Day Two

We were up at 4:30 am here because of the time change. No worries, the hotel pool is open 24 hours a day! Kara and I enjoyed a swim under the night stars, and then under the sunrise. A lizard watched us from his perch on the hotel wall. Today we travel into the interior where we will be working, so this is the last of pools and hot showers for awhile. Also internet. I'm adjusting, as you can clearly see!

Piling into the van with, again, far too much luggage, we are agog at the differences we see in this world. I am reveling in the browns and tans, and earth tones of the landscape against the red clay that is everywhere, but Jennifer is exclaiming how lush and green it is! The difference in perspective coming from Oregon, where everything is lush and green year ‘round, including the moss-covered roofs of our houses, and coming from California, where the dessert sits outside your window is profound for being adjacent states. But it allows us a window into the differences and similarities that make up our different team members.

Before we left the capitol city of Accra, we saw a significant amount of livestock, cattle of an indeterminate type, some of which were longhorns, lots of chickens, and many, many goats.

Shops are small buildings, usually cheek-by-jowl to each other, or larger, roof-covered areas open to the air. In more than one of these we saw caskets for sale on the side of the highway. This must be the local funeral parlor! Actually, they are wood craftsmen, and these are some of their wares. Pots are many in these markets. I was taken with the most beautiful columns made of cement that you bring home in segments and construct on site, they had incredibly ornate capitols, often in Corinthian style, and designs in the body of the column that Esther explained were Ghanaian. I saw some of these incorporated into local architecture later.

We arrived at the Guest House and the entire staff, The gatekeeper, Emanuel, Philip, Bless, Abigail, and Rosemunde, was on hand to greet us. They said “You are welcome” which means just that here, that we are welcome to be here, not the traditional American reply to a “Thank you” we are used to. Getting settled into our room was easy, as it was quite large and comfortable, with an en suite bath.

The day had already been full, but the best part was still ahead of us. We were welcomed in a village ceremony to the town of New Akrade by the Chief, his second in command, and the Queen Mother, the designated representatives of the three local royal families and their tribes, the Akans, the Guan, and the Ewes. He welcomed us not only to the community, but into the community, and promised us that the people of the town would look after us and watch over us and our safety, and that he would be our father, and the Queen Mother our mother as long we were here.

After the ceremony Esther explained that the Chief had inquired about marrying Kara, then me when he discovered Kara to be taken. The Chief, apparently married but able to support more wives, was fascinated with our hips, and zaftig appearance. They like their women big, here. Many people would come up to us, exclaiming on both our skin and our robust hips. More than one woman wanted Kara to donate some of hers. They think we are beautiful. Ghana is a good place for the ego of a large woman.

On the way home we were talking with Esther about the ceremony and the different tribes and states of Africa. We chatted about how the Chief had promised that the town would keep us safe, and all would watch over us while we were here. She said we would have no trouble in New Akrade or the surrounding areas, but sometimes in Accra, there is trouble (kidnapping) and it is always found to be Nigerians. She said it is a Muslim country that has not gotten its “stuff” together and there is always trouble. I found it interesting to note prejudices between African tribes and states, or customs and cultures, when at home most people look at Africa, a place 3 times the area of the US, as one vast, singular culture.