Indeed, the holidays are here in Ghana. It's been a surprising couple of days so far. How? Let me use a list (as always) to express the surprises:
A. Remember all those Christmas songs in the US that play when its cold outside? they still play here; its odd to be sweating in 85 degree weather outside and hear "Chestnuts, roasting on an open fire..."
B. I am staying with a Ghanaian family for Christmas and New Year's (I stayed with them last NY as well). Let me say: I am being spoiled with fans, a Wii, and a spectacular house.
C. I've thought about staying (extending) for another year, but I don't know if things will come to fruition. Even being in Accra for the holidays, people I've never met pleasantly shock me and come to talk to me about being in Saviefe and the work I'm doing there (nice/rewarding); but its one more year.
D. I am going to the beach today! Outlook: ~82 degrees, slightly hazy, and I'm not sure if I want to swim in water so close to Accra (sewer drainage from the big city).
E. There were some little kids (Ages 12, 8, 7, & 4) that were here: its an impressive thing to hear children that small speaking excellent English after living in the village where even kids at 15 have a hard time expressing simple thoughts and actions.
F. I received a small box of Ferrero-Rocher for Christmas (two thumbs up).
G. Some other Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) and I started a book club. Our first book was East of Eden by John Steinbeck - recently completed by Mike Shoup and book #101 finished since Sept. 15 2010.
H. I think I'm really going to miss Ghana whenever I leave - the people are extremely friendly and will go out of their way simply to ensure you are salubriously comfortable and verily relaxed. Examples: I was offered the nicest seat from a person while riding on a tro (the person got out of the seat to offer it!); at the house in Accra, all of my whims are thought of (drinks? food? [I didn't realize I was thirsty, but since you ask..]); "Do you want breakfast, Mike?", "Ye..", "Let me make you something!".
I. Everyone is my mother - "Mike, eat more food and feel free. I want you to be happy" (happy is sometimes equated to being fat and large, a symbol of wealth and beauty).
Anything else? I suppose a happy New Year's is in order... ok.
Oh! We PCVs in Volta have a girl's camp coming up on January 9-13. Its a leadership camp for girls in the equivalent of 8th grade (here, JHS Form 2) to educate them about leadership, HIV/AIDS awareness, career options, and to motivate them to study hard and succeed in their schooling.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Yes?
Successful completion of Taking-students-to-Ho-and-skyping-with-Americans, iteration II!! But now I'm exhausted so its time to read and bed. 8:45 never felt so late...
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Volta Verbalizations
If you,
YES YOU!!
are interested in a blog about some of my students, check out: http://voltaverbalizations.blogspot.com/
I've just added a post about local food.
YES YOU!!
are interested in a blog about some of my students, check out: http://voltaverbalizations.blogspot.com/
I've just added a post about local food.
No Updates? Here's One
No real updates in a while? Tired of not knowing how your son/brother/nephew/friend/acquaintance is managing? It's time to remedy the situation!
Harmattan has started, so nights are cool (maybe lows around 65) and daytime highs approaching 80, though the air is super-dry. The sun sometimes is visible not as a bright blob in the sky, but as generally bright section of the sky - sometimes its impossible to even tell where the sun is. Why? Because trade winds blow dust from a part of the Sahara desert over West Africa, instead of the normal monsoon-esque route from the ocean. A soon-to-not-be-so-thin layer of dust has covered all unprotected things, so I've had a student come to clean my house a few times (not as slave labor - I'm helping him pay some school fees). I went to the north (Tamale) for Thanksgiving, which 1) is far 2) is costly and 3) I had a good time.
Let's see what other random updates are happening:
I. I just found out there is a gym complete with concrete weights not even thirty feet from my bedroom - I just never thought to go to said secret area.
II. Exams have started for school, so I'm busy catching students cheating on tests (seizure count = 3). I make them come and do work for me at the house too.
III. Been trying to get some exercise, at least an hour a day... knowing that a gym is available to use (though it only has 3 weights) may help.
IV. I went to Kpando to help a friend out with a football tournament to educate people about HIV/AIDS - it was a great success! Though my part was small, and I mostly stood around looking intimidating and telling kids to be quiet and go away.
V. My normal routine is = wake up, coffee, school, exercise, eat, sit by the road and talk to people, read, sleep
VI. PALM WINE SEASON IS HERE! So a special friend is bringing me sweet delicious delectable palm wine nearly everyday.
VII. Speaking of adventures, I've been going with my rasta-friend out to people farm's to eat and drink some fresh palmie (palm wine).
VIII. Days in Africa = 554
IX. Days left in Ghana = 241
X. Average number of bananas eaten in a given day: ~6
XI. Number of days each week I eat bananas with beans, red oil, and peppers (aka redred): 5
XII. Number of days I wish I was eating something besides redred since I've been in Ghana: 0
XIII. Amount of weight my friend claims to have gained from being in the US for 2 weeks: 25 pounds
XIV. Books read to date: 100
XV. Approximate number of free akpoteshie shots offered to me on a given day: 2
XVI. Days since last malaria attack: 331
Harmattan has started, so nights are cool (maybe lows around 65) and daytime highs approaching 80, though the air is super-dry. The sun sometimes is visible not as a bright blob in the sky, but as generally bright section of the sky - sometimes its impossible to even tell where the sun is. Why? Because trade winds blow dust from a part of the Sahara desert over West Africa, instead of the normal monsoon-esque route from the ocean. A soon-to-not-be-so-thin layer of dust has covered all unprotected things, so I've had a student come to clean my house a few times (not as slave labor - I'm helping him pay some school fees). I went to the north (Tamale) for Thanksgiving, which 1) is far 2) is costly and 3) I had a good time.
Let's see what other random updates are happening:
I. I just found out there is a gym complete with concrete weights not even thirty feet from my bedroom - I just never thought to go to said secret area.
II. Exams have started for school, so I'm busy catching students cheating on tests (seizure count = 3). I make them come and do work for me at the house too.
III. Been trying to get some exercise, at least an hour a day... knowing that a gym is available to use (though it only has 3 weights) may help.
IV. I went to Kpando to help a friend out with a football tournament to educate people about HIV/AIDS - it was a great success! Though my part was small, and I mostly stood around looking intimidating and telling kids to be quiet and go away.
V. My normal routine is = wake up, coffee, school, exercise, eat, sit by the road and talk to people, read, sleep
VI. PALM WINE SEASON IS HERE! So a special friend is bringing me sweet delicious delectable palm wine nearly everyday.
VII. Speaking of adventures, I've been going with my rasta-friend out to people farm's to eat and drink some fresh palmie (palm wine).
VIII. Days in Africa = 554
IX. Days left in Ghana = 241
X. Average number of bananas eaten in a given day: ~6
XI. Number of days each week I eat bananas with beans, red oil, and peppers (aka redred): 5
XII. Number of days I wish I was eating something besides redred since I've been in Ghana: 0
XIII. Amount of weight my friend claims to have gained from being in the US for 2 weeks: 25 pounds
XIV. Books read to date: 100
XV. Approximate number of free akpoteshie shots offered to me on a given day: 2
XVI. Days since last malaria attack: 331
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