2010 | Kajsa HA

Blossoming Sweden

June 8, 2010 2 Comments

Good morning!

I have now woken up in Sweden for the first time in over a year.

I just had a true Swedish breakfast, inclusive of A-fil, leverpastejsmörgås med inlagd gurka and coffee of course.

It is the weirdest feeling, I feel excited about everything…from the blossoming surroundings to how a down cover feels on my body. From speaking Swedish, playing with words to drinking a glass of water – from the tap! At the same time, everything is so familiar. I am in my element. Well taken care of by my family.

Now I will take a Swedish shower and then take a walk at the sunny streets of Malmö.

See you tomorrow!

UPDATE: Some blossoming pics from today’s city walk.

Ghana, Personal, Places, Sweden

Stressful Sunday

June 5, 2010 3 Comments

Now the world is spinning too fast.

Grading, art project, did you see my email? contract, research, graduation, lunches, Google conference, malaria. Twice. (hope its gone).

And tomorrow evening I am supposed to fly out of Ghana for a long vacation. Seven weeks. Lazy days. Newspapers and coffee. Dinner with long lost friends. Hugging my parents. Surfing on fast, fast broadband. Speaking Swedish. Being one in the crowd.

My plan is to keep posting here on my summer. Hope you are ready for vacation!

But before the lazy days – am I ready? What shoes should I wear? Do I have a gift for my sister? Did I read your email? Where’s my phone charger?

Blogging, Ghana, People

Astrient Foundation: Blogging, Career and Communication

June 3, 2010 1 Comment

My speech at the Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum (with as many men in the audience) on Monday went well.

As the other scheduled speaker could not come I on short notice found myself with plenty of time with the Ashesi students, alumni and other young professionals. I chose to expand on my favorite topic – blogging.

I also shared some stories from my own brief career focusing on confidence, communication and character. An interactive discussion followed.

I was impressed when the participants wrapped up by taking turns with letting their peers know what they had taken from the session. So many insights, some work related stories, central messages and fine details.

It was a reminder that even if we sit in the same room, experience the same discussion, we’ll hear different things.

Photo: Phoebe Selassie Acolatse

People

Lady Gaga and My Boss

June 1, 2010 1 Comment

I would never really believe that Lady Gaga and my boss, Patrick Awuah, have something in common. But they do!

(Just like Lady Gaga and William Easterly, but thats a different story…)

They are both on the Fast Company The Most Creative People in Business 2010-list. Alright, so Lady Gaga comes out on top and my boss on 87th place, but I still think that is pretty good for someone who doesn’t sing! The lovely Fast Company have made a specific page for Patrick Awuah explaining what he is all about. I know that already, but if you don’t feel free to check it out!

Last year, my inspiring friend June Arunga was on this exciting list. This year, Chris Anderson of TED and Jamie Oliver the chef are two of the other creative people on the list.

Pic borrowed from Dallas Observer.

PhD

BBC Program on Africans Returning Home

May 31, 2010 2 Comments

In the BBC production An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby, the story about Africans returning back to their continent is unveiled, according to a recent BBC article.

This Africans returning home business is nothing new, but I think the story needs to be told many times to counteract the strong emigration narrative “everybody is leaving for the UK/US…”.

Personally, I like the more modern approach to migration, suggesting you can stay both here and there, creating the true cosmopolitan or should I say AFROPOLITAN citizen. Here a short excerpt about Ghanaian fashion designer Kofi Ansah I think says exactly that:

Mr Ansah still travels the world, and could live anywhere, but his business is growing, his family are settled and he feels like he’s making a difference in Accra. “I came to help try to develop the clothing textile industry. And I thought, if we could do it right, it could help our employment situation.

Unfortunately, the program (first episode covering Mali, Ghana and Nigeria) is not available to watch here in Ghana, but maybe our brothers and sisters will watch it in the UK and tell us about it…

Blogging, Ghana, Promoting

Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum: Enhancing your Work Image

May 30, 2010 3 Comments

After having sweated though the weekend, I am now assuming my malaria parasites are all gone and I will start my week with something interesting. Monday evening, I will be speaking at an Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum event.

Initially, I was hesitant. For the event with the slightly puzzling title “Enhancing your Work Image in the Corporate World” I felt I was not the right speaker as I wasn’t even too sure about what ‘work image’ was…but after some explanation from the director Phoebe Acolatse, I have prepared to talk about my blog and how I have enhanced my own career.

The Astrient Foundation provides, among other things, scholarships, community educational programs and these women’s networking seminars.

If you are interested, this is the time and place:

Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum

Ashesi University College, Labone

Building 3, Lecturehall 4

6-8pm, Monday 31st May, 2010.

And I am no more hesitant, but looking forward to this experience!

Ghana

Official Blogger: Malaria

May 29, 2010 3 Comments

While the main program is going on at Alliance Francaise, this Official Blogger is unfortunately not there enjoying it, but instead home with malaria.

