LIVING IN CHERIBAA (COTINUED)

My first week in Cheribaa was spent sleeping and recuperating from the jet lag. Imposed upon me by my long journey from North America to West Africa, and the corresponding change in time zones. Depending on the prevailing season in the USA, Ghana is four or five hours behind the State of Wisconsin, which is on Central Standard Time. I gradually had an opportunity to get to know most of the tenants living around me on the same property. They were all very friendly, courteous, and respectful. All of them at one time or another invited me to fellowship with them while they were dining. In all cases I respectfully declined their invitation. One reason is that all of them ate Fufu, or Banku. Very popular dishes for the poor in Ghana. But each dish is made from a combination of at least three starches, beaten together, with a large mortar stick, in a wooden mortar. Generally, I never eat more than one starch at any time. Because doing so is inadvisable for health reasons. I couldn’t help observing that during each meal, the diners sat on the floor in a circle consisting of four or six people. They all dipped their hands in the same bowl and with that same hand each person delivered the food to his mouth. This procedure was repeated tirelessly until the bowl was emptied. Only the starchy meal was in the bowl along with some gravy. Usually there was neither protein nor vegetables. Unsurprisingly at present, there is a Diabetes epidemic raging in Ghana. Every day except on weekends, I left my room at approximately 5:00 A.M., to go walking. Something I enjoyed immensely not only because it facilitated my health and longevity; but it also gave me an opportunity to increase my knowledge and understanding of the area. Most of the tenants on the property including Edith were very uncomfortable with my roaming activities. They warned me not to walk as far or as frequently as I did. However, I paid no attention to them. I walked for several miles and visited surrounding areas and villages including Kato, Nyame Nnae, Brenyekwa, Sofocherry, and Kutre numbers 1 and 2. The realization gradually came to me that most Ghanaians don’t trust each other. My friends on the property were trying to protect me from what they perceived to be imminent dangers. I was staying out in The Brong Ahafo Region. Far from the snares and corruptions of the city. I discovered repeatedly that except for a minor number of variations, Ghanaians by and large are courteous, God fearing, compassionate, and very accommodating towards foreigners. At least that was the attitude of those who live out in the remote countryside regions. The large cities are a horse of a different color. To satisfy my overwhelming curiosity, I stopped at several hotels in the areas visited. Not only to be given a tour of their rooms but also to find out their varying rates. I had to make several educational trips to Prestea, Kade (Eastern Region), and Tarkwa (Western Region). On each trip I stayed either at a hotel or guest house. In contrast to the rates charged in North American hotels, the rates in Ghana were inexpensive. The food was always good. What was always questionable was the arrangement for wash rags and towels. Thereafter, whenever I went anywhere in Ghana, that necessitated staying at a hotel or guest house, I always travelled with my own wash rag and towel. At the end of my first week on the property in Cheribaa, a certain gentleman came to visit Ms. Edith and she introduced him to me as a friend. I also observed that whenever she needed to go anywhere he would bring his motor cycle and transport her to the desired destination. She always gave him dinner if she was cooking, whenever he stopped by. Frequently they would both disappear into her room. Which was opposite mine on the other side of the tenement yard. Nevertheless she consistently insisted that their friendship was nothing more than casual.