February 8, 2010
I set my alarm clock for 4 o’clock this morning to wake up Bertha so she could wake up and get her chores done early enough to go to school, but I slept through the alarm and only woke up at 5:30. I felt so bad. Because now she wasn’t able to go to school today. So I talked with her and told that I keep sleeping through my alarm so I am going to let her have my phone on school night when I go to bed, and then she can wake up and then give me the phone in the morning. Her going to school is just so important. I then went over to get the girls at 5:50 but they were thinking of having me come over at 6:00 when I thought they meant they wanted to be at the House by 6, so we chilled like for another 20 or so minutes. It was very early since I stayed up talking for a little bit and then pastor wanted to talk to me about something I can’t remember at this moment.
After that, I came home and Mrs. Incoom told me that Mom had written her back on Facebook and that she wanted to teach me to cook more. So she took me to the kitchen and made me do everything. If was so awesome!!! Thanks mom!! I told her that I would love to cook for myself most of the time and learn, but it just hadn’t happened yet. So thanks for giving that boost. I lit their propane or whatever stove it is by match, put the palm oil in the pan, heated up the pain. Before that, I cut up two plantains and put them in water with a little salt. You add the plantain once the oil is hot so that the plantain doesn’t soak it up. You wait until one side is brown and then once it looks good you take it out. And then wait for the oil to cool and reuse it. I did a good job cooking, and Mrs. Incoom is such a good teacher and good person. I got so lucky with my host family. Pastor is wonderful, and Bertha is such a sweetheart. I now have two moms away from home-- Sister Saunders and Mrs. Incoom.
After that, I washed my clothes after washing the kids’ clothes that morning from 7-9. My hands are better because the House runs out of the washing powder called omo and that is what beats up my hands. They just wash with soap called KEY SOAP.
After that, I took a tro-tro to Cape. I was on a mission to get American food. So I met my friend, Paul, who helped me before find things around town. I told him I wanted peanut butter. There he took me to a side store. I bought orange juice, ketchup for fries later, peanut butter, raspberry jam, corn flakes, and spread cheese. I was so happy. It turned to cost 23 cedi and 30 pesewas. So it was kind of expensive, but for a one time thing it is worth it. I will probably only get the cheese and peanut butter and jelly again. The corn flakes are way too expensive-- 6 cedi for one bigger bag. But I also went to the Cape Coast Post Office. There, the two men, who were really funny and informative, asked if they could be my Ghana boyfriend. Your package wasn’t here yet but I sent out a few letters. So they will call when it gets here, if it ever does that is!!! Haha…. Oh Ghana.
Also, on the tro-tro to ape Coast a dumby was giving me a hard time. He did the whole “hello” and wave and then pinched his lips making the kissing noise. This noise is meant like hissing to come or pay attention to me. He then signaled with his hands that I should come back to him after I go to town so that we could… um… party. I guess that is how I could say his suggestive gestures. I gave him a really dirty look and looked away, waiting for the tro-tro to leave. He then continued to joke with one of the passengers about the Obroni and how he was playing with me. Then when I got in the tro-tro to head home, there were two men selling FanMilk. I said “No, I’m fine” and ignored them as you do when you don’t want to buy. Well he insisted and I said “no thanks,” and then he was still there so I looked at him and then he brushed his finger under my chin and said something in fante. I slapped as much hand as I could get and said “no” and gave him a dirty look again and gave one to the other boy that was selling, trying to tell him that you don’t allow this to happen again! So that was a load of crap, but those are the few bad nuts. Most people are so helpful. Like Paul, who will just walk around town trying to find what I am shopping for and then walk me to the tro-tro and make sure the driver knows to take care of me and makes sure I get to the right place.
Once at home, at the Asebu Station, there is an old man that works there and collects the fair from the taxis and tro-tros when they use the station. He has helped me a lot by finding the right ride. So this time he said “Welcome back, wife. You are my wife now.” Of course he is just really sweet and knows he is joking. But it just makes me laugh. I think people use wife to me, this person is special to me in someway. Like at church, one of the guys around 23 introduced me to a young woman about age 10 and said “This is my wife. Isn’t she beautiful?” Then he hugged her as an older brother would. So it means different things to different people. But every knows it is joking.
So then I got home and made Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches. Mrs. Incoom tried a half sandwich, and Bertha tried a whole they liked it enough. I had two and a half with banana on it. OH!!! It was so good!! Since the bread is amazing here, it tastes better. They have sugar bread and tea bread. Tea is cheaper, so that is what they bought this time. And just then when I was writing Bertha knocked on the door, around 2 pm, and said the rain is coming and that I should grab my clothes. Not a second after I had grabbed them and ran inside, it just poured so few seconds and then stopped and now it drizzles randomly. Oh Ghana!!! And then the winds came. The wind blusters like a hurricane for a moment and then stops and starts again. It is so strong that all of the doors in the house swing open from the wind blowing through the window. IT IS SO COOL!!! I got a quick video of it. You can even hear the rain and hear the wind a little little. But it is still going!!! WOW!!!!!
For the rest of the day, I took a quick nap and woke up around 3:30 and walked up to the house. There, I helped wash more clothes and helped with homework and played with the kids. I left about 15 minutes early because I had a slight headache but I was just so tired also. And since I am sleeping there tonight with Theresea, I wanted some extra sleep. I bought a Fanta to give me some extra energy and drank water when I got back home. I then took a shower, and I am waiting to eat dinner. I will then head up to the house. Hopefully it will be a restful night for everyone and not like last time. Although this time, if I ever see a beating I think I know how to handle it, and I will handle it much different from last time. I won’t just sit there like a previous suggestion was. Even though it is cultural and I will try and respect the culture, I agree that I just can’t respect beating a child, especially at home.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Feb 7th--Playing Piano in Church & Still Hungry!
February 7, 2010
Church was pretty good. I told Bertha last night that I was going to leave around 8:20 or 8:30 so I could get to church and play piano on time for 9 o’clock. I got up and was writing the email and stuff and was waiting at the table like a usually do when I am ready to eat. We are still working out the kinks on how I eat, which is why I am always hungry. But I ate at 8:45 and grabbed some of breakfast out the door to catch a taxi. Again, no one is really working on Sundays so I waited another ten mintues to fill up the taxi to Abakrampa, or known as ABK. I was 5 minutes late and they were already singing the opening hymn. I felt bad about being late, but I knew it wasn’t that big of a deal to anyone but me.
I sat at the piano and played the sacrament hymn. It was Fast and Testimony Meeting. Brother Imbrah, first councilor started with English bearing his testimony, but I think he couldn’t find a lot of the words so he switched to Fante. He was telling a story about how he was healed form his sickness he was having a few weeks ago. I felt the spirit warming up my heart. I then listened to the children as they say “good morning lkdsfskfj (something in Fante)” and the congreation relies “good morning” or they say the equivalent of good morning in Fante, and they reply in fante. The kids memorize scriptures and say “my testimony is John 1 :5 for example or something like that and they quote it and say In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. A lot of kids did that. Then a few adults got up. Then there was a pause, and I was just spacing off until Brother Imbrah caught my vision. He was signaling for me to go. I pointed to myself like “Me? Me?!?” He nodded yes. So I asked again knowing the answer but hoping for something different “ME!!!!” and he said yes to come up. I was planning on learning a little more fante before I bore my testimony but the whole congregation had in their mind that I was going to bear my testimony even if I wasn’t ready. Well, it seems once again, the Lord knows best. Brother Imbrah translated after every sentence that I spoke. And I got teary-eyed a few sentences in. I started to cry a little and we continued. It was just amazing, the gift on tongues. The gospel. The spirit. God’s children able to praise our Heavenly Father through all of our differences and similarities.
