April 29th to May 1st OTC, Accra, Osu, West Leggon

May 1st, 2009, Friday Around Noon:

I'm sitting next to Venus in Osu, Accra.
A coffeeshop called "One More"?
Drinking a cappucino, my 1st real cup of
coffee since Feb. 19. Nescafe, instant
was what I've had here and there.
I've been dreaming about having this.
It cost 4 cedis, about $3.50. Expensive.
I'll probably never come back.
But I walked from Independence Square.
It was hot and it's cool here.

I came in from Nsawam an hour north of Accra
this morning on a tro-tro, 80 pesewas.
I was at the Orthopedic Treatment Center.
Yesterday, I worked with the kids.
Wed. night I got to the OTC Center.
STC Bus 10 cedis from Kumasi, two movies.
Two movies from Nigeria by the same director.
Sharon Stone, name of the character,
woman who tries to play the same game
men play. She has more than one man,
courts three men, ends up planning to
marry all three. They eventually find out.
One says he'll marry her and take her to the
States. She waits at the chapel.
He never show up. She returns to his
house to find all three men drinking and
playing a board game, all with women.
They laugh and greet her. She faints.
Beautiful mountains/hill around
Nkawkaw. Old woman asks the bus to
stop for a bathroom break. She
relieves herself by the bus. Children
also need the bus to stop once.
Fairly smooth driving.
I get dropped off at Adoagyiri,
a couple white men in a pick up
pick me up, missionaries, been
in Ghana for five yrs.
Father and son from Sound Bend, Ind.
Big smiles from the father. I
tell him him I'm up near Kumasi.
He tells me the Ashanti were
the main suppliers of slaves for the
European ships. They were very
aggressive in getting neighboring
tribes, says the Ashanti are a crude, rude
and aggressive people with a big smile.
I modify it by saying they can be intense.
I get kind of anxious to leave, nervous
they'll ask me about my faith.

It's getting dark and I'm having difficulty
finding the place, three kids navigate me
to the OTC Center. I meet Emanuelle, the night
security guar and Sr. Elizabeth. She shows me my
bungalow. This is where the doctor's stay.
The fridge has beers, cokes, sprite,
bread and sausage. She says help yourself.
I feel like I'm at a luxury hotel.
Living room is nicely furnished. I drink
a beer and sleep. In the morning, I cut the
bread from Accra,full of sunflower seeds
and wonderful sausage to put on top,
delicious.

My first class with the students at 8:45am.
I show them how I paint with dirt and charcoal.
It's hot but they get into painting, with some
using dirt and water. Some use crayons
with watercolor, trees, fish, birds, rainbows,
cars, people, cups, hands, flowers, colors,
shapes, splatter technique, charcoal,
lots of water, snakes, hearts, writing into
crayon, colored pencils, pencils, houses, Ghana flags,
moon and stars, Milo, lizards, names,stars, layers,
water, spirals, "Just Got Married", dots, bananas,
mangos, squares, circles, Ghana map, purse,
sponge printing, Tilapia fish, trucks, rulers, poster
paint.

After my classes at 4pm, I hang out with the kids
on the lawn. Some are playing soccer with
a round unripened fruit, some are practicing
walking, some lying down. One boy missing
his leg at the knee, running on his knees
in the grass, the other boys chasing him.
I sit with a few kids. They're curious about
me. I speak Twi with them and they laugh.
They try and teach me a few words, phrases.
I show them how they can catch rocks from
their elbow.
At 5 they go in for bathing and dinner.
I go to my bungalow and read Dutch magazines,
Holland KLM mags. The OTC Center was started
by a Dutch Brother. Then I go where the
children are. One boy waves me into the big
room. I go in and sit down.
A few kids sit with me. We start talking
and they try and teach me more Twi, body parts.
I show them some hand games, The Vulcan hand
signal for "Live Long and Prosper".
I play "Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar"
A spunky girl with little stubs for fingers loves
playing that game with me. What wonderful hands
she has. The other children try and learn the
words. I also show them the hand slap game.
One little girl with a wonderful smile and
big wide open eyes has arrive. Both of her
legs are missing and is carried over.
She seems so happy and sits close to me
enjoying all the games. Then, they play
Oware and show me how to play. The girl
with little stubs for fingers slaps
the stones down aggressively and laughs.
You need four stones in order to take them.
One accuses the other of cheating and they
argue. I end up leaving aroun 8:30pm
and meet the Brother who started it all
outside. He had a stroke a year ago so
it's difficult for him to talk.

Now I'm writing at Osu Food Court,
Vailis Patisserie,witha cheaper cup of coffee,
but tasty as well. It feels like a beach town here,
like any beach town in U.S.,Miami Beach, Venice, CA.
I'm sure someone would disagree. I like
their coffee here and cheaper, 1.30 cedis
and a chocolate chip cookie. I'm treating
myself.

Later, I walk around and end up at Ryan's Pub
which is owned by an Irishman and feels like
an Irish pub with a Scottish T.V. news station.
I guess it's my cultural respite day.

I end up going to visit the Fudzies' in the
evening and staying with them for the weekend.
Mr. Fudzie's nephew is also visiting from
England. He's in the business of selling
solar panels. He's selling them in Ghana.
His friend, Jerry, is visiting as well.
Englishman, family from Anquillar, organizes
events, wants to hold big national race in
Ghana. He was a kick boxer, boxed in the
States, Ohio still has no rules for kicking
in the groin. Also had some success with
singing hiphop, had a video out. Andy Brookes.
His fiance, an actress in London, T.V. shows,
comedian, Little Miss Jocelyn, Esien.

a rooster crows, flowered trees, banku,
Star beer, Judith, metal chairs with little holes,
a mourning dove visits, plum colors, bluish greys,
breezes, granite rock decorate the Fudzie's yard.
A bird cage in the tree, marble tile floors reflects
the sky, the leaves, electical lines, pillars,
childrens' voices, smooth leaves rustling palms,
The three story bldg house across the wayin progress,
cinder blocks, concrete, big rectangular windows,
all grey, green gate.