Hopefully back here soon though.

Ghana

Today’s Bless the Mic Event for the Official Blogger

May 27, 2010 No Comments

The Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival comes to a slow start this evening with a corporate mixer for invitees only. I’ll be there and snap some photos to post in this space.

So if you are going, make sure to comb your hair…

Pic from Twist & Locs Saloon here in Accra.

Ghana, Promoting

This Friday: Tema Bless the Mic Club Night

May 26, 2010 No Comments

Most events in Ghana happen in Ghana’s capital Accra. However, Bless the Mic every now and then takes their show to Tema.

On Friday, 28^th May 2010, starting at 8pm, they do it again! The place is Barcadi Nite Club, Community 4, Tema.

It will be a night of freestyle battles between some of the most exciting MCs from Tema and Accra including Macho Rapper, Yaa Pono, El, Ronny O, Pope Skinny, Scizo and the All Star cast from Tema. In attendance will be international guest DJ Floro (Spain) and DJ Champagne (Y Fm). Apart from music, there will also be graffiti art.

I called up the man behind BTM, Papa Yaw to find out why he is taking his show on the road:

– Because Tema is very vibrant in the music business right now and we want to promote the Tema music community, thats the reason…

As I am a proper “Tema girl”, I must say I appreciate BTM coming to Tema.

Come around 8pm on Friday and pose for pics to be posted in this space!

Battle illustration by Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor.

Blogging, Promoting

Official Blogger for Bless The Mic All Day Festival

May 24, 2010 4 Comments

I have been asked to be the “offical blogger” for this weekend’s upcoming event, Bless the Mic Arts and Music Festival.I am very excited about this event which I believe will be rocking! I especially like the combo of visual arts and music.

From the Press Release:

BLESS THE MIC ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL: ACCRA’S MOST EXCITING CULTURAL SEASON

Mi Prime Entertainment in collaboration with Alliance Francaise is pleased to announce this year’s ‘Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival’, which takes place from the 27^th– 29^th of May 2010. ‘Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival’ celebrates the diversity of Ghanaian creativity in the Arts and Music.

ABOUT BLESS THE MIC ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival is organised by Mi Prime Entertainment in association with Alliance Francaise and supported by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAKSI, Pidgen Music, Ghana Cultural Fund and 2131 Banging Hiphop show.

Media Partners: Y fm, X fm, myjoyonline and ghanamusic.com

Media Sponsors: E-TV Ghana, Net2 TV, CRTV, Ameyawdebra.com, Sky Digital Network, africanmp3s.com, chilloutghana and Dust Magazine.

The main event is happening this Saturday the 29th of May from 3pm -10pm at Alliance Francaise and will include a photo/art exhibition as well as poetry and live stage performances by King Ayisoba, Nana Fynn, Gouda Traditional Music, DK Osei Yaw, Yaw Kontoh, Chuks, Chase, Crystal Tettey, Fiifi Sellah and Efya.

Find more info on Facebook under “All Day Festival”. I will be blogging from the event.

See you there?

Ghana, Kajsa HA's Social Media, Personal

On Air: Kajsa on E-TV

May 23, 2010 9 Comments

So here’s the promised report from my 5 minutes of fame.

I came into the E-TV studio in Asylum Down at 7.30am on the dot. I was whisked into the make-up booth, although I had already used an aging powder at home thinking they might not have my shade available…

In minutes, I was sitting next to the glamorous presenter of the “Awake” show, Ester, and without much ado she introduced me as “a very interesting lady living in Ghana”. We chit-chatted about how come I ended up in Ghana (“love”), what my favorite Ghanaian food is (“omo tuo and groundnut soup”) as well as on differences between Ghana and Sweden (“basically everything!”). I was allowed to talk about my blog and about Ghanablogging. I felt relaxed and Ester cheered me on through chuckles and follow-up questions.

Maybe best of all was that afterwards, I had the chance to speak to the producers of the show and promote Ghanablogging and my fellow bloggers. They sounded very interested and likely this will not be the last time a Ghanablogger goes on air with E-TV.

Reviews?

My Ghanaian family was very proud and called me after the show to congratulate me. A friend texted me saying “you are so sweet on TV – another career to discover!”

All in all, a good experience even though I had to leave home at dawn.

Blogging, Ghana, Kajsa HA's Social Media, Personal, Positive, Promoting

Yours Truly on E-TV

May 20, 2010 4 Comments

I have been invited to E-TV, Ghana’s newest(?) free-to-show tv-channel, and their morning show!

I’ll be speaking to George, who found me through this blog. Heasked me to prepare for the following topics:

how you first heard about Ghana, a bit about your PHD project, your teaching, why you married a Ghanaian, and your future plans.

Tune in tomorrow Friday around 7.30 am. Tune in or I’ll tell you in this space how it went!

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like

You may also like