Monday, August 02, 2010

The Temporarily Relocating Procrastinator

One thing I will always regret is that that I took up blogging AFTER my trip to Gabon in 2008. After all, Gabon's beautiful green rolling hills, warm tropical environment and colourful people provide ample fodder for anyone's blog. As did the surreal research commune I was living in where at some point, I was convinced we were participants in some twisted reality television show being broadcast on German television. Moreover, the Gabonese culinary approach i.e. anything-that-moves-in-the-forest was *erm* fascinating. I admit  that  indeed, I did enjoy the little python I had.
That's me at the official Equator line in Gabon. Standing between the hemispheres
Anyway, I digress, for the next couple of months, I will be leaving the fair shores of Ghana for the Netherlands. Another regret I have is that I was unable to complete a piece on foot-soldiers before I left. Ghanaian political foot-soldiers  that is NOT Dutch ones. Speaking of Dutch soldiers did you hear they have pulled out of Afghanistan? Alas, I digress again. The foot-soldier post has proved challenging because  this group is probably the most dynamic and fluid aggregation on the Ghanaian political landscape today and thus very hard to pin-down and characterise. I can still complete that piece from the Netherlands but it does seem a little disingenuous blogging about Ghana from elsewhere. After all, I need to be surrounded by inspiration from the tropical sun, traffic, flavours and the wonderful glow of Ghana living. 

So what could one possibly blog about from Holland?
  • Is it true that it is mainly Western foreign tourists that smoke marijuana in The Netherlands while the Dutch are largely uninterested?
  • Is it 'Holland' or 'The Netherlands' anyway?
  • Leave your bicycle unlocked and it WILL be stolen
  • Why are Dutch people so tall?
  • How long does it take a tulip to grow?
  • Do people still wear clogs in the Netherlands?
  • Dutch Politician Geert Wilders is popular among some and it is not only for his *shocking* blond hair

Okay, I'm being facetious. I'm sure I will find interesting things to blog about! In the meantime, I'm dreaming of Dutch pancakes already. *Hmmmm*
Delicious Holland Style Pancakes

13 comments:

ImageNations said...

Thought you were migrating to say Wordpress. Safe trip and hope you get enough to blog about. I share my office space with a Dutch. One of those who thinks they know better than anybody who is black. I know generally they are not like that... Enjoy the stay...

Anonymous said...

Traveling for work or vacation? Either way, enjoy the trip and remember to post pictures so that those of us who have never been can also share in the experience. :-)

E K Bensah Jr said...

Good luck, Abena...made me wistful about Belgium...I love that country! I think you can still blog without inspiration...it's all in the mind. It would just be blogging from a second-hand perspective.

Good luck!

@Nana--ouch!!;-)

Boatemaa said...

Aaawww Abena, I was really looking forward to seeing you before your trip but it didn't happen. I guess I'll have to keep in touch via the blogosphere;) I will be reading and I'll see you when you come back. Enjoy Holland...or is it the Netherlands?

Raine said...

Enjoy your trip! And bring us back some pics.


PS. DC has a high rate of bicycle thefts too. Even the Mayor got his garage broken into and guess what was stolen? Yup, 2 bicycles.

kekeli said...

Have a safe trip. If you should happen to be in Groningen, then you should definitely check out "Pannekoekschip". Their pancakes are really really good.

Enyonam said...

Have a great trip!

Nana said...

Have a safe and fun trip! :D

Ghana_Hall_of_Shame said...

mmmmm dutch pancakes!
Have a fun trip.

Mike

Abena Serwaa said...

@Nana Fredua: interesting you should mention WordPress. I started up a blog there to test it out and I'm toying with the idea of a move...Your officemate may just be a know-it-all...In general I find Dutch people liberal, open-minded and quite accepting.

@Anonymous Travelling for work..I wish it was a vacation!

@EKB: *Thanks* I may make a trip to see a colleague in Antwerpen depends on finances...have to try a real Belgian waffle in Belgium at least once!

Abena Serwaa said...

@Boatemaa *Awww* really wanted to hang out too before I left! Interestingly, I acquired a terrible cold/flu the weekend before I left. I'm still rapidly spreading it across Europe. Be glad you escaped ;) See ya very soon.

@Raine Thanks! That DC bike story has me laughing (and crying) at the same time. Crime is THAT bad?!

@Kekeli Thanks! Would love to make it up to Groningen. My Dutch brother from another mother (and *erm* father)'s girlfriend is up there and since he lives in Germany now, a hike up to Groningen would be the best way to see him. Will check out Pannekoekschip!

Abena Serwaa said...

Thanks @Enyonam, @Tye and @Mike!!

novisi said...

there are so many times i start up writing something only to stop mid way. then there are those i actually complete and yet would not hit the 'post' button.

i just feel some awakening with that experience of yours.

enjoy your trip. at least i'd be blessed with your words from far across the ocean!