February 19-21, 2010
I think when I go home, I will miss eating their delicious homemade bread!!! I love just having to buy a whole loaf anywhere on the streets for one cedi!!! But that is just a random thought.
There were so many things that happened this weekend. Like last weekend being the most scarey, this weekend was the most frustrating yet most rewarding too. It is so strange. Being here, I am always thinking. And I think that the children, my host family, my friends, Ghana, is changing me and changing me for the better. It is so strange to be able to feel self-confidence grow inside your elf in such a short time. It is strange to start building love and concern and dedication to people you have barely known for long but know them so well already. I now feel a little bit more proud of myself. It is so strange. I am starting to see people in a different light as well as myself. I am starting to see people not just as a figure that has feelings and passions and dreams, but I am seeing them more in myself. Instead of trying to see differences in everyone, I see more similarities.
I have always wanted to be a more friendly person-- someone who you could walk up to and feel comfortable around. I don’t know all of the reasons why I feel that I am changing but I know a huge part of it is the people. The way people live here and are is so extraordinary. To me, they have so little; to them, they have just enough. To me, they used to be just too friendly and too exhausting by how much compassion they automatically have; to them it is a way of life to be a good neighbor and friend to everyone. While I have seen the poverty of a third world country and I appreciate more of what I have at home, I am more surprised now to see that maybe their daily compassion and love for each other and the Lord is something all together so different. At home, everyone I know is friendly and tried to do good. But here, you always ask how the other person is doing, you truly care. You see so many people giving all that they have to help others, when in the end, they will need help themselves again. It is this circle of compassion that has me bewildered. How can such a people be so happy by having so little and yet at home, we have so much and the communal friendship is so different? It is so hard to explain but maybe you can understand the base of what I am saying. I am particularly saying that I have fallen in love here. Everyone I pass becomes my friend. Everyone of the children in part of my family now. I now have this maternal instinct in me that needs to defend for them; take care of them. I am so thankful to be here. I feel that being in a third world country, I have never been more personally blessed in spiritual and mental growth until now. It almost seems that what we lack they have gained and what they lack we have gained.
Well, moving on from the confusing inner thoughts and back to this weekend. Friday was good. We woke up and went to the House at 6:30 as usual. Around 7 I started to look for where the food was cooking so I could help with that. I asked Ester where it was, and she started laughing. So I knew to not get angry but to also befriend her in the conversation. Anger doesn’t do much here. I asked her again, and she said that the kids were fasting. I asked why. She laughed and after asking and asking her and the kids, I found out the kids had no clue and that Ester didn’t have food to cook. I was confused because Elvis had just drive up two days before with sacks full of food. So I talked with the kids who had huddled in the back room and talking about what was happening. I then went to go talk with Ester. This is where part of my maternal instincts came in. I tried to keep calm and respectful, but I also knew that a young, white women talking to an Older local would be offensive in any way. So I asked her why. She said no food, and then she walked to the kitchen. She showed me that there was not enough ground nut powder for soup for everyone. But then I pointed to the three huge bags on the floor. She said, coffee, rice and corn. Now I realize, why would they have a body size bag of coffee? Hmm…. Anyways. Looking at that I said “You could have cooked rice. You could have cooked corn.” She looked at me like “OOookkkaaayyyy….” And then left. The kids left for school after getting their toffee that was infested by ants because it was left on the bottom of the fridge. Annika and I were SOOOO frustrated. I have never looked into so many children’s eyes that I called my own look so hungry. I knew they barely eat already and to have no food until dinner was a painful thought. So we let them go and Annika and I decided that if Ester does not want to cook, then we do not want to wash. So we said “goodbye, Ester” and in a rough voice from here after just giving her a short lecture/disappointment, she said bye. We then left her to wash all the clothes and ten beds sheets that were to be washed for the kids who were coming to Accra the next morning.
I then headed home to eat and dress to get ready to go to the beach. We wanted to go yesterday, but it didn’t work out. When I arrived at Elvis’s, Annika told me what happened when Elvis was told that the kids went hungry this morning. He went to this room, slammed the door, grabbed his phone and came back out. He called Ester, yelled at her in Fante, it must have been obvious why. He then explained to Annika that he had given her plenty of money to buy the kids food a few days ago and that she had some to cook even this morning. So it was true. She had food, but did not want to cook.
So Annika and I then left for the beach. We went to Moroee Beach. I borrowed Annika’s extra bikini bottoms and then wore a shirt on top. We bought a soda at the hotel so that we were customers and could sit on the chairs and keep our stuff there. We sunbathed for awhile and got some healthy sun. I then went to go swimming for my first time in Ghana, and second time ever in the ocean. It was so sad. It was the most trashy water I have ever seen. Plastic wrapped around my body. I would run my hands threw the water and come up with water bottles and plastic bags attached to me. But I wanted to play for a little bit longer. It tasted salty too and the water was warm. So Moree Beach is pretty nasty but I am excited for next weekend. When Annika is going to Accra to fly home and we will go to one of the nice beaches up there. I am going to try and find an appropriate swim suit here next time though.
After the beach, we called the taxi to come and pick us up. We then went back home and I washed and then headed up to the house. Elvis had said that we must choose ten kids to come to Accra to perform for a fundraiser for them. Before he said he would chose but now we do. We are the ones to look at their faces of the ones how could not come. So we decided the oldest. So it was Paul, Elvis Junior, Samuel, Joshua, Emmanuel, Joseph, Ruth, Grace, Margaret, and Angolina. We pulled them outside to tell them the plans for the weekend. Clement followed and then started crying realizing he was not going. I can understand how a child would be so upset. It would be an overnight party, and he was not chosen. It is worse than being chosen last of the recess football team. We told those going to pack their bed sheet (so kindly washed by ester ^_^), towel, sponge, toothbrush, comb, Sunday clothes (or their nicest cloths) and shoes. It was a little hassle to get them to finish. Then Clement continued to cry, and Christy was silent about it all. Pouting is one thing, but she wasn’t pouting really. She was just generally sad and that broke my heart. I didn’t want to pick and choose the kids but it had to be done. So we did not take Co-Joe, Priscilla, Christy, John, Clement or Charity. We then had the kids hurry and rush and wash their clothes and get ready so we could watch a movie.
Elvis Senior came by to talk with Ester again. I guess he is going to try and come up in the mornings to check to make sure she cooks every morning. I am nervous about Ester now. She is anger sticken that I hope she doesn’t take it out on the kids. So we brought to the kids to the Guesthouse (Elvis’ house), and they were so hungry. Junior didn’t want to come because he was to tired! Since when would these kids pass up watching a movie? NEVER!!! So I bought them bread because they hadn’t really eaten anything substantial. I hate the look in my children’s eyes when they are hungry. We then found out the Elvis had taken to key to Cape. We asked before he left, and he said it was with the girls that work there, but it wasn’t. So we called him and waited an hour. Annika and I were so frustrated. The kids had not eaten, they were promised a movie and now could not watch it. So Annika called it off, and we decided to send them home. It was getting late and they needed to bathe before eating plus they had an early morning to leave at 6:30. But they didn’t want to go. Their excitement for the day was promised and we could not deliver. I felt so bad and Annika was so frustrated so I decided to bring my laptop to the House, and we would watch Lion King there. I was so tired but it needed to be done. I then left Annika there about in tears from everything that had happened today. But I walked up with the kids.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Feb 17th--Wonderful Day, Music, Interhomly
February 17, 2010
Today was such a wonderful day. I woke up throughout the night again, but that is just usual so I think so I am getting used to it. Woke up 3 minutes before my alarm at 6 and then got up. I then met Annika to walk to the house. At the House, I was just having so much fun with the kids this morning. We got there, and then I just acted like I had known the kids for months or years. It was nice. So we helped them bathe, I washed dishes from last night’s dinner, I served the food, I gave “toffee” or candy to the kids that we bought yesterday at Cape Coast (they like the yogurt strawberry kind like me… I’ll bring some back for you to try), and then I bid them all farewell. It was nice because some mornings if one of the kids aren’t happy, them a lot of them aren’t, but today was good.
