Going to Kumasi

Today, John, Stacy, and I headed to Kumasi to hang out with our friend from Australia, Louise Atkins.  Louise has been part of City of Refuge family since her visit to CORM in 2009 (I believe that was the year).  She has been working here in Ghana, in Kumasi, for 8 months or so working on several different projects, but primarily one on women's empowerment.

We decided that this would be the perfect time to come up and see where she is staying since our Term 2 holiday break is almost over.  We wanted to take a break from the norm and just spend some time relaxing away from home.

We got up early this morning and drove to Tema to catch a bus out here to Kumasi.  It was this nice big bus with plenty of legroom and comfortable seating. 

When we got settled in, a man stood up in the front of the bus and from Tema to Accra (a 40 minute drive), this man preached in Twi.  I think he tried to sneak in a little English to help us Obruni's understand what he was saying, but he was primarily speaking in Twi.  He was preaching up a storm and when the bus was beginning to slow down to let him off at his stop in Accra, he came around and gathered his offerings (a common practice here for "bus preachers") and hopped off the bus, and then, we were off to Kumasi.

Now, I knew that Ghana roads were bad.  I mean, I've been up to the northern Volta region...I live in Doryumu...but that road from Accra almost mid-way to Kumasi is some pretty rough road.  Stacy and I kept ourselves busy by playing Phase 10 for the majority of that rough road, but it was so crazy you had to hold on to the seat in front of you at times for fear that you would simply throw yourself forward into the person's lap in front.  And playing a card game on a road like that...not an easy task!  Let's just say that John was sent after flying cards a few times!  (But, I won the game in the end...big time!)

To keep ourselves occupied, we started up a movie "While You Were Sleeping".  It's one of my favorites!  I think I seriously watch that movie almost on a monthly basis!  So Stacy and I jumped and bounced and laughed along to Sandra Bullock until we came to the mid-way point and had a little time to get out and walk around.

We got out, got a little snack, and were quickly back on the bus as it was honking to leave.  No rest at the rest stop!  The rest of the road from that point on was paved though.  No dust.  No crazy bumps that threw you to each side of the bus.  The only problem was the extremely annoying and violent Gollywood (Ghana's Hollywood) movie.  Let's just say that they are like the spanish soap operas...times 10.

But, finally, we made it to Kumasi and to Louise's little flat.  She is staying in a beautiful little place back away from the main road.  The flat that she is renting is owned by a couple that own a plant nursery.  Their gardens are absolutely amazingly gorgeous.  We had such a delicious fresh salad and our spaghetti for dinner had basil straight from the garden.  So yummy!  But besides just the veggies, the flowers and plants and all the rest are just gorgeous!  It's been so restful just being here, chatting, hanging out together, and enjoying a little company.

Tomorrow's plan...more of the same.  Sleeping in (with no crying children to wake me up or no small kids barging in to get chalk from my room at unusually early hours), taking walks, enjoying quiet time...I'm excited and the break and look forward the days of rest ahead!