After that, I played a little as the congregation ended and was moving to Sunday school. I went through Sunday school reading the lesson and reading scriptures. I did the same with Relief Society. Even though everyone is so excited for me to be there and so welcoming, I just feel over welcomed sometimes. Like, I know I am white and I don’t speak the language and that gives enough reason to be a purple cow for everyone to look at, but I just don’t like the attention I receive in front of huge groups. I just get all nervous and I feel unsettled. I hope I don’t come off as rude, but I really just want to sit there and read my scriptures unless something is in English. But it is just hard when they ask me to put in my input when I have no idea what the conversation was about or what everyone has already said.
After church, we got a taxi and the Sister paid for me. It was so kind of her. I then went home but the door was locked so I chilled with Annika and Theresea. I checked a few times to see if they had come back because I was hungry and wanted to change and grab the stickers for the kids. But they didn’t come home until I had already eaten at Elvis’s house and we were leaving. Elvis has been gone a few days now and none of us are sure where he really is. That’s Elvis for you though. He is a very busy guy with lots to do. At the house, I sewed Christy’s dress and fix Clements bed using a rock as a hammer and borrowing nails that the Incooms lent us so graciously. We hammered in the nails and now the kids can sleep on his thin mattress completely instead of the half bed he had been sleeping in. Annika left early because she was so tired. Theresa is very tired so and I am okay tired. I am just more hungry.
For the rest of night I will type and eat, hopefully a lot and then sleep. I will wake up at 4 to wake up Bertha to start her chores so she can go to school and then at 5:45 so we can walk up to the house early to help the kids get ready. Theresa and I will sleep at the house tomorrow night. Annika and I have started planning our trip for this weeknd to Volta Lake. I am excited. It should be really fun.
Church was pretty good. I told Bertha last night that I was going to leave around 8:20 or 8:30 so I could get to church and play piano on time for 9 o’clock. I got up and was writing the email and stuff and was waiting at the table like a usually do when I am ready to eat. We are still working out the kinks on how I eat, which is why I am always hungry. But I ate at 8:45 and grabbed some of breakfast out the door to catch a taxi. Again, no one is really working on Sundays so I waited another ten mintues to fill up the taxi to Abakrampa, or known as ABK. I was 5 minutes late and they were already singing the opening hymn. I felt bad about being late, but I knew it wasn’t that big of a deal to anyone but me.
I sat at the piano and played the sacrament hymn. It was Fast and Testimony Meeting. Brother Imbrah, first councilor started with English bearing his testimony, but I think he couldn’t find a lot of the words so he switched to Fante. He was telling a story about how he was healed form his sickness he was having a few weeks ago. I felt the spirit warming up my heart. I then listened to the children as they say “good morning lkdsfskfj (something in Fante)” and the congreation relies “good morning” or they say the equivalent of good morning in Fante, and they reply in fante. The kids memorize scriptures and say “my testimony is John 1 :5 for example or something like that and they quote it and say In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. A lot of kids did that. Then a few adults got up. Then there was a pause, and I was just spacing off until Brother Imbrah caught my vision. He was signaling for me to go. I pointed to myself like “Me? Me?!?” He nodded yes. So I asked again knowing the answer but hoping for something different “ME!!!!” and he said yes to come up. I was planning on learning a little more fante before I bore my testimony but the whole congregation had in their mind that I was going to bear my testimony even if I wasn’t ready. Well, it seems once again, the Lord knows best. Brother Imbrah translated after every sentence that I spoke. And I got teary-eyed a few sentences in. I started to cry a little and we continued. It was just amazing, the gift on tongues. The gospel. The spirit. God’s children able to praise our Heavenly Father through all of our differences and similarities.
After that, I played a little as the congregation ended and was moving to Sunday school. I went through Sunday school reading the lesson and reading scriptures. I did the same with Relief Society. Even though everyone is so excited for me to be there and so welcoming, I just feel over welcomed sometimes. Like, I know I am white and I don’t speak the language and that gives enough reason to be a purple cow for everyone to look at, but I just don’t like the attention I receive in front of huge groups. I just get all nervous and I feel unsettled. I hope I don’t come off as rude, but I really just want to sit there and read my scriptures unless something is in English. But it is just hard when they ask me to put in my input when I have no idea what the conversation was about or what everyone has already said.
After church, we got a taxi and the Sister paid for me. It was so kind of her. I then went home but the door was locked so I chilled with Annika and Theresea. I checked a few times to see if they had come back because I was hungry and wanted to change and grab the stickers for the kids. But they didn’t come home until I had already eaten at Elvis’s house and we were leaving. Elvis has been gone a few days now and none of us are sure where he really is. That’s Elvis for you though. He is a very busy guy with lots to do. At the house, I sewed Christy’s dress and fix Clements bed using a rock as a hammer and borrowing nails that the Incooms lent us so graciously. We hammered in the nails and now the kids can sleep on his thin mattress completely instead of the half bed he had been sleeping in. Annika left early because she was so tired. Theresa is very tired so and I am okay tired. I am just more hungry.
For the rest of night I will type and eat, hopefully a lot and then sleep. I will wake up at 4 to wake up Bertha to start her chores so she can go to school and then at 5:45 so we can walk up to the house early to help the kids get ready. Theresa and I will sleep at the house tomorrow night. Annika and I have started planning our trip for this weeknd to Volta Lake. I am excited. It should be really fun.
Feb. 5th-- Fatigue, Children's Names and A Bird
February 5, 2010
I am so stinkin’ tired! But I guess that is why I am here. To give of my time and energy and love. It was a successful day. I work up only a few times last night and then a few minutes to my alarm I woke up and laid in bed until 6:20 and left at 6:30. I waited for Annika to walk up to the House about 20 minutes and then guessed she had already left. Theresa and Austin stayed at the House last night. Now, I don’t know how the sleeping arangements turned out, but I think it worked out fine. Austin said it was an okay night and Theresea didn’t really sleep. Austin said it helped him realize all that we do. He said he brought out his belt last night with no intent to use but only to show it. He said the kids only resound to actions and threats like that. I was a little sad by that. But he is a very good guy doing a lot of good here.
They then left early, like 7 a.m., and Annika and I stayed a little after 8 waiting for Ester to come back after randomly leaving. So we stayed and cleaned and watched after Cho-joe because of course he couldn’t be left alone. We then came home, and I did laundry, had some powdered milk and warmed up leftovers and had something else for breakfast that I forgot about.
I then took a shared taxi to Abacrampa and a tro-tro to a town near Asaunsi, where the school is. Since the tro-tro didn’t want to drop me off at the, school I decided to just head down the road and join the next taxi or tro-tro that passed by instead of walking the whole mile distance. So a nice tro-tro- slash bus pulled over, and he offered a ride for free. He was very nice. I then arrived at the school and met Fred. I then went to the older kids, and we reviewed the songs we last learned. London Bridge, Twinkle Twinkle, Ring around the Rosie, and Hokie Pokie. They also taught me some of their songs. I then did a little music lesson teaching them doe-ray-me-fa-so-la-tea-doe. And after that, the beginning of Amazing Grace. Again, if you could send me children song lyrics that would be great because I am running out of ideas. I also taught them Mary Had a Little Lamb first verse and the Hand Slap game called “down by the banks of the hankie pankie” They liked it but I am running out of ideas, and they learn quick!! So help!! Any suggestions of lyrics would be great!!! After that, I was so tired!!! Fred recorded almost the whole thing too so I will be excited to show you videos!! I then went to the little kids and reviewed the same songs and taught them Mary Had a Little Lamb and also Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.
By then, I was just so out of energy but thankfully, around 12:30 school gets out. So we got a tro-tro, Fred, teacher, and about 5 other kids to head to Abacrampa and then Asebu. Fred bought my bananas and also paid for the trip. It was really nice of him to do that. Once home, I ate toasted bread and egg. And picked up my dress and skirt. They look pretty good. Sicilla did a great job, but I think I could have picked better fabric to fit the design. I think I will get to see fabric better and chose it better. But I really think that once you see it, you might want one too. Because they are so beautiful and depending on the fabric, you can chose something not too crazy and very nice.
