Trip to Ada, May 1
We spent some time tonight in the sweltering home of Nicholas, a family friend. He and his brother rent a very small place (to them it's a CASTLE!) in Accra, for which they had to pay 3 years rent in advance (3 million cedis, or $300 dollars total, so about $8.50 a month). It has absolutely no plumbing nor cooking facilities. There is a community toilet in the neighborhood - well, actually, it's just a hole in the ground. There are no showers, so he and all the neighbors carry containers of water on their heads from the local tap, then sponge bathe each day (now, remember, this is practically downtown in the capital city of Accra!). He is proudly displaying his cookware to us - that's all there is of it - no blenders, microwaves, colanders, glasses, just the most basic of implements - and he cooks outside over a few hot coals. He is 23 years old, and finishing his last year of high school, where there are no computers. He usually has to study by candlelight because the electricity is always going off. He comes from a village up north where is father has multiple wives and the babies receive tribal markings on their cheeks (deep slashing scars). This apartment is a major improvement over his last one, where he and 2 brothers lived in about 100 square feel or less and paid about $3 a month. (It's always good to have reminders about how grateful we should be for our blessings!) He plans to study accounting at university and already speaks 5 African languages plus English!
Our lovely friends, the McKee family, are excellent hosts! Today they took us on a fun-filled adventure that involved a drive by van, a boat ride, a swim in a pool, a delicious meal outdoors, a tropical setting of palm trees and sand, and a lot of FUN!
On our way today we filled up the van with "petrol" or gasoline. The total was only ¢533,304 (cedis) for 65 liters. Imagine seeing those figures on the gas tank at home! But that's only about $53 US dollars for about 16 gallons, or about $3.30 a gallon, I guess.
Can you believe that these are actually adult coffins? Yes, in the shape of sewing machines, vegetables, fish, even bulls, van, cars, flip-flop sandals, etc. Funerals are a big deal over here, where families may have to put the deceased in a refrigeration unit for a long time while they save money to properly bury them. They may even have to save to build an addition onto the house, to accommodate visitors who travel from afar. Then there is a procession with dancing in the street, lots of hoopla, and the family wears mourning clothes for a year - the color depends on the death situation: red, black and white may represent if it was an older respected person, or a youth who died tragically and unexpectedly, or an adult whose life's mission wasn't complete, etc. It's quite complicated and can be a very expensive ordeal.
We're off on a boating adventure from Ada (pronounced uh-DAH) up the estuary to a tropical island and quaint village.
Our boys thought twice about how good they have it at home, with Ipods, TVs, real paint on the walls, floors, glass in the windows, and other luxuries!
The island apparently has only 1 industry and source of income - the manufacture of gin, which starts right here where sugar cane is crushed. It is then stored in huge pots where it ferments for 3 weeks, then it is distilled with VERY rudimentary tools, then bottled and sold.
Marilyn, doing her best to avoid the brutal sun, meets Ebenezer, the chief of the small island village of Aflive. People who live here speak at least Ga and Ewe, but the Chief also speaks good English!
All the public schools are painted brown and yellow/gold, and the students wear uniforms of the same colors.
On the way home we saw giant termite hills!
These English boys have turned all their American friends on to soccer. They projected the game onto the ceiling, about 25 feet above us, and made the viewing about 25 ft. by 25 ft. - every "football" spectator's dream!
Tonight ended with all the boys' friends coming over for a viewing of the semi-final "football match" taking place in England.
We spent some time tonight in the sweltering home of Nicholas, a family friend. He and his brother rent a very small place (to them it's a CASTLE!) in Accra, for which they had to pay 3 years rent in advance (3 million cedis, or $300 dollars total, so about $8.50 a month). It has absolutely no plumbing nor cooking facilities. There is a community toilet in the neighborhood - well, actually, it's just a hole in the ground. There are no showers, so he and all the neighbors carry containers of water on their heads from the local tap, then sponge bathe each day (now, remember, this is practically downtown in the capital city of Accra!). He is proudly displaying his cookware to us - that's all there is of it - no blenders, microwaves, colanders, glasses, just the most basic of implements - and he cooks outside over a few hot coals. He is 23 years old, and finishing his last year of high school, where there are no computers. He usually has to study by candlelight because the electricity is always going off. He comes from a village up north where is father has multiple wives and the babies receive tribal markings on their cheeks (deep slashing scars). This apartment is a major improvement over his last one, where he and 2 brothers lived in about 100 square feel or less and paid about $3 a month. (It's always good to have reminders about how grateful we should be for our blessings!) He plans to study accounting at university and already speaks 5 African languages plus English!
Our lovely friends, the McKee family, are excellent hosts! Today they took us on a fun-filled adventure that involved a drive by van, a boat ride, a swim in a pool, a delicious meal outdoors, a tropical setting of palm trees and sand, and a lot of FUN!
On our way today we filled up the van with "petrol" or gasoline. The total was only ¢533,304 (cedis) for 65 liters. Imagine seeing those figures on the gas tank at home! But that's only about $53 US dollars for about 16 gallons, or about $3.30 a gallon, I guess.
Can you believe that these are actually adult coffins? Yes, in the shape of sewing machines, vegetables, fish, even bulls, van, cars, flip-flop sandals, etc. Funerals are a big deal over here, where families may have to put the deceased in a refrigeration unit for a long time while they save money to properly bury them. They may even have to save to build an addition onto the house, to accommodate visitors who travel from afar. Then there is a procession with dancing in the street, lots of hoopla, and the family wears mourning clothes for a year - the color depends on the death situation: red, black and white may represent if it was an older respected person, or a youth who died tragically and unexpectedly, or an adult whose life's mission wasn't complete, etc. It's quite complicated and can be a very expensive ordeal.
We're off on a boating adventure from Ada (pronounced uh-DAH) up the estuary to a tropical island and quaint village.
Our boys thought twice about how good they have it at home, with Ipods, TVs, real paint on the walls, floors, glass in the windows, and other luxuries!
The island apparently has only 1 industry and source of income - the manufacture of gin, which starts right here where sugar cane is crushed. It is then stored in huge pots where it ferments for 3 weeks, then it is distilled with VERY rudimentary tools, then bottled and sold.
Marilyn, doing her best to avoid the brutal sun, meets Ebenezer, the chief of the small island village of Aflive. People who live here speak at least Ga and Ewe, but the Chief also speaks good English!
All the public schools are painted brown and yellow/gold, and the students wear uniforms of the same colors.
On the way home we saw giant termite hills!
These English boys have turned all their American friends on to soccer. They projected the game onto the ceiling, about 25 feet above us, and made the viewing about 25 ft. by 25 ft. - every "football" spectator's dream!
Tonight ended with all the boys' friends coming over for a viewing of the semi-final "football match" taking place in England.
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