Please excuse grammar, spelling, etc.
Day 11 We are headed to Cape Coast today. Moris arrived with a van to haul all 10 of us. We hit the road just before 8:30. Other things of note: gas (petrol) attendants are well dressed. I have yet to see anyone smoking. When I say market I generally mean street vendors along the road. The only market we have been to so far was on day 4. ... We passed by the University of Legon (the main university). Although over the days we have passed many universities and colleges. We also drove over the George W Highway. Named after George W. Sr. in response to funds received by him. ... A lunch stop at Biriwa Beach Hotel. 2pm and we are on our way. ... Upon arrival we went straight to the Elimina Castle, the largest existing European building of any type in Africa. Streets are fashioned similar to European streets. They are barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. The road leading to the Castle is only accessible by foot. As we walked up the street, on the bridge, we were bombarded by people trying to sell their goods. It was very crowded and quite unnerving. Two men followed us all the way up the hill. At the castle (and most places), you pay based on where you are from. Ghanians pay one rate, students one rate, and so on and so forth. They tried to charge us more as some of us are Canadian. We argued the fact that Ivy and myself are Ghanaian. We took a tour and learned about the slave trade. I will not go into detail, you will have to research it for yourself. We then headed to the Cape Coast Castle. It was closing in 15 min, but they let us in. This too was used during the slave trade. In Ghana there are three castles, Elimina Castle aka St. George's Castle, Cape Coast Castle, and Osu Castle aka Christiansborg Castle, and 50 forts all used during the slave trade. ... We headed out in search of our hotel. Sanna Lodge. We checked in and went for supper (Moris is staying with a friend). It was about an hour wait. We were all very tired and hungry. Livy entertained us for a bit with her dancing. The food finally came. We all ordered fresh red snapper. It was quite delish. (Just so you know it was the whole fish, head and all). Upstairs just before 9. Showers and bed for all. Day 12 On our way after a breakfast of toast and eggs. This morning we are headed to Apam to meet Benjamin. He is my sisters sponsor child, sponsored through Compassion. It's a rainy morning. Upon arrival in Apam, we went to the Compassion school. They serenaded us with music (a brass band). There was an opening prayer, followed by a song by the brass band and choir, and a presentation by the social worker. They were very appreciative. We were taken to a room which displayed pictures and items from the different projects they have worked on throughout the year. We also went to the back of the school to see the new playground purchased with donations. Next we were presented with a sash and bracelet (the bracelets were made by the kids). Following this, closing remarks. Before heading to lunch we made a stop at Benjamin's house. My sister and her husband gave Benjamin some gifts. Then we were off. Lunch took a while as it does with a big group. After lunch we headed back to the Apam junction to drop everyone off. The Kenny's (my sister and her family) said their goodbyes. At 2:20 we are homeward bound. ... Lots of tears tonight. Everyone is tired.
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Please excuse grammar, spelling, etc.
Day 9 5 am comes quickly when you have a three year old sleeping in your bed. Laurel woke up between 3 and 3:30 asking to sleep in her parents room. I told her she had been sleeping in my bed all night and wait till morning. Every five minutes. Can I go now? I told her in an hour. We both fell back asleep, then my alarm went off. She lay motionless. I pressed snooze. 9 or 10 minutes later. The alarm again. She woke up and said, 'now can I go?'. Yes. 6:30 and we (uncle George, dad, and myself) are off to the funeral (celebration of life). There is Christian programming on the radio - Pray before you work a key message. Along the highway there are city workers cleaning the ditches. For the first time I saw people running. I am not sure why this surprised me. I think I have seen half a dozen or so people (one woman). We picked up Rita and continue on our way. The three of them converse while I look out the window. There is no use in trying to figure out what they are talking about. Yesterday Bright asked me if I speak Ewe (pronounced eh-way or eh-vay). No. Even though it is my parents first language. I did not pick it up as a child. I asked why everyone here speaks English. They learn it in school. ... We passed by Ghallywood Academy of Film Acting. A place where movies are filmed. Half way we stopped for a drink at First Star Bar (attached to hotel and restaurant) Then a quick stop at a market. Rita bought tomatoes. Over the Lower Volta River (just down a little way the river meets the sea). Another stop at a market. Here we also picked up one of my cousins, Patricia. We arrived at the village 9:20. We got out of the car and those sitting outside got up and started running towards us. They gave us all hugs. I don't think they knew who I was. There was my aunt Afi her daughter, Aku, and my aunt Janet. My dad said this is Mavis and they all hugged me again. My cousin Esi was there as well. We sat outside by a tree. My uncle Emmanuel came out (on my dad's side) and greeted me as well. They were preparing lunch while we