After that I rested for about an hour and headed up to the house. The kids welcomed me, and I tried to hug everyone I could and then help them clean and wash. I helped Christy with homework. I felt good knowing that I had made such a good connection with Christy. I think she has come to know me as a loyal friend. Even though I want to be a friend with the kids, I also don’t want to at the same time. Because once you have a friendship I would have to leave and not see them for the rest of their young childhood or longer, that is just too much pain for a little child. So I will have a lot to think about. I then helped peel the oranges. The oranges here are green. But they still taste orange!! Anything orange is good with me!!!!! ^_^ Then fetched water and headed home around 5:30. I washed off all the sweat from the day and eat dinner.
Dinner was boiled plantain and red beans with powdered milk. Two minutes into the meal, I went and threw up so I think maybe my stomach just didn’t like the combo. But I will continue to be wise about what I eat. After dinner, we sat down, we as in Mrs. Incoom and Fred and I, to watch the videos that were taken at the school. I had interviewed Fred, who is a teacher/ principle at the school. We watched that and I am getting so excited to start this new video project. I will interview Mrs. Incoom and Pastor next week or so then I will get a rough draft to show everyone before I leave.
Other random things I forgot to write about is yesterday, John found a bird that had it’s wing broken and of course as kids do, pick it up and play/torment it. I just wanted the bird out of its misery. So we were chillin’ outside when a falcon came down in front of us, like 6 feet away, and grabbed that beautiful green bird with the broken and flew off with it. All the kids were like “WHOA!!!!” It took awhile to register what happened, and then we started to marvel and laugh at the same time. I was just glad that maybe the bird could be taken out of it’s misery sooner than later… or at least I hope. And then as for all of the kid’s names, you have Elvis Junior (Junior), Emanuel who is new and knows very little English, Pricilla, Samuel, Joshua, Joseph, Clement, Christy, Paul, Ruth, Margret, Grace, Angelina, and Cho-joe. I will write later to tell you more about them specifically. I love them so much and thank you for keeping everything in order over there for me.
So now I will be instructing Fred and Mrs. Incoom on how Mac computers work and also Facebook. So even though I am very tired and tomorrow I will be playing piano at the funeral from 8-4, at least tomorrow is Saturday and I can rest. Oh and the pastor and Fred are so so so appreciative of everything I am doing. Like they are so wonderful it almost makes me blush. Pastor said some parents called him after school to say how wonderful it was that I was there. So I feel so welcomed and blown away by how amazing the people are. And I actually haven’t received any email on Facebook from you. So I don’t know when you sent it, but I haven’t gotten any since your last one with Ghana Volunteers email. Thanks love you!!!
I am so stinkin’ tired! But I guess that is why I am here. To give of my time and energy and love. It was a successful day. I work up only a few times last night and then a few minutes to my alarm I woke up and laid in bed until 6:20 and left at 6:30. I waited for Annika to walk up to the House about 20 minutes and then guessed she had already left. Theresa and Austin stayed at the House last night. Now, I don’t know how the sleeping arangements turned out, but I think it worked out fine. Austin said it was an okay night and Theresea didn’t really sleep. Austin said it helped him realize all that we do. He said he brought out his belt last night with no intent to use but only to show it. He said the kids only resound to actions and threats like that. I was a little sad by that. But he is a very good guy doing a lot of good here.
They then left early, like 7 a.m., and Annika and I stayed a little after 8 waiting for Ester to come back after randomly leaving. So we stayed and cleaned and watched after Cho-joe because of course he couldn’t be left alone. We then came home, and I did laundry, had some powdered milk and warmed up leftovers and had something else for breakfast that I forgot about.
I then took a shared taxi to Abacrampa and a tro-tro to a town near Asaunsi, where the school is. Since the tro-tro didn’t want to drop me off at the, school I decided to just head down the road and join the next taxi or tro-tro that passed by instead of walking the whole mile distance. So a nice tro-tro- slash bus pulled over, and he offered a ride for free. He was very nice. I then arrived at the school and met Fred. I then went to the older kids, and we reviewed the songs we last learned. London Bridge, Twinkle Twinkle, Ring around the Rosie, and Hokie Pokie. They also taught me some of their songs. I then did a little music lesson teaching them doe-ray-me-fa-so-la-tea-doe. And after that, the beginning of Amazing Grace. Again, if you could send me children song lyrics that would be great because I am running out of ideas. I also taught them Mary Had a Little Lamb first verse and the Hand Slap game called “down by the banks of the hankie pankie” They liked it but I am running out of ideas, and they learn quick!! So help!! Any suggestions of lyrics would be great!!! After that, I was so tired!!! Fred recorded almost the whole thing too so I will be excited to show you videos!! I then went to the little kids and reviewed the same songs and taught them Mary Had a Little Lamb and also Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.
By then, I was just so out of energy but thankfully, around 12:30 school gets out. So we got a tro-tro, Fred, teacher, and about 5 other kids to head to Abacrampa and then Asebu. Fred bought my bananas and also paid for the trip. It was really nice of him to do that. Once home, I ate toasted bread and egg. And picked up my dress and skirt. They look pretty good. Sicilla did a great job, but I think I could have picked better fabric to fit the design. I think I will get to see fabric better and chose it better. But I really think that once you see it, you might want one too. Because they are so beautiful and depending on the fabric, you can chose something not too crazy and very nice.
After that I rested for about an hour and headed up to the house. The kids welcomed me, and I tried to hug everyone I could and then help them clean and wash. I helped Christy with homework. I felt good knowing that I had made such a good connection with Christy. I think she has come to know me as a loyal friend. Even though I want to be a friend with the kids, I also don’t want to at the same time. Because once you have a friendship I would have to leave and not see them for the rest of their young childhood or longer, that is just too much pain for a little child. So I will have a lot to think about. I then helped peel the oranges. The oranges here are green. But they still taste orange!! Anything orange is good with me!!!!! ^_^ Then fetched water and headed home around 5:30. I washed off all the sweat from the day and eat dinner.
Dinner was boiled plantain and red beans with powdered milk. Two minutes into the meal, I went and threw up so I think maybe my stomach just didn’t like the combo. But I will continue to be wise about what I eat. After dinner, we sat down, we as in Mrs. Incoom and Fred and I, to watch the videos that were taken at the school. I had interviewed Fred, who is a teacher/ principle at the school. We watched that and I am getting so excited to start this new video project. I will interview Mrs. Incoom and Pastor next week or so then I will get a rough draft to show everyone before I leave.
Other random things I forgot to write about is yesterday, John found a bird that had it’s wing broken and of course as kids do, pick it up and play/torment it. I just wanted the bird out of its misery. So we were chillin’ outside when a falcon came down in front of us, like 6 feet away, and grabbed that beautiful green bird with the broken and flew off with it. All the kids were like “WHOA!!!!” It took awhile to register what happened, and then we started to marvel and laugh at the same time. I was just glad that maybe the bird could be taken out of it’s misery sooner than later… or at least I hope. And then as for all of the kid’s names, you have Elvis Junior (Junior), Emanuel who is new and knows very little English, Pricilla, Samuel, Joshua, Joseph, Clement, Christy, Paul, Ruth, Margret, Grace, Angelina, and Cho-joe. I will write later to tell you more about them specifically. I love them so much and thank you for keeping everything in order over there for me.
So now I will be instructing Fred and Mrs. Incoom on how Mac computers work and also Facebook. So even though I am very tired and tomorrow I will be playing piano at the funeral from 8-4, at least tomorrow is Saturday and I can rest. Oh and the pastor and Fred are so so so appreciative of everything I am doing. Like they are so wonderful it almost makes me blush. Pastor said some parents called him after school to say how wonderful it was that I was there. So I feel so welcomed and blown away by how amazing the people are. And I actually haven’t received any email on Facebook from you. So I don’t know when you sent it, but I haven’t gotten any since your last one with Ghana Volunteers email. Thanks love you!!!
Feb 4th-- Huge Spiders & More Beatings
February 4, 2010
So many things happened today. Some good, some bad. But most importantly, at the end of the day, I am pretty happy and I feel at home. The kids have replaced my homesickness with love. I love them so much!!!
