And then there were 2...

This weekend is a very big weekend of change. One of the volunteers left last night and three others leave tomorrow, leaving only Sarah and I from our original group! We will have to hold down the fort as a minority, as we will be sharing the house with four new volunteers arriving tomorrow. Despite the grave track record of minority governments, Sarah and I perceive this one to be success! ;) Haha, just kidding - we won't make their lives too hard but just difficult enough, as the others initially did to us when we arrived. We're debating either hiding all the cutlery except two forks, two knives and two spoons and telling them that they have to eat with their hands until the next market day where they can purchase their own silverwear OORR wait a few days before telling them about the gigga bugs!

Clinic wrapped up in the Dzakobi community on Friday. It was definitely a welcoming community, mostly of elders and some small families. Near the end of each clinic day, an elder would send over a grandson with a bowl of mangos, pineapples or coconuts on his head as a small thank you. Usually the child brought along a large knive to cut the fruit if we so desired to eat it at the time. When I first arrived I was quite frightened to see small children walking around with very very large knives but as I settled into my surroundings, I saw the functionality of such. The machettie (sp?) is a multi use tool for the kids. They trim off dead branches from their pineapple palms, cut the grass or weeds in their gardens, or sit by the roadside with a bowl of pineapples attempting to sell freshly cut fruit for some extra pocket change. There is no way that a 6 year old at home would be able to operate an 18" knife without cutting off at least one extremity but that's just the reality of the situation - at home no small child is "mowing the lawn" with a knife, doing garden chores or selling fruit for extra money. Just one of the many small differences ....

Anyway, the week is behind us and we are greeted by a GLORIOUS Saturday morning! It's hothothot and blue skyed! A perfect day for the pool, I'd say! As I was saying above, it's the last night for a few of the volunteers so we're having an afternoon pool party and an evening at Happy Corner. If I have yet to describe the amazing Happy Corner, forgive me! It's a small "spot" (as they call a restuarant/bar here) that is about a 20 minute walk from the house. It's a cement patio with one plastic table and rickety chairs with a door made of corrugated tin that scrapes loudly on the cement as you enter. Cornelius is the mate there and does an exellent job of serving us Cokes and FanIces. I'll take a moment to let you in on the magic of FanIce. It is the Ghanian attempt at icecream and although it somewhat resembles the vanilla flavor, it also has a "cake frosting" sensation to it as well. Now many of you may think that's a bit on the odd or disgusting side but when you lack the simple pleasures of vanilla icecream, any "vanilla/cake frosting" attempt will do. Just like everything in Ghana, it comes in a bag. You use your teeth to tear open the corner and suck it out from there. When we travel in tro-tros we rarely pack water, as our backpacks are so small and the water is quite heavy. Each time the tro-tro stops, about 15 kids run from all directions with bowls on their heads shouting "PUUUUURE WATER." Sticking my hand out the window with a 1000 cedis bill ($0.10) will get me an ice cold bag of pure water. To drink it, make a small hole with your tooth and drink away! Pure Water and FanIce are just two of many liquids/foods that come in a bag. One can also get a shot of whiskey. The name of the product? Whiskey in a Bag! HAHAHA! It's the most fowl thing you've ever smelt or if you're so unluckly to have been offered it from a fellow Ghanian, tasted. So, as I make my way to the pool this afternoon, I will most likely stick my hand out the window with 3500 cedis to get myself both a FanIce ANNND a Pure Water - what more could this day have in store for me?!