I then started to wash clothes. It was the usual hour and a half. Ester has stopped helping us wash now because I think she figures that we will do it anyways even without her help so she sometimes sweeps and mops now and gets ready for the day, but so far that doesn’t really bother me. She still helps a ton when it is needed.
I then saw that 3 kids had not eaten breakfast. Every morning they always have ground nut soup. And it is very bland so I can understand some of them just deciding to skip out. But in the future I will not hand out toffee unless they have eaten.
After washing, we left around 8:45. I walked home and cooked some oats. I then waited for pastor to drive up with me to the school. The school was SO MUCH FUN!!! I spent about an hour with the older kids and like 15 minuteswith the younger… oops…^_^ But with the older kids we sang Twinkle, Twinkle, If you’re happy and You Know It, Hokie Pokie, London Bridge, Ring around the Rosies, Mary had a Little Lamb, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, The wise man Built his House Upon the Rock, Down by the Bank of the Hankie Pankie, and then I taught them Patty Cake. So thanks to everyone who made suggestions about the children’s songs. It really helps. I then started with music theory. We reviewed five lines (meaning that there are 5 lines when your read music) Treble Clef, what a note is and then I drew out Mary had a Little Lamb in music to try and show them that what they were seeing can be written down. Like English or any other language, music is also a written language and not just spoken. But what is amazing about music, is that it is universal. So I tried to explain that to them, and I think a few of the older ones are getting it. And then I pulled out the three tin whistles I brought. Thanks mom and dad for making me bring them. I had all the kids play it. Of course, I pulled out my hand sanitizer and did the best I could to wash the mouth piece before each kids played. They really liked it. Each of them would blow the melody of Mary Had A Little Lamb. Some would move their fingers to imitate what I did before. It was super cute and super high and loud!!! ^_^ It was great. I then played a little tune to show them that the penny whistle is beautiful and to maybe interest them if any of them want to learn. I am thinking of leaving one of them here for the school. Pastor wants to get all musical instruments to show the kids what is out there and to maybe strike an interest if any of them want to play.
I then went to play with the little kids. We sung almost all the same songs and then I left so that I could catch a ride with pastor. It took about and half and a half to get home for a half hours travel because he kept stopping and talking with people, which I thought was great. It is a good example of how to be a good friend and neighbor to everyone. He then talked to me more about what he does. I found out that the Incooms have no personal income. That they came here 7 years ago knowing that Pastor would preach for free and not except money from the congregation because everyone is so poor here. He just wanted to serve them. So they say they have been blessed by people giving them things like their one small red car and their one 4 by 4 that were given to them, also Pastor is a part of many programs that sponsor and other random things. I also learned that through his organization, one of his projects is to help young women to progress in their education instead of being fooled into either teenage pregnancy (which is a problem here also like at home, except I think maybe a little bit more prominent) or else dropping out of school and having no real future. So he has sponsored 8 girls so far. He says “adopt” them. So he pays for their education. One is in the University, two are in or near high school. So I think that is wonderful. He also has a project to start teaching the women who sell items along the streets to learn marketing logistics or something similar that they can expand their business. He also stopped in Abakrampa to show me where an ICT (the computer classes they teach here) are going to be held. They want to have an internet café there to bring in more income. So students from around and also the community will be able to advance their knowledge in ICT. I haven’t seen one computer in any school yet. All they do is learn that the thumb goes on the space bar and that the left pointer finger goes on the “F” key and so forth without ever seeing a computer. It is crazy, but that is how it is. So he is trying to get computers for the classes and for the school. He says that with his program, Interhomly Academy, that he has it certified in social welfare or something so that if someone sends a computer, that shipping and handling are free and that the person who donates will be able to say it was a charitable cause. That is so great!!! He then showed me his office in Abakrampa and in Asebu. He then mentioned that he was talking with his directors of his organization that they were thinking of making me an ambassador for their organization for the United States. I asked him what that all entailed. He said that while I might be the first ambassador they have had, they have all the documentation set up and everything. So that if I was doing a fundraiser in the States, I could legally represent them. And then they also want volunteers to come and teach in the school. Everything from math, English, music, sports, art. So that when a volunteer becomes interested in coming, I will be their coordinator in the states to advise the volunteer to be coming since I have already been there. They would be housed with the Incooms or if there is a lot with another host family, would pay like I did to come, but maybe cheaper. They actually have a website that I have not checked out yet but here is the link. So I am not sure if I want to do that yet, but I am really thinking about it. Today, I started thinking about what I can do when I get back. I thought that maybe doing a one time thing to fundraiser would be good enough, maybe 500 or a thousand if I am lucky. But I started thinking, “maybe I can set up something official?” I know that I am young and in school, but maybe I can set up an organization, legitimate and all, to fundraiser and get the word out about Ghana and volunteering. I know that it takes a lot of paperwork but seeing the American group come that was only started three years by Elizabeth when she was 21 or 23, I think I could do it. They started after 6 months of paperwork, got it official, then got a board of directors and so forth. They went to high school and spoke and advertised and got volunteers that way. Now, they have made enough money to build I think 2 or 3 school buildings. So I know that maybe it doesn’t seem a lot, but to build a simple building here costs tens of thousands, and with many making only 10 dollars a day, you can imagine how hard that would be... so I will continue to think about it. But here is the link again: http://www.internationalhopefamily.webs.com/
Today was such a wonderful day. I woke up throughout the night again, but that is just usual so I think so I am getting used to it. Woke up 3 minutes before my alarm at 6 and then got up. I then met Annika to walk to the house. At the House, I was just having so much fun with the kids this morning. We got there, and then I just acted like I had known the kids for months or years. It was nice. So we helped them bathe, I washed dishes from last night’s dinner, I served the food, I gave “toffee” or candy to the kids that we bought yesterday at Cape Coast (they like the yogurt strawberry kind like me… I’ll bring some back for you to try), and then I bid them all farewell. It was nice because some mornings if one of the kids aren’t happy, them a lot of them aren’t, but today was good.
I then started to wash clothes. It was the usual hour and a half. Ester has stopped helping us wash now because I think she figures that we will do it anyways even without her help so she sometimes sweeps and mops now and gets ready for the day, but so far that doesn’t really bother me. She still helps a ton when it is needed.
I then saw that 3 kids had not eaten breakfast. Every morning they always have ground nut soup. And it is very bland so I can understand some of them just deciding to skip out. But in the future I will not hand out toffee unless they have eaten.
