Aren't You Ghana Drink That Whiskey?

My new obsession: my wife's cousin's updates on her adventures teaching middle schoolers in Ghana. I don't even know the whole story of why she chose to go there, how long she will be there, who is sponsoring her being there, etc. I just know that when she e-mails an update--or when her mom forwards one of hers to me--I'm rapt.

Mary, until I hear from you that I have no permission to do this, I'm going to include some excerpts from your on-going tale of living, learning, and teaching in Africa. Readers, enjoy:

Evidently some American friends and relatives sent supplies and money to Mary to use for the good of the town she's in in Ghana. "I have been talking about the money with the social worker in town, and we decided to use some of it to pay for students' school fees. Some students, the poorest of the poor and the orphans, come to the social welfare office and ask for money. The social worker then goes to the school and pays the fees if she has any funds. She hasn't had any money for a long time and is unbelievably happy to be able to help the students now with the money you raised. One boy whose fees I paid came to my house last night to thank me. He was in his final year, and all he needed was the fees for his final exams and he could get his diploma. He started crying, and then I actually started crying, and it was really sad. But that boy is happy and can graduate now because of you!"

"I spent Sunday with Nick at a fishing village on the coast and got to swim in the ocean and lie on the beach. It was good to have a relaxing day for once! That village was gorgeous but primitive. The children there would run after us and yell, "Hello! Give me money!" over and over. I swear, some days I feel like I am trapped in an episode of National Geographic and can't get out!"

"I went to a funeral the other day, and that was amazing. Ghana's burial rites are insane! The body of the person is propped up in a chair in the center of the village. The visitors have to go from hut to hut and say hello to everyone, and people get super offended if you pass them. Nick and I were invited into the elders' hut, which is an honor, and given shots of Akateshi or African whiskey. It is insanely strong. I literally was wasted in about ten minutes and even spit some of the whiskey out all over the ground. Nick pretty much had to carry me out of the hut. Then it got really nuts. The drumming and dancing started and lasted for hours. It was a huge party. Funerals here are 'life celebrations,' and the mood is very festive. Ghana is famous for the coffins they make, and they are unbelievable. They make each coffin according to the individual's life and personality, and they are super intricate and artistic. For example, if you are a fisherman, it might even be in the shape of a fish or have carvings on the side of the ocean and boats, etc."

"The winds here have been strong and blow sand from the Sahara Desert. It is murder on your eyes so I have been staying indoors a lot."