I slept alone last night at the House. Annika walked me up there to help put the kids to bed. Ester was not there, which surprised me. What if we didn’t come? The kids would have been left alone! So we got them ready, read them a story to candlelight all huddled together like a family. I then had Fi-Fi (who is a local boy around 21 or so. He used to live at the House, and we think he is a little mentally slow but he is seriously the coolest kid. He comes up to help and lay with the kids all the time) walk Annika home. So Cho-joe (which means Monday in Fante) was crying so much for Ruth, and I waited for him to calm down and then set him in bed. I locked the door by placing the bend nail over the door and waited for Ester. I was so tired from the day that I was about to pass out waiting for her until I saw two huge spiders on the wall. Well she eventually showed up in time for me to get some sleep. Well, I woke up every half hour worried and nervous. I don’t know about what, but I always had to check on the kids. Cho-joe peed his pants, as usual!!! Haha… he is so funny!!!
Then around 4:30 Esther started cooking breakfast and then around 5 in the morning she came in with a stick in her hand, walked past me, and started to beat John. The poor kid was sleeping and had to wake up being hit. The light switched on. He must have gotten beaten about 15 or 20 times he was able to get out of bed to head to the front where Esther wanted him to go. All along the way, she was still beating him. Once in the wash area, you could hear the slapping of skin on wood. I didn’t know what to do. I was told that we could not interfere. I just held the kids that were scared and waited. Around 5:30, I told the kids to get ready for the day. I tried to bathe Cho-joe, but he didn’t want to yet even though he smelled like pee.
Then I heard the stick against skin again. This time it was Christy pinned up against a wall with Esther hitting her. She is just 5 and the sweetest girl ever. She was saying “Ester blah blah blah” with something in Fante. Like a pleading to stop. I felt so bad. 30 seconds later, I just needed to do something so I wouldn’t cry and yell or run or do something. I started to wash dishes. Not a few minutes later, Esther was on Christy again in front of the kids. She beat her a little and then asked her to hold out her hand. There, she had to receive 8 hard slaps. She would flinch, and Ester would get anger, making the slaps harder. I wanted to jump in front and stop, but I was told not to. So after the 8 swipes, Ester sat down and started washing.
Then Elvis got into my pepper spray and sprayed it twice in the girls room. Everyone started coughing and sneezing. Once I found out, I pulled Elvis and explained would it was and that you can’t go and get into people’s things. But in a few minutes, we just started laughing. Then after that quick pause, I grabbed Christy outside so that she could cry. I imagine she was afraid to cry because she might get beaten for it. I pulled her outside and held her in my lap as she cried. It broke my heart as I wiped her tears. She then needed to wash and get ready for school so I asked her if she was ready. She almost was. We waited a little longer. In a minute, we stood up and then she stopped and started crying again. I knelt down and held her shoulders. She explained that Ester does that all the time and some other things I couldn’t really understand. I again wiped her tears and said I love her and that was a strong, beautiful girl. She was brave, and we went inside after I grabbed Cho-joe who had run outside. I didn’t know whether to be angry at Esther or myself, but I asked Annika and Theresa to come early in case I need to leave. They came around 6:30. So we did the usual. Get the kids to bathe, brush teeth, help them dress and shine their shoes, straighten their uniforms, get the food served. Christy lost her socks, and then we found them but they were wet. I was thinking about just making her put on the wet ones but I decided for today she had enough, and I let her get new ones for today. After they left, we had to wash all the bed sheets that were near the pepper spray and other cloths.
I then headed home and decided to go to the regional hospital because I had been feeling bad. The hospital was crazy. I waited for half an hour to get my folder, half and hour to be called the first time to move to the next room. Half hour to be called to get my vital signs, half hour to wait to see a nurse and then waited 30 minutes to see the doctor. There he sent me to the lab where I waited 30 half hour to give them a urine sample and pay. There, I saw a woman I thought was already dead. Her body was so thin she could stand or what seemed to breathe on her own. It crushed me. The whole experience was just so eye-opening. I want to help. They are people just like at home. They have problems and needs, just not the resources. Maybe I need to think more about going into the medical field.
I then took a shared taxi back to Cape Coast for 50 pesewas, bought some candy and tro-tro to Asebu. I meet a lot of very friendly people along the way too. It is so funny, but when you mert the men, they always say “When can I meet you again” or “Come see me again”. They are not so serious more over just a thing to say and if it happens to work out, then great. Once there, I hadn’t done laundry or gone to the clinic and I needed to. So I ate real quickly and headed to the clinic.
After that, I talked with Mrs. Incoom about the beating. She is just as opposed to beating as me. She teaches ICT (computer class), and she is the only teacher to not beat the kids and she has the only class the kids are good at and want to go to. Imagine that!!! She gave me some insight about how to address the problem at the House and how to talk to Elvis and Esther. I just think that if you have to use fear to gain power over someone, then you have no real power. And beating isn’t discipline, it is abuse. And when does the cycle end? It almost never does. I understand it is cultural and in All of Africa so I have to find a balance of keeping my beliefs but also being silent sometimes. I hope though that at least at the House, the beatings can stop. That is their home. A place of refuge. NO child should have to live where they worry about waking up to being beaten, or while eating or playing. It is unhealthy. After that, I went up to the house and played with the kids. Christy didn’t want to do her homework so I went back with her and told her if she did her homework, for only this time, she could have a piece of toffee (candy is called toffee here). So she did it. Beating just doesn’t do it. You can punish other ways, but rewarding a child is one good technique.
We then fetched water (we always carry it on our heads. It really is easier that way) and then we left around 6. So I came home and showered and now I am writing. Since I haven’t really slept at all, I am tired. But not like I could just fall asleep, rather just needing a break. So I will eat dinner and think about today. There are so many things I am learning and need to continually learn. But I can definitely say I want to come back. This is like a second home. I love it. While the food and life style are different, I feel at home still.
And as for next weekend, we are for sure going to Volta Lake to take the water tour. I will go with Annika and her friend. We will leave Friday morning and get to our hotel in a town starting with “A” by dark. On Saturday, we will tour the lake. Since we don’t want to travel at night, we will spend another night at the guest house hotel and travel back Sunday. It will be fun!!!
So many things happened today. Some good, some bad. But most importantly, at the end of the day, I am pretty happy and I feel at home. The kids have replaced my homesickness with love. I love them so much!!!
I slept alone last night at the House. Annika walked me up there to help put the kids to bed. Ester was not there, which surprised me. What if we didn’t come? The kids would have been left alone! So we got them ready, read them a story to candlelight all huddled together like a family. I then had Fi-Fi (who is a local boy around 21 or so. He used to live at the House, and we think he is a little mentally slow but he is seriously the coolest kid. He comes up to help and lay with the kids all the time) walk Annika home. So Cho-joe (which means Monday in Fante) was crying so much for Ruth, and I waited for him to calm down and then set him in bed. I locked the door by placing the bend nail over the door and waited for Ester. I was so tired from the day that I was about to pass out waiting for her until I saw two huge spiders on the wall. Well she eventually showed up in time for me to get some sleep. Well, I woke up every half hour worried and nervous. I don’t know about what, but I always had to check on the kids. Cho-joe peed his pants, as usual!!! Haha… he is so funny!!!
Then around 4:30 Esther started cooking breakfast and then around 5 in the morning she came in with a stick in her hand, walked past me, and started to beat John. The poor kid was sleeping and had to wake up being hit. The light switched on. He must have gotten beaten about 15 or 20 times he was able to get out of bed to head to the front where Esther wanted him to go. All along the way, she was still beating him. Once in the wash area, you could hear the slapping of skin on wood. I didn’t know what to do. I was told that we could not interfere. I just held the kids that were scared and waited. Around 5:30, I told the kids to get ready for the day. I tried to bathe Cho-joe, but he didn’t want to yet even though he smelled like pee.