After washing, we left around 8:45. I walked home and cooked some oats. I then waited for pastor to drive up with me to the school. The school was SO MUCH FUN!!! I spent about an hour with the older kids and like 15 minuteswith the younger… oops…^_^ But with the older kids we sang Twinkle, Twinkle, If you’re happy and You Know It, Hokie Pokie, London Bridge, Ring around the Rosies, Mary had a Little Lamb, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, The wise man Built his House Upon the Rock, Down by the Bank of the Hankie Pankie, and then I taught them Patty Cake. So thanks to everyone who made suggestions about the children’s songs. It really helps. I then started with music theory. We reviewed five lines (meaning that there are 5 lines when your read music) Treble Clef, what a note is and then I drew out Mary had a Little Lamb in music to try and show them that what they were seeing can be written down. Like English or any other language, music is also a written language and not just spoken. But what is amazing about music, is that it is universal. So I tried to explain that to them, and I think a few of the older ones are getting it. And then I pulled out the three tin whistles I brought. Thanks mom and dad for making me bring them. I had all the kids play it. Of course, I pulled out my hand sanitizer and did the best I could to wash the mouth piece before each kids played. They really liked it. Each of them would blow the melody of Mary Had A Little Lamb. Some would move their fingers to imitate what I did before. It was super cute and super high and loud!!! ^_^ It was great. I then played a little tune to show them that the penny whistle is beautiful and to maybe interest them if any of them want to learn. I am thinking of leaving one of them here for the school. Pastor wants to get all musical instruments to show the kids what is out there and to maybe strike an interest if any of them want to play.
I then went to play with the little kids. We sung almost all the same songs and then I left so that I could catch a ride with pastor. It took about and half and a half to get home for a half hours travel because he kept stopping and talking with people, which I thought was great. It is a good example of how to be a good friend and neighbor to everyone. He then talked to me more about what he does. I found out that the Incooms have no personal income. That they came here 7 years ago knowing that Pastor would preach for free and not except money from the congregation because everyone is so poor here. He just wanted to serve them. So they say they have been blessed by people giving them things like their one small red car and their one 4 by 4 that were given to them, also Pastor is a part of many programs that sponsor and other random things. I also learned that through his organization, one of his projects is to help young women to progress in their education instead of being fooled into either teenage pregnancy (which is a problem here also like at home, except I think maybe a little bit more prominent) or else dropping out of school and having no real future. So he has sponsored 8 girls so far. He says “adopt” them. So he pays for their education. One is in the University, two are in or near high school. So I think that is wonderful. He also has a project to start teaching the women who sell items along the streets to learn marketing logistics or something similar that they can expand their business. He also stopped in Abakrampa to show me where an ICT (the computer classes they teach here) are going to be held. They want to have an internet café there to bring in more income. So students from around and also the community will be able to advance their knowledge in ICT. I haven’t seen one computer in any school yet. All they do is learn that the thumb goes on the space bar and that the left pointer finger goes on the “F” key and so forth without ever seeing a computer. It is crazy, but that is how it is. So he is trying to get computers for the classes and for the school. He says that with his program, Interhomly Academy, that he has it certified in social welfare or something so that if someone sends a computer, that shipping and handling are free and that the person who donates will be able to say it was a charitable cause. That is so great!!! He then showed me his office in Abakrampa and in Asebu. He then mentioned that he was talking with his directors of his organization that they were thinking of making me an ambassador for their organization for the United States. I asked him what that all entailed. He said that while I might be the first ambassador they have had, they have all the documentation set up and everything. So that if I was doing a fundraiser in the States, I could legally represent them. And then they also want volunteers to come and teach in the school. Everything from math, English, music, sports, art. So that when a volunteer becomes interested in coming, I will be their coordinator in the states to advise the volunteer to be coming since I have already been there. They would be housed with the Incooms or if there is a lot with another host family, would pay like I did to come, but maybe cheaper. They actually have a website that I have not checked out yet but here is the link. So I am not sure if I want to do that yet, but I am really thinking about it. Today, I started thinking about what I can do when I get back. I thought that maybe doing a one time thing to fundraiser would be good enough, maybe 500 or a thousand if I am lucky. But I started thinking, “maybe I can set up something official?” I know that I am young and in school, but maybe I can set up an organization, legitimate and all, to fundraiser and get the word out about Ghana and volunteering. I know that it takes a lot of paperwork but seeing the American group come that was only started three years by Elizabeth when she was 21 or 23, I think I could do it. They started after 6 months of paperwork, got it official, then got a board of directors and so forth. They went to high school and spoke and advertised and got volunteers that way. Now, they have made enough money to build I think 2 or 3 school buildings. So I know that maybe it doesn’t seem a lot, but to build a simple building here costs tens of thousands, and with many making only 10 dollars a day, you can imagine how hard that would be... so I will continue to think about it. But here is the link again: http://www.internationalhopefamily.webs.com/
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Feb. 16th--Cooking Food, Beatings & Discipline
February 16, 2010 Part 2
Annika and I then went to Cape Coast. I bought some candy for the kids and got more powdered milk and evaporated milk. We got back and then I had lunch. I ate spaghetti and egg and then some oatmeal. I am finally cooking for myself, and I can control when I am hungry. So I am no longer worried about being hungry anymore. What a blessing. In fact, Mrs. Incoom sat me down after I got home from the House and told me to never ever worry about when and what I eat. To just feel at home and not be hungry. I was happy to have that conversation with her.
At the house, I helped do home work with a reward of 2 stickers for anyone who finished their homework. So everything was going great until Elvis Senior showed up. Then the kids ran inside to clean up their rooms. They know that if their rooms aren’t clean that they are beaten by Elvis. When Elvis showed up, Annika was helping go through all of the kids’ clothes to throw away old cloths and give them new ones. So Elvis came inside and did some talking with the kids and then started caining them. Annika said that she had to leave the room because she could not see it. I could hear it outside because I was just on the other side of the wall. Then Elvis called Annika back to tell about how Clement and Elvis and Jospeh got in a fight this morning. Clement was being so hard to work with. Then I came in wondering why no one had come back to finish their homework. I then saw Elvis beat the children. Annika was going through Joseph’s bag of clothes. And for every shirt or pants that were dirty, we would get a cain on the calf of the head. I just wanted to grab that stick and break it in half.
Then we finished homework once he left. That took awhile, but I was proud of the kids because all of them did it. Joshua got beaten today in school because his homework wasn’t done, and then Elvis Senior found out and then Elvis beat him again. So I really need to work harder to make sure the kids who have homework get it done. Then I got home and made dinner. YUMMY!!! I made a carrot, tomato, onion, and cabbage omlette. It was so good. Then I had a side of cabbage and green beans. And then more oatmeal because I was still hungry.
I then came over to Elvis’s place to hang with Annika because neither of us like to be lonely. And some good news. Elvis knows one of the most popular Ghanian Gospel singers, and he is doing a fundraiser for the kids. This weekend, we will take 10 of the oldest kids to Accra and stay over Saturday night. Sometime during our stay, there will be a performance where the kids will probably be on stage. They have it set up that if you text some number, it will automatically withdraw 50 pesewas that is put into an account that will be given to the kids. So that is a great thing to do. Plus, Annika and I will come to help take care of the children.
Well I love you all so much and thanks again for everything that you are doing. I really appreciate it!!! Love you!!! Oh, and I was thinking. I came here to love the kids, right? I came with the idea that all I could is just love the kids with all my heart. But I have realized that loving them is the easy part. It is disciplining them that is the hard part. Because they are so used to violence, you have to find a way and be creative to find a way to discipline them while being their friend yet in charge. I am learning a lot.
Annika and I then went to Cape Coast. I bought some candy for the kids and got more powdered milk and evaporated milk. We got back and then I had lunch. I ate spaghetti and egg and then some oatmeal. I am finally cooking for myself, and I can control when I am hungry. So I am no longer worried about being hungry anymore. What a blessing. In fact, Mrs. Incoom sat me down after I got home from the House and told me to never ever worry about when and what I eat. To just feel at home and not be hungry. I was happy to have that conversation with her.
