Day 5 - A slower day, but one of those days filled with little moments
We were up early again for breakfast before making the familiar walk down to the school. As always, we didn’t make the journey alone. The children were already waiting for us, ready to grab our hands and lead us down the road. It’s strange how quickly something that felt so new just a few days ago has started to feel completely normal. The children all know me by name now, the older children greeting me with fist pumps as the younger children call my name and put fight over holding my hand 
At school, we carried on with our teaching from yesterday and recapped the children’s times tables. We tried to make it a little more interactive today, getting everyone into a circle and using a ball. I’d throw it to one of the children, give them a times-table question, and they had to answer before throwing it back.
It worked really well because even some of the younger children could join in, and it kept everyone moving and engaged rather than sitting still for too long.
We finished at school a little earlier today because we had a Ghanaian cooking class waiting for us …. fufu!
Fufu is a really traditional and popular dish here in Ghana, and it was fascinating watching how something made from such simple ingredients could turn into this huge, smooth, dough-like consistency. It almost looked like something we would put into the oven and bake back home.
We ate it afterwards with soup and chicken, but there was one important rule … no knives and forks.
You eat fufu with your hands. You use two fingers almost like scissors to cut a piece away, scoop it up with the soup and eat it. Safe to say, there is definitely a technique to it that I haven’t quite mastered yet! 
It was messy, but surprisingly, it was actually really delicious.
After lunch, I think the week finally caught up with us. We went upstairs with the intention of having a little rest and somehow woke up about an hour and a half later. Clearly, we needed it.
Feeling slightly more human again, we decided to take a book and a towel down to the beach and attempt to get a little bit of sun.
Attempt being the important word.
Within minutes, the children had naturally followed us down.
Our sunglasses were being tried on.
Our towel had become a den.
Our books had been stolen so they could look through the pictures.
And, of course, our phones were quickly taken over for games, selfies and even FaceTiming our friends back home.
So much for a peaceful afternoon sunbathing.
I think we managed about half an hour before accepting defeat and heading back.
One of the really lovely things today was realising that we’re starting to become familiar faces within the community, not just to the children but to their families too.
The mum of the little baby I carried on my back the other day now knows me by name. She’d been to the hospital today and, when she came back, she walked over and handed me her baby again before telling me she ‘will come back later for him’. It really does show the sense of trust throughout the village and community.
Such a tiny interaction, but one that felt really special.
We also managed to find the homeless woman we’d met previously. We’d put together a little care package for her and had been hoping we would see her again. Today we spotted her down on the beach and were finally able to give it to her.
Another little moment that probably doesn’t sound huge written down, but felt important.
We also bought some jewellery from one of the local bead ladies today. Three bracelets and a necklace came to just 30 cedi around £1.50. It still amazes me how different the value of money is here and how something that costs us so little can mean considerably more to the person selling it.
Later in the afternoon, the organisation we’re volunteering with hosted a painting class. After the chaos of our failed beach trip, sitting quietly and painting was actually really peaceful.
We finished the evening by going to the little bar at the end of the village to watch Moana. It’s the only place around here with a screen, so it becomes a bit of a gathering point for football matches, films and other events.
There was something quite lovely about sitting there at the end of another day, watching Moana in a tiny Ghanaian village after spending the morning teaching, learning to make fufu, being invaded by children on the beach, painting, and somehow squeezing in a much-needed nap.
Today wasn’t full of big moments.
It was slower. Quieter.
But I think I’m starting to realise that some of the most meaningful parts of being here are hidden in the ordinary moments…..a child automatically reaching for your hand, a mum trusting you with her baby, sharing food made in the traditional way, buying something handmade from a local woman, or being able to give someone a small package of things they need.
Five days in, and the village is already starting to feel a little less unfamiliar.
Now I’m climbed into bed, ready to get some sleep and do it all again tomorrow.
We’re back at work in the morning, followed by a trip afterwards to the stilt village for two nights so I have a feeling Day Six might not be quite as slow. 
Comments
Post a Comment