Then I heard the stick against skin again. This time it was Christy pinned up against a wall with Esther hitting her. She is just 5 and the sweetest girl ever. She was saying “Ester blah blah blah” with something in Fante. Like a pleading to stop. I felt so bad. 30 seconds later, I just needed to do something so I wouldn’t cry and yell or run or do something. I started to wash dishes. Not a few minutes later, Esther was on Christy again in front of the kids. She beat her a little and then asked her to hold out her hand. There, she had to receive 8 hard slaps. She would flinch, and Ester would get anger, making the slaps harder. I wanted to jump in front and stop, but I was told not to. So after the 8 swipes, Ester sat down and started washing.
Then Elvis got into my pepper spray and sprayed it twice in the girls room. Everyone started coughing and sneezing. Once I found out, I pulled Elvis and explained would it was and that you can’t go and get into people’s things. But in a few minutes, we just started laughing. Then after that quick pause, I grabbed Christy outside so that she could cry. I imagine she was afraid to cry because she might get beaten for it. I pulled her outside and held her in my lap as she cried. It broke my heart as I wiped her tears. She then needed to wash and get ready for school so I asked her if she was ready. She almost was. We waited a little longer. In a minute, we stood up and then she stopped and started crying again. I knelt down and held her shoulders. She explained that Ester does that all the time and some other things I couldn’t really understand. I again wiped her tears and said I love her and that was a strong, beautiful girl. She was brave, and we went inside after I grabbed Cho-joe who had run outside. I didn’t know whether to be angry at Esther or myself, but I asked Annika and Theresa to come early in case I need to leave. They came around 6:30. So we did the usual. Get the kids to bathe, brush teeth, help them dress and shine their shoes, straighten their uniforms, get the food served. Christy lost her socks, and then we found them but they were wet. I was thinking about just making her put on the wet ones but I decided for today she had enough, and I let her get new ones for today. After they left, we had to wash all the bed sheets that were near the pepper spray and other cloths.
I then headed home and decided to go to the regional hospital because I had been feeling bad. The hospital was crazy. I waited for half an hour to get my folder, half and hour to be called the first time to move to the next room. Half hour to be called to get my vital signs, half hour to wait to see a nurse and then waited 30 minutes to see the doctor. There he sent me to the lab where I waited 30 half hour to give them a urine sample and pay. There, I saw a woman I thought was already dead. Her body was so thin she could stand or what seemed to breathe on her own. It crushed me. The whole experience was just so eye-opening. I want to help. They are people just like at home. They have problems and needs, just not the resources. Maybe I need to think more about going into the medical field.
I then took a shared taxi back to Cape Coast for 50 pesewas, bought some candy and tro-tro to Asebu. I meet a lot of very friendly people along the way too. It is so funny, but when you mert the men, they always say “When can I meet you again” or “Come see me again”. They are not so serious more over just a thing to say and if it happens to work out, then great. Once there, I hadn’t done laundry or gone to the clinic and I needed to. So I ate real quickly and headed to the clinic.
After that, I talked with Mrs. Incoom about the beating. She is just as opposed to beating as me. She teaches ICT (computer class), and she is the only teacher to not beat the kids and she has the only class the kids are good at and want to go to. Imagine that!!! She gave me some insight about how to address the problem at the House and how to talk to Elvis and Esther. I just think that if you have to use fear to gain power over someone, then you have no real power. And beating isn’t discipline, it is abuse. And when does the cycle end? It almost never does. I understand it is cultural and in All of Africa so I have to find a balance of keeping my beliefs but also being silent sometimes. I hope though that at least at the House, the beatings can stop. That is their home. A place of refuge. NO child should have to live where they worry about waking up to being beaten, or while eating or playing. It is unhealthy. After that, I went up to the house and played with the kids. Christy didn’t want to do her homework so I went back with her and told her if she did her homework, for only this time, she could have a piece of toffee (candy is called toffee here). So she did it. Beating just doesn’t do it. You can punish other ways, but rewarding a child is one good technique.
We then fetched water (we always carry it on our heads. It really is easier that way) and then we left around 6. So I came home and showered and now I am writing. Since I haven’t really slept at all, I am tired. But not like I could just fall asleep, rather just needing a break. So I will eat dinner and think about today. There are so many things I am learning and need to continually learn. But I can definitely say I want to come back. This is like a second home. I love it. While the food and life style are different, I feel at home still.
And as for next weekend, we are for sure going to Volta Lake to take the water tour. I will go with Annika and her friend. We will leave Friday morning and get to our hotel in a town starting with “A” by dark. On Saturday, we will tour the lake. Since we don’t want to travel at night, we will spend another night at the guest house hotel and travel back Sunday. It will be fun!!!
February 2nd-- Lying, Malaria & Games
February 2, 2010
Yesterday at the House, the kids gave me some fresh papaya. It tastes pretty good and sweet. For today, I had another night where I woke up every hour. It was hot even with the fan, and I just couldn’t sleep. Although, last night the power was out for like 6 hours so I couldn’t get the interview done for AnnLouise that I am wanting. But I found out that she is actually leaving tomorrow. She just got her dates mixed up. So I will still be able to interview her.
So I walked over to meet the girls at Elvis’s house around 6:30 and headed out ten minutes later. Theresa came back last night safe and sound from her trip to Tamale. Once we got there, we got everyone ready for school, brushing teeth, bathing, eating, and getting dressed. Joseph has this problem with lying a lot though. He always says he brushes he teeth or that he already bathed or washed his cloths when he doesn’t. So we have to get on him, and he likes the attention. So we try and show in a loving way to get your butt in gear but not give him the attention he gets from complaining. Today, we told me that he lost a pair of socks when I gave some to him yesterday. So I asked him to show me and of course you could tell he was lying. Eventually, we got it out of him that he wanted new socks because he didn’t wash his yesterday. So we were like “Whatever” and just went on with the rest of the morning. He was mopey and wasn’t getting ready until the last minute. So, we feel bad that he might be cained at school but all we can do is do what we are doing. It is hard to always ask the children if they have done their chores or whatever, because they lie all the time, and I hate to check because I want them to know that I trust them and not have to treat them otherwise, but that is just what we have to do.
I then left for the clinic to go pick up the Anti-malaria pills because Christy started shivering and just feeling like crap. But I found out they didn’t have it. I was kind of mad about that. She said, “We have to call Auntie Mary to go buy some.” So, even though you test tons of people, you don’t have it, even though I came yesterday, and they are kids for goodness sake!!! Christy is getting worse. She won’t eat or drink a lot and sweats and has still have a fever. I just don’t want her to get to seriously ill. So I was just a little frustrated.
I then washed clothes and headed back up after grabbing a piece of bread with jam on it. There, I took vital signs again. They again wanted me to be able to just speak Fante, but I decided to try and joke with them to help them understand that how can I speak the language if I haven’t had either time or material to learn? But I might just have to deal with it. I found it interesting that I realized how much lying is excepted in areas in Ghana. Like at the Clinic, when you ask for medical history, like age, birth date, pregnancies or health insurance, they lie all the time. One example was a lady came up, 3 weeks pregnant with 5 other previous children. I asked her birth date she said “13”. I then had to have someone translate to her what I was really asking, and I found out she was trying to say she was 13, then she changed her saying so it was 14. But the whole time she had this joking atmosphere about her like she knew what she was doing but wasn’t going to give up information. So we just made up an age of 34 and made up some other history. There have been quite a few examples of that. That is something I really wish to change if I could. And with the insurance, people will bring insurance that isn’t their own. The only way we can tell is by checking the age. They have no I.D. so the one time I found out is wasn’t her insurance was when she was like 30 or 40 and the insurance was for someone under 15. It just blows my mind. Both that people lie and that medical history will just be made up. But what can I do? Any suggestions?!? ^_^
After that, I came home and did laundry and cleaned my room a little bit. I tried some dairy with sugar and Milo (milo is like chocolate powder to milk chocolate milk) but it still tastes very good, and Mrs. Incoom is gone so I don’t really know what to do about food. So I opened a can of tuna and ate that too. I also checked up on my shirt and dress that I am having Sicillia making. She will be done tomorrow she says. I hope they fit. AnnLouise had a problem with hers earlier. But I will take pictures and see if anyone is interested in something like that. The skirts and dresses are super cute here for pretty cheap. I will also take pictures of fabrics so the family can chose if they want something. I found this cute fabric at Sicillia’s that has pairs of three circles that are brown and blue with a crème background and dots around it. It would make a cute skirt.
