A rough beginning with a good conclusion

The next week began with a bit of a rough start as I was quite sick.  I was not sleeping very well, and feeling unwell with headache and stomach pains.  The heat became more of a problem and it took me two days to be fully functional again.  However, I did use the time to meet with Extension agents and to go into the field to visit another potential site for the Block Farms.  This visit was quite similar to the first.  We first met with the Chief of a village named Kazugu.  Co-incidentally during this visit, I learned that there was a German volunteer staying in the Chief’s house whom I briefly met and greeted in my first language, German.  This brief interaction made me reflect about the history of development in the area.  I realized that I was not the first white man to stay in the village and that I would not be the last.  I became quite thoughtful about my plans for living in a village and it started an inner dialogue that continued until Thursday.  Overall, the rest of the field visit was quite challenging for me because it was all in Kasem and I did not understand much of what was said and also because I was having an AEA ride on the back of the Moto while driving across very bumpy fields, through sandy conditions and all in all having much trouble balancing the bike with the increased weight.  However, we returned safely to the Chief’s palace to bid him goodbye and then we returned to the office. 
Thursday was Holy Thursday and so in the afternoon, I was invited to attend the church service at the Catholic Church.  I had plans on going to see a colleague in Bolgatanga who was celebrating his birthday that night but having been assured that the mass would not take longer than 1.5 hours, I agreed to come.  The service was very thought-provoking but unfortunately also much longer than 1.5 hours and so I missed the chance to go to Bolga as it would have been a very late night.

The next day, I had plans to move out of the compound and into a village called Navio.  Before the move, I had weighed the pros and cons extensively but eventually decided to do it.  I did not feel like Paga was truly a home and missed living in a village, learning Kassem, and living with a family.  I knew that the compound in Paga where I stayed was quite nice.  It had running water, a shower, electricity and was literally 1 minute walk away from my office and 5 minutes away from the market.  However, I made all the arrangements and moved out that day with some apprehension but also hope for being welcomed into the family just like I had experienced it the last time. 

Indeed, I was not mistaken.  Even though I was a bit scared, the reception I received was very very warm and I was overwhelmed by the level of hospitality and generosity that everyone showed me.  I was not used to this at all and was even unsure of how to receive it at times.  For instance, I decided to move into a room that did not have electricity yet.  The cables were there, but it had not been connected yet.  The man who had invited me to stay there was called Anas and he immediately went to call an electrician to get the placed wired for electricity.  There were many other things he and my new host mother, Abapa, did that I did that were so generous that I did not even understand.  I also met a very friendly youth called Aaron who spoke very fluent English and was living in the neighbouring compound.  That Thursday afternoon, I spent talking with Aaron and his friend Calvin under a tree, relaxing and just trying to learn a bit of Kassem.  In the evening, Anas came by and we went to a small general store in the village where we watched some Nigerian Movies.  It was quite interesting to be part of it.  Since not many people have TVs, the community comes together to watch.  The store owner apparently had a TV and people were sitting on chairs, standing and sitting on the ground to watch.  It was quite different than watching TV at home in Canada.  Also, the plot and the sense of humour in the movie was quite interesting and totally different than what you may find in a North American movie.