Wednesday, June 17 - Ghana Adventure Day 12
More of today's photos in slideshow section 2 - click HERE to view.(back-dated post completed September 10)
Today is Lydia’s 9th birthday! Yay!
We got up around 8:00, and waited for a while, but Nana and Jaida didn’t come by. We hoped we’d see them at breakfast, but no luck. We went ahead and ate – Lydia was so happy – there were plenty of chocolate-filled croissants. They have just a little morsel of chocolate inside, but it’s just enough. At first, no Milo, but again, they brought some out later. Akos loves the omelets, as well as the rice porridge. She also loves sugar – she keeps asking for 3 sugar cubes in her Milo – I told her that was too much, so she pointed at the brown sugar cubes – then tried for the granulated sugar, then the loose brown sugar…I finally gave her a second cube but NO more! I wish she would speak instead of just pointing at what she wants. I know she can speak, because she “slips up” and speaks out loud very clearly sometimes. Hopefully, she’ll start speaking more soon. I have a lot to ask her – especially, we need to decide her permanent name so we have it right for her new birth certificate.
We went to the office for an hour and a half or so for me to work online, and guess what? Nana had left a message with all her contact information at the desk for us! So, maybe we’ll visit Queen Nana after all! ☺ We also got an e-mail from Daddy for Lydia with a link to a birthday video he and Elena made for her. But, we couldn’t get the link to work, so Daddy planned to upload it a different way.
After our time at the office, we came to the room and relaxed a bit – the girls enjoyed playing with Legos on the patio, while I worked on my cross-stitch. After that, we went to the pool. We all danced waltzes in the water, which was a lot of fun. We got very silly, and sang loudly – the staff members were looking and snickering at us..hee hee! ☺ We talked about names for in America, and Akos decided Akosiana is how she wants her long name, but still called Akos. We offered to keep a Ghanian middle name, or an American name. She wanted to hear American names, so we started listing some off – Grace, Ann, Miriam, Sarah, and many more…all of them definite no’s. Then Lydia told her she had her great-grandmother’s middle name – we told her Grandma’s name is Gloria, and she lit up. She loved the name, and wants it to be her middle name! She has her heart set on it, and seems like nothing else will do. I have always thought Gloria is beautiful name, it’s what Akos wants, and I also feel that it does pay some tribute to her for all the help she has been to us, and for her strong support of Akos’ adoption.
Poor Lydia went to put more sunblock (the stick that has always been very mild) on her face, and sadly found that it felt like it was burning around her eyes (not in them, thankfully.) She was very upset about that, but did a bit of drama and pulled the towel over her head in a huff. We took photos, thinking that someday she will look back on it and laugh. We can use the photos in a scrapbook to show how her birthday improved later in the day…)
We had wonderful news from Uncle P – our I-600 was approved, and we have our visa interview scheduled for Monday morning (assuming he can get the medical by then, which he thinks he can.) It could have taken 30 days or so, but only took 8! He will pick up the visa packet from them tomorrow. It’s possible, then, that we would be granted our visa, pick it up on Tuesday, and be free to go home. But, I think we’ll only leave a week early, so we can get the family and community history information and pictures to bring home for Akos, - also so that we can do some more sightseeing and cultural education.
Then, we went back to the office and were finally able to download Don's "Happy Birthday" video for Lydia. It was absolutely hysterical and wonderful! He and Elena sang Happy Birthday, blew blow-out things (what do you call those???), popped party poppers and sprayed silly string at the camera, and even faked toots with a whoopee cushion! Then, they dressed the dogs and Kente in party hats. PJ had one hat, and didn’t mind much. Kente quickly got the hat off his head and around his neck, then proceeded to run through the house as if demons were chasing him. Lucy had a hat on each ear, and didn’t seem to notice – too busy chewing on her treat. Gosh, we loved that!