For the second part of the day, it was just purely amazing. We went back up to the house and I learned four new games that the children play. I got a few of them on camera. One is like tic tac toe. You grab a rock and etch in the cement or ground this design
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Each person has three stones. You take turns moving your rocks around until you get three in a row placing the rocks in the corner points, including the center. I played with Clement and he was pretty good. 9 to 10 and I won this one. The other game is similar except you have 4 of those designs in one big square, each person has ten rocks and you play it like checkers. Another was colors, Change Your style and Be Like That, and Blink. With colors you have everyone line up in a line, one person tells everyone a color and the lead person in front of the line will yell a color. If she yells “green” and you were told your color is green, you have to run to the safe circle before you’re caught. Change Your style is you start with hand clapping and the leader will yell something like “Change your style and you start dancing and every time they say change your style, you have to change and freeze in place. When they say Be Like That, you don’t move. If you do move your out. And Blink, Annika and Thersea taught. You pair up with a person and get the group in a circle. One person is single and that is the leader. They will blink at someone and that person needs to run to the leader before their partner catches them. If their partner doesn’t catch them, they become the leader.
After the games, the kids were washing their clothes and then starting having a throw the bubbles at each other war. I then got my video camera out, and we just got a lot of shots. I even interviewed Elvis Jr., Charity, Angelina, and Clement. We then needed to leave. I then got the Malaria pills for Christy and Margaret. I called mom to tell them that since I got here, I was hoping and praying that I would have a least one day that I could say was a good day all around. That I was happy all day. Today was a good day. Even with its difficulties, I really loved it.
We then went back up to put the kids to bed. Everything was going great until Elvis Jr. said something short and mean to Clement, and Clement got angry. Clement is always picked on and he is getting really bad anger issues. This time, he picked up a big needle or some piece of metal that was at least 4 inches long and started to climb over to Elvis to stab him. AnneLouise and I grabbed him and put him outside for about a half an hour to cool him down. I talked with Elvis but not in anger. I said “I need to talk to you like an adult.” I think he responded better than the yelling that sometimes happens but we will see. So I talked with Elvis Jr. about him being mean but I am just going to have to watch out for them. So it was a late night, and it will again be an early morning.
And also, I want to make some American dish for my host family. Do you have any ideas? I am pretty sure I can find all the ingredients but there is no oven, just pots and no cheese and soy or powered or evaporated milk. If you have a suggestion, that would be great. Love you!!!!
Yesterday at the House, the kids gave me some fresh papaya. It tastes pretty good and sweet. For today, I had another night where I woke up every hour. It was hot even with the fan, and I just couldn’t sleep. Although, last night the power was out for like 6 hours so I couldn’t get the interview done for AnnLouise that I am wanting. But I found out that she is actually leaving tomorrow. She just got her dates mixed up. So I will still be able to interview her.
So I walked over to meet the girls at Elvis’s house around 6:30 and headed out ten minutes later. Theresa came back last night safe and sound from her trip to Tamale. Once we got there, we got everyone ready for school, brushing teeth, bathing, eating, and getting dressed. Joseph has this problem with lying a lot though. He always says he brushes he teeth or that he already bathed or washed his cloths when he doesn’t. So we have to get on him, and he likes the attention. So we try and show in a loving way to get your butt in gear but not give him the attention he gets from complaining. Today, we told me that he lost a pair of socks when I gave some to him yesterday. So I asked him to show me and of course you could tell he was lying. Eventually, we got it out of him that he wanted new socks because he didn’t wash his yesterday. So we were like “Whatever” and just went on with the rest of the morning. He was mopey and wasn’t getting ready until the last minute. So, we feel bad that he might be cained at school but all we can do is do what we are doing. It is hard to always ask the children if they have done their chores or whatever, because they lie all the time, and I hate to check because I want them to know that I trust them and not have to treat them otherwise, but that is just what we have to do.
I then left for the clinic to go pick up the Anti-malaria pills because Christy started shivering and just feeling like crap. But I found out they didn’t have it. I was kind of mad about that. She said, “We have to call Auntie Mary to go buy some.” So, even though you test tons of people, you don’t have it, even though I came yesterday, and they are kids for goodness sake!!! Christy is getting worse. She won’t eat or drink a lot and sweats and has still have a fever. I just don’t want her to get to seriously ill. So I was just a little frustrated.
I then washed clothes and headed back up after grabbing a piece of bread with jam on it. There, I took vital signs again. They again wanted me to be able to just speak Fante, but I decided to try and joke with them to help them understand that how can I speak the language if I haven’t had either time or material to learn? But I might just have to deal with it. I found it interesting that I realized how much lying is excepted in areas in Ghana. Like at the Clinic, when you ask for medical history, like age, birth date, pregnancies or health insurance, they lie all the time. One example was a lady came up, 3 weeks pregnant with 5 other previous children. I asked her birth date she said “13”. I then had to have someone translate to her what I was really asking, and I found out she was trying to say she was 13, then she changed her saying so it was 14. But the whole time she had this joking atmosphere about her like she knew what she was doing but wasn’t going to give up information. So we just made up an age of 34 and made up some other history. There have been quite a few examples of that. That is something I really wish to change if I could. And with the insurance, people will bring insurance that isn’t their own. The only way we can tell is by checking the age. They have no I.D. so the one time I found out is wasn’t her insurance was when she was like 30 or 40 and the insurance was for someone under 15. It just blows my mind. Both that people lie and that medical history will just be made up. But what can I do? Any suggestions?!? ^_^
After that, I came home and did laundry and cleaned my room a little bit. I tried some dairy with sugar and Milo (milo is like chocolate powder to milk chocolate milk) but it still tastes very good, and Mrs. Incoom is gone so I don’t really know what to do about food. So I opened a can of tuna and ate that too. I also checked up on my shirt and dress that I am having Sicillia making. She will be done tomorrow she says. I hope they fit. AnnLouise had a problem with hers earlier. But I will take pictures and see if anyone is interested in something like that. The skirts and dresses are super cute here for pretty cheap. I will also take pictures of fabrics so the family can chose if they want something. I found this cute fabric at Sicillia’s that has pairs of three circles that are brown and blue with a crème background and dots around it. It would make a cute skirt.
For the second part of the day, it was just purely amazing. We went back up to the house and I learned four new games that the children play. I got a few of them on camera. One is like tic tac toe. You grab a rock and etch in the cement or ground this design
------------
| \ | / |
| \ | / |
| \ | / |
| / | \ |
| / | \ |
| / | \ |
------------
Each person has three stones. You take turns moving your rocks around until you get three in a row placing the rocks in the corner points, including the center. I played with Clement and he was pretty good. 9 to 10 and I won this one. The other game is similar except you have 4 of those designs in one big square, each person has ten rocks and you play it like checkers. Another was colors, Change Your style and Be Like That, and Blink. With colors you have everyone line up in a line, one person tells everyone a color and the lead person in front of the line will yell a color. If she yells “green” and you were told your color is green, you have to run to the safe circle before you’re caught. Change Your style is you start with hand clapping and the leader will yell something like “Change your style and you start dancing and every time they say change your style, you have to change and freeze in place. When they say Be Like That, you don’t move. If you do move your out. And Blink, Annika and Thersea taught. You pair up with a person and get the group in a circle. One person is single and that is the leader. They will blink at someone and that person needs to run to the leader before their partner catches them. If their partner doesn’t catch them, they become the leader.