At the house, I helped do home work with a reward of 2 stickers for anyone who finished their homework. So everything was going great until Elvis Senior showed up. Then the kids ran inside to clean up their rooms. They know that if their rooms aren’t clean that they are beaten by Elvis. When Elvis showed up, Annika was helping go through all of the kids’ clothes to throw away old cloths and give them new ones. So Elvis came inside and did some talking with the kids and then started caining them. Annika said that she had to leave the room because she could not see it. I could hear it outside because I was just on the other side of the wall. Then Elvis called Annika back to tell about how Clement and Elvis and Jospeh got in a fight this morning. Clement was being so hard to work with. Then I came in wondering why no one had come back to finish their homework. I then saw Elvis beat the children. Annika was going through Joseph’s bag of clothes. And for every shirt or pants that were dirty, we would get a cain on the calf of the head. I just wanted to grab that stick and break it in half.
Then we finished homework once he left. That took awhile, but I was proud of the kids because all of them did it. Joshua got beaten today in school because his homework wasn’t done, and then Elvis Senior found out and then Elvis beat him again. So I really need to work harder to make sure the kids who have homework get it done. Then I got home and made dinner. YUMMY!!! I made a carrot, tomato, onion, and cabbage omlette. It was so good. Then I had a side of cabbage and green beans. And then more oatmeal because I was still hungry.
I then came over to Elvis’s place to hang with Annika because neither of us like to be lonely. And some good news. Elvis knows one of the most popular Ghanian Gospel singers, and he is doing a fundraiser for the kids. This weekend, we will take 10 of the oldest kids to Accra and stay over Saturday night. Sometime during our stay, there will be a performance where the kids will probably be on stage. They have it set up that if you text some number, it will automatically withdraw 50 pesewas that is put into an account that will be given to the kids. So that is a great thing to do. Plus, Annika and I will come to help take care of the children.
Well I love you all so much and thanks again for everything that you are doing. I really appreciate it!!! Love you!!! Oh, and I was thinking. I came here to love the kids, right? I came with the idea that all I could is just love the kids with all my heart. But I have realized that loving them is the easy part. It is disciplining them that is the hard part. Because they are so used to violence, you have to find a way and be creative to find a way to discipline them while being their friend yet in charge. I am learning a lot.
Feb 12th-- Scarey Tro-tros! To Akasombo
February 12, 2010
Today was the scariest day in Ghana so far. We woke up and left at 6:30. Elvis drove Annika, Theresia, and I to the bus station in Cape Coast. Everything was normal until the bus to Accra came, and then the line that we were patiently waiting for 45 minutes became one huge mob. So the three of us Obronis tried to push our way through all of the line-cutters. Even though everyone knows when a person is cutting in line, no one stops it. I would, but you can just tell that if a local can’t stop it then an Obroni certainly won’t be able to. Because when a local disagrees with something from you, sometimes they will pretend to not understand you or English anymore. Five people were in front of us when the tickets sold out. We waited 20 more minutes until we decided to get a tro-tro for 4 cedi instead of 3 with the bus.
We got the back of the tro-tro so we felt all the bumps. Since there are usually never police cars to control the speed limits, they put speed bumps everywhere, and they are so bumpy!!! Getting into Accra, it was lots of traffic. I mean lots of it!!! People as usual walk in between cars, selling candy, picture frames watches, hangers, feminine products, everything!
Once we got off the tro-tro the fun began. The city was huge with lots of people. Not as friendly as Asebu, and we had to walk with our bags in front of us. We said a sad but happy goodbye to Thereseia and tried to find a tro-tro to Akosombo. . After being told many different things and running around, we took a tro-tro to the circle and got a tro-tro to Akosambo. Again, people misdirect you sometimes, and someone even said that we should head back to the first station we were at because no one here was going to Akasombo, but we found someone.
Again we got the back of the tro-tro. Except the traffic was worse, and the road was terrible. I even got a headache just from how bumpy it was. It then started to rain and thunder. Before it rained though, we were almost into two accidents because the driver was crazy and wouldn’t use his brakes earlier; he would slam on them when it was just close enough. When it started to rain, the driver hit a boy going about 40 or 50 miles per hour. I didn’t know what happened until the driver hit the brakes and launched everyone forward, and I saw the boy roll off the side of the road in pain. Annika and I were so scared and unsure of what to do. I was expecting the driver or the maid (the person who collects money) to get out and help him, but they did nothing. They sat there and just watched. The boy was walking around holding his stomach and hand. He then threw up. I asked “Are you not going help?” “Are you going to bring him to the hospital?” Finally, without assistance, the school boy, around 17, walked to the car and got in. I heard no “sorry’s” or “are you okay” kind of words. We just turned around, and then I figured we were driving to the hospital. We asked the maid, and he said yes. So with the rain and everything, the windows fog so much because of the humidity and you cannot see. No wonder the driver hit him! He can’t see. He didn’t roll down his windows because it was raining so he just uses a rag to wipe the windshield so he can see out.
On the way to the nearest hospital, 45 minutes away, he would swerve because he couldn’t see. Now I understand why people are nervous about tro-tros. So we waited at the hospital for an hour until the driver came back. We wanted to ask how the boy was, but he didn’t understand our question. Being 3 ½ hours behind, we were on our way to Akasombo. Thankfully, it wasn’t too far. We were hungry and tired and wanted to shower. We stayed at the Zito Guest House for 20 cedi a night or 10 cedi a person. I got spaghetti and ordered another meal because I was so hungry, but it never came. So we showered and then went to bed around 8 or 8:30. It was a very nice place but it was a long day. I also found out that the River tour was 30 cedi. I didn’t know it was going to be that much so I will need to go to the ATM. I also washed my hair with conditioner last night. I usually don’t because it is about 9 cedi per bottle, but it felt so good so I think I might get some since I will donate my hair when I get back. I don’t want my hair to be too trashed.
Today was the scariest day in Ghana so far. We woke up and left at 6:30. Elvis drove Annika, Theresia, and I to the bus station in Cape Coast. Everything was normal until the bus to Accra came, and then the line that we were patiently waiting for 45 minutes became one huge mob. So the three of us Obronis tried to push our way through all of the line-cutters. Even though everyone knows when a person is cutting in line, no one stops it. I would, but you can just tell that if a local can’t stop it then an Obroni certainly won’t be able to. Because when a local disagrees with something from you, sometimes they will pretend to not understand you or English anymore. Five people were in front of us when the tickets sold out. We waited 20 more minutes until we decided to get a tro-tro for 4 cedi instead of 3 with the bus.
We got the back of the tro-tro so we felt all the bumps. Since there are usually never police cars to control the speed limits, they put speed bumps everywhere, and they are so bumpy!!! Getting into Accra, it was lots of traffic. I mean lots of it!!! People as usual walk in between cars, selling candy, picture frames watches, hangers, feminine products, everything!
Once we got off the tro-tro the fun began. The city was huge with lots of people. Not as friendly as Asebu, and we had to walk with our bags in front of us. We said a sad but happy goodbye to Thereseia and tried to find a tro-tro to Akosombo. . After being told many different things and running around, we took a tro-tro to the circle and got a tro-tro to Akosambo. Again, people misdirect you sometimes, and someone even said that we should head back to the first station we were at because no one here was going to Akasombo, but we found someone.
