Today started out like what I'm beginning to call a normal Saturday for me in Dormaa. I sleep in a little later, wash my clothes (preferably in the sun!), sometimes read Justins letters or write him, help with chores, sweep my room, have some brunch, talk with Leticia, and read. While I was walking out of the kitchen today, going to collect my washing tubs since I heard my host dads car pull up to the house and it's expected for me to go greet anyone who comes to the door, I almost ran straight into some girls from school. DormaSS is on break until Wednesday so all the borders get to go home. Mavis and Sakina, from my class, came walking up to me laughing. "You wash your clothes Acadia?! Good, good!" I hadn't cleaned up after washing and chores yet and I wasn't really sure how to entertain them but we eventually got settled on the couch looking at my senior yearbook from Lincoln County High School. They laughed and laughed at how 'silly' all the students are in my school and were really interested in the 'best of's (best eyes, best hair, ect.). I took a quick shower while they finished looking through it and then we walked to town. I realized, this was the first time that I've just hung out with Ghanian friends I've made on my own. It took two months! We bought some fanyogo and biscuits and stopped by on about ten people. That's the way it is I've figured out, you just go and visit people. Knock on their doors, sit and talk for maybe ten minutes and then go to the next house. Mavis's mother was working at one of their bars around town that was completely filled with people celebrating a funeral.
I might have said a few things about funerals before but I can never get over how different they are from western funerals. Everyone comes, they come to show their respect of course, but people who have never met the person come. A normal attendance for a funeral is about 100-300 people. A funeral normally lasts about two or three days. A type of wake is sometimes held the night before the funeral where the family and close friends who attend stay up all night. No one's allowed to sleep. Almost all the funerals are held in large fields (soccer fields usually) in front of churches or schools. Huge red and black tents are set up where all the elderly people gather and chat in Twi.
While Sakina and I were waiting for Mavis who was busing tables for her mom Mavis's grandmother taught me how to tie my hair up in a scarf African style. I finally get to use an African scarf my mom gave me last Christmas the right way! When I came home later I showed Emelia and she looked really happy and said "Church tomorrow!", so we picked out a dress that I'll wear it with to church tomorrow.
Church I've decided is just going to be a thing I go to once in a while. I've spoken with Richard about it a lot and he says that of course I don't have to go, but I think they like it when I attend once in a while. It's from 9 to noon, the service is always in Twi and the Sunday school is a bit too packed for me. So I'll just sit in the pew and listen to the choir.
When Mavis, Sakina and I left her mothers work we headed into the market. Mavis insisted on getting shillet (I don't think that's the correct spelling), a rock-looking piece of chalk that you chew. At school a few people chew actual chalk because they can't buy it on campus. I told her I'll never try it, I just don't want to chew a rock, and I think it's kind of addicting anyhow. On the way out of the market we decided to look for some small earrings for me because I can't wear long ones to school. 20 pesewa (15 cents) for a little pair of gold hands. I really like the market here.
This didn't really have such a subject, I was thinking maybe I'd write about the women I've met so far in Ghana, but I'll save that for another post. This was just about a nice Saturday. Musa, the security guards little boy, is waiting to play with paint on my computer so I'll hurry off.
I love and miss everyone at home, I think the hardest part of the homesickness is gone so no worries!
And Mr. James, if you read this I thought you'd be interested in this quote from a wonderful student named Belinda who I sometimes sit next to in class: "Ghana isn't like America, we have corrupt leaders. Sometimes they buy cars and big houses with money from the people of Ghana!"
I made sure to tell her about our good and bad leaders, that just because we're America doesn't mean our government is perfect, far from it a lot of the times.
Miss your class. Everyone I've mentioned the holocaust to here has no idea what I'm talking about.
And Justin, darling, I met Mavis's boyfriend today on our rounds of visits. She made me promise that when she comes to America she could meet you. I said it was a deal.
Mavis and Sakina:
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