So there was action early this morning as Felix and Kofi came to pick up Cathy for the visit to the villages. They go every week to keep in touch with their 'partners'.
So i found out a bit more about the Loan Business. First the Partner needs to prove she can save money. She must put away 1 cedi per week (which is roughly 70 cents) for a month. Then she can ask for a first loan of about 250 cedis (which is roughly $170). This must be paid back within 6 months. And then they can apply for a larger loan, about double the first. But now they need to have a certain amount of money saved... and on it goes. Really a wonderful idea as it both helps them and teaches them how to spend money and save it!!
I am think of investing... anyone out there who wants to join me let me know!! I have told Christianne i would like to know who i am lending the money to... And she thinks this is a wonderful idea. Right now she does not have individuals investing but rather she fundraises from larger sources. . But this would be such an interesting way to help out.
We spent the morning at the house since Christianne and Shoko had a meeting. I caught up with odds and ends. It was nice to go slower..
I am doing yoga and zazen in the morning so i got to take my time...
Lunch was Red-red and fried Plantain... and it was another keeper!! I am going to ask for the recipe on Friday for the blog (has anyone tried the Groundnut Stew??) ... tomorrow is Bead Market Day!!
Shoko and I rode our bikes into the Office after lunch... oooh! midday... think of melting icecream ...that was me when i arrived!! just a puddle on the floor... a happy one though.
I wanted to get a stamp made like i did last time i was here for funkyFrog so Shoko took me over to a business she thought would do it... It was a silk screening business! It was very cool to see all the screens and designs in such a different setting.... It is very much business orientated. I think they do mainly tshirts and probably for businesses. But they do stamps as well. So we conducted our business... all outside ... next time i will take photos. I think Iris will find it interesting to see an silk screening 'atelier' in Africa!!
In the afternoon, i helped the ladies get the stock ready for Shoko to take to Accra on Friday. She is here with JICA (Japanese International Corp Assoc) The Office sells handicrafts from all around Ghana (free trade style!) There were bags, purses, pants, shirts, etc all made with the beautiful batik fabric made here at the Office that needed special pricing.
It is very hot and muggy today... so by about 4:30 i was feeling more or less wiped... so i gave up and sat on the porch and answered emails... i love getting emails from people! Dan has sold his house and is moving in with his love! Way to go Dan!!...Nolan is settling in and Jazz is behaving!... Hi, Robin!!...
Then it was quitting time... suddenly all the ladies are leaving....rewrapping the baby onto the back, telling me they will see me tomorrow... me saying, No,no tomorrow i go to the Bead Market! Allright. Friday then!! Bye!!
Cathy is going by taxi... Shoko wants to stay and work.... i am left to bike home alone... another first!
Off i go.. and i got to thinking... how would i describe this to you... there is garbage everywhere, it is hot and terribly dusty, everything is dirty .... wow! it sounds horrible, right?
But it isn't .... there is something so vitally alive here. The vibrancy i feel as i bike home is so energizing. Somehow i feel there is an immediacy to life here that we have lost in all our judgements and wants... it is a mystery to me because the contradiction is right in front of my eyes.... i should be horrified by the stream that is polluted beyond imagining...the dust and grit hurts my eyes... but i am beaming! ... and everyone is beaming back.
I only have to ask once and i chose a very, very tall man to ask (i am thinking of my brother, Stephen, i think, something reassuring about a very tall man!) ... he said just keep going... but ask a lot! .... ok,ok... i looked a bit lost but hey! my first bike ride home and believe me this town had NO city planners what so ever!!
After that moment of.. hesitancy..(won't call it panic, as i am trying to be more 'real'..John's training.. he is my other brother..) my ride home was totally smooth...
Waved to the termite castle... said hi! to my friend selling oranges... ignored all the people laughing at me and i was home! ... feeling quite triumphant!
But my adventures were not over... tonight i was determined to go buy beer!
Shoko had told me i could buy beer over there (she waved vaguely in the opposite direction we usually go..) but i needed to bring exactly as many bottles as i wanted...
So i selected two bottles from the garage.. one Star and one Club... and set off..
I crossed over this poor little stream.. ok, i won't describe it to you ( but my son the Ecologist needs to come over here and Do something!!) and there was 'Shalom Spot'.... a tiny little shack with bars on the window..
I approached a bit nervously... and there was a tiny wizened old lady beaming at me... i simply offered her my empties (i had been trained well in the etiquette by my friend, Shoko, you cannot buy a beer without an empty bottle in exchange! ..thank god there had obviously been a lot of thirsty volunteers before me.....) and she solemnly gave me back the exact same brand in exchange, one Star and one Club!!.. Cold from her fridge!!...
Shoko arrived from 'work' with plantain chips which enhanced the already delicious beer tremendously!!
Now i am going to bed early as i have to meet Dela for the trip to the Biggest Bead Market in Ghana early tomorrow...
Goodnight. Sleep tight. I will... it is so quiet here... even the goats are asleep.
