First day with Efu

I woke up this morning and was so excited......I got on the plane and then the car and made it to Elmina, Ghana. 

When I arrived in Elmina I was greeted by a  group of young children who offered to take my bags to Efu's house. She lived by the ocean so that she didn't have to walk very far to fish. The conversations lingered about the United States. They wanted to know everything about my house, family, Santa Barbara.. basically my life story. The soil underneath my feet started to become damp so I knew I was getting close. The soil that I had been walking on for about thirty minutes soon vanished and I was in a hard sand that lead to the water. The sight was nothing like I had ever seen before, the ocean glistened in the sun and the youngster's who stood next to me light up when we reached the water. Before I knew it my bags were on the floor and the kids were running towards the water at full speed. It was as if they had never seen the ocean, they were swimming around in seconds. When I started to look around I saw a woman leaning over a boat exhausted floating on the water. I immediately assumed it was Efu, her boat was full from a long days work. Shortly after she paddled towards the shore slowly. Her boat skimmed across the sand and slide to a stop. She hopped out with a grin on her face and sid, "Hello I am Efu, You are Alea. Right?" I looked at this woman dripping in sweat, "yes, this is she." She leaned in and said, " I will show you to the house. I grinned and followed her. She showed me in and said, " This is your corner where you shall sleep." I looked at her in agreement and set my stuff down. I pulled out my sleeping pad and sleeping bag and rolled them out, oh and how could I have forgotten, then I set my pillow pet softly on top of my sleeping bag. I looked back up and she was gone, I thought to myself she must be at the water. So I walked outside to find her back in the boat at work. She was grabbing a fish and then sliced it open and set it in the boat. I sat on the ground in astonishment not only in her hard work but in everything. Her house is the size of my living room, she has three children to feed plus a husband. She must sit out there for hours each day just catching fish. Her hands must be horrible tired after a long day at work. About thirty minutes later she paddled toward the shore and hopped out. Grabbed the canoe and pulled it up and tied it around a tree. She grabbed a huge looking bag. Big enough to store two humans and slung it over her shoulders. The bag seemed to be bulging out the sides and looked very heavy. So I ran down and helped her out. She thanked me shortly after. And went inside with the fish. She started to cook them when I look noice rang through the house. It was her children. They came in yelling and screaming as if they were millionaires. To have no money and be so happy is one thing but to be barely surviving and be as happy as can be is amazing. The walked in gave their mom a kiss and shook my hand and walked out. My eyes followed them outside. Before I knew it they were in the water sloshing around like the kids who helped me bring my bags to the house. It seems as if the ocean is where they love to be. Jumping around, laughing and have the time of their lives. I walked back into the house to help Efu cook the fish. I walked in and she was singing and humming and dancing around with a salt shaker. She was seasoning the fish. She looked so happy it was great to see. When she realized I was standing there she abruptly stopped and I asked if I could help. She said, " no just go get washed up for dinner." She must have seen my unknowing because she walked over and pointed to the bucket. I sat down next to it, wondering how I was going to do it. I dunked my head in first and washed it then wrapped the towel around my head. Then I washed my body, the water was not very warm though. Then I went to my sleeping spot and grabbed my sweats and shirt, I changed and walked to the dinner table. Efu had the table nicely set with fish and rice on the table. The children say next to each other on on side. The boy got up and pulled a chair out and pointed at it showing me where to sit. I sat and ate and took in the whole essence of Ghana. It was an amazing first day! One I will never forget. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow!