September 13, 2007- Elikplim’s Birthday

I woke up to the sound of the hand-broom swishing against the floor in the Hall and on my way to the bathroom I paused to watch Elikplim.  The birthday boy was singing a Ghanian pop song to himself and sweeping with a huge smile on his face.

Elikplim- The Birthday Boy

After we ate our eggs (ugh, eggs) and the throng ate their sour smelling porridge, John, Mauwli, and I went to the early morning market to get bananas and pineapple for the party.  Mauwli even helped us procure a bottle of Hershy’s chocolate syrup.  When we returned, all the kids had gone to school, except Elikplim (his test results come in tomorrow), so he spent the day re-arranging chairs, putting finishing touches on the chalkboard sign, and making sure the paper chain decorations stayed up.  He also swept the Hall at least two more times.

We cut up the bananas while the kids trickled home and ate their lunches.  When everyone was finished, we poured chocolate syrup on the desserts- let the party begin!  

 

Gabriel and Emma were covered in chocolate from head to toe within a blink of an eye, but their bowls were licked completely clean.  John pulled out some Mardi Gras masks, beads, and noisemakers that he brought from home for just such an occasion.  There was even a yellow blowup crown for the birthday boy.  A few kids ran off and returned seconds later, filling Elikplim’s arms with handmade birthday cards.  Justice turned over a plastic tub and started drumming.  The older kids had changed, and now had traditional fabrics tied around their waists and chests.  The chalk from the chalkboard became face paint and pretty soon we were in the middle of a full-blown Ghanaian rave dance party.

 

 When things settled down a little and everyone had changed back into their regular clothes, we headed to the sports stadium: the icing on the cake of Elikplim’s perfect day.  Well, almost perfect.  Upon our return, Elikplim found his crown, popped and in a sad little pile in the corner of The Hall.  Through his tears, he tried to mend it with Elmers glue and paper.  Ah, the first post-house-meeting lesson in taking care of your belongings!

After dinner we went for Sonjelle’s “goodbye party” at Maxi Spot- her favorite bar – but unfortunately no one we knew was out, except for Obey and his “really good friend,” who are always out, so she didn’t get to say many goodbyes.  Edem did stop by, if only to remind us that we should not drink alcohol and that he would certainly not allow us to try the homemade kind.  We got her good and drunk while they played Celine Dion, then went home to bed.