Again we got the back of the tro-tro. Except the traffic was worse, and the road was terrible. I even got a headache just from how bumpy it was. It then started to rain and thunder. Before it rained though, we were almost into two accidents because the driver was crazy and wouldn’t use his brakes earlier; he would slam on them when it was just close enough. When it started to rain, the driver hit a boy going about 40 or 50 miles per hour. I didn’t know what happened until the driver hit the brakes and launched everyone forward, and I saw the boy roll off the side of the road in pain. Annika and I were so scared and unsure of what to do. I was expecting the driver or the maid (the person who collects money) to get out and help him, but they did nothing. They sat there and just watched. The boy was walking around holding his stomach and hand. He then threw up. I asked “Are you not going help?” “Are you going to bring him to the hospital?” Finally, without assistance, the school boy, around 17, walked to the car and got in. I heard no “sorry’s” or “are you okay” kind of words. We just turned around, and then I figured we were driving to the hospital. We asked the maid, and he said yes. So with the rain and everything, the windows fog so much because of the humidity and you cannot see. No wonder the driver hit him! He can’t see. He didn’t roll down his windows because it was raining so he just uses a rag to wipe the windshield so he can see out.
On the way to the nearest hospital, 45 minutes away, he would swerve because he couldn’t see. Now I understand why people are nervous about tro-tros. So we waited at the hospital for an hour until the driver came back. We wanted to ask how the boy was, but he didn’t understand our question. Being 3 ½ hours behind, we were on our way to Akasombo. Thankfully, it wasn’t too far. We were hungry and tired and wanted to shower. We stayed at the Zito Guest House for 20 cedi a night or 10 cedi a person. I got spaghetti and ordered another meal because I was so hungry, but it never came. So we showered and then went to bed around 8 or 8:30. It was a very nice place but it was a long day. I also found out that the River tour was 30 cedi. I didn’t know it was going to be that much so I will need to go to the ATM. I also washed my hair with conditioner last night. I usually don’t because it is about 9 cedi per bottle, but it felt so good so I think I might get some since I will donate my hair when I get back. I don’t want my hair to be too trashed.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Feb. 11th--Boils, Crying, Teaching & KenKey
February 11, 2010
John has boils on his head. We took him to the clinic a few days ago. There was a huge thing on the back of his head, and we didn’t’ know if it was a spider bite or what, but they are boils. So we got him pills for it. Also, Co-Joe will be getting his vaccinations tomorrow so that is good to know. Elvis called Ester to make those arrangements.
For today, even though I had talked with Bertha about our deal that I will let her borrow my phone at night so she can have an alarm clock if she will wake me up around 6. But it didn’t happen today, so I will let her use my phone from home for the alarm because she didn’t go to school today because she didn’t get her chores done. It is so sad how the school system works sometimes. Even though a child might be late, they don’t go and learn because they will be beaten hard for being late.
I woke up at 6:40 and headed to the House and helped the kids eat and dress and then washed a lot more clothes. After clothes, we left. Co-joe is such a help and a burden though. He loves to help us wash but a lot of the time he will place clean clothes in dirty water or dirty clothes in clean water. So it is hard but we have to teach him not to do it, but pulling him away and letting him cry about it. Co-Joe has figured out that when he cries, he gets everything he wants. So the volunteers and I are now only picking him up when we think it is healthy. Because he cries about everything and then stops when you walk to pick him up. He is so cute, and we love him so much, but he has learned the crying game.
After that, I came home and learned how they cooked oatmeal. I usually will just heat water and then add oats to the bowl and then water and then wait. But they cook it together and boil it for 15 minutes. It takes awhile, but I am glad that I will be able to do it myself because if I am hungry, I can now eat.
After eating, I went to the clinic. The clinic was great. It started out as usual. Aunti Mary wasn’t there so she might think I didn’t come again, even though I did. I took vitals. I saw a girl with such bad rashes, a lady with elephantitis. Her hand was huge. Not from usual swelling but from that disease. Then I took a BP of a lady at the first time I tried it was 190 over 120 which means she should be having some kind of heart attack or hypertention. But when I read that, I did it again and got the same thing. I was so excited that I knew how to handle her in an emergency if it came to that. I would pop out my nitroglycerin and let her sit and calm down. But I had the other nurse check because I had never seen anyone with that before. She looked at me like “are you sure it was done right?” and so she checked and it was 190/120. It was crazy. I then left around 11 and did my washing and started making bracelets. I bought yarn to make bracelets to sell or a fund raiser when I get back. It will be cheap to make, cheap for people to buy, but really helpful to the kids.
I then went over and interviewed Theresea. She did a great job. I hope it turns out well. I also ate 3 PB and J sandwiches.
We then went up to the house. I helped with homework. It was fun working with Angolina. Angolina and Emanuel are our newest children and they don’t speak English very well and are not literate either. So we teach them every day how to read and write and speak English. So it is fun to come up with lesson plans and teach them and see them improve. We then got a group picture together. I had to hurry to jump in the picture and got in front because it was the easiest open spot, but now I feel bad because I am in front and like I look like a sore thumb. But oh well!!!
We then left the House to go to Elvis’s place around 4:30 to watch Madagascar 2 and have Fanta and homemade popcorn with the kids for Theresea to say goodbye. It was very good and fun.
Tonight, I am going to eat Ken Key which I have heard in like banku, mashed maze and something else. By choice, I don’t like to eat fufu or banku, but I will eat it if it is required. So I didn’t know what Ken Key was when I asked for it. But I guess I should try everything!!!
Later, I will pack for tomorrow. We will be leaving tomorrow at 6 or 7 in the morning. Taking a bus to Accra, saying good bye to Theresea as she heads to the airport. Then Annika and I will travel to the Volta Region.
So I just took my dinner and Ken Key is exactly like Banku. It is just sold alongside the roads. The stew had the fish again mashed in it. I think my face showed it because Mrs. Incoom asked if everything was okay and in the past, I told her that I don’t do well with fish, that I don’t like the smell. But I guess I needed to say it straight, like it makes me nauseous and I don’t like it. So she got a pepper stew instead, and I tried to finish it as much as I could. The fish just smells like it was rotting. Which, I guess one thing they do for a lot of the fish is put it in salt and let it rot for two weeks, so maybe that is why. I don’t know but I hope that I didn’t come off as rude. She said I didn’t and that she understood. But I will also get rice later.
So I am officially 33.3% along the way for this trip. I am feeling at home for sure!!! I love it. There are good parts and bad parts of days but at the end of day, it was always a good day now!!!
John has boils on his head. We took him to the clinic a few days ago. There was a huge thing on the back of his head, and we didn’t’ know if it was a spider bite or what, but they are boils. So we got him pills for it. Also, Co-Joe will be getting his vaccinations tomorrow so that is good to know. Elvis called Ester to make those arrangements.
For today, even though I had talked with Bertha about our deal that I will let her borrow my phone at night so she can have an alarm clock if she will wake me up around 6. But it didn’t happen today, so I will let her use my phone from home for the alarm because she didn’t go to school today because she didn’t get her chores done. It is so sad how the school system works sometimes. Even though a child might be late, they don’t go and learn because they will be beaten hard for being late.
I woke up at 6:40 and headed to the House and helped the kids eat and dress and then washed a lot more clothes. After clothes, we left. Co-joe is such a help and a burden though. He loves to help us wash but a lot of the time he will place clean clothes in dirty water or dirty clothes in clean water. So it is hard but we have to teach him not to do it, but pulling him away and letting him cry about it. Co-Joe has figured out that when he cries, he gets everything he wants. So the volunteers and I are now only picking him up when we think it is healthy. Because he cries about everything and then stops when you walk to pick him up. He is so cute, and we love him so much, but he has learned the crying game.
After that, I came home and learned how they cooked oatmeal. I usually will just heat water and then add oats to the bowl and then water and then wait. But they cook it together and boil it for 15 minutes. It takes awhile, but I am glad that I will be able to do it myself because if I am hungry, I can now eat.
After eating, I went to the clinic. The clinic was great. It started out as usual. Aunti Mary wasn’t there so she might think I didn’t come again, even though I did. I took vitals. I saw a girl with such bad rashes, a lady with elephantitis. Her hand was huge. Not from usual swelling but from that disease. Then I took a BP of a lady at the first time I tried it was 190 over 120 which means she should be having some kind of heart attack or hypertention. But when I read that, I did it again and got the same thing. I was so excited that I knew how to handle her in an emergency if it came to that. I would pop out my nitroglycerin and let her sit and calm down. But I had the other nurse check because I had never seen anyone with that before. She looked at me like “are you sure it was done right?” and so she checked and it was 190/120. It was crazy. I then left around 11 and did my washing and started making bracelets. I bought yarn to make bracelets to sell or a fund raiser when I get back. It will be cheap to make, cheap for people to buy, but really helpful to the kids.
I then went over and interviewed Theresea. She did a great job. I hope it turns out well. I also ate 3 PB and J sandwiches.
We then went up to the house. I helped with homework. It was fun working with Angolina. Angolina and Emanuel are our newest children and they don’t speak English very well and are not literate either. So we teach them every day how to read and write and speak English. So it is fun to come up with lesson plans and teach them and see them improve. We then got a group picture together. I had to hurry to jump in the picture and got in front because it was the easiest open spot, but now I feel bad because I am in front and like I look like a sore thumb. But oh well!!!
We then left the House to go to Elvis’s place around 4:30 to watch Madagascar 2 and have Fanta and homemade popcorn with the kids for Theresea to say goodbye. It was very good and fun.
Tonight, I am going to eat Ken Key which I have heard in like banku, mashed maze and something else. By choice, I don’t like to eat fufu or banku, but I will eat it if it is required. So I didn’t know what Ken Key was when I asked for it. But I guess I should try everything!!!
Later, I will pack for tomorrow. We will be leaving tomorrow at 6 or 7 in the morning. Taking a bus to Accra, saying good bye to Theresea as she heads to the airport. Then Annika and I will travel to the Volta Region.
So I just took my dinner and Ken Key is exactly like Banku. It is just sold alongside the roads. The stew had the fish again mashed in it. I think my face showed it because Mrs. Incoom asked if everything was okay and in the past, I told her that I don’t do well with fish, that I don’t like the smell. But I guess I needed to say it straight, like it makes me nauseous and I don’t like it. So she got a pepper stew instead, and I tried to finish it as much as I could. The fish just smells like it was rotting. Which, I guess one thing they do for a lot of the fish is put it in salt and let it rot for two weeks, so maybe that is why. I don’t know but I hope that I didn’t come off as rude. She said I didn’t and that she understood. But I will also get rice later.
So I am officially 33.3% along the way for this trip. I am feeling at home for sure!!! I love it. There are good parts and bad parts of days but at the end of day, it was always a good day now!!!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Feb. 10th--American Food, How It's Gonna Be, Travel
February 10, 2010
So I was able to talk to Elvis last night. Theresea and Annika invited Elvis to go to dinner and me as well, and we picked up Austin on the way to go to Castle Restaurant. Castle restaurant is where all of the Obroni’s go. It is by the beach, has American food, had a classic hut look, and had a guy that played music for tips. He sounded like Bob Marley and played it too. Thersea tipped him 1 cedi to play No women, No cry. Or something like that.
On the drive I addressed Elvis about everything I could think of-- how the kids all have heat rash because they have no fan and how they are suffering for it. So he will get fans. How I was wondering about bringing more of God into their lives. Scripture reading is what I want to do. And also we want to teach them songs. So I will try and do that too. Then about the new orphanage being built and how much and how long it will take. It will cost 40,000-50,000 cedi to finish. But it is to pay a worker to work until the money or funds run out. So the foundation is laid but I definitely want to fundraise when I get back for it. He told me that the new Orphanage will be better. I found out that none of the kids are HIV positive, but there are Orphans in town or nearby that do, but they can’t come because there isn’t a place for them. Elvis told me that the new place will have a separate place for the HIV positive kids to be taken care of properly. So that when they are really sick, the other kids don’t have to be around. Elvis also invited me to come to him and Austin’s next school teaching about HIV awareness. I am very excited. It seems that if Scott did talk to Elvis, that it really helped remind Elvis about his responsibility with me and the other volunteers. I know how busy Elvis is and that he really is a good guy, but I am also just not the easiest person to work with. He has told me once or twice that I can always talk to him about anything. That if I have a problem to always come to him. But I have a problem going to someone that I do not know or yet trust. I am hard to work with that way because I will not openly admit when something is wrong because I just have it in my mind that it will resolve itself or that I will resolve it myself. So I am finding out that I am also at fault for a breakdown of communication. But the most important thing I found out is that Ester or anyone else is not allowed to beat the kids. If the workers, like Ester, have a problem with the kids, they are supposed to report it to him, and he will take care of the problem. But of course, realistically, it is just easier to beat the kids then and not tell Elvis rather then tell him and have him beat them later. So I will talk to him about why he feels it is okay to beat kids soon.
The other thing is that Georgina will not be coming back. She was the head lady there taking care of the kids when I came. She decided to leave for a month’s time. I already knew that she was never going to come back, but Elvis thought she would. Her husband is sick, and she needs to take care of him so he is going to find someone else. Georgina is great with kids while Ester is a little rougher and not as motherly. So I hope Elvis will find a good replacement. It will make it a lot easier on the volunteers as well too.
So for my day, I went to bed around 12 and woke up at 6:30. But I was still so tired. Today was the second most tiring day, first being when I first came here. So I was late getting up there because I now no longer have an alarm because I gave my phone alarm to Bertha to wake up at 4 in the morning now because I just sleep through it. I am going to tell her to wake me up at 6 in the morning, and I will let her have my phone in return kind of thing. I think that will work out best. So I walked up there and did the usual. Woke up kids, helped brush their teeth, make their beds, get them dressed, serve them food and then wash clothrs. Annika was not there because she has been feeling bad ever since last night. Oh and last night… HMMM the food was so good. I got charcoal-cooked chicken with coleslaw, (which I usually don’t like but I will eat kind of salad here now) and then French fries!!! And pineapple juice. There was also a British couple that came and sat down and talked with us randomly for an hour. The man was white and the woman was black and her parents are from Ghana so they are visiting them. They have been around the world and back. It was great. They had landed today and wanted just someone friendly to talk to.
So sorry, back to the rest of the story. We washed and washed about until 9:15. I got back were Mrs. Incoom had kindly cooked me rice porridge. I was supposed to cook it, but I was running late so she was awesome and started it for me. So I did that, replied to Scott’s email, did my washing and went to Asuansi to teach music. It usually is only a half an hour to drive there ,but people were trying to rip me off, called the Obroni price and then I waited for tro-tro, and it took an hour and a half to get there instead. So we started late and ended late. So I got home before 3, hurry and ate more rice, and walked to the house. Annika was still a little nauseous. But we played with the kids, and I helped cook. I was so tired. I shouldn’t be that tired. I need to focus on the kids and delete something else from my days to give them my full attention. So we left around 5:30.
