Two impressive British members of the core team to rebuild Tamale Teaching Hospital treated Jim and me to dinner at SWAD last week. The young man is a civil engineer and the young woman is a project manager, both committed to a stay of three years here. The possibility of the hospital renovation/rebuilding was questionable until just recently when the Dutch government agreed to "gift" a substantial portion of the cost to Ghana. The plan is to construct a brand new facility alongside the existing one. The old hospital will continue to be used during construction and when the new hospital is completed, the entire medical staff will work there while the old building is gutted and refurbished, eventually providing space for administrative offices, a cafeteria, additional wards, etc. A modern, well constructed hospital will be such a welcome sight, especially if the budget will allow the much needed medical equipment which is presently lacking. Now if only crucial medications and miscellaneous other supplies could follow....
On another note, I forgot to relate one of Jim's previous amusing experiences when the Islam period of fasting finished a few days ago. Last year at this time, it seemed Jim went out to answer the doorbell which is on the exterior of the wall surrounding our property. When he unlocked and opened the metal entrance gate, he encountered two young men carrying rather large and apparently sharp-looking knives. The flash of concern that crossed Jim's mind was quickly diffused when they asked if he needed some assistance in killing his goat for the ritual meal commemorating the end of Ramadan.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
People come and go....
Just when I was getting a better handle on cooking here (either googling whatever ingredients I happened to have on hand and having a recipe magically pop up on the computer screen or simply by adlibbing with a touch of this 'n that), Godwin made a return appearance.
Will miss my friend, Mmathuba, when she soon leaves for a month's vacation to her home country of Botswana. She and I had one of our enjoyable afternoons yesterday, - first doing some marketing in town and then relaxing back at her place discussing all sorts of topics covering our children, husbands, our own parents, and her growing up as the youngest child of the chief of their village/district. We never lack for conversation and laugh easily - even when commiserating about some aspects of our life in Tamale.
Will miss my friend, Mmathuba, when she soon leaves for a month's vacation to her home country of Botswana. She and I had one of our enjoyable afternoons yesterday, - first doing some marketing in town and then relaxing back at her place discussing all sorts of topics covering our children, husbands, our own parents, and her growing up as the youngest child of the chief of their village/district. We never lack for conversation and laugh easily - even when commiserating about some aspects of our life in Tamale.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
more about life in Tamale....
The thirty-day fast for Ramadan ended over the weekend with thousands of Muslims filling the streets of Tamale on their way to celebrate. Alhaji Sulemana (our landlord) came over to the house to greet us as well. It was also the 100th birthday of the first Ghanaian president, Kwame Nkrumah (who died in 1972), so Monday was a national holiday.
Stopped at COLWOD yesterday to find the young women hard at work as they continue to create a variety of beautiful articles - dresses, shirts, tablecloths, napkins, aprons, headbands, handbags, etc., etc. A myriad of color and design is reflected in the fabrics, sometimes making it difficult to select one over another.
Electricity went off three times last night but only for a few minutes a clip. Water, however, is much more plentiful this year although still not fit to drink.
Looks like I'll have to do my share of marketing tomorrow - more than just picking up the usual items I get when in town. Godwin has been AWOL for a few days and the kitchen has become my sole domain. Will rely on an old Jersey stand-by meal tonight - pasta with garlic & oil accompanied by a can of "back-up" baked beans that I spotted on one of the local food mart shelves the other day. Should be able to doctor those up with a little onion and herbs.
Stopped at COLWOD yesterday to find the young women hard at work as they continue to create a variety of beautiful articles - dresses, shirts, tablecloths, napkins, aprons, headbands, handbags, etc., etc. A myriad of color and design is reflected in the fabrics, sometimes making it difficult to select one over another.
Electricity went off three times last night but only for a few minutes a clip. Water, however, is much more plentiful this year although still not fit to drink.
Looks like I'll have to do my share of marketing tomorrow - more than just picking up the usual items I get when in town. Godwin has been AWOL for a few days and the kitchen has become my sole domain. Will rely on an old Jersey stand-by meal tonight - pasta with garlic & oil accompanied by a can of "back-up" baked beans that I spotted on one of the local food mart shelves the other day. Should be able to doctor those up with a little onion and herbs.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Dinner Party in Tamale
Had dinner for seven here last evening with Rick, Mmathuba, Kris, Paul and Allie plus their two little ones, Hannah and Levi joining Jim and me. Godwin prepared a large dish of pasta with a vegetable cream sauce and a platter of boiled plantain accompanied by palava sauce (spinach-like greens and beans with a bit of a tomato base). I made a sliced potato-zucchini-tomato casserole along with a cucumber/avocado salad. We should have stopped there.
