September 29th
I got new parents a couple days ago. They are super. Their names are Emmanuel and Janet. They have one 18 year old boy who has a similar watch (big & round) and a 13 & 10 year old girl who are smart and fun.
We were in our colony in Techiman for 3 days before getting a family. Now we are really in Ghana, before this was Summer Camp.
My parents are farmers of yam, cassava and banana. They eat fufu everyday but I will probably eat riceballs with Peanut Soup because it is my favorite. My Dadi is also a tailor! He can make beautiful dresses. I will be buying fabric soon.
When I walk with my Dadi through town and people call me small girl he tells them I am really 24, a lot like my Dad Dad. But my parents here are small too so we fit very well together. They seem to understand that I cannot eat a lot which is great. They also understand a lot of other things. They each come from a family of 11 (both #6) but do not want to have so many children as to not be able to provide proper education for them.
I have a nice room with beautiful blue colored walls. My once-a-week Malaria pill has been a pain but has given me only one bad nightmare. A bad spirit took over my soul and "I" don't know about it.
The common cheese here is Laughing Cow (the processed spreadable cheese). I actually love it and have to ration it for myself so I don't eat it all at once. But the kids have promised to help me try to milk one of the local goats to make cheese. I showed them a picture.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Mountain Paradise
September 22nd - 26th
After the 4 days in Greater Accra gathering important information from Ghanaian Staff and current Volunteer "Trainers" about health, culture, and each other we went on what they call Vision Quest. This is where everyone goes for 5 days to visit a current Volunteer at their home.
I went to visit a science/math teacher in the Lower Volta region (Eastern part of the country, bordering Togo). The Tro driver went too fast and all the passengers were yelling at him! The small small village was in the mountains and there were lots of potholes that needed to be driven around.
After arriving and meeting the teacher we were ushered into a little shop to sit with a man who was called Captain. He insisted that he would liberate the Voltanians from Ghana and Togo and become an independent. He says they are originally German. He also knew a lot about Chicago and repeated his story 4 times.
The teacher's home was nice but very remote. It is a 30 minute climb from the village and Mountain Paradise, a beautiful lodge for tourists who want a nice hike. We went up there for a great hike where we saw a big huge waterfall and used a rope to climb through parts of the trail. It was so serious that I thought I was going to faint, but I didn't.
The place she lived reminded me very much of the South of France. There was a cool breeze, an amazing Mountain View and lots of goats running around. Cute baby ones too.
I have heard that she has one of the best locations in all of Ghana. We did not have much in common on a personal level and she had gotten a little bitter about cultural differences but it was beautiful and now I know about the dark side.
After the 4 days in Greater Accra gathering important information from Ghanaian Staff and current Volunteer "Trainers" about health, culture, and each other we went on what they call Vision Quest. This is where everyone goes for 5 days to visit a current Volunteer at their home.
I went to visit a science/math teacher in the Lower Volta region (Eastern part of the country, bordering Togo). The Tro driver went too fast and all the passengers were yelling at him! The small small village was in the mountains and there were lots of potholes that needed to be driven around.
After arriving and meeting the teacher we were ushered into a little shop to sit with a man who was called Captain. He insisted that he would liberate the Voltanians from Ghana and Togo and become an independent. He says they are originally German. He also knew a lot about Chicago and repeated his story 4 times.
The teacher's home was nice but very remote. It is a 30 minute climb from the village and Mountain Paradise, a beautiful lodge for tourists who want a nice hike. We went up there for a great hike where we saw a big huge waterfall and used a rope to climb through parts of the trail. It was so serious that I thought I was going to faint, but I didn't.
The place she lived reminded me very much of the South of France. There was a cool breeze, an amazing Mountain View and lots of goats running around. Cute baby ones too.
I have heard that she has one of the best locations in all of Ghana. We did not have much in common on a personal level and she had gotten a little bitter about cultural differences but it was beautiful and now I know about the dark side.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Greater Accra
September 18th - 22nd
We spent our first few days in Ghana in a pleasant area for a fashion/sewing school located outside of the big city. Arriving at night was mysterious - my seat mate and I had our first real accomplishment when we succeeded in getting the big light inside the bus turned off so we could see outside. We saw lots of small fires mostly. Apparently street vendors.
After dinner (Fried Chicken) I was amazed at the woman who was clearing the dishes by putting them on a plate on her head.
We ventured into Accra one day in small groups. My clan went to Joy FM, a progressive Radio Station that gave us a great tour. We wanted to go see a coffin maker too but did not have time. It think the funniest story from all of the trips was a girl who was slapped on the butt and called big mama.
The main way of transportation in Ghana is by Tro. It is a mini-van that can fit up to 30 passengers if it has to - that would be 6 people squished into a row. If you are lucky it will only be 3 or 4. I have not shared one with a goat yet, but I have heard the stories.
We spent our first few days in Ghana in a pleasant area for a fashion/sewing school located outside of the big city. Arriving at night was mysterious - my seat mate and I had our first real accomplishment when we succeeded in getting the big light inside the bus turned off so we could see outside. We saw lots of small fires mostly. Apparently street vendors.
After dinner (Fried Chicken) I was amazed at the woman who was clearing the dishes by putting them on a plate on her head.
We ventured into Accra one day in small groups. My clan went to Joy FM, a progressive Radio Station that gave us a great tour. We wanted to go see a coffin maker too but did not have time. It think the funniest story from all of the trips was a girl who was slapped on the butt and called big mama.
The main way of transportation in Ghana is by Tro. It is a mini-van that can fit up to 30 passengers if it has to - that would be 6 people squished into a row. If you are lucky it will only be 3 or 4. I have not shared one with a goat yet, but I have heard the stories.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Philadelphia
I am in Philadelphia for a 2 day "briefing" at a Sheraton Hotel - which has a reputation for The Best Beds - it's true.
There are 48 people here (30 female and 18 male)- 3 groups - Agricultural, Small Business, and Health/ Water Sanitation (my group). In my group there is 17 people (4 males). 6 people are over 40 in the whole group - the rest is hard to say.
During "briefing" as I call it I have done a lot of sketching, a good way to memorize everyones face.
Right now it feels like a TV show or a game. They gave us a debit card and told us to take all the $ off ($160 for food for 3 days) and then to destroy it when we get to Ghana.
We have been doing a mix of ice breaker activities and this workbook. While we answer questions in the workbook the Leader Lady turn on 80s music and it makes me laugh every time.
An interesting thing for the future - the second day we are there there will be a HUGE party with the Ambassador, I expect some GREAT outfits and head garments.
There are 48 people here (30 female and 18 male)- 3 groups - Agricultural, Small Business, and Health/ Water Sanitation (my group). In my group there is 17 people (4 males). 6 people are over 40 in the whole group - the rest is hard to say.
During "briefing" as I call it I have done a lot of sketching, a good way to memorize everyones face.
Right now it feels like a TV show or a game. They gave us a debit card and told us to take all the $ off ($160 for food for 3 days) and then to destroy it when we get to Ghana.
We have been doing a mix of ice breaker activities and this workbook. While we answer questions in the workbook the Leader Lady turn on 80s music and it makes me laugh every time.
An interesting thing for the future - the second day we are there there will be a HUGE party with the Ambassador, I expect some GREAT outfits and head garments.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
