Sat 31st Oct, Printing, hitching, chickening, singing
on Charlotte in Ghana (Ghana), 04/Nov/2009 23:11, 34 days ago
Saturday 31st Oct. A quiet morning. We collect more water from neighbour George’s well, because the water had been completely off since Wednesday.Fativisits with her little girlSamira, who is getting gradually less afraid of our white faces. Charlotte introducesFatiandSamirato blowing bubbles– a big hit.Fatiwants to learn how to play cards so Charlotte teaches her“Beggar my neighbour”.I adapt“American Pie” to make it a Ghana volunteer song while this is happening. Then down toMandina’s ten minutes away where you can print and photocopy. Actually this is one place inWalewalewhich is something like a shop premises as we know it– there is a glass window / sliding-door, and the premises are air-conditioned! I want to print materials for everyone attending the workshop on Monday. A tense and lengthy negotiation follows. I cite what printing would be charged at in UK. I try “We are volunteers and we have come to help yourcountry but we need your co-operation”…….. “ Toby andMandinaI value your friendship and it may be that on this occasion I will have to say to you‘Thank you for talking to me but I cannot afford the price you are quoting and I must go elsewhere’”. I’veonly just met Toby. Eventually a deal is done. Various technical things don’t work, but in the end I’m heading home with 200 sheets of printing and copying.We’re a little late heading toBolga– we’re going there today for a party at Jason& Jillian’s – Jillian is the volunteer and Jason is writing up his PhDhttp://www.jjinghana.blogspot.com/. We’re staying over till the workshop. Info fromFatisays we’vemissed the Metro Mass transit bus. Charlotte flags down a 4x4 from the Volta River Authority, and we’re offered a lift toBolga. I say toMohammed“I’d like to buy you some credit for your phone” and give him a 5-cediVodafonescratch card which is appreciated.We’re staying with Anthony (education volunteer) and Laura (a vet).http://www.coolacoustic.com/.By arrangement we meet in the“HotlineSpot”. (“Spot” = drinking place) and buy a few drinks for A&L’s fridge and for the party. Technically it’sHallowe’en fancy dress – Charlotte and I plan to wear halos she has plaited from the rope we’veused to fence our plot. (Halloween =All hallow’s eve = All saints eve, so we’re going as saints). But first we need to deal with their new chicken which has made a bid for freedom – their chicken-house is being built butisn’t done yet.The chicken escapes through a hole in the garden wall. (“Garden wall! Luxury!”). Laura and I dash for the “road” (dirt-track), in my case with a couple of long sticks to lengthen my arms as herding devices. We find the chicken nonchalantly strutting up the street, and corner it in an alley-way. The locals find the sight of twoObronis(white people) chasing a chicken highly amusing. (If you thought "Sulaminga" was "white man", that's speaking Mampruli, as in Walewale - we're in a different Ghanaian region here, differnt language).We corner the chicken in an alley-way and Laura grabs its legs. For you, chicken, your freedom is over.Anthony becomes that famous Halloween character“London Man” by attaching London tea-towels, underground maps etc to his person. Laura transforms herself into Spider-woman with bin bags. Anthony& Laura have a car (their own purchase), which Laura needs for vetting as far south as the vet college in Tamale, and are very popular lift-givers inBolga.Anyway all reach the party in time.VSOand US Peace Corps volunteers fromBolgaandNavrongo. The festivities are not affected by a lack of electricity.Later in the evening Anthony plays the“Development Pie” song and many others, including a brilliant Ghana-evocative song he wrote - I've tried to find his recording of this on Anthony's blog but haven't located it . See also Rachel's bloghttp://www.rachelghana.blogspot.com/