Sooky today.

And here's the next installment of the multi-part epic, Dudes in Ghana want money from Jacob:

Joseph, of course, came back that night looking for some warm, floppy cash. I hadn't had a chance to get to the bank that day so called Tettey to see if he would be able to drive me to a bank when he got back (from wherever he was, whenever that happened to be). He said that should be ok, so I waited awkwardly with Joseph for a couple of hours. It wasn't awkward in that there was nothing to say, Joseph is a lovely guy and talked a lot - it was more awkward because he was only waiting and talking because he wanted money. And I had things to do.

Anyway, we waited until Tettey got back and decided that he was tired (admittedly, it was late. That is, we'd been waiting for hours) and we'd go to the bank in the morning instead. In accordance with my suspicions of Joseph's unusual friendliness, upon hearing that there was no money tonight, Joseph disappeared with a hasty farewell.

The next morning, we got the money and Joseph came later to scam it from me. I now have his passport as a deposit. As Sam has suggested, he'll probably just come up to me when he gets back without the money to pay back and declare that he needs his passport back. I will have to be strong. Either way, if that happens, I figure I'll have good reason to not give him any more money. Alternatively, if he does bring it back, all will be ok. Poverty and desperation are awesome.

On the lesson front, things went ok for the remainder of the week. On Wednesday I had a 7.30 lesson with Theofo, going over and consolidating some of the stuff that I had been learning, then a lesson at 11 or so with Otu (Kusun don't rehearse on Wednesdays). With Otu I learned a basic outline of the Kolomashie rhythm, which is what people play when doing street parades or running at ungodly times in the morning past my window - sort of like brazilian samba rhythms. Sort of.

After this lesson, Theofo came at 2.00 or so and we went into Accra to go the fetish market. In between my lesson with Otu and going into town with Theofo, I visited Tettey's friend Don, a secretary to Atta Mills, the NDC presidential candidate. I asked him about the possibility of getting an NDC T-shirt, after which one appeared in his hand. This meant that I wore the shirt on my trip into Accra.

An interesting idea.

Basically, the whole way into, through and back from Accra, I had Ghanaians yelling out to me, laughing, coming up and shaking my hand, initiating call-and-response NDC slogans and all sorts of shenanigans. I seriously couldn't walk 2 metres without at least hearing someone call out "Blofonyo NDC-ay!". Talk about attention seeking.

Theofo thought it was piss funny. For him, maybe.

Despite the constant distractions, we did manage to get to the fetish market where I was once again tempted by dried crocodile heads. What we were there for however, were some calabashes and seeds to make shakers. This was fine. End of that story.

The remainder of that night and the next morning I was trying to sort out my enrolment for Melbourne Uni next year. Talk about balls (and not the good kind). Basically, I'm not able to enrol in the subjects I want to enrol in because the computer says I can't. I even called Melbourne Uni and was told that it just 'wouldn't work, sorry'. The frustrating thing is that if I was able to walk in there and sort it out, it wouldn't be a problem - it makes no sense that I, enrolled in Arts/Science, am unable to take subjects that an Arts student can take. Basically, in this case, the Melbourne Model is bad. Maybe I will walk in a parade.

For the rest of Thursday, after spending the morning stuffing around with Melbourne Uni, I went to Theofo's and he started putting together the shakers. It's a multiple-step process however - right now the calabashes are sitting outside his house with soapy water in them, soaking.

On Friday, Theofo was feeling sick so I didn't have any lessons with him. Additionally, my phone is out of credit (courtesy of calls to Australia the day before) and I was too poor to buy more, so I didn't call any other guys an arrange lessons. Instead, I spent the day doing private practice - going over a couple of things that I have learned and also just trying to work on technique. It went ok.

Friday night I went in to the National Theatre to a show celebrating the British Council's 65 years in Ghana. I was not in the mood to go out, but really wanted to see the Pan African Orchestra play. They were there and were great - I have wanted to see them live ever since I heard their CD
years ago. There were also some other performers (the London community gospel choir for one - seriously, what's with gospel music?), but I don't care to talk about them right now.

Instead I would like to whinge about my current situation. If you will recall that my last post lamented our lack of water for the last week or so, you will surely understand my frustration upon awaking today to find that the water is, again, not flowing from the mains. As such, I have not washed, eaten, flushed my toilet or gotten dressed today. I am not planning to leave my room until water flows. I could be here for a while. I also am running out of clean clothes.

As a special bonus for you all, I have, in the spirit of Movember (towards which you should donate, despite my lack of updates... one is coming though.. just... here!), grown an 'I'm not shaving until the freaking water is flowing again because it's too hard and I am a wussy' beard. I see this as a Movember/Ghana/Jacob bonus for you and expect due appreciation. Photos are below (sorry to Eve on dial-up):



In conclusion, you only have a week to donate to my Movember fund, but don't feel too pressured - you would be better off giving it to me. Well, I would be better off if you gave it to me. I think the beard is here to stay for today at least. I know the poll has finished, I just have nothing interesting to do with it. What I mean is that I have a surprise up my sleeve but I want to keep it a surprise. For the present, just in case you, after seeing these photos of my manly beardness, have fallen in infatuation and think that I should remain bearded for a time, even if we get water, I have put up a short, new poll.

So, if anyone wants to email me a shower, feel free. Also comment if you have any ideas I should know about for stuff.

Ok bye.