“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.”
Today is spectacular. The sun is so bright I had to squint my eyes when I got the papers. Not a single cloud mars the deep blue sky. The breeze is strong but warmish. I think I’ll spend some time outside in the yard.
My house is getting clean a room at a time. The kitchen floor is on my list, but today I’m going to bake the sweet potatoes I have then use them for hash browns. I have sausage partially cooked in the freezer bound to join the sweet potatoes.
Today is a Ghana day only because nothing has been going on for such a long time that the weather is about all that changes. Even poor Henry is bored. Both he and Jack are upstairs sleeping. Henry is on my bed. I don’t know where Jack is sleeping.
One day there was a knock at my door. There was a man I had never seen before standing there. He wanted to know if I had any interest in having sex with him. I said no, and he asked if I knew anyone else. I said no. He thanked me and left. Ghanaians are polite.
At the train station my pocket was picked. Peace Corps reimbursed me. A purse snatcher tried to steal my pocketbook, the one I had brought with me from home, but he couldn’t. I was holding on too fiercely. My house was broken into, but nothing except a little money was taken. My camera was taken but left outside my yard. Even after those, I always felt safe in Ghana.
I saw and ate okra for the first time. It was in soup. It was slimy. Mostly I ate beef cooked with tomatoes and onions accompanied by yam or rice for dinner, every night. I didn’t mind. I was in Africa.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
May 19, 2020 at 10:33 pm
Hi Kat,
Every place has its good and bad people. I think that most people are the same everywhere and want the same things. A job, a house, safety and most importantly their family. When I was in Dubai several years ago I met one the nicest men, Captain Ahmed Enadi, He was our center manager and was retired as both a Captain on Egyptaire Airlines and was the company CEO. During my visit his son, daughter-in-law and grand daughter came to the office. He was so proud of that beautiful 3 year old little girl. His son is a pilot for Emirates Airlines. This was still close to 9/11 and the anti Muslim sentiment in this country was running high. Ahmed still works for us as a consultant and I’m always glad to see him here in Dallas.
Today was sunny and the temperatures hit the mid 90s.
May 19, 2020 at 10:51 pm
Hi Bob,
In Ghana, people want rain, fertile soil and healthy children. Younger Ghanaians want an education and a job. Ghana is both Muslim and Christian. I lived in the region with the highest number of Muslims. Ghanaians accept all sorts of beliefs.
Spare me from weather in the 90s. Today was in the 50’s. Tonight will be in the 40’s. I can’t even imagine 90˚ in May.
May 19, 2020 at 11:05 pm
Not just 90 but 97 degrees. 🙂
May 20, 2020 at 2:22 pm
That is just so much worse. I doubt we’ll see any summer day as hot.
May 20, 2020 at 4:43 am
Bright sunny Wednesday morning here, a few clouds in the sky but they are small and mostly see through clouds. Still a bit chilly after the night when we had frost again. I’m at home waiting for a package and I don’t mind at all 🙂
The work week would have been a short anyway since it is a holiday tomorrow and the entire factory has taken Friday off 🙂 It looks as if we’ll gat mostly nice weather even if it perhaps won’t be that warm as we all hope for. Every week they tell us that the warmer weather is on its way and every week they have to say it won’t come 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
May 20, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Hi Christer,
We have the same weather today, and it was in the 40’s last night. I like cool nights. It will be this way for the next few days, but I’m not complaining.
We have a holiday on Monday, Memorial Day. It would be a long weekend except nobody is in school and few people are working so every week is a holiday of sorts.
The cape is notorious for late springs.
May 20, 2020 at 5:43 am
Goat and tomato stew every night for two weeks. Ah, those were the days. At least we didn’t go hungry.
Our house was burglarized the first year we lived here. No one was home and no damage done. Peg had a set of Ghanaian earrings and necklace stolen, but everything else was insignificant. It’s only stuff. You accumulate all your life, and then you die, and nobody wants your stuff.
Warmer today though Friday. The pool is open but 57°. Brrr.
May 20, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Bill,
I liked goat though I think I remember it being fatty. There used to be a Caribbean restaurant in Falmouth, a distance away, but that didn’t matter. They had goat!! The food was almost African. Sadly the restaurant did not last long.
You’re right! It is only stuff. I always figured I was safe, but my stuff wasn’t. Were you out of the house when it was broken into? Asleep?
Brrr is exactly the right description!
May 21, 2020 at 7:35 am
We were at work and kids were on their way home from school. Lisa arrived first and noticed the sliding glass door open. She called the neighbor, who called police. Nobody got hurt and insurance gave us a partial reimbursement.
May 21, 2020 at 12:16 pm
I’m glad you all were not home, but then again, he probably knew.