During that time, Scott called me, and we talked about the possibilities of me traveling. Austin, the volunteer, wants to go to Kumasi, so I will go with him. And the him and his roommate want to go to Mole National Park, so I will talk to them more about that and maybe making it a 4 or 5 day thing. But if it doesn’t work out, Scott said that of course I should never travel alone, agreed, and that if I wanted to travel that he would contact Jessica, another director, and travel with me. He said this would be no big deal and that she does it all the time. So I am thinking that it would be healthy for me and fun to go and see Ghana and Africa while I am here. So I might take a week to do that. What are your thoughts? I guess until I talk more with Austin, I won’t really know though.
I got home, took a shower and taught Mrs. Incoom how to make homemade French fries. Considering that I have never made them myself, they tasted pretty great. So she is excited to learn from me and I am excited to learn from her. The more I cook, the more I will know what I can cook. I will cook pancakes or mashed or baked potatoes next. Can you maybe give me some instruction mom on how to best bake or boil a potato here in Ghana? Thanks!!! So they liked it, but I loved them so much I found that I had eaten more of my portion that I should have. So I will make more soon for them.
I am now about ready to go to bed. I am tired but at least tomorrow is Thursday and after that is Friday, and we travel to the Volta region. I am excited.!!! We will leave Friday morning at 7 to take a bus to Accra then to the town I forgot where we will be staying. I will get the information to you soon. But we have our reservations for the guesthouses. We will then on Saturday do the water tour and anything else, sleep there again so we do not travel at night and then wake up Sunday morning, travel back and then go to the Cultural Center Market so that Annika can shop for some more souvenirs before she leaves. Cape Coast is expensive for souvenirs so that is a good idea.
So I was able to talk to Elvis last night. Theresea and Annika invited Elvis to go to dinner and me as well, and we picked up Austin on the way to go to Castle Restaurant. Castle restaurant is where all of the Obroni’s go. It is by the beach, has American food, had a classic hut look, and had a guy that played music for tips. He sounded like Bob Marley and played it too. Thersea tipped him 1 cedi to play No women, No cry. Or something like that.
On the drive I addressed Elvis about everything I could think of-- how the kids all have heat rash because they have no fan and how they are suffering for it. So he will get fans. How I was wondering about bringing more of God into their lives. Scripture reading is what I want to do. And also we want to teach them songs. So I will try and do that too. Then about the new orphanage being built and how much and how long it will take. It will cost 40,000-50,000 cedi to finish. But it is to pay a worker to work until the money or funds run out. So the foundation is laid but I definitely want to fundraise when I get back for it. He told me that the new Orphanage will be better. I found out that none of the kids are HIV positive, but there are Orphans in town or nearby that do, but they can’t come because there isn’t a place for them. Elvis told me that the new place will have a separate place for the HIV positive kids to be taken care of properly. So that when they are really sick, the other kids don’t have to be around. Elvis also invited me to come to him and Austin’s next school teaching about HIV awareness. I am very excited. It seems that if Scott did talk to Elvis, that it really helped remind Elvis about his responsibility with me and the other volunteers. I know how busy Elvis is and that he really is a good guy, but I am also just not the easiest person to work with. He has told me once or twice that I can always talk to him about anything. That if I have a problem to always come to him. But I have a problem going to someone that I do not know or yet trust. I am hard to work with that way because I will not openly admit when something is wrong because I just have it in my mind that it will resolve itself or that I will resolve it myself. So I am finding out that I am also at fault for a breakdown of communication. But the most important thing I found out is that Ester or anyone else is not allowed to beat the kids. If the workers, like Ester, have a problem with the kids, they are supposed to report it to him, and he will take care of the problem. But of course, realistically, it is just easier to beat the kids then and not tell Elvis rather then tell him and have him beat them later. So I will talk to him about why he feels it is okay to beat kids soon.
The other thing is that Georgina will not be coming back. She was the head lady there taking care of the kids when I came. She decided to leave for a month’s time. I already knew that she was never going to come back, but Elvis thought she would. Her husband is sick, and she needs to take care of him so he is going to find someone else. Georgina is great with kids while Ester is a little rougher and not as motherly. So I hope Elvis will find a good replacement. It will make it a lot easier on the volunteers as well too.
So for my day, I went to bed around 12 and woke up at 6:30. But I was still so tired. Today was the second most tiring day, first being when I first came here. So I was late getting up there because I now no longer have an alarm because I gave my phone alarm to Bertha to wake up at 4 in the morning now because I just sleep through it. I am going to tell her to wake me up at 6 in the morning, and I will let her have my phone in return kind of thing. I think that will work out best. So I walked up there and did the usual. Woke up kids, helped brush their teeth, make their beds, get them dressed, serve them food and then wash clothrs. Annika was not there because she has been feeling bad ever since last night. Oh and last night… HMMM the food was so good. I got charcoal-cooked chicken with coleslaw, (which I usually don’t like but I will eat kind of salad here now) and then French fries!!! And pineapple juice. There was also a British couple that came and sat down and talked with us randomly for an hour. The man was white and the woman was black and her parents are from Ghana so they are visiting them. They have been around the world and back. It was great. They had landed today and wanted just someone friendly to talk to.
So sorry, back to the rest of the story. We washed and washed about until 9:15. I got back were Mrs. Incoom had kindly cooked me rice porridge. I was supposed to cook it, but I was running late so she was awesome and started it for me. So I did that, replied to Scott’s email, did my washing and went to Asuansi to teach music. It usually is only a half an hour to drive there ,but people were trying to rip me off, called the Obroni price and then I waited for tro-tro, and it took an hour and a half to get there instead. So we started late and ended late. So I got home before 3, hurry and ate more rice, and walked to the house. Annika was still a little nauseous. But we played with the kids, and I helped cook. I was so tired. I shouldn’t be that tired. I need to focus on the kids and delete something else from my days to give them my full attention. So we left around 5:30.
During that time, Scott called me, and we talked about the possibilities of me traveling. Austin, the volunteer, wants to go to Kumasi, so I will go with him. And the him and his roommate want to go to Mole National Park, so I will talk to them more about that and maybe making it a 4 or 5 day thing. But if it doesn’t work out, Scott said that of course I should never travel alone, agreed, and that if I wanted to travel that he would contact Jessica, another director, and travel with me. He said this would be no big deal and that she does it all the time. So I am thinking that it would be healthy for me and fun to go and see Ghana and Africa while I am here. So I might take a week to do that. What are your thoughts? I guess until I talk more with Austin, I won’t really know though.
I got home, took a shower and taught Mrs. Incoom how to make homemade French fries. Considering that I have never made them myself, they tasted pretty great. So she is excited to learn from me and I am excited to learn from her. The more I cook, the more I will know what I can cook. I will cook pancakes or mashed or baked potatoes next. Can you maybe give me some instruction mom on how to best bake or boil a potato here in Ghana? Thanks!!! So they liked it, but I loved them so much I found that I had eaten more of my portion that I should have. So I will make more soon for them.
