I had a basketball tournament today. I had to wake up at 5:45am, get to school at 7am, and didn’t get back to school until 5pm. We warmed up for the first hour or so and then waited for our first game. We won our first game. But unfortunately lost our next 3. We lost 8-5, then 18-2. In the 3rd place match we lost a heartbreaker 12-13. Here are some pictures from my first game. Dad left after our first game to go home with Catherine. I played a few minutes in the middle two games.
—Mark
I enjoyed what I saw of the basketball tournament today. It was organized chaos, similar to every tournament in the U.S. But, the students all seemed to have fun.
I added a few photos at the end of those selected by Mark. First is the loud speaker that wasn’t silenced while games were ongoing. Second is a photo of a field hockey game. Several schools participated in a hockey tournament at the same venue as the basketball tournament (Ghana INternational School).
Next are a couple photos of Commonwealth president Wahab, Catherine, and friend Khadijah. Wahab took us on a walking tour of Commonwealth today. Fun facts. (1) Commonwealth has 1000 official residents. (2) Commonwealth has 3000 unofficial residents “perching” in the rooms. So, the hall is home to 4000 men, a city unto itself. Wahab was nice enough to show us his room. Wahab took the girls on a walk on the steps in front of Commonwealth.
A meeting was scheduled for tonight among several Vandals and Anas, an investigative reporter and Vandal alumnus. Tracy and Calvin student Abby were to attend. However, some Vandals were holding an illegal “Highlife Festival” in the courtyard of the hall, sponsored by a different Vandal alumnus who is a local beverage distributor. (On our walking tour, Wahab showed me the letter forbidding the event.) The unauthorized noise (music, drumming, dancing) made it impossible to hold the meeting. Wahab came to our flat to explain and apologize. I guess the alum with the money won this battle.
Then, at about 9:30 PM, all power went off on campus. (Mark’s friends elsewhere in Legon and in East Legon are also in the dark; this dumsor is probably quite widespread.) No more Highlife Festival. No more music! So, maybe we’ll be able to sleep!
Oh wait, drumming is ongoing. And, it is becoming increasingly hot and humid without the A/C. Pick your poison: Highlife or heat.
Probably not a good night to sleep, after all.
—Matt
