Saturday, April 16 - Day 36
“The flight will leave earlier than scheduled, so please be at your gate early.” This is what the ticketing woman told me as she handed me my baggage claim receipts. Apparently Egypt time is the opposite of Ghana time.
I have no idea whether the flight actually departed early (and, if so, by how much) because I was asleep at the time. I fell asleep within ten minutes of boarding and woke up to us cruising above the clouds. I think that’s the chicken’s fault.
Niki accompanied me to the orphanage this morning for a final 6 AM visit. She had offered to be my last-day photographer and got some great shots. Shortly after our arrival, she said, “You should pick up a chicken.” Now I knew that this was a stupid idea - I should definitely not pick up a chicken - but a confluence of factors urged me against my better judgement: Niki rarely suggests actions so perhaps I should listen; she was thinking she should instate it as a new pre-departure requirement for volunteers (who can resist tradition?); and the kids handle these birds all the time. Only two days ago, big Prince had carefully placed a chicken on Jackie’s head. It wasn’t like I hadn’t wondered whether the chickens were actually as easy to catch as they looked to be when the children chased them. So I picked up a chicken. Indeed, it was fairly easy to catch.
Half an hour later, my fingertips started to itch, turn red, and exhibit slight signs of swelling. By the time we arrive home, another hour having passed, I had a full systemic allergic reaction with a rash on my elbows, my stomach, the backs of my knees, and multiple other body parts. Everything itched. Fortunately, I remembered that Niki had an antihistamine in her travel medical kit from when she was packing medicine for the Mole trip. I took one of her pills when we got home and felt better within an hour or so. [Note from the future: Niki, thank you! It was entirely worth the whole experience.] The pill can cause drowsiness; I slept through the second half of the cab ride to the airport and the first three-ish hours of my flight. It turns out it was a stupid idea to pick up the chicken. That said, I’ve now caught and held a chicken in Ghana. You win some; you lose some.
Other than the allergic reaction, my final morning was lovely. Niki and I arrived shortly after 6 to a very quiet orphanage. About ten of the middle ones were awake beginning to wash and do chores (which include cleaning (e.g., sweeping), cooking, and such). Most of them were still sleeping off the big party. Around 6:30, Ma roused the little ones for their morning bath and the daily bustle commenced. Happily, all of the little ones were in good moods today; we had a pleasantly tantrum-free morning. I got to get Beauty and Godwyn dressed a final time and wander around with Beauty contentedly being held. When the time came, I said my goodbyes, working my way around from the littlest ones outside Ma’s room to the oldest boys repairing their football boots on the table by the front door. We returned home for a final (for me) breakfast of white bread with ground nut butter and jam. As a going-away present, Jackie had gone to the market to refill the empty ground nut butter container while we were at the orphanage. I love the volunteer family.
My taxi to the airport ran on Ghana time. I planned to leave the house between 8:45 and 9 AM so asked Beatriz to have the taxi driver, a friend of hers, come at 8:45 when she called him for me last night. She called, talked, hung up, and announced that she’d told him 8 AM. What? Emily reassured me that he’d probably arrive at 8:30 on Ghana time. At 8:42 this morning, he was still noticeably absent and I was actually ready to go. Beatriz called again and he said he’d be at the house in two minutes. We loaded my bags into the car at 8:55.
The drive was just under two hours and got me to the airport the perfect three hours ahead. My flight has also been smooth thus far. Most rows, mine included, have empty middle seats so I get to enjoy the feeling of an extra-spacious aisle seat. The only blip has been my companion at the window, who reminds me of the rastas at Kokrobite. (I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a rasta from Kokrobite.) After writing down and handing me his email address and phone number in China entirely unsolicited, he soon suggested I move to the middle seat next to him. No, thank you.
According to the flight monitor, we left Accra at 1:50 PM (scheduled time: 1:40) and will arrive in Cairo in under half an hour. There you have it.
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