I am now about ready to go to bed. I am tired but at least tomorrow is Thursday and after that is Friday, and we travel to the Volta region. I am excited.!!! We will leave Friday morning at 7 to take a bus to Accra then to the town I forgot where we will be staying. I will get the information to you soon. But we have our reservations for the guesthouses. We will then on Saturday do the water tour and anything else, sleep there again so we do not travel at night and then wake up Sunday morning, travel back and then go to the Cultural Center Market so that Annika can shop for some more souvenirs before she leaves. Cape Coast is expensive for souvenirs so that is a good idea.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Feb. 9th--Easiest Sleep and Too Friendly
February 9th
Last night was the easiest night by far for sleeping at the House. No one cried or coughed, Co-Joe didn’t pee or poop until 5 and then Ester didn’t wake any of the kids up or started beating them. Around 5 though we got up and started to fetch water because we were completely out. So it was pitch dark and carrying water. I got a little wet. We then had the kids bathe, brush their teeth and make their beds. I fed Co-Joe and bathed him this morning. He is such a cute baby. After, Theresea left to walk the kids down but I stayed a little after to help with the other kids with Annika. I then left to walk the rest of the kids. Getting home, it was a little before 8 and Mrs. Incoom was not yet awake, so I cooked my own oats and ate that.
By 8 I was leaving and getting on a tro-tro to Cape Coast. There, while I was waiting, I hung out with the kids waiting for the bus until I left. I then took a taxi for 50 pesewas this time… expensive… to the Hospital. It was quick. It only took an hour to get the results, get my vitals, and then wait and meet with the doctor. I feel good and back to normal because of time but the lab results also showed no growth because it was a culture test or something like that. He said, if it happens again, to just come back, which I will. I then left and took another expensive taxi and decided to go buy something.
I then bought some mini donuts holes, bought some soy milk and juice because only drinking water has started to get a little boring, so I will drink juice every now and then. I then bought some yarn so I could start making bracelets here. I then bought potatoes, 2 kilos worth, to cook for my family. I will cook fries, maybe mashed potatoes or really anything that I can do without wasting too much gas.
I then took a tro-tro where, of course, I met someone that helped me awhile ago and he was so friendly, as usual. It gets a little tiring having everyone want to be your friend, but I still like it. And then it was interesting. I saw a young girl and an old women today, at separate times, that … I forgot the name… but you are born without any pigments so your hair is white and your skin is white. But anyways, I saw two people that had all the black features of Ghana, except white skin. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to be in their shoes. To be born from black parents and come out white. Some would call it witch craft maybe, the kids pick on you, people take advantage of you. The list could go on and on. But it was different, because their skin was almost like tanned from the sun but not how I tan. It was actually quite a beautiful skin color. I then got home and the door was locked again.
I dropped my stuff off at Elvis’s place and headed up to the clinic for two hours and took vitals. After, I went back, ate fried yam and headed to the House. It was a nonstop day as usual. We brought about 10 kids to the clinic to see if the rash they had was chicken pox. It was not. Christy had some weird rash and they give her a shot for it in the bum and the rest of the kids had heat rash because the house it to hot at night and they do not have a fan. It is so frustrating that the kids are in so much that they can’t sleep at night because the heat rash hurts because they don’t have a fan. So I am going to talk to Elvis about it. Also, Co-Joe hasn’t been brought to the clinic in awhile because Elvis hadn’t informed anyone that we needed to bring hom for his immunizations. So he will hopefully get his Yellow Fever and Measles this Friday, permitting if Elvis is free to do so.
I then came home and showered off. It felt so good to get off all the dirt. Oh and at the House, before we left, this guy dressed like an American gangster, sorry to be so rude and blunt about it, but he had the gold chains and hankie around his head with a hat to the side, came up to Annika and started hitting on her. She pulled the whole “I only speak German” which made me laugh. But I was starting to get uncomfortable, and I could see she was too so I stepped in and had a very cold shoulder to him as I greeted him. He then proceeded to hit on me saying “We are one, we are one. You are very nice girl. Very nice girl.” But he didn’t mean you are kind, he had an inflection in his voice on the word “nice.” So I just stopped paying attention, and he left. The kids then started to laugh, and so did we.
For tonight, Annika and Theresea invited Elvis to dinner and then invited me to come. So we will go to Cape Coast tonight ,and I also plan on talking to Elvis as well. I am just so busy and so is he that I am having a hard time talking to him now. But I must try harder because Ester hit Junior today. Junior came up to Annika and explained that he was playing with the football too close to the fire where she was cooking that she got mad and grabbed his skin above his left nipple and twisted it. He said it hurt, and I looked at it. On own skin, it would have been red and glassy and almost a bad Indian burn. For him, his skin was glassy enough that you could see where she pinched him from across the yard as he played football with the kids. So I was so angry about that but I cannot talk to Ester because she doesn’t understand English. I have to talk to Elvis. So it has to stop. Well, I hope that I well be able to talk to Elvis tonight though.
Last night was the easiest night by far for sleeping at the House. No one cried or coughed, Co-Joe didn’t pee or poop until 5 and then Ester didn’t wake any of the kids up or started beating them. Around 5 though we got up and started to fetch water because we were completely out. So it was pitch dark and carrying water. I got a little wet. We then had the kids bathe, brush their teeth and make their beds. I fed Co-Joe and bathed him this morning. He is such a cute baby. After, Theresea left to walk the kids down but I stayed a little after to help with the other kids with Annika. I then left to walk the rest of the kids. Getting home, it was a little before 8 and Mrs. Incoom was not yet awake, so I cooked my own oats and ate that.
By 8 I was leaving and getting on a tro-tro to Cape Coast. There, while I was waiting, I hung out with the kids waiting for the bus until I left. I then took a taxi for 50 pesewas this time… expensive… to the Hospital. It was quick. It only took an hour to get the results, get my vitals, and then wait and meet with the doctor. I feel good and back to normal because of time but the lab results also showed no growth because it was a culture test or something like that. He said, if it happens again, to just come back, which I will. I then left and took another expensive taxi and decided to go buy something.
I then bought some mini donuts holes, bought some soy milk and juice because only drinking water has started to get a little boring, so I will drink juice every now and then. I then bought some yarn so I could start making bracelets here. I then bought potatoes, 2 kilos worth, to cook for my family. I will cook fries, maybe mashed potatoes or really anything that I can do without wasting too much gas.
I then took a tro-tro where, of course, I met someone that helped me awhile ago and he was so friendly, as usual. It gets a little tiring having everyone want to be your friend, but I still like it. And then it was interesting. I saw a young girl and an old women today, at separate times, that … I forgot the name… but you are born without any pigments so your hair is white and your skin is white. But anyways, I saw two people that had all the black features of Ghana, except white skin. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to be in their shoes. To be born from black parents and come out white. Some would call it witch craft maybe, the kids pick on you, people take advantage of you. The list could go on and on. But it was different, because their skin was almost like tanned from the sun but not how I tan. It was actually quite a beautiful skin color. I then got home and the door was locked again.
I dropped my stuff off at Elvis’s place and headed up to the clinic for two hours and took vitals. After, I went back, ate fried yam and headed to the House. It was a nonstop day as usual. We brought about 10 kids to the clinic to see if the rash they had was chicken pox. It was not. Christy had some weird rash and they give her a shot for it in the bum and the rest of the kids had heat rash because the house it to hot at night and they do not have a fan. It is so frustrating that the kids are in so much that they can’t sleep at night because the heat rash hurts because they don’t have a fan. So I am going to talk to Elvis about it. Also, Co-Joe hasn’t been brought to the clinic in awhile because Elvis hadn’t informed anyone that we needed to bring hom for his immunizations. So he will hopefully get his Yellow Fever and Measles this Friday, permitting if Elvis is free to do so.
I then came home and showered off. It felt so good to get off all the dirt. Oh and at the House, before we left, this guy dressed like an American gangster, sorry to be so rude and blunt about it, but he had the gold chains and hankie around his head with a hat to the side, came up to Annika and started hitting on her. She pulled the