So recently I went to a small town called Saviefe Gbedome. My town is Saviefe Gbogame (Gbogame meaning big town), but Gbedome is an extremely small town situated about a 2 hour walk away (FYI - the initial G is silent, so Gbedome is sounds like beh-do-meh). Through fields, bushes, and a river we made it to Gbedome. I know a man who has two wives (one in Gbogame the other in Gbedome.. maybe to prevent fighting?) and is from Gbedome, so I at least had a guide and a person to stay with while I was there. Among the other interesting things about the town, it had a town map like this: --|--|--|--|--|-----|------| where everyone lives along one road, and isn't clustered like a traditional town. I find this funny because even though the town is only about 200 people large, it takes 8 minutes to walk from one side of the town to the other! I met multiple people with multiple wives (a status symbol), had multiple libation ceremonies (always a crowd favorite), had multiple talks about how to develop the town, and met many, many men who were trying to give their daughters to me (either to wed or...). Overall, the town was idyllic: in addition to sweeping the entire town everyday, there is not a speck of trash to be seen, or goat poop to be had for such a large area.
Other exciting things going on: there was a funeral two weeks ago, and besides having a great time dressing up in my traditional dress, I met some other white people in my town! Turns out they are working in the town next to me, but commuting from Ho (~40 minutes) everyday to help build a school. Cool. So occassionally I ride my bike down (when I'm not teaching, of course) to their place to say hi and help with a few small things, like carrying cement on my head.
Temperature right now is pretty lax... still about mid 80's highs and mid 70's lows.
Also of notice: The guy who has one wife in my town and the other in the Gbedome recently had a 'bush accident'. I came to school one day and I hear "Sir! Sir! Mr Holy has been shot! He shot himself in the face!". He was making gunpowder for a gun (because bullets are about a dollar... too expensive), but the gunpowder ignited and went off in his face. I went to see him - not a pretty sight. I've been reassured that he will, in fact, be able to see again but I'm not as certain as others that this is the case.
I went to a wedding... which really is a treat, because like most Ghanaian celebrations there exists a veritable cornucopia of potentially edible substances. I stocked up and only ate one meal that day, with banku, okro stew, and some rice. I suppose thats all. Next weekend there is an 'excursion', as termed by my fellow teachers at the school, and we will be travelling to a national park.