Hearing that the Catholic Guest House prepared nice roasted guinea fowl (a little too tough for me but a relatively popular item in Tamale), I asked Godwin to ride over and pick up a couple of them for a side dish. Relating that they were out of guinea fowl, he returned with two of the scrawniest looking roasted chickens I've ever seen - tasting quite the opposite of succulent to say the very least.
Fortunately, there was plenty of other food on the table followed by Godwin's delicious banana cake - the best and lightest of any cake he has baked before. We attributed the greatly improved end-result to the new hand mixer recently purchased in town and the one thing I did manage to pack in my suitcase before leaving the US - Davis' double acting baking powder.
Hearing that the Catholic Guest House prepared nice roasted guinea fowl (a little too tough for me but a relatively popular item in Tamale), I asked Godwin to ride over and pick up a couple of them for a side dish. Relating that they were out of guinea fowl, he returned with two of the scrawniest looking roasted chickens I've ever seen - tasting quite the opposite of succulent to say the very least.
Fortunately, there was plenty of other food on the table followed by Godwin's delicious banana cake - the best and lightest of any cake he has baked before. We attributed the greatly improved end-result to the new hand mixer recently purchased in town and the one thing I did manage to pack in my suitcase before leaving the US - Davis' double acting baking powder.
Long Days, Late Nights at the Hospital
Jim had a couple of late nights at the hospital this past week with emergencies involving children and the necessity of performing tracheostomies. Left the house at 7:30 AM Thursday and didn't return until 1:00 AM Friday.
Due to a heavy rain on Monday, the wall of a house in which a three-year old boy lives fell down on top of him. Then Thursday, a twelve-year old girl was brought in with a crushed larynx. She had been working next to some type of industrial belt which snapped and forcefully hit her in the neck.
So, while Abdulai Mumuni kept watch outside as I slept peacefully, Jim was doing his best to give two youngsters another chance at life.
Due to a heavy rain on Monday, the wall of a house in which a three-year old boy lives fell down on top of him. Then Thursday, a twelve-year old girl was brought in with a crushed larynx. She had been working next to some type of industrial belt which snapped and forcefully hit her in the neck.
So, while Abdulai Mumuni kept watch outside as I slept peacefully, Jim was doing his best to give two youngsters another chance at life.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Being More Productive
Yea! I have a couple of jobs which definitely provide my days with a bit more structure. Am tutoring two French-speaking missionary sisters (one from Rwanda and another from Burkina Faso) in English in order to prepare them for a bilingual examination they will take in Rome and have agreed to help translate a textbook from French into English which will be used in religious education classes here in Ghana.
Am also beginning to feel a little more comfortable in my Ghanaian kitchen. Not quite like cooking in Kearny, NJ but certainly proving possible to prepare something edible for dinner.
Am also beginning to feel a little more comfortable in my Ghanaian kitchen. Not quite like cooking in Kearny, NJ but certainly proving possible to prepare something edible for dinner.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Miscellaneous Info
Godwin has another calling besides that of a cook. He can accurately predict when it will rain and advises me accordingly as to when I can leave my little fold-up umbrella at home.
So far, so good, with my potential dental problem. Hours before leaving the US, I was informed that a certain tooth was prone to infection and needed to be extracted. Armed with a couple of rounds of antibiotics and instructions to rinse with salt and warm water if necessary, I'm hoping at all cost to avoid having anything pulled here. Am not the least bit anxious to experience the dental clinic at the hospital.
New York City tee-shirts are definitely among the gifts of choice in Tamale. Jim and I brought over a colorful assortment depicting the Manhattan skyline and distributed them to various people at the hospital, COLWOD, and here at the house. Big hit with everyone!
So far, so good, with my potential dental problem. Hours before leaving the US, I was informed that a certain tooth was prone to infection and needed to be extracted. Armed with a couple of rounds of antibiotics and instructions to rinse with salt and warm water if necessary, I'm hoping at all cost to avoid having anything pulled here. Am not the least bit anxious to experience the dental clinic at the hospital.
New York City tee-shirts are definitely among the gifts of choice in Tamale. Jim and I brought over a colorful assortment depicting the Manhattan skyline and distributed them to various people at the hospital, COLWOD, and here at the house. Big hit with everyone!
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