Internet Withdrawl: Side Effects include - "sweating like a pregnant frog"

It has been over a week since we have had internet… In Agogo, we have learned to not really count on being able to access internet more than once a week. Power outages, holidays, Sundays, early closings all contribute to “no internet today”. But once again, I remind myself that this is Africa. If there was no access in this town, I honestly don’t think it would matter to anyone anyway. People are happy without being attached to the technology we are so accustomed to in Canada. Kids actually play outside! (And we see them everywhere!) Most people don’t have technology beyond a cell phone - and are quite content. Some children have gameboys - but they are few and far between. TV watching is for the wealthy or when you go to the local restaurant to see a football match is happening. However, we live beside a fairly well off family who do own a TV (with two channels) and a DVD player. Over the past couple weeks we have been invited to view some Ghanaian and Nigerian films. While Hollywood films are accessible here - most will only watch the African films. Without actually seeing these types of films, it is hard to describe them. Unlike American films that are so slick, so tailored, contain beautiful stars, and often portray overly exaggerated scenarios… these films stay true to African life. It almost appears that someone takes a handheld camera into a village and films the movie (in fact that is probably actually what does happen…) Surprisingly, it is easy to get lost in the love stories (common across ALL cultures) and become engrossed in the film. Rabina and I are still searching for the third part to our favourite movie “Princess Tyra”.

This past week also held some interesting surprises. Tuesday was Eid (end of Ramadan) so we had the day off. I “slept in” till 6:30am around which I had my regular run. Or should I say I went “trotting” as we so often hear it called and “sweated like a pregnant frog” (a new saying that we picked up from a local) due to the insane humidity. One of our fellow teachers offered to take us around town so we went to see our chief’s palace and then climbed up the mountain to go and visit the radio station. Unfortunately on the way down as I was about to get a picture taken - my camera fell and broke on the gravel road. While the internal computer stuff seems to be working fine - the lens cannot move and is permanently stuck in a half open position. I am hoping that when I go to Accra in two weekends I will be able to find someone to fix it. Luckily Rabina has her camera to capture our Kodak moments.

Wednesday we also had the day off! The finance minister of Ghana who had passed away last week was from Agogo and therefore the whole town had the day off to mourn. From my outsider’s perspective this “mourning” was actually more like a celebration of life. In an open field large tents were set up and thousands upon thousands of people came. EVERYONE was wearing black and red - the colours of mourning. The president of Ghana and some Ghanaian movie stars were even present. It was a huge event - that I could only liken to a 'fair' - vendors were swarming the place to sell their goods and people were coming and going regardless of when the program actually started. It was quite an experience to see the town shut down and visitors and dignitaries from all over Ghana (and even other parts of Africa) come for the event. I was even interviewed by one of the major area radio stations to hear my “perspectives” as a foreigner on this funeral event. I stick out like a sore thumb everywhere - so I am the token North American voice and apparently speak for all foreigners.

On Saturday, Rabina and I decided to take a day trip to see some kente weaving in Bonwire (one of the five original kente weaving villages in Ghana). We are really lucky to live in Agogo, which is quite a central town to see many cultural and natural sites. Kente weaving is particular to the Ashanti region of Ghana - but it is often what most people think of typical African prints. The weaving is done locally by hand. An individual sits at a loom and will weave a long six inch wide strip in colourful patterns. These long strips are then hand sown together to make a large piece of woven fabric. In the past all kente was made of silk, but now because of expense and availability, the “new” kente is done with a rayon thread. Due to the time and difficulty of making this type of fabric, it is fairly expensive. We were told by some friends in Agogo that a very good price would be around 50 Cedis for a large piece of the kente. I am pleased to say that both Rabina and I were able to haggle our way down from the initial 100 Cedis we were first quoted to the 50 Cedis we were informed was a good price. (It also helps to not come with more than 50 cedis and use that as a bargaining tool!)

Anyway, as my precious internet time is slowly running out and is incredibly SLOW - I will wait until I am in Accra next week to send a better update. I will also try to respond to comments and messages then. (It is amazing how desperate we can get for fast internet connections!)

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Part of trip: My African Adventure

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