Tales from an Obruni, chapter 5

We were happy to arrive back at Aba House in time for one of Talk True's famous meals--he does a fantastic job of making sure that everything runs smoothly at Aba House and that we have typical West African meals for breakfast and dinner. Among other things we have had cabbage stew, Red Red, banana bread from a solar cooker, and he promises an African pizza that Madeline may help with.

By now, my cough had become quite intrusive and shall we say...productive. I have not had bronchitis in a long time, but I know it when I see it and the following day we got to experience the Ghanaian medical system at the new hospital in Teshie, a beautiful building. It was pouring, but we were warm and dry in the waiting room and received prompt medical attention! Cost of one hospital visit: 20 Ghana cedis, or about $18.50. We filled my prescriptions, and headed back to Aba House. I rested and plowed through an Ann Hamilton book that was lying around. I have now started a Jodi Picoult book--I know a lot of folks are fans, but I have never read her work. It's pretty good.

Anyway, the next day I taught the kids who come to Aba House a self-portrait lesson. It was highly entertaining to see something that I do frequently in a very different setting. One evening, we had the opportunity to talk with Ben Adipah, who is the Minister of Education here in Ghana about the limitations and promises of the educational system. He is a good friend of Aba's and works very hard to try to get the arts to children in schools in Ghana. I learned that teachers here need two years of training outside of high school and then are required to teach within a rote checklist-like system. We wondered (there were a bunch of us art teachers there that evening) and brainstormed ideas for bringing what is already artistically rich in the culture into the classroom. There is of course no money for such ideas, but we plotted anyway. I am already mentally compiling a list of books to send to Ben when arriving back in the states.

It should be mentioned here that in addition to my famous daughter, my husband has also found a rhythm with his work--he has been working on a series of drawings that are ripe with promise and I am sure will be developed into larger works. He has also developed a love for Castle Milk Stout, which he will quickly tell you is nutritious and good for you! This will come as no surprise to those who know John O'Brien.