After the games, the kids were washing their clothes and then starting having a throw the bubbles at each other war. I then got my video camera out, and we just got a lot of shots. I even interviewed Elvis Jr., Charity, Angelina, and Clement. We then needed to leave. I then got the Malaria pills for Christy and Margaret. I called mom to tell them that since I got here, I was hoping and praying that I would have a least one day that I could say was a good day all around. That I was happy all day. Today was a good day. Even with its difficulties, I really loved it.
We then went back up to put the kids to bed. Everything was going great until Elvis Jr. said something short and mean to Clement, and Clement got angry. Clement is always picked on and he is getting really bad anger issues. This time, he picked up a big needle or some piece of metal that was at least 4 inches long and started to climb over to Elvis to stab him. AnneLouise and I grabbed him and put him outside for about a half an hour to cool him down. I talked with Elvis but not in anger. I said “I need to talk to you like an adult.” I think he responded better than the yelling that sometimes happens but we will see. So I talked with Elvis Jr. about him being mean but I am just going to have to watch out for them. So it was a late night, and it will again be an early morning.
And also, I want to make some American dish for my host family. Do you have any ideas? I am pretty sure I can find all the ingredients but there is no oven, just pots and no cheese and soy or powered or evaporated milk. If you have a suggestion, that would be great. Love you!!!!
February 3rd-- Children's Songs, Ants & Beatings
February 3, 2010
It was a very tiring day today. I woke up only a few times last night and got an okay sleep, but just not enough. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm at 5:55. I got up and headed over to pick up the girls. We walked up through the shortcut way (which by the way, a lady sells fan Milk if I haven’t already told you. That just makes Aseibu the best place ever!!) I helped make beds, get the kids washed, wash clothes and dishes. We headed out early around 8, but I was glad because I needed to go Pastor’s Assembly of God primary school to teach my music class. So I ate breakfast and went on my way not knowing what I was really going to be doing. So I “fake-e-o-so-ed” it. I toke a taxi for 60 pesewas when he asked for 2 cedi. So I am getting better at bargaining. Then I got a tro-tro to Asunansi when the school is. He drove me directly to the school for an extra 10 pesewas which was a good deal. Driving by, he yelled to a friend “Ah! This is my wife!”. And of course as you drive by, people always notice you, and the kids always call out obroni! Obroni! So I have just gotten used to waving now.
At the school, Fred welcomed and got me started with the older kids. I found out that they knew “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. The ages for the older group is around 5-8 maybe. So today, we sang Twinkle Twinkle, I taught them London Bridge, Ring around the Rosies, and the Hokie Pokie. They really loved the Hokie Pokie. And the great part is that in Cape Coast, the first bridge to ever be made in Ghana supposedly is called London Bridge, so they can relate to the song… kind of. Fred would translate and teach some of the times. But it was fun. Going to the little age group, 1 year to 4 or so was a lot more difficult. No one knows English, and they don’t really sing along. So you just teach them actions and sing really loud, and they join in on the easy parts. But they are so dang cute!!! O I love the kids. So I was hoping that maybe mom and dad, you could look up the lyrics to children’s song that I might know because I know I know a lot of songs, but I just can’t remember them all and all the correct lyrics. Thanks!!! Then I went back to the older age group since they were back from lunch and we reviewed the songs. They really like Hokie Pokie, did I tell you!! ^_^
So I then said good bye to go look for Fred as to what to do. There the kids are so cute saying “bye-Bye”. The baby of the group, maybe 1 or so, was crying following after me. When I picked him, he had the happiest grin on his face. They are so cute. In Ghana, all of the children are very disciplined. At schools, they are taught English in this manor “How are you? We are fine. Thank you. And You? I am fine also. Thank you.” So anytime you ask someone, middle aged or small, they always so “I’m fine” in a certain way that reminds me of how they say it at school. So it is fun to play along with it.
Fred then rode with me back to the tro-tro station where I got a tro-tro for 40 or 60 pesewas. It was crowed but the people were friendly. One my way over there, an older man mention that I should come back to see him. He said “Come back to see me. Come back to see me!” A lot of people say that to you. Especially the older men. At home, I was very tired. I read a book, ate an orange, ate some crackers and then opened my can of tuna with the knife, having to scrape off all the ants that crawl around everywhere. I have just come to live with ants. Eating, sleeping, washing.
Since Mrs. Incoom wasn’t home, I didn’t really know what to eat so I was just snacking. I then cut a slice of bread and put jam on it. I am going to try and find peanut butter soon so I can make a PB and J. We then said good bye to AnneLouise. I will be very sad to not have her around anymore. She was such a blessing in my life.
I then checked to see if my dresses were ready, but the power was out so they said they couldn’t finish, even though the sewing machines are cranked by hand, but that doesn’t matter. I am in no rush. Well, you really can’t be here. I then took an hour break, headed over to hang with the girls, chilled for a little bit, and we left, got a fan Yogo, Theresa is having Annika making another dress for her so we dropped off the cloth and went to the House. There we helped with homework, washed more clothes making sure their socks and uniforms were clean and played with more Playdough.
Elvis came by. He came up with a stick in his hand. He told us how Joshua was leaving his shoes outside and not taking care of them, and then he should beat him for it. And then he went off about a lot of different things --the whole time beating the table with the stick. Immediately, I just stopped respecting what he was saying at the moment because I will not respond to such disrespect for myself and my fellow volunteers and especially children from such violence. I am very displeased in Elvis for that, but that is what he believes in I guess. Theresa was there also when he was talking and beating his stick on the table and we both asked “Can you throw the stick away or for me I said I don’t use sticks”. So it is different. We stayed until 5:45 and now it is almost 7:30 for when I should leave. I will be staying at the House alone tonight to take care of the kids. I am not too nervous, but I certainly am tired so I hope they are good tonight, but if not, I can’t really change that. I love them so much. While I still count the days to when I get home, I am turning more into counting the days in dread from when I have to leave the children. I want to take them home with me and give them a good life where they can get a good education and be whatever they want to be without being suppressed by the education and schooling they receive.
So it was a good day today. I am tired but that is why I am here. I got a blister from draining clothes, so maybe I will only wash instead of doing the last staining to hang the cloths. But things are good here. I am starting to feel a little bit more at home.
It was a very tiring day today. I woke up only a few times last night and got an okay sleep, but just not enough. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm at 5:55. I got up and headed over to pick up the girls. We walked up through the shortcut way (which by the way, a lady sells fan Milk if I haven’t already told you. That just makes Aseibu the best place ever!!) I helped make beds, get the kids washed, wash clothes and dishes. We headed out early around 8, but I was glad because I needed to go Pastor’s Assembly of God primary school to teach my music class. So I ate breakfast and went on my way not knowing what I was really going to be doing. So I “fake-e-o-so-ed” it. I toke a taxi for 60 pesewas when he asked for 2 cedi. So I am getting better at bargaining. Then I got a tro-tro to Asunansi when the school is. He drove me directly to the school for an extra 10 pesewas which was a good deal. Driving by, he yelled to a friend “Ah! This is my wife!”. And of course as you drive by, people always notice you, and the kids always call out obroni! Obroni! So I have just gotten used to waving now.
At the school, Fred welcomed and got me started with the older kids. I found out that they knew “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. The ages for the older group is around 5-8 maybe. So today, we sang Twinkle Twinkle, I taught them London Bridge, Ring around the Rosies, and the Hokie Pokie. They really loved the Hokie Pokie. And the great part is that in Cape Coast, the first bridge to ever be made in Ghana supposedly is called London Bridge, so they can relate to the song… kind of. Fred would translate and teach some of the times. But it was fun. Going to the little age group, 1 year to 4 or so was a lot more difficult. No one knows English, and they don’t really sing along. So you just teach them actions and sing really loud, and they join in on the easy parts. But they are so dang cute!!! O I love the kids. So I was hoping that maybe mom and dad, you could look up the lyrics to children’s song that I might know because I know I know a lot of songs, but I just can’t remember them all and all the correct lyrics. Thanks!!! Then I went back to the older age group since they were back from lunch and we reviewed the songs. They really like Hokie Pokie, did I tell you!! ^_^
So I then said good bye to go look for Fred as to what to do. There the kids are so cute saying “bye-Bye”. The baby of the group, maybe 1 or so, was crying following after me. When I picked him, he had the happiest grin on his face. They are so cute. In Ghana, all of the children are very disciplined. At schools, they are taught English in this manor “How are you? We are fine. Thank you. And You? I am fine also. Thank you.” So anytime you ask someone, middle aged or small, they always so “I’m fine” in a certain way that reminds me of how they say it at school. So it is fun to play along with it.
