Dimitri the Mouse and Kente Cloth

Sometimes I think that I'm accustomed to being here, but then something happens that throws a curve ball.

For example, earlier this week my roommate Shelby and I realized that we had a new member to our room. His name was Dimitri. He was a mouse. After his discovery, we really didn't think much about precautions beyond making sure our suitcases were off the ground and food tightly packed away. Yesterday as we came back from work, however, we realized that mice can climb. And they climb very well. For fear of catching disease or an unwanted bedmate, Shelby and I decided our time with Dimitri had to end. Last night we slept with all the lights on and music playing thinking thats a logical way for a mouse not to come into our beds while we sleep. According to our knowledge it worked. So we bought a trap today and placed it under our bed thinking it'll turn up by sometime tomorrow. Maybe he really liked the smell of stale bread or something because in under 10 minutes there he was, still alive, squirming in mousetrap glue. I'll spare everyone the further gruesome details of the last moments of Dimitri the Mouse, but know that I'm scarred. 

As far as work goes, it remains consistent day to day. It's been really interesting to compare Charity Eye Clinic here in Kumasi to Crystal Eye Clinic back in Accra. Both are partially funded by Unite For Sight, but function pretty differently. We see a lot smaller crowds than we did last week, therefore there's a lot more free time at nights since we get back at 3 or 4 in the afternoon compared to 8 or 9 like last week. 

On one hand, it's a little frustrating that we aren't working as much, but it has allowed us to experience more of Kumasi and Ghana which is a plus. After yesterday's outreach, we were able to go to Adonwase, a Kente weaving compound. 

Kente is a traditional cloth that is made here in Ghana. Odds are that when you think of African patterns and designs, you think of Kente. Original Kente is very very expensive, mainly because it's all handwoven.  Traditionally, only chiefs, kings or royalty wear Kente. And even today if I wanted a dress made purely out of Kente, it would be a couple hundred of dollars. At Adonwase, we were able to learn how to weave traditionally and the different meanings behind different types of patterns. It was super interesting! I was able to purchase small pieces of the cloths too with different patterns on them. 

PICTURES:

1. Cute girls at an outreach that asked to have a picture taken 

2.  Dimitri the Mouse. Rest in peace 

3. Kente Weaver

4. Traditional clothing. All the workers called me Princess Abena (Abena means Tuesday which was the day of the week I was born and now my Ghanaian name)