Perspectives

Mama is a born teacher. Having her teach me was such a privilege. We, her children, enjoyed her teaching us in the evenings, on weekends and during vacation. Madam Christy, as her students called her, was that English teacher would give you 5 essay topics as homework during vacation. 

My classmates would always complain to me about how my mum loved teaching too much. She would show up even when that day wasn’t favourable for learning, lol. Like the first week of reopening or the last week before the vacation only to give us more assignments. Today, I met some of her old students and they showered me with blessings on behalf of my mum, one of their favourite teachers. “Because of what your mum taught us at this level, because she insisted on this or that I was able to write or pass at this other level or I was able to withstand the pressure of having to deliver essays and term papers back-to-back”.

Yes, I am proud of my mother.

When they appointed Madam Christy to head a district office, guess who couldn’t wait to pack up and join her for the handing over ceremony?

Yes, I am proud of my mother

thetrotrogirl

We arrived in Tamale from Kumasi and the Director`s driver chauffeured us to the town.

We stayed in a guest house but had the opportunity to visit the Bangalow for the District Director. After the tour of the house, I couldn’t help but notice that the kitchen had no windows.

Now, that was a terrible mistake as far as I was concerned. 

The two things I look out for in a house are space and ventilation. And ventilation in especially the bathroom and the kitchen. Without these, it’s a no, no for me. This house had more than enough space but how on earth could they not fix windows? “And this is the director of education’s residence? In the 21st century?” I thought to myself. 

I mentioned it to my mum later that night but she had not taken notice of it earlier.

On our return to Kumasi, where we lived, daddy picked us up. The family had moved to our new house and so this area was all new to me. The area was called New Site and I agree that there were so many new buildings. However, almost every house had their toilet outside the main house. These were the old type of toilets, the so-called improved ventilated pits`. “This, in a new site? No way?” I could not keep this disgust to myself. I spoke out loud, “why do people build such toilets in this day and age?”

Our view of life drives our actions.

thetrotrogirl

My dad cleared his throat and replied “Bel, you are lucky to have a father who built you a house, put a wall around it, dug a borehole and mechanised it. Many of the people here cannot afford to do that. Therefore, a water closet toilet would be a luxury. The toilets they have here do not demand the use of water.

Just as we got home, one of our neighbour’s sons came out of our house carrying a basin of water. They did come around from time to time but that day, it made more sense to me why.

Weeks down the line, when mama had settled in her new role and home, she called to explain to me the “mystery” behind the windowless kitchen in her Bangalow.

She found out that generally, houses in there did not have windows in their kitchen. They consider a kitchen a sacred place according to their tradition. A door, then, should be the only entry way into a kitchen. Newer buldings in the town may have windows but I am glad I cam to understand what I observed was tradition.

We must seek to have a global view of issues and that may start by simply asking questions

thetrotrogirl

My experience from these two scenarios taught me that perspective is very important. Our view of life drives our actions. We must seek to have a global view of issues and that may start by simply asking questions. The answers we receive may confirm or debunk our assumptions. It’s okay to disagree but even in disagreeing, we would have an understanding of the other person’s why. I still do not agree with having a kitchen without a window but I understand now why some people in that town may not and I can respect that.