Fred then rode with me back to the tro-tro station where I got a tro-tro for 40 or 60 pesewas. It was crowed but the people were friendly. One my way over there, an older man mention that I should come back to see him. He said “Come back to see me. Come back to see me!” A lot of people say that to you. Especially the older men. At home, I was very tired. I read a book, ate an orange, ate some crackers and then opened my can of tuna with the knife, having to scrape off all the ants that crawl around everywhere. I have just come to live with ants. Eating, sleeping, washing.
Since Mrs. Incoom wasn’t home, I didn’t really know what to eat so I was just snacking. I then cut a slice of bread and put jam on it. I am going to try and find peanut butter soon so I can make a PB and J. We then said good bye to AnneLouise. I will be very sad to not have her around anymore. She was such a blessing in my life.
I then checked to see if my dresses were ready, but the power was out so they said they couldn’t finish, even though the sewing machines are cranked by hand, but that doesn’t matter. I am in no rush. Well, you really can’t be here. I then took an hour break, headed over to hang with the girls, chilled for a little bit, and we left, got a fan Yogo, Theresa is having Annika making another dress for her so we dropped off the cloth and went to the House. There we helped with homework, washed more clothes making sure their socks and uniforms were clean and played with more Playdough.
Elvis came by. He came up with a stick in his hand. He told us how Joshua was leaving his shoes outside and not taking care of them, and then he should beat him for it. And then he went off about a lot of different things --the whole time beating the table with the stick. Immediately, I just stopped respecting what he was saying at the moment because I will not respond to such disrespect for myself and my fellow volunteers and especially children from such violence. I am very displeased in Elvis for that, but that is what he believes in I guess. Theresa was there also when he was talking and beating his stick on the table and we both asked “Can you throw the stick away or for me I said I don’t use sticks”. So it is different. We stayed until 5:45 and now it is almost 7:30 for when I should leave. I will be staying at the House alone tonight to take care of the kids. I am not too nervous, but I certainly am tired so I hope they are good tonight, but if not, I can’t really change that. I love them so much. While I still count the days to when I get home, I am turning more into counting the days in dread from when I have to leave the children. I want to take them home with me and give them a good life where they can get a good education and be whatever they want to be without being suppressed by the education and schooling they receive.
So it was a good day today. I am tired but that is why I am here. I got a blister from draining clothes, so maybe I will only wash instead of doing the last staining to hang the cloths. But things are good here. I am starting to feel a little bit more at home.
January 31-- Always Up Early and Church Singing
January 31, 2010
Last night I had a hard time sleeping, and I got another random phone call phone at one in the morning. It was a wrong number. Then at 5:30 I just woke up and layed in bed until 6 until I got out of bed. I got my laundry done so that I got get a taxi to church and be on time. I left around 8:35 from the house, took a shared taxi to church for 40 pesewas. There, I was introduced to the congregation. This time at church, I wanted to be productive so I studied my scriptures about some things that were on my mind. Annika was talking with Elvis a few days ago about why he was okay to beat children. He said that is was in the Bible that it is okay to beat children. So I found the scripture he was probably referring too, and I started to scripture reference and find out more about the context and history of the scripture. It was Proverbs 23:13-14. Or just look in the Topic guide under beat.
For church, we did the usual like you would anywhere, just that it was different atmosphere. I don’t understand most anything. I stayed in Sunday school again and just read the lesson book they handed me. That will work great. Then Relief Society where I found out there was a funeral. Since it was the 5th Sunday, it was combined. For the class, the Bishop told the congregation how the church does funerals. He has to explain it because funerals here are so different, and the churches help in different ways. A friend was helping to translate and said that they have never had a member funeral yet. Then Sister Saunders informed me that she would be gone this weekend and asked if I could play the piano for the service and for Sunday. I said, “sure”. So I will be there at 8 this Saturday until 4 for the funeral and then on Sunday I will play also. I am glad that I will be able to contribute in some way here. They lent my there organ to practice on for the week. When the people sing, not just in church, but everywhere, what they do is someone elects themselves to sing the first few bits of the song and then stops and either them or the leader will say” go” then everyone joins in. So that is real fun. And when they sing here, they just belt it out. I like it, although I can’t sing harmony because the whole group changes pitch, and it is just weird. Sometimes the melody is way off from the hymns as well. Like singing hymn 100, I forgot the title, but it just doesn’t even sound the same. So that is fun.
Walking home from church, I got a lot of “Obroni! Obroni! Give me money!” Sometimes I get frustrated about it, but I just need to learn to ignore my irritation and just give mechanical, friendly answers. Also, two girls grabbed my hands and walked me home. There, an Elderly man started to talk with me. The young girls I just met translated. He first said, “I love you. I will come to your house later.” And then the girls said that I was just having fun. Of course I knew he was kidding it is just so cute coming from an elderly guy like him around 80 years.
For the rest of the day, I relaxed and thought a lot. I hope I can make it through this week. I am already so tired. My body aches from hiking yesterday and the sun burn and also from sleeping wrong but I think it will be a great week.
Last night I had a hard time sleeping, and I got another random phone call phone at one in the morning. It was a wrong number. Then at 5:30 I just woke up and layed in bed until 6 until I got out of bed. I got my laundry done so that I got get a taxi to church and be on time. I left around 8:35 from the house, took a shared taxi to church for 40 pesewas. There, I was introduced to the congregation. This time at church, I wanted to be productive so I studied my scriptures about some things that were on my mind. Annika was talking with Elvis a few days ago about why he was okay to beat children. He said that is was in the Bible that it is okay to beat children. So I found the scripture he was probably referring too, and I started to scripture reference and find out more about the context and history of the scripture. It was Proverbs 23:13-14. Or just look in the Topic guide under beat.
For church, we did the usual like you would anywhere, just that it was different atmosphere. I don’t understand most anything. I stayed in Sunday school again and just read the lesson book they handed me. That will work great. Then Relief Society where I found out there was a funeral. Since it was the 5th Sunday, it was combined. For the class, the Bishop told the congregation how the church does funerals. He has to explain it because funerals here are so different, and the churches help in different ways. A friend was helping to translate and said that they have never had a member funeral yet. Then Sister Saunders informed me that she would be gone this weekend and asked if I could play the piano for the service and for Sunday. I said, “sure”. So I will be there at 8 this Saturday until 4 for the funeral and then on Sunday I will play also. I am glad that I will be able to contribute in some way here. They lent my there organ to practice on for the week. When the people sing, not just in church, but everywhere, what they do is someone elects themselves to sing the first few bits of the song and then stops and either them or the leader will say” go” then everyone joins in. So that is real fun. And when they sing here, they just belt it out. I like it, although I can’t sing harmony because the whole group changes pitch, and it is just weird. Sometimes the melody is way off from the hymns as well. Like singing hymn 100, I forgot the title, but it just doesn’t even sound the same. So that is fun.
Walking home from church, I got a lot of “Obroni! Obroni! Give me money!” Sometimes I get frustrated about it, but I just need to learn to ignore my irritation and just give mechanical, friendly answers. Also, two girls grabbed my hands and walked me home. There, an Elderly man started to talk with me. The young girls I just met translated. He first said, “I love you. I will come to your house later.” And then the girls said that I was just having fun. Of course I knew he was kidding it is just so cute coming from an elderly guy like him around 80 years.
For the rest of the day, I relaxed and thought a lot. I hope I can make it through this week. I am already so tired. My body aches from hiking yesterday and the sun burn and also from sleeping wrong but I think it will be a great week.
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