Our dear friend Enyonam talked with us a while, and watched the video. She is so sweet. She’s also from Volta region, has a husband who lives in Accra and visits on weekends, and has a two-year old son who stays with her cousin here during the day. She wanted to know where we were staying in Accra, and offered to see if she could get us a good rate at Coconut Grove Regency hotel in Accra, which she said has very good internet, consistent water, a pool, a salon (Akos wants braids…) Turned out she was able to get it for us for the same rate as Crystal Rose (with trickle vs. no water, no internet in the room, most lights not working, etc….) So, it’s a no-brainer – we’re going to to stay at the Regency! Ooh-la-la! ☺
Next, we walked down to dinner. A waiter met us right at the walkway, and said the birthday lady and her family would be in a special place tonight. Oh my goodness, they went to such lengths to make this a special night for Lydia! They put us in a private thatched hut by the ocean, with a white linen tablecloth, a candle (they tried so hard to keep it lit, but the wind was strong), and pink, white and mint green bows on every post. Fresh flowers on the table, surrounded by ribbons, too. Everything was just beautiful! Lydia was glowing – just a perfect end to the evening. After we ordered, the girls played a bit in the sand by our table. Then, they brought a special treat – a small bowl of popcorn for an appetizer! That was so much fun for them! Lydia had yummy macaroni and cheese, and Akos at first refused everything, though she claimed to be so hungry. But, our waiter (wonderful Michael) spoke to her (in Ewe, I think) and finally got her to agree to boiled yams with Black Star chicken. I wasn’t sure what to have, and Michael asked if I had tried the seafood goulash. He described it – with lobster, prawns, and grouper, carrots and red and green peppers in a cream sauce. Sounded OK, but I pictured a whole fish with lots bones. He said no head, and no bones, either. OK, I was sold. He came back in a few minutes and said they were out of prawns and lobster, so they would make it with just grouper. Well, I have to say that it was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. So delicate and perfectly balanced. An absolute delight!
Then, we went back to the office and were finally able to download Don's "Happy Birthday" video for Lydia. It was absolutely hysterical and wonderful! He and Elena sang Happy Birthday, blew blow-out things (what do you call those???), popped party poppers and sprayed silly string at the camera, and even faked toots with a whoopee cushion! Then, they dressed the dogs and Kente in party hats. PJ had one hat, and didn’t mind much. Kente quickly got the hat off his head and around his neck, then proceeded to run through the house as if demons were chasing him. Lucy had a hat on each ear, and didn’t seem to notice – too busy chewing on her treat. Gosh, we loved that!
Our dear friend Enyonam talked with us a while, and watched the video. She is so sweet. She’s also from Volta region, has a husband who lives in Accra and visits on weekends, and has a two-year old son who stays with her cousin here during the day. She wanted to know where we were staying in Accra, and offered to see if she could get us a good rate at Coconut Grove Regency hotel in Accra, which she said has very good internet, consistent water, a pool, a salon (Akos wants braids…) Turned out she was able to get it for us for the same rate as Crystal Rose (with trickle vs. no water, no internet in the room, most lights not working, etc….) So, it’s a no-brainer – we’re going to to stay at the Regency! Ooh-la-la! ☺
Next, we walked down to dinner. A waiter met us right at the walkway, and said the birthday lady and her family would be in a special place tonight. Oh my goodness, they went to such lengths to make this a special night for Lydia! They put us in a private thatched hut by the ocean, with a white linen tablecloth, a candle (they tried so hard to keep it lit, but the wind was strong), and pink, white and mint green bows on every post. Fresh flowers on the table, surrounded by ribbons, too. Everything was just beautiful! Lydia was glowing – just a perfect end to the evening. After we ordered, the girls played a bit in the sand by our table. Then, they brought a special treat – a small bowl of popcorn for an appetizer! That was so much fun for them! Lydia had yummy macaroni and cheese, and Akos at first refused everything, though she claimed to be so hungry. But, our waiter (wonderful Michael) spoke to her (in Ewe, I think) and finally got her to agree to boiled yams with Black Star chicken. I wasn’t sure what to have, and Michael asked if I had tried the seafood goulash. He described it – with lobster, prawns, and grouper, carrots and red and green peppers in a cream sauce. Sounded OK, but I pictured a whole fish with lots bones. He said no head, and no bones, either. OK, I was sold. He came back in a few minutes and said they were out of prawns and lobster, so they would make it with just grouper. Well, I have to say that it was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. So delicate and perfectly balanced. An absolute delight!
Back soon with more,
Jeanie
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