouth is the BEST form of advertising so go on and tell a friend.

Since I've been off blogging weird things have happened. Lets try and summarize this and follow up with some pictures later on. I worked hard everyday, ignored some frustrations, worked some more, missed the days of FREEDOM with no 8 to 5, and then one day walked into a tv station in one of our company's departments, was asked to try reading something on TV, then BAM got a second job and BAM get on tv everyday from 7:00 to 7:30 pm everyday, next thing I know I am mc'ing for corporation events and next thing i know I'm in newspapers and I'm excited and my friends are excited and we're all jumping up and down inside, then people are staring at me in traffic or being extra nice to me and I end up being confused cus naturally Im not used to it...normally when people stare I stare back and say "what? what u staring at?" but now I cant cus their looking cus they saw me on tv so I smile back and say in my mind "really I'm just like you". People tell me no no no your a star or as my international friends would say "a local celebrity" HA HA HA HA! Trust me I'm none of those cus we all know how this project started (go back to BE BOLD day 1) remember?! I'm just going to life...HUSTLING like life depended on it and this is where I got to so far. I guess what I'm saying is you do the same and you just never know where life will take you. Ill do my best to tell you my steps in the next blog with pictures!

Be bold Part 2

an excerpt from the Next BIG thing Magazine

an excerpt from the NEXT BIG Thing – Magazine

The BE BOLD Project.

It all started in Canada June 2009 when the CEO’s (Sterre Mkatini & Christal Jeanne) of INEN Organized met up in Canada to begin their dream of developing Africa through INEN Organized. INEN Careers, a subdivision of INEN Organized was created to initiate the BE BOLD Project. The BE BOLD project aims to mobilize African students abroad and encourage them to be actively involved in the development of Africa as a whole. We strive to inspire, to encourage and to become a support system for all those who have been educated abroad and locally to stay in Africa to help develop our nation together. Most importantly INEN Organized wants the BE BOLD initiative to assist in Bringing Education and Building Opportunities for Leadership and Development (which is the acronym of BE BOLD) all over Africa.
To begin this INEN Careers launched its first networking and showcase event called the BE BOLD Project to bring together employers of companies in Ghana and also to give a chance for young entrepreneurs to meet up and discuss potential business opportunities in Ghana. The first BE BOLD event was launched at Citizen Kofi on the 2nd of January 2010 by the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Ghana Betty Mould-Iddrissu. “I wish to urge you to come back and inculcate the discipline of work you went through in the UK and other places into the working environment back home”. She urges Ghanaian youths who have had the opportunity to study abroad to return home with the skills acquired to help build the country. The event continued with a showcase of Ghanaian talents in singing, designing, acting and many more.
INEN Careers hopes to launch its website www.inencareers.com as a support system for all Africans living abroad. This website will highlight the success of Africans, post job openings from companies in Ghana and give an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to create professional portfolios for further networking.

How INEN worked on the BE BOLD Project
They always say practice what you preach! INEN Organized through BE BOLD preaches the return of students to Africa. With both partners being Africans from Ghana and South Africa living away from their homes, it was definitely a challenge for them to understand the meaning of what BE BOLD really meant. Therefore while one partner, Sterre Mkatini, did her Masters on youth entrepreneurs in developing countries at the University of Amsterdam the other, Christal Jeanne, re-located to Ghana to live the BE BOLD project in order to experience firsthand the problems in re-establishing and working in Africa.
This is when the action plan of the BE BOLD Project began! Sterre and Christal worked long hours after school and work with the INEN Organized teams based in Ghana, Amsterdam, England, Canada and USA. The two months following were about getting sponsorships, rehearsing the show, interviewing individuals who were based in Ghana, organization and working on the INEN careers website.

INEN Organized in 2010
We have many plans for the year of 2010 mostly associated with the BE BOLD project. Our website www.inencareers.com is one of our biggest projects for this year along with the BE BOLD talk show which will be aired on one of Ghana’s top TV Stations. We hope to continue to inspire, encourage and support all young Africans all over the world to return to help develop Africa together.

Websites
www.inenorganized.com
www.inencareers.com
Contact
Inenorganized@gmail.com

Thank you!

A special THANK YOU for attending the BE BOLD project.

Hello! This is a long overdue special thank you for attending the BE BOLD project on the 2^nd of January 2010. We had a wonderful time organizing the event and were so happy to have seen so many of you supporting the event and just being BOLD in so many different ways!! We have been seriously working on the website www.inencareers .com to release all the pictures which have not been put on the INEN Organized fan page on facebook.

We would like to recognizing a couple of Key Players in making this event a success:

Hon. Betty Mould Idrissu - Attorney General & Minister of Justice of Ghana - For Launching the BE BOLD Project

Dr. Dennis Larking - Superintendent of Lincoln Community School

Mr. Ashong- Ghana Investment and Promotions Center

Young Entrepreneurs

Silvia Dake – Event Organizer -Sponsorship and Company Recruitment

Lydia Elim Andrews – Company Recruitment

Vanessa Bannerman – Event Organizer – Coordinator of Showcase

Rochelle Thompson – Event Organizer – Coordinator of Showcase & Everything Else

Wesley Owusu – Content on Website Development

Kukua- Event Organizer who handled everything there was to handle.

Martin Beeko – Event Organizer - Sponsorship, Website, Editor

Jacqueline Traboulsi – Event Organizer

Kojo Ampofo – Mc for BE BOLD forum

Yvette Nsiah – (AKA Fanci Godiva) – MC for BE BOLD Showcase

Melissa Nsiah – Dressing up MC & Inviting Stars to Attend

Nana Ama Barterls – Advertising Internationally

Nancy Khalinda – Interview Questions for Designers

Anuli Azih – Advisor & Content Editor

Kweku – K.Boateng Academy of Performing Arts who was a key player in making the event a success with his brilliant plays.

Renee Q – Make up for Models

Christie Brown – Dressing up Main Organizer

Designers – Allan Davids, Renee Q, Aya Morrison, Diva Delicious, Bello, Knaf Couture, Duaba Serwa

IAN Jazzy – Poetry & Rapping

Contemporary Dancers

Dk Osei – Poetry

Wanlov The Kubulor- The best STAR in Ghana right now!

Luxe- Coretta- Ushers

Contant Boti Trio & Sax

TONY –Stage Design

iCREATE Advertising –Tallal, Raeed, Francis, Skid, JP- All Graphic Designing, Website Designing and conceptualization, Sound, Lighting for BE BOLD.

My Chale Group – Duke Ofori, Maxwell, Herbert - Website Designers, creators & conceptualization

ALL OUR PRIVATE Sponsors

Sponsors: Koala, Lincoln Community School, Global Media Alliance, eTV, iCREATE advertising, Renee Q, INEN Organized

Thank you all so much for helping to make the BE BOLD project a success! We really could not have done it without you.

Aside from that I do intend on getting back into my usual blogging routine which I know I’m horrible at. Luckily I have been creating an update of my experiences every once in a while so I am well prepared.

Hope you have a wonderful day!