How I can’t believe I am halfway through my fourth week of work here! Time is just flying past; I think I need to start taking more photos. I bring my camera everywhere with me but it’s hard to take it out of my bag. Not that I think anyone is going to snatch it from my hands, it’s hard to explain why it’s hard to take pictures here. A lot of the people don’t like it, the children love it but you get swarmed if they see it, most of the time it’s because you feel so much like a tourist. I think I need to force myself to take photos, I’ll be kicking myself when I get back and I know I’ve missed my opportunity.
The first part of the day did not go as planned. We thought we would finish planning our measuring workshop for the quality control and present it within the morning. After doing a bit more research we found this wouldn’t be happening. We decided to each take measurements of a garment ourselves just to see how off each of us are from the spec sheet. Turned out we all got quite different measurements. We decided to give the garment to one of the women in quality control and see what she came up with. We also didn’t let her look at the spec sheet (if she knew what the measurements we’re supposed to be she might fudge the measurement a bit to make it work). Turns out she got different measurements as well. The spec sheet is right but we find that the sample isn’t and that if it we’re to go into an order it would be rejected. We have a plan for our workshop but we won’t be giving it until we have the new garments in and we can show them the correct way to measure.
In the afternoon Katie and I left with one of the Global Mama’s and she took us around town to find some batiking supplies.
Our neighbor Judy was once a Global Mama; she has three shops that she runs which are doing really well so now she doesn’t need the business from us anymore. I have talked about her once before, we met her the first night that we were in Elmina, her husband just recently has died and since he was Muslim she has to spend the next three months without leaving the house. She always welcomes us with open arms and enjoys our company. She has a batik station and sewing machine at her house so when she heard we wanted to do a bit of our own batiking she was happy to let us come over and use her supplies(of course gave her money in return for her hospitality).
So we walked through Cape Coast (Katie and I and a Global Mamas apprentice to find dyes, calico and chemicals to do batiking at Judy’s house. We got calico from the market which was the first time I think I’ve been back since the original visit. We were stopped by some women at their stand. They were very curious (as everyone is) of our jewelry and face piercing. (bit of background: we’ve been given an assignment to think up of new ways to use scrap fabric which usually just gets burned. One night when brainstorming we made braided bracelets and anklets. Its always a topic of question “what is that? What does that represent/mean?”) To everyone here it looks tatty and they can’t rap their heads around us just doing it as decoration. Same with the piercings… I point to her earrings and ask why just like she’s doing to my nose and Katie’s lip. I think we have a bit of understanding. Once again nothing is done in an ill-mannered way, just curious, we all have a bit of a laugh and continue through market.
When we get back to the office we leave early to go and batik at Judy’s. It was Katie, Nick and I. Sarah wanted to join but had to meet with Maria. As we catch a cab and head back to Elmina the clouds are rolling in from no where and it starts to down pour. Back in Elmina the rain doesn’t give up and we have to cancel our batik session.Dissapointed we sit on the balcony and carve out stamps and do a bit of cad.
Had some cravings later on so I took a stroll and bought chips, gin with tonic. We make some Gin and Tonics, tastes alright but defiantly needs some limes. Continued to work on Cad until we decided we’d make a family dinner. I made more Thai rice for all of us, Katie mad cheese sandwiches, and Nick shared his veggie stew he had made the previous night. We also gave making plantain chips ago and might is say it was a success and shall be repeated quite soon. You know how much I love chips!
What am I craving now?? Probably a pedicure, not that I get them on the regular but my feet are so torn up, dirty and sore.
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