Fun at home and at work, with interesting guests and much garden progress during our second month in Kumasi
PASSIONATE ABOUT POOP
Or at least about the prospect of turning fecal sludge into biodiesel. At a visit to Kwame Nkumah Univiersity of Science and Technology (KNUST) Bob and Dr. Mensa chew over possibilities for a sustainable future on the KNUST campus. Jeremy holds a flask of fecal sludge derived lipids at the lab at Dr. Mensa’s home. Read more at FS2BD Project Progress
MIRIAM
Justin’s friend, Miriam stopped by a couple of times while in Kumasi and livened up our dinner conversation with her bright smile. She is studying health and how it is affected by socioeconomic factors.
TWO TRIPS TO CENTRAL MARKET
It was high time we experienced the largest continuous market in West Africa. Since arriving in Kumasi on June 27, any time we ask about purchasing something we can’t find in the local shops, the answer is “You will find this at the Central Market.” This month, we made two trips to the market and with Eric’s help were able to find some formerly elusive items. If you can imagine swimming along a river of human flesh, this is pretty much what it feels to navigate the narrow alleyways of the market. Photos and text here: Central Market
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AROUND TOWN
We took some nice pictures this month of the neighborhood and general street scenes around Kumasi. Pretty much anything you may wish to buy can be had from little shops like the Dimples in our neighborhood or along the street. We have purchased inexpensive and functional chairs, benches and tables like these from along the road. Please visit Local Color to see more photos.
CASA KUMASI
Meanwhile, back at home Bob enjoys the household chore of burning the trash while Camille takes time to smell the goats.
FIRST PRODUCE FROM THE GARDEN
Our first taste of garden produce was bittersweet. These three sweet cucumbers were harvested posthumously from the cucumber plant in the upper left corner of the garden photo. The plant later expired and the causes of death are unknown.
MEN AT WORK
James left behind two scout bandanas which Jeremy and Bob adopted as headbands to wear while working outside. Camille thought they looked a bit like the avatar people on the cover of this yellow Ghana Schools notebook. Jeremy and Justin use their weekends to work in the garden and were able to finish fencing in the garden this month.
BYE BYE LAUREN
After three months, it was time to celebrate Lauren’s time at Casa Kumasi with a cake and see her off. More scenes from our oh-so-exciting home life at: Around the House
TAMARA!
Tamara’s visit was short and sweet and we all enjoyed her company. In two days time, we really got around, dancing the azonto at the Cultural Center and shopping at Central Market.
LOCAL FOOD
Tamara was into the local cuisine and coaxed Camille into trying banku for lunch after their visit to Central Market. She was a great help in the kitchen, shopping, chopping and frying plantain to perfection. More photos from this memorable visit at: Fun with Tamara
ASHLEY AND CAROL
Spot and his spotted buddy were happy to welcome Ashley and Carole to Casa Kumasi. They were in town to join us at Lake Bosumtwi and Ashley stayed on for the week of work meetings.
WOMEN BEHIND THE SCENES
Bob worked with Eunice at the Royal Lamerta to organize accommodations, meals and meeting rooms for the FS2BD guests. Camille stayed at home, running the house, and joining the group for dinner on the last evening. While waiting in the cab, she found a cute World Wildlife Fund animal to cuddle with.
BOSUMTWI REVISITED
Off to our favorite local getaway place with Tim and Carol and Joanne. Camille was happy to hook up with Elodie for a ride and got to meet her husband, Kojo as well. More photos at: Bosumtwi Revisited
GRAND FINALE
The project drew people from the States for meetings and presentations during the last week of the month. Bob coordinated a tour of the Dompoase site and a final sit-down dinner at Jofel. If you have not already visited the project page, please take a look at FS2BD Project Progress
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THIS MONTH’S QUOTES
“Travel, its very motion, ought to suggest hope. Despair is the armchair; it is indifference and glazed, incurious eyes. I think travelers are essentially optinimsts, or else they would never go anywhere.” – Paul Theroux from Fresh Air Fiend
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on those accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain from Innocents Abroad (1869)
“I thought how travel was composed of moments like this: discoveries and reverences separated by great inconvenience. These encounters, taken together, added up to one’s experiences of a place – the inconvenience had to be forgotten and displaced by the epiphany.” – Paul Theroux from My Secret History
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