Behind the Awkwardness: Going Native
January 21st, 2010
“My sister was home from the Peace Corps and brought us some traditional clothing from Ghana so we could send these photos back to her host family. Awkwardness ensued.”
(submitted by Ashleigh)
Tags: costumes, matchy-matchy
One man. Five Women. One Man’s Best Friend. I am certain this is one happy fellow.
Ok, when I first saw this pic, I instantly thought someone was making fun of Nazi Concentration Camps. Not cool!
My impression too. Why would everyone be smiling in a natzi concentration camp? And what’s with the shoes?
This family is ADORABLE! It’s apparent that they’re fun people and also probably happy.
Seriously, don’t you wanna strap on something ethnically inappropriate and join them?
wait… is this for real???
Cute!
I love that they are all good sports and put these on for the picture. I just love families like this, which is why I love this website.
I bet she made them eat the traditional Ghana meal while they wore these outfits.
I hope she did. Traditional West African food is delicious. Although she wouldn’t have to “make” them – one waft of the cooking smells and they’d be begging.
No kidding! Some fufu, jollof rice and okra soup and they’d be good to go!
except for the tile that looks EXACTLY like my grandads house. =wonders if carpet was ripped up after it was sold=
I love how Grandma’s trying to dress things up with some low heels
Ever watched, “Boy in the striped pyjamas”? I get a bad taste when I see this picture. I thought it was some kind of Concentration Camp themed costume party.
Without reading the caption the first thought I had was Jewish concentration camp.
Is Ashleigh the pouty girl in the middle?
What my dear sister neglected to mention when she posted this pic is that she looks pissed because I have just suggested that we wear our cool outfits to her high school graduation.
You Ghanna wear this?
Hell no!
This is awesome! Happy to see Northern Ghanaian garb representing on awkward family photo! I am equally pleased to finally know someone on this website. I should have known it was only a matter of time! Nice work friend, nice work! And I’m with Chelsea, I’m sure her host family LOVED this picture!
The UFO never arrived so they went with Plan B; doggyback rides to planet Zaney.
AWESOME!
And to confirm… yes Peace Corps sister is second from the left… I served in Ghana with her! This made my day to see this on here!
And no they aren’t prison garb or umpires or anything else. It’s the local dress in the North of Ghana, the pieces are hand woven on a loom and then sewn together… the women wear dresses, the man (grandfather here) has on a smock, its what chief’s wear in the North. This would not have been a cheap present… all of it hand woven and hand sewn… so I’m sure her village loved that her family wore it and are now famous on awkwardfamilyphoto.com, my favorite website!
One of my best friends is currently serving in Northern Ghana– I hope he brings home one of these for me!
why?? lol
Funny…the one in the Birkenstocks has the right idea…she’s hiding behind the woman in front of her…”U won’t have black mail pix on me” lol
Let’s start with the headgear – I know Ghana and I think the ‘ladies’ could have used a bit of advice on the ‘stylin’ and I don’t know any self-respecting Ghanian woman who would be so insensitive as to imitate a concentration camp victim! The background looks pretty decent? De host family was probably horrified because the cheap little boga didn’t put them in Kente!
That’s for sure!
“OK, break’s over – back to the sweat shop, ALL of ya!!”
I’m “Ghana” have to say “no” on the traditional tribal wear!!!
I wonder which family felt more awkward about this photo.
Is Grandpa wearing traditional Ghana sans-a-belt slacks?
OMG! It’s a jailbreak!
Im guessing the sister is the second to last one of the left. Because she looks like the only one enthused about it.
Peace Corps: Spreading the awkward.
It’s like a giant seersucker convent!
Jailbreak!!!!
I love the one who’s trying to hide on the left!
Yes, I noticed that, too! It’s hilarious!
Kinda freaked me out at first–the outfits initially looked similar to the ones the women at Auschwitz wore….
That’s what I thought too when I saw the pic from their waists up. Actually, if it weren’t for the man I still would have thought that.
Exactly what I thought before I read the caption! I was thinking, “Are they jewish?” And I wasn’t trying to be racist, either.
Jewish is not a race..
Haha, that depends on who you talk to!
hitler certainly thought so… but it’s really not a race. it’s a religion, but it could also be described as a culture.
Ok, so I’m not the only one who thought of a concentration camp. For a second I thought it was just the history nerd in me.
I came in here to see if anybody else thought this looked like a concentration camp oufit. Glad to see I’m not the only one.
Ditto… totally ditto
same here!!!!
I concur with that.. I am Jewish and that was the first that popped into my mind
Whew…they’re costumes from Ghana. I’m Jewish too and thought I was looking at the worst taste imaginable.
Same here!!!
Same here!
Same
i thought it also! i thought that was the awkward part of the picture..still not sure what it is, to be honest.
same
Peace Corps Lady…2nd from the LEFT has to be…Tan and Happy!
Yes, that’s what I thought too. She’s the only one who looks excited about having the outfits on, LOL! She has a really sweet face and smile, too!
This is the same tactic zebras use to blend in so it’s harder to be singled out by lions.
Ghana? Or Guantanamo?
it does go well with those black pumps!
Until I read the caption, I thought it was some sort of “theme” slumber party where everyone had to wear the same nightshirt and nightcap. I like the woman on the far left who is obviously trying to hide.
Uh, I think the dog is giving his opinion of the prisoner type outfits.
That leg definately looks raised for #1.
Rwb
It looks like bedtime at the jail or maybe the umpire college.
“Umpire college” really made me laugh.
Bedtime at Umpire College!!!! Rolling on the floor!!!!
Love it!
We are a proud people of many stripes….
I don’t know why, but this picture reminds me of the movie “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”.
Funny!
Okay, so like, Ghana right? Is the whole country a prison?
Yes! That’s what I was gonna say!
Nice of her to stimulate their local economy by this bulk purchase, though!
“Oh yes sir. This is indeed our National Dress!”
Later at home to his wife: “You wont believe how I managed to sell that box of old hospital gowns”
Amazing
Is that a fish on your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Is the dog spraying them? Do they do that?
no…but it should. Im all dizzy now.
What? No outfit for the dog?
He wouldn’t be caught dog in that outfit.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Let me guess – the sister-in-law is the one in the Birkenstocks.
Yah, so why is she hiding?
I think they look cute, especially the one who looks like the mother or grandmother. However, I can just hear that dog saying, “I can’t believe this is the family I wanted to live with. I just can’t believe it. Where did I go wrong? Did I wag the wrong way? Should I bite someone?”
Don’t you just hate it when somebody shows up for the party wearing the same dress as yours??
heehee
So cute! I bet her host family loved it!
hope they didn’t cost her much
someone looks pretty nonplussed about the garb.