In mid May, right after All Vol, my mom and aunt arrived in Ghana for a two week visit. For both of them it was their first time in Africa and they could not have chosen a better timme to come. The rains had started to fall, so the temperature had cooled down (at least to those who have lived here for awhile), the Dipo festival was starting in my town, I was going to baptise my godson and the people that I work with and see all the time were so excited to meet them.
There plane arrived early and as usual for airlines in international travel, it took them over an hour to get their luggage and clear customs and immigration. I was prepared, I brought something to read. I don't think I go anywhere without something to read now. Their first impression of Ghana was of me "negotiating" with the taxi driver on how much he was going to charge us to go to their hotel. I was able to get the price reduced by 50%, not my best effort. Mom and my aunt were impressed.
They got to the hotel, dropped off some of their luggage and then we walked to meet my supervisor, Renae. We arranged to meet for dinner later that night and then I took them on a quick tour of Osu where they were able to exchange their money and start shopping. The first place on their list of where they wanted to go was the Global Mamas store.
The women at our store could not believe how much we looked alike. I had told them that I would be bringing my family by the store but when we walked in they were shocked that we looked so much alike. I am not quite sure what they expected. Mom and my aunt were thrilled that they were able to get new skirts for their time here and to take home. They also got some gifts to take back. Sorry Nikki and Steph, I am not going to ruin the surprise. We then went back to the hotel to rest, jet lag was setting in for both of them.
We met Renae and her son Ben for dinner and mom and my aunt were both surprised at how well behaved he was at dinner for a 2 1/2 year old boy. They kept saying that if he was back at home he would be throwing a fit or demanding everyone's attention but he did not. He just played with his toy and if he wanted something he would say "Ma, Ma".
The next day we left for my town. As usual my taxi driver was late. He said he could not find the hotel but he had been there before, same excuse new day. I told him the route to take that should have been the fastest but there was an accident and a ride that should have taken 2 hours ended up taking us 4. Mom and my aunt were thrilled to get to my house, too bad the water was out.
Once at my house they got their first lesson in bucket bathing. I thought that it would be self explanitory but I was wrong. After the first day, I did give a quick lesson.
On the second day in my town we started going to the Dipo Festival, which is the fertility festival in my town. This is a 4-5 day ceramony that the young Krobo women must go through before they can get married. If they do not then they must start their own family homes. It was really interesting to watch and I even was able to dress on the last day. I have included pictures. Mom and my aunt were really excited to see everything. They could not believe how emersed into the culture that I had become, to the point that the lack of personal space is not an issue for me and that I could understand the local language.
After staying in my village and eating kontumeri, rice balls and ground nut soup, fufu, and red red, we went to Kpetoe a kente weaving site and then to Accra. While in Accra we did more shopping, met up with some of my friends at the beach and then on Saturday went to Christ the King church and baptised Ben.
The baptism was different from what you see in America but then so much of the things we do here are. Mom and my aunt were able to meet one of the Assistant Directors for Education at the Peace Corps who was also being a godmother for a little girl.
After that I had to go to a 50th Anniversary party for the Peace Corps and I let mom and my aunt rest. Sunday we left for Cape Coast and the beach.
The Cape Coast area is full of history and sites. We did the Kakum National forest, although mom did not make it all the way to the canopy walk, we went to both castles (Cape Coast and Elmina) and met the staff at the Global Mamas office in Cape Coast.
I don't think that I could have fit much more into their trip if I tried. I am sure that when they flew out last Wednesday they were exhausted but
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment