You can either better or worsen your plights depending upon your initiative.  

I hope readers read my book and are inspired to persevere through their own hardships.

When people say that life is difficult, I want them to read this book and see how difficult life is in other countries.

If all 53 countries in Africa were united, people would have more opportunities and more control over its resources, and the wars between them would stop.

I want you, the reader, to see how far I have come from the use of machete in a village in Togo and Ghana, my country of origin, to the pursuit of the American Dream. My brothers, sisters, and I all began life in Togo in a thick forest with no electricity or potable water, not to mention the use of a telephone in time of emergency, but by the grace of Almighty God, I am now living in the United States of America, pursuing my America Dream.

Life in Akposso Bibi where I was born by then was a typical village one. Every farmer established his house in the middle of his cocoa farm. We were living in the middle of a thick forest. In the night, all that you could see was darkness. There was nothing like electricity to think about.

The major economic activities of the people in my village (Wusuta), are subsistence farming and lake fishing. Women in particular, buy fish and processed by indigenous traditional methods of drying, salting and smoking. The fish is then marketed by water transportation.

As a student teacher in training, you have to prepare a lesson plan with measurable and achievable objectives. Your plan is then submitted to your supervisor ahead of time for approval. When it is approved, the student teacher must go through his or her notes so as to master the various stages of it.

In Upper West Region and beyond, the traditional drink noted in the areas is called Pito. It is a local and alcoholic drink which is made out of millet. It is sweet and mild in terms of taste. Calabash is used to serve it. It is sold in almost every household. The color of Pito is golden yellow to dark brown.

What I want people to know is that as you are growing, you need to identify that life may not be getting any easier for you as compared to when you were young. Your ability to withstand any condition that may come your way would be a determining factor in your next level of life.  

In those days in Ghana, having more kids was the order of the day. Parents believed that a lot of children would provide them with more hands on the farm.  

As culinary specialists, we are noted as the heart of the ship. We make it happen on the boat, as such, we are hot cakes on the ship. Our job is a morale booster for the crew.    

My naval career so far has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about differences in human nature. Born and went to school in a developing country and now living in the United States means a lot to me.

Poor people lack certain basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, potable water, etc.. These rural folks usually have more mouths to feed and bills to pay yet are unemployed. Sanitation, health care, and environmental pollution become some of their obstacles.

We should be reminded that home is the first line of discipline, in addition to school, church, and the society at large. The accepted ways of life and good manners still have to be taught to the young kids as they constitute the next generation. Society nowadays is pampering the young ones too much and, as a result, the basis of life is being neglected.     

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available at any bookstore nationwide or can be ordered through the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore.

For more information, please contact Mr. Jim Miller, Marketing Representative, at 1.888.361.9473 or send an email to jim@tatepublishing.com

Other contact information, or to request about speaking engagements:

 Chick here (www.ankuvie.com);  Email me at: Cankuvie@yahoo.com

A must read book!!!

Get your copy now!!