Article #23 in the YCC Kids Club Ghana Student Life Stories Project
My First Sleepover With Friends
By Edinam Tamakloe, Age 14
It was the sixth of March, Ghana’s Independence Day. Every year we celebrate this fine day by marching down the street and giving presents. We enjoy it so much!
After celebrating, I went back home only to find my brother and his friends asking me, “How will we celebrate the remainder of our Independence Day?” So I decided that we should have a sleepover.
The activity of “Sleepover” is not common in Ghana. However, my Mum told us that we should try it and see. “It is good to be with your friends,” she told me.
I was very anxious on that very day when my brother, his friends, and I decided to have a sleepover. It was around five in the evening when we started to prepare our tents and other things for the night. First, we watched some movies inside the house, and then we headed to the tents. But at first we couldn’t sleep! We stayed awake and discussed some important issues: our education, and the status of our nation. At last, we drifted off to sleep.
The next day, we woke up late. We did some exercise, took our baths, and had our breakfast. We later went to the soccer field to play.
It was a wonderful time for me! I thought, “I could still be in my tent sleeping, but I am glad to be awake because I love to play soccer with my brothers.”
We played until twelve noon, and then we went back home to have our lunch and watch some cartoons on a TV station called ETV Ghana. The cartoon was about Harry Potter, which is a book and movie I like most to watch on my leisure time at home.
As for my first Sleepover experience, I conclude it is very nice to hang out with your friends on your free time. My brothers and I had a wonderful night.
Lillie’s Note: One reason I like this article is because it clearly demonstrates how kids in Ghana stay KIDS for longer. Isn’t it interesting to compare and contrast how an American 14-year-old might write this article? Please leave a comment for Edinam, stating your geographical location!
I LOVE to have sleepovers with my friends. They are so much fun! I have sleepovers all the time, yet, I can still remember my very first one. I was in the second grade. At first, I was a little scared because it was my first time away from home. As soon as my friends and I started to have fun, the fear of being away from home was gone. I had so much fun and I couldn’t wait to have another one!
P.S. – I absolutely love the Harry Potter movies too!
I love sleepovers! I remember when i had my first sleepover with my friend Natalie. We watched T.V. and listened to music and danced until 7. Then we went in her room and played house and modeling and stuff. we were only 7 so we were very loud and excited for our sleepover! We fell asleep watching T.V. on her couch and the next day we had breakfast and went out side and played like you went out and played soccer with your brother and his friends. I have had so many sleepovers since then and it is so fun. I am glad you liked your first sleepover too. It sounded like fun and I know about harry potter but I’m not a fan. I’d rather watch my favorite T.V show called Psych. Well I hope your future sleepovers go well!
-Tori
Sleepovers are really fun especially with your friends. I remember When I slept over my friends house over the summer. We had a ” all nighter” which was really fun and we didn’t sleep one bit. Sleepovers are a time to relax and have fun.
Sleepovers are really fun! I love just hanging out at my “girlfriends” house and acting crazy, watching movies and just having fun. But I remember the first time I stayed from home it was really scary because I never stayed away from home for a night before and I thought it was gonna be really scary. But afterall I had fun once I got relaxed.
It must have been great to hang out with all your friends. It seems like the sleep overs I go to except they are sometimes in hotels and our conversation topics are more petty *laughs*.
Sleepovers are so much fun, especially when it is your first time going to one. I remember my first time going to a sleepover, I went to a kayaking trip at camp for two days.I was scared at first, but then it turned out really fun.
I have sleepovers ALL THE TIME with my friends! Yet, I still remember my first sleepover. It can be scary to be away from your parents for the first time espically when your 6 years old, like I was. But, im glad you had a great time with your friends and I hope you do it again!
P.S.- I love the Harry Potter movies too!
I never had a sleep over before.
Edinam, I too have fond memories of sleepovers as a kid. I’m impressed that you spent time talking about the status of your nation and your education!! Thanks for the interesting story, I hope to read more in the future. Be well, Phil
Ben said…
Hello Edinam,
I enjoyed your post very much. When I was growing up in the Northeast USA, I used to have sleepovers frequently: maybe once every month or so. I used to love staying up late (often too late!), telling jokes, talking, playing games, and the rest of it. I guess that isn’t much different than the sleepover you’ve described above. However, we would never have our sleepovers in tents; one or the other of us would host, and everyone else would bring over (or borrow) sleeping bags and sleep on the floor.
In the morning, the host’s Mom (or occasionally Dad) would often make us breakfast, which I loved. If we were lucky, breakfast would be waffles or pancakes with maple syrup. That was my favorite breakfast back then. Maple syrup is common where I grew up, but I imagine it would be hard to come by in a warm climate where there aren’t any maple trees nearby. Maybe you’ve had it, though — who can say?
If not, and if you’ve got some spare time, you can take a moment to read about maple syrup here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup
It’s my favorite sweet thing on the face of the earth. Can’t be beat!
Thanks again for the wonderful story.
- Ben
March 16, 2010 2:43 AM
Karrie said…
Hi Edinam,
Thank you for sharing your sleepover story, it was interesting to hear about your experience. Your story is very detailed, giving a glimpse of teenage life in Ghana.
I grew up in the United States, in the Midwest. Having sleepovers with friends in tents is something we did frequently during the summer months. We played games, sang songs, played hide-and-seek, and we usually ate popcorn and smores. Smores, short for “I want some more,” are roasted marshmallows on graham crackers with melted chocolate.
Thanks again for sharing your story. I can tell you worked hard on organizing your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Karrie
March 16, 2010 6:53 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi Edinam!
I teach 14 year old students in a town outside of Boston in the US. Just yesterday three of my students were talking about the sleepover that they are going to have this weekend. They also were going to watch movies and play games. It just shows that no matter where you are, kids are kids!
I always loved pillow fights during sleepovers- just make sure nothing breakable is nearby! Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Sincerely,
Becky
March 16, 2010 1:17 PM
lisa said…
Hi Edinam,
I enjoyed reading your personal narrative about your first sleepover. You caught the reader’s attention very well and included compelling voice in your writing. Well done!
I always enjoyed sleepovers when I was a teenager, though I never got to have one in a tent! That would’ve been great fun. I hope you get to have more!
Sincerely,
Lisa
Washington, DC, United States
March 18, 2010 2:47 AM
Luddy Sr. said…
Edinam,
Reading your story brought back memories of many sleepovers I had with my friends. We always stayed up too late and talked until our eyes just couldn’t stay open a second longer. And many times our parents had to keep telling us to be quiet because we were talking and laughing too loudly.
I only slept out in a tent for a sleepover one time. I thought it would be funny to scare my friend. When an apple fell outside and made a noise I said an animal was outside and he got scared. Then I made pretend I saw a spider in the tent. Eventually he got too scared and left the tent and walked home! After he left I was all alone, then it was me who was scared! I learned my lesson that night.
Thanks for sharing your story.
-Kwabla (Connecticut, USA)
March 28, 2010 8:53 AM