Monday

So today was our first real day where we 'volunteered' ... though for me it was more like playing!

Upon arriving, i went upstairs to join the Bead Ladies... over the weekend while browsing the books i had brought on macrame, a design had caught my eye... it would lent itself perfectly for this bead i had spied last Friday while doing my usual 'getting adjusted activity' ... cleaning (the harmattan wind covers everything in the dust it brings!!) ...so i gathered my beads and joined the ladies at the beading table and set to work...

I was instantly accepted by the other two beaders, Rita and Yayra.. who told me i was 'welcome' and then immediately resumed chatting away in Ewe.... and me? .. i felt in familiar territory (ha ha!!) ... people chatting away and me not understanding ....though here, not one word got throught!! But i relaxed and enjoyed the energy of the patter of the two young women with their clear and sparkling eyes!!

The place bustled as all the ladies came in to work ... the creche for the babies was just across from us so we got to see all the babies arrive...the moms unwound yards of colourful cloth to unveil tiny, beautiful babies..... their eyes as big as saucers with a surprised look on their face as they emerged ... a look that would turn to dismay when mom disappeared... but Belinda quickly distracted them with singing ...

Finally everyone was in place and there was that calm of concentrated industry that was only disrupted occasionally by a baby wailing ... but this was usually cut off pretty quickly as mom ambled up for a quick feed...

I took a break and wandered around with my camera ...which makes the ladies chortle ... 'can i take your picture?' brings the house down but they all are very demure when the shutter goes down!!

In the batiking room, it is a different matter. There my camera is totally ignored because the Batikers and Shoko are working in concentration n a new design... trying to line up the wax stamping just right... so i snap a few pics..

Upstairs after working on my necklace a bit more i remembered the beads i had bought at the market so hauled them out to show Rita who is the buyer. She was horrified that i paid so much so i started grilling her.... and awhile later i had amassed a nice selection of sample beads on a string with the price and name marked with masking tape!!

So now i am all ready for Korifudua Market on Thursday which is Ghana's biggest.... I will go with Dela, a guide i met last time but next week Rita has promised to go with me... This week i will get the lay of the land!!

Lunch was delicious... we are so spoiled! We have a great cook who cooks us all these Ghanaian dishes... today it was Palava Sauce with Yams and eggs... From Christianne's description palava sounds like the african equivalent to spinach and it was mixed with pulverized pumpkin seeds... very spicy and yummy!

On the way back to the office Cathy and i got dropped off for some phone and bank business ... then we walked back... we are slowly getting orientated...

i better be because my 'bike' has arrived and tomorrow i will sally forth... watch out drivers!

My necklace turned out fun ... but then the babies starting getting agitated... it was time to go home, Mom!!!... they screamed at the top of their voices... but Mom just went serenely on beading or sewing amidst the cacophony!!

i tried to keep working but gave up... so i went to bounce one of the babies who was yelling the loudest... i figured i couldn't make things worse... i grabbed him and brought him near the open door... either the new scenery or the breeze coming in brought his yelling to an abrupt halt and he peered around peacefully for awhile... must say, i felt quite triumphant !!

At the end of the day i was outside when i saw my brother, John had pinged me on facetime... so because i had wifi i managed to connect up with him!! Amazing! i was so excited to show him around... I got to show John all the way over in Canada the tiny bit of Africa that i am in!!! Isn't life amazing??!!

On the other hand Clara, who is in the country neighboring Ghana and I cannot manage to connect... strange.... She did manage to text me ... she says she is doing fine!!

Tomorrow is another day...