What's Up

About the Book

My idea for this book and its intended audience is the awareness and use of expressions by typical Americans. In my country, we call these expressions slangs. Although some people might have attended higher institutions in their native countries, when they came to America they were baffl ed or confused by these “slangs”. Most of my friends who went to college before coming to America also have problems because they don’t let go of their accent and their English. Even though I came from a country whose offi cial language is English, (were colonized by the British), I had a very hard time understanding the Americans use of slang. Statements like, “Are you nuts?” meant a whole different thing to me until after I had been here a while, then I began to decipher the subtle meanings of these slang expressions and American dialect.

I began to compile foreign expressions and put them in book form so that people who are new to this country might appreciate and understand what these expressions mean. It is my hope that both Americans and new immigrants will be helped by this small book by learning these expressions and using them when appropriate and knowing when not to use expressions that may rub people in America the wrong way.

About the Author

My name is Jimmy Gyasi Boateng. I was born and raised in Bonwire the historical Kente cloth town of Ghana. I attended Phillips Commercial College in Kumasi, Ghana. After completion I came to Accra the capital of Ghana to find a job. Luckily I was hired by the Parliament House, National Assembly as a Clerical Officer. I worked with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah the first President of Ghana and his administration for one year before he was overthroned. I also worked with the second government of Ghana led by Dr. Kofi Busia and his administration. I was in Parliament for 10 years before I finally left for the State Insurance Corporation of Ghana as a Librarian. I came to the U.S.A in 1978 and I have worked at many factories and institutions amongst them the Microfibres Incorporation. I was chosen as the Associate of the year in 1996. I have been loyal to the company for 25 years. Also, I have worked for the Massachusetts Judiciary for 8 years as an interpreter through the Inlingua of Boston. I continue to work with TeamOps of the New England Patriots Football Team at Gillette Stadium. I had my Senior High School Equivalency Diploma from Cranston Public High School and continued at Rhode Island Trade Shops School where I graduated in 1982. I furthered my education at Genesis for Diploma in Culinary Arts in 2002. I have a certificate from the New England Gerontology academy.