Halfway break on the bumpy ride to Kumasi
We have a bit of a routine now. We sleep in until about 9:00 and then we all have showers and then breakfast is served. Patrick’s brother and his wife Georgina (Yaa) do all of the cooking and cleaning here and it is a strange feeling to not have to worry about anything but keeping my room clean. I asked Patrick why they will not let us do anything and he said that it is normal when people come home for vacations from overseas and that they would do this for anyone....Even so it is still very off putting at times.
After breakfast we usually sit on their beautiful front veranda and Patrick and his parents chat away. Patrick will occasionally stop to translate but I basically just sit and marvel. As we were talking a lady and her two children came through the gate. She had a very large scar that stretched from her eyebrow down to her mouth. I do not think that she could see out of her eye. She had a well used dress on and carried a machete in her left hand. Her children were dressed in very, very simple threadbare shifts. The eldest daughter had her head shaved (as seems to be the custom for young girls) and had a tray of small gathered fruits and peppers balanced on her head; I was struck by her grace as she walked. They were obviously very poor and none of them had shoes on.
Patrick’s father asked her to sit down on the veranda and she gave everyone a small bow before she sat. She had her youngest (a son I think) bring his bag and she took out a small pink gift bag and took out a picture. It turned out to be a picture of Patrick’s father that had been thrown out by accident. One of the children had been going through the garbage and had found it. She wanted to make sure that they had not stolen it from here as she had recognized his picture. They were thanked by both parents and Marta gave the children some food. Patrick said that they live down the road in a shack and that his father gave her about $5 last month for food as they had none. It was a few Cedi’s to buy meat, he gave her more than she asked for so she did not want the children to be causing trouble for them. I have been driving by poverty since I have arrived here but this really put it right in my face. I cried in my room afterwards at the scale of the poverty and the grace and kindness that is shown.
Last night Isaac took us to an open air bar/restaurant. I think he wanted to show us off to his friends....the music was really nice but as it got darker there were only 2 lights and everything seemed very dim and kind of intimidating. I was glad when we left...I am such a baby!
In the evenings after dinner (which has been delicious - every meal!) we again sit and chat on the porch or the patio. It has been wonderful to see Patrick so happy talking with his parents. I do not think his smile has dimmed a watt since we got here. Isabelle still will not let anyone pick her up (but she will let them feed her HAHA) and Nick is trying to be helpful for his grandparents.
After his parents and the kids are sleeping we slip outside of the gates and sit. I smoke my ass off (this is usually the only time I can) and enjoy the breeze...Patrick and Isaac usually have a Guiness. Where we sit is maybe 10 feet from the start of what looks to me like jungle -but I could be wrong! As I was enjoying my second smoke in probably as many minutes I could hear singing from far away. As it was quite late I was not sure why...Isaac said it was a church about a mile away and that they do this for all hours. He said he pities the people who live near them! There are a lot of churches here!
Sunday was a big day for the Ashanti region. It was the 10th (Golden)anniversary of the King's reign and as we were driving around we saw people drumming and having fun. It was in the Kumasi Stadium and was carried live on TV.
We also went to Obuasi to visit Patrick's Uncle. It was about an hours drive from Kumasi. He is an electrical engineer for Ashanti Gold Mines. They live in a lovely area that is provided for the workers to live in. There were big giant trees that made the area really cool. It was really nice to see everyone and Nick again had fun playing soccer with more cousins!
Well, Better get going...I am going to try and post some more pictures! I am at a different Cafe and it seems to be a little faster.
Danielle