sat by the tree. In the distance drumming could be heard. The funeral was taking place (all day). Many people stopped and said their greetings as they were either headed to or from the funeral. We ate, I'm guessing around noon. After lunch I held baby Annie for awhile under another tree. A little later we walked through the village. I met many people along the way. Some relatives. Some not. We stopped at a house and were invited in. We sat in a circle while everyone spoke of James (the deceased). One of the men, George, presented everyone with a shot (some partook, some didn't). I took a few pictures at the request of Christopher (relative on my mom's side). After this I saw for the first time (everything is new to me) my grandmother's house. Four of my aunties were inside. After meeting them, we walked back to the house my dad grew up in (the one where everyone was sitting). More people were gathered. My cousin Rita brought me a chair. It was a lounge chair owned by my grandfather. After sitting for a while some aunties were going to dance at the celebration. I went with them and watched from a bench at the back. After a while my dad and uncle George came by to pay their respects. We left shortly after (3:40). This time my cousin Esi came with us. It was cosy in the back seat to say the least. We made a few stops here and there to buy more food. Traffic was heavy. We made a stop in Accra at the mall and finally arrived home at 8:30pm. The day was tiring not b/c of the drive or b/c of the heat. It was tiring trying to remember names and faces and match those names to the faces later on. It was a great day. Day 10 Same routine with Laurel. She has always been an early bird. Despite being tired from the day before, I got up around 7:30. The gang was going to church and I decided to go along. 45 min before church started and we were not even close to being ready. We got ready in record time. The church was within walking distance. We passed by my cousins' house. Rita (a different cousin from the other one mentioned previously) came along with us. Bright and Colins joined later. It was around 9:15 when we got to church. We made our way to the middle rows. I did not notice, but an usher was trying to motion Adam to the men's side. He sat with us. Adam only realized this afterwards. The men were on one side, women and small children in the middle, and kids on the otherwise. The kids were all really well behaved. I think this surprised us all. We came in the middle of what I thought was the sermon. But after experiencing three hours of church today, it now seems more like a bible study. The subject was on fasting and prayer. I found it hard to understand sometimes. A women would speak in English (she had an accent - although I'm not sure where she is from) and a man would translate. His mic was way too loud. After she finished the lesson, worship began. It was very lively. Certainly nothing like the baptist church I go to in Saskatoon. I can't remember if it was the first or second song, but a line of women got up and were dancing at the front. When they were done, the men did the same. The sermon began after this. The lead Paster would speak then the translator would speak in turn. He spoke of the Spirit. More music and more preaching. I'm not entirely sure what type of church it was, i.e. baptist, pentecostal, etc, but at one point the Paster pointed to people in the congregation to come up and he prayed over them. For some he poured oil over their head or face, then proceeded to pray. First an older lady (she has malaria), a few others including children, then he pointed to my sisters family (they had met the day before). So they went up and he prayed over them. When the kids came back all they said was, 'that was loud'. He prayed over a few more people. When this was complete he went back to his message. Followed by more worship. At some point he asked the Canadians whom he had met the day before to stand and be recognized. Adam stood alone as the others were outside. They were tired and went for fresh air. The Paster welcomed them. Near the end he asked if there were any new comers. A few people got up. My cousin Esi turned to me and said let's go up. The Paster asked our names and whether we were new comers or guests. There were two new members and three guests. I was the last to speak. 'I can tell by the way you speak, you are from Canada.' A round of applause for us all. Then we sat down. After the service, Colins and Bright walked us home. ... The afternoon was full of activity. After lunch the kids played outside for much of the day. Liam played soccer for what seemed like hours just outside the house. There are soccer nets set up behind the house and apparently every Sunday afternoon a group of kids play (the one team was dressed with the same jersey, the other were kids from around the neighbourhood - no jerseys). My cousin Mercy came for a visit. She and my sister met when Ivy was here in 1992 (although Mercy remembers her as a child). She brought along her son Kevin Clarke. He just turned five months yesterday. I did some laundry. Mercy took our measurements. We will pick up fabric at some point and have shirts, skirts, and or dresses made. We have flowing water today! ... I feel as though I am forgetting something. If it comes to me I will write about it later. ... On day 9 when we stopped for a drink. We were served by a girl named Mavis. You don't hear that too often. My dad and uncle teased her the whole time. Please excuse grammar, spelling, etc.
