2 minute read
African Memoir
BY SABINA KLEMENC SMITH
Gloomy day, and it is snowing again in Moldova. Enjoying the warmth and cosines indoors, thinking what the future might bring. Suddenly my phone rings. ‘Hi, darling, I got a new job offer, this time in Africa. Should we go for it?’ After a couple of hours of thinking and researching I said
YES, let’s go for it! This is the life of the ex-pats.
On the 3rd of November 2018 the plane touches the ground of the continent I have never experienced before. Very excited! We safely landed at modern Kotoka airport, Accra, Ghana. At arrivals I can see a big crowd of people waiting to spot a familiar face. Hot and humid air hits my nostrils, and I can instantly feel my clothes getting sticky. With some negotiations my husband and I find a modest taxi to take us to the Accra City Hotel. The main motorway is very modern and better than I expected, and, as I realised
within the next month, quite far away from most of the other Ghanaian road standards.
Hotel looked fine, the staff is very polite, helpful, with smiling faces. The atmosphere is relaxed, everything with a slower pace. ‘Madam, madam,’ I hear a deep voice calling, ‘can I take your luggage to your room, please?’ Eventually I realise that ‘the madam’ is referring to me! ‘Yes, please’, I see myself smiling back to the handsome porter. These smiles are infectious, I realise. And a good start! Madam and yes, please! ‘Yes, please!’
‘So far so good!’ I say to myself with a big relief. With no complications at all we soon move to the house, located in a lovely green compound. And then the fun starts!
One morning, my husband away on a business trip, and an unusual sound wakes me up. ‘What is it?’ trying to recall the familiarity of the sound. Suddenly the picture of the of water flowing down from somewhere reaches my still sleepy mind. Getting out of my bed, I step into the water, one inch high. Alarm in my head wakes me up completely. With bare feet I carefully reached the ground floor. OMG, here is even worse! At least the office room was spared upstairs!
Without thinking I call the guards for help. From there on, everything worked out as if this would be their standard everyday drill. Three hours later everything was again in order, except the carpets and the shoes, of course.
I was relieved that my better half was spared this experience. But I need to mention that all happened again, but this time my husband was home alone.
I envy him about this experience…NOT!
