We woke up early and I had Kenny read the birth of Christ from the scriptures...the only part of Christmas that followed our Christmas traditions back home. We were so excited to go down and get everyone so we could open presents only to find that Doris had gone to market. I honestly just laughed clearly our expectations are different. When she arrived back we went down to get everyone, and she was cutting up a chicken already.
We decided to be patient and get the presents ready upstairs. Kenny drew a Christmas tree on the iPad, and we put the presents around it on the table. We eventually were able to get them to all come upstairs to open presents. We started with the video my parents made for them. It was amazing... Doris would talk to the screen as if they were right in the room with her. She was cheering after the video she loved it so much. Next we gave her the letter my dad wrote, and then everyone their first present. Jude opened the batman Legos first, and said I knew grandpa would get me batman! Doris loved the shirt and perfume, and Rosemond had never heard of glow and the dark stars, and they were a bigger hit than I thought they would be. Next Jude opened his remote control car which he was ecstatic about, and Doris opened the shutterfly book I made her. I think every picture had her laughing or squealing with delight. Homemade gifts truly are the best to give. Finally Rosemond opened her iPod shuffle, and I think she went into shock. I really don't think I've ever seen her so happy.
Afterwords I looked at Jude, and there were big tears rolling down his face "I don't want you guys to leave, I will miss you too much". I Immediately had tears rolling down my face, and that moment will be engraved in my heart forever to remind me of what Christmas is all about. I didn't open a single present, but I felt gods presence so differently that Christmas morning. Grateful...that's all I can say to sum up my relationship with every person in that room Christmas morning.
We left the house by 1130 to catch a tro to gyankobo. We then spent time with Sammy so he could open his christmas presents. I made him a shutterfly book as well, and my dad gave him his old camera. All day he took pictures of us and filmed us on his camera. "Meekell look at me taking a picture of you on my camera". Many versions of that phrase were said throughout the next couple of days. He was obsessed, and the best part is he will now be able to send pictures of the village to me until we can make it back to ghana. My dad also donated more money for additional schooling Sammy can do this next year.
Dispenser and Sammy gave Kenny a Christmas present, and it was a printed floral dress shirt with cuff links. I couldn't have been happier. I wish you could have seen how proud they were of their present for Kenny. I love that they love him and actually know him now.
Next we all climbed on Sammy's bike, and I started to say little prayers for our safety throughout our ride to the village. I don't even want to think about crashing here in ghana. Many times I would feel Kenny tense up over a particularly rough patch of road, as we both readied ourselves to abort if necessary...ha ha seriously.
We arrived to the village safely, and our Christmas in antwikwaa began. We spent the rest of the afternoon eating cocoa plants, trying the dried cocoa beans, and visiting friends...actually I think I spent the entire afternoon holding my baby. They told me I could take her back to America...oh if only. I put her on my back, and we walked all over the village. I looked so Ghanaian.
How can this not melt you to the core...a black baby looks good on him right?
To say I'm obsessed with her is an understatement.
As the sun began to set we walked to one of the higher points of the village to use the reception pole to call my family, and to watch the sunset. I could sit on that hill everyday for the rest of my life. It was Christmas morning in America so we got to talk to all my family, because they all slept at my parents house. I felt a tinge of home sickness...well christmas sickness, but it left the minute I looked out over the village.
Seriously the best place on earth.
A little boy brought his pet bird for Kenny to hold. The bird was a beautiful green and blue color, with a swooped black beak. My mom would have died. She has the oddest bird obsession. Every time we talk about it Kenny picture Kronk on emperors new groove playing bird bingo in the jungle. It's the best.
The Native Queen Mother lives just a house below the spot we were standing so she came out, and had me try on the jewelry I would be wearing the next day for my carrying. Some were beautiful Ghanian jewelry, and others looked like the jewelry they give you in the game pretty pretty princess. I loved it.
Dinner time arrived quickly, and we were given an extremely spicy soup with our fufu. I couldn't eat all this time because I think my stomach shrunk on Sunday from not eating all day. I decided to let Kenny eat the meat...mainly because we couldn't tell what animal it was from ha ha.
By the time we were finished darkness had settled in throughout the village. Kenny and I got the solar christmas lights working, and we went to the little town center where they had a dj set up with a tiny generator so they could play music.
We turned on the lights, and the gasping and cheering started. We hung them up on the palm leaves, and it became the official dance spot. It was about this point that I was smothered by I kid you not...probably 30 children. They made circles all around me so I couldn't move, and they began to dance. I was laughing, I couldn't breathe, I felt smothered...it was amazing. I kept looking at Kenny for help...but none was ever given. Blast him. I eventually created a diversion, and ran away. Sammy brought us chairs, and the real dancing began. I had a HUGE bag of lifesavers. One child would dance for us for about 30 seconds, and then we'd cheer and give them a lifesaver. It was amazing. We continued the night like this for the next 2-3 hours.
The dancing was unbelievable. There was a little boy about 3-4 years old that literally put me in shock. Kenny and I were obsessed and made him dance like 4 times. I can't believe it was dark or else I would have recorded him to watch over and over again. It was amazing. Each child had their own style, and each one showed us up completely. We do not know how to truly dance here in America. The end.
By around 10 we couldn't stay awake anymore, and I had to make the trek to the cocoa grove so I could pee. Sometimes that walk is such a nuisance. I fell asleep so fast even though I saw a GIANT spider in the corner, and Kenny failed to kill it before it ran away. Thats how you know I was extremely tired. Around 2 in the morning I woke up and had to pee so bad... like there was no way of ever falling back asleep unless I went. I woke up Kenny and told him I had to pee, "are you sure you have to pee". ha ha yes I was sure. I then told him I thought through a million things, but my only solution to not needing to walk to the cocoa grove was to pee in a ziplock bag we had. Kenny jumped on that idea...in his defense he was still half asleep. I don't think he would encourage that if he were fully awake, but I could be wrong. So then I peed into a ziplock bag, while I was laughing, and I didn't spill a drop. I am amazing. I know this story was totally unnecessary, but I love it.
Then I settled back in for the next couple hours of sleep till the roosters started.
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