Day 7 Our driver picked us up at 9 (the same one we had on day 4). My dad had a few things he needed to pick up before we headed to the airport. ... Other things of note. People waiting for a bus stand randomly along the road. There are no bus stops (as far as I can tell). When a bus (van) approaches, they motion that they are waiting for a ride. The vans are usually filled to capacity and beyond. Everyone has a mobile phone. ... We have been to Accra Mall three times now. Store security wanted to take my bag. I wasn't comfortable with that, so I wait for my dad and our driver on a bench outside the store. My sister and her family arrived at 11:30. Thinking they would take awhile at the airport we came back to the house in East Legon to wait. When we arrived at the airport shortly after 12 they were already outside. The girls ran to me. It was nice to get hugs for Livia and Laurel. I went back to the house with Qwami (sp) the driver, my sister and the kids. My dad and Adam waited for my dads friend Francis to arrive with his truck. Francis had to go back to work, so he took Adam and my dad along with the luggage to the house in New Jerusalem. The rest of us waited at the house in East Legon. Traffic was heavier than before so it took awhile for the round trip. The kids played in the backyard and I finished my book. After about an hour of waiting my sister, the kids, and I went to the Golden Tulip for lunch. This time I had an appetite so was able to eat more food. We decided on the buffet. We finished lunch just as my dad and Adam arrived. They ate while we went to a park on the grounds. I hadn't noticed it before, but the kids sure did. My sister wasn't feeling well, so she went in to be out of the sun. She later got sick. By this time Moris arrived and we were off to the house in New Jerusalem. Qwami (the driver), my dad, Livia, Liam, and I went in one car. Moris, Adam, Ivy, and Laurel in the other. It was a long ride. Traffic was still heavy. I told Livia she would fall asleep. She didn't believe me. At one point I asked Liam if he was tired. He said no. 10 minutes later he was asleep. Livia also succumb to sleep, but not without a fight. She laid on my lap. Closed her eyes. Opened her eyes two minutes later, smiled, and sat up. A few minutes later she was back on my lap. We arrived at the house about 10 minutes later. A short time after we arrived my uncle Emmanuel (Kofi) and his wife Saviour (my moms side) stopped by the house. ... The buzzing is gone! Some men came today while we were gone and worked on the power. ... All are asleep save one. I am listening to Q: The Podcast. I brought Jian Ghomeshi with me. Day 8 4:30 wake up call from Laurel. She opened the door to my room (Livia and I are roommates tonight). I invited her in. She came and jumped into bed with us. I told her to go back to sleep. Laurel rolled around for a bit (I'm not sure how long). Livia had enough and went to Liam's room (Laurel and Liam were sharing a room). Laurel then got up and went to her parents room. I fell back asleep until 9 or so. But not without being woken up a few times by the kids making noise in the kitchen/living room. ... I went for a walk with Adam, Liv, and Laurel. We stopped and looked at a church. Then on our way back two woman were sitting by a stand selling food. One of them was very excited to see the girls and came and shook our hands. She asked where we were from, we said Canada. Then told her we were just on a walk. She asked who my father was. I said 'Christian Dz..' She got very excited and hugged me. I asked her name. Deborah (sp?). Then she proceeded to fill two bags full of potatoes, oranges, plantain, and a few other things, gave the bags to Adam and told me to tell my dad she would stop by later in the evening. "Is your dad going to be ok with this?", Adam whispered. We told her we did not have money, she told us not to worry about it. We went on our way. Not five minutes after we got back, Deborah and the other woman were at the gate. I guess she could not wait until evening. My dad met Deborah last year. She immediately knew the relation as she says we look a lot alike. My cousin Rita is here. My sister and her are cooking. ... I went for a nap at either 1:30 or 2:30 and woke up at 5:30. I am hungry. Rita is still in the kitchen cooking. The kids are outside. ... Two more guests came over. Colins and Bright (male). They are cousins as well. (They came over yesterday morning with my uncle Emmanuel. We were headed to Accra to pick up my sister. It happened so fast. I don't even remember the meeting). One is in electrician school, the other is in school for visual arts. Tomorrow my sister and her family are going to their house to visit. I might go a funeral with my dad. ... The kids are wiped. They have been going, going, going since 6 or 7 this morning. ... A house down the road is lit within and music flowing out. |
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