Leaving the Village

by Delali Kwakoudzi

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About ten years ago I was 17 years old. I lived with my parents in Ghana. My parents told us to go to a farm. When my parents called me, "Delali, let us go to the farm." I agreed to go with them. Another day my father called me again, "Let us go to the farm to cut the cocoa and take it home." I agreed to go to the farm with them.

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One day I called them and told them, "My parents, I want to go to another state." I couldn't stay in this state and go to the farm. When I told them, my father didn't agree with me to go and I forced myself to go.

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When I wanted to go to another state, I didn't say anything. I carried my bag, and I took a taxi. I didn't know where I was going. I told the taxi driver I wanted to go to Hohoe, but I didn't know anybody in that state.

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When I went there I saw one of my aunt's sons. He saw me, and he said, "Come with me." I went home with him. He told me he would find me a place, and I left with one lady. She told me she was a tailor, and I said, "Good for me. I am a hairdresser." She said we could stay and join to open a salon. I said, "Yes, it is a good idea," so we opened a salon, and we started to work.

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One day I went to visit my family. They were happy with me, and my father called me and said, "My daughter, you had a good idea." He was so happy to see me before he died. When he died I took my family to come stay with me. They were with me until we came to America.