There was a sense of urgency today ... as i could see the end of my volunteering looming ...
I had been fidgeting about the store front of VEG ... it has that dilapidated air of benign neglect! Everything was a bit dusty and tired looking... but i didn't want to step on anybody's toes.. I had gone at it tiptoeing... suggesting tiny changes but got absolutely no bites...
not even a nibble....
So today i had a strategy... Clarice is a marketing student... i asked her to prep Bernice for me... i found Clarice very impressive when she was talking about the necessary steps: make quality products at a fair price with good advertising.. etc ...
Bernice listened attentively but i could see she just didn't get it so....
I jumped!
I did my whirlwind bit of cleaning up and changing everything around. I figured i would only be there for another week so she wouldn't be mad at me for very long!!
We worked in parallel. .. she did her normal cleanup and i turned the place upside down.
It is fun when you can use a skill that you have. Christianne was very supportive and said to go ahead...
i cleaned the walls .... dusted everything... changed everything around and slowly it started to look fresh and fun...
i went to the market and got some 'props' .... wonderful clay pots, wicker sieves (to hang the earrings) ... i was really in my element....
The best part was Bernice ended up saying to me: ' I wish that you would stay with me here always.' I was so touched... after i had stepped all over her territory she was so kind and generous...
The seamstresses were making my bags today ... which was fun to see!
It was a very good day! i will sleep so well tonight as i expended so much energy!!
Walking home this evening, another thought came how to describe Ghana... tradition or old ways walk side by side with the modern and up-to-date... you will see someone who would not be noticed on a Montreal street... jeans, tshirt and running shoes .... then a woman wrapped in batik with a flashy turban ... all very traditional will walk by!! A person with a big silver bowl full of bananas still on their stalk will walk around a man in dress pants and a white shirt holding a briefcase.... and they accept each other completely...
Perhaps it is what makes one feel so at home here.... the contradiction of life is so on the surface here ... making the deeper contradiction more palatable!!
One thing that is totally straightforward about my stay... the food is fabulous.. our cook is awesome. I will probably kidnap her... (except i will feel bad because she just got engaged last weekend and will be getting married late February... me kidnapping her might throw a spanner in the works!!)
At lunch we had corn that is steamed in banana leaves with a spicy red sauce.....mmmmmm!
Then for supper: something more european, spring rolls with salad.... yum!
We all discuss how we each one of us are going to bring Kafui home with us ... Christianne looks at us darkly...
Also, something else nice about today is that we have been getting some rain so there is a freshness in the air.. although in the middle of the day the heat is quite intense..... early in the morning and around five there is a very nice refreshing breeze happening!!
The last bit of news i wanted to impart is that Ghana won 2-1 over Tunisia last night. I checked this morning ... but it was more a confirmation than anything as the neighborhood really let us know!! each time there was a goal there was a Roar! and we knew when the other team made a goal as well... anger split the air!!!
