May 11, 2009

Our Mission under the Apple Tree

















The above photo is a bit of a disappointment. While I did manage to capture the speedometer topping 90, the blind curve rapidly approaching as we careen down the centre of the narrow road, and the half-conscious, dozy gaze in the driver's eyes, I failed to include some of the more impressive hazards that we faced on our drive from Kasoa to our new home in Achiase. Among them was an old man wandering up the centre of our lane as we crested a hill, a number of sudden road diversions from recent accidents, shin-deep potholes, and numerous goats, chickens and small children darting out in front of us. In my defense, it's difficult to skillfully compose a photograph while holding on white-knuckled to any object in the van that isn't bouncing around too much to get a hold of.

Achiase means "under the apple tree", and we're finding the little village as charming as its name suggests. In comparison to Kasoa it's much smaller, cleaner, quieter, and more of a community. It seems we've learned more about traditional Ghanaian culture in the past two days than we had in the previous two weeks. For one, when visitors arrive at another person's home, it is customary that once they have been greeted and invited in, that one of them takes a few moments to explain their "mission" (the reason for which they have come), even if they were invited by the host for a specific reason or if it is something that they have already discussed. This seems to offer the host a great opportunity to size up his guests. I think that the people whose homes we've visited have quite enjoyed observing Marina and I as we take turns standing up and stammering out a little speech on our "mission".

Our new home is beautiful. Still no running water, but it's less than a year old and is surprisingly large. The family is made up of two parents and six kids - two of whom are adopted. Our favorite is a little girl named Precious who has been attached to Marina's side since we arrived. An indeterminable number of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents live on the neighbouring lot, and there's always plenty of activity between the two homes and properties. It's fun :)

Our new projects sound amazing, also. Marina is now working with a sort of charity school that has been set up by a lady named Gladys to educate children from extremely poor and adoptive families. Gladys has a wonderful heart and seems to be the adoptive mother of every child in town. There are 142 children attending the school and she requires a lot of help to get things running as well as she would like. Marina is going to help her get the necessary structures in place. Gladys fell in love with Marina during Marina's explanation of our "mission", and introduced us to her mother... who is 112 years old!! We had fun chatting with her.

The project I'll be working on is with some local women who run small businesses in the community. The community bank had begun a program of micro-lending to these women, but since the women were failing to pay back the loans, the bank has put the program on hold. I'll be working with some of these women to learn more about their businesses and help them to manage the money and their businesses more effectively in order to increase their profits and pay back their loans. Today we met with the bank manager and project manager, and tomorrow I'll start meeting with some of the women. I can't wait to get started.

A final note is that, among the people we met today, one was the local chief. It's customary that when you move to one of these communities, the first thing that you do is to go to the palace and meet with the chief and eventually some of his sub-chiefs and elders. In this way, they have the opportunity to learn about your mission and welcome you to town. Then they are in the loop when the townspeople mention the sun-burnt obruni that they saw tripping over a chicken and falling into a puddle. The chief seems like a good man and was happy to receive us. He already invited us to a party on May 31st where he says he expects us to dress the part and get right into the dancing. No problem!

Here's a photo of myself, Marina, the chief (seated on his throne), Gladys, and Precious:

















As we were leaving, he pointed to a large drum by the door and explained that it is used for either calling his sub-chiefs and elders, or all of the townspeople (depending on the beat that is drummed) to his palace for a meeting. We took such an interest that he brought us back in to show us the rest of the drums. One is taken along and beaten in front of him when he walks through town, some are played for dancing (and people did start gathering in the courtyard and dancing as these were being played), and two are called the talking drums. They are used to beat out the rythm of words, like a higher-level morse code. The first word that this boy is beating out is the name of the chief. You'd have to ask him what the rest means!




We have to travel to another town to use internet, but we'll try and do this at least once or twice a week. I expect we'll have lots of stories to share!

- Davis

P.S. Go Canucks Go!!

4 comments:

  1. man I am loving these posts dude keep it up

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  2. What a different world! Keep up the writing. I can only admire what you guys are willing to do to expand your comfort bubble. Kudos!
    Nina

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  3. Marina, Davis, we miss you!!! I am glad to see that you are enjoing the whole experience...
    =..)
    Victor Mata

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  4. Why do we have to ask the boy what it means? Wouldn't it have been easier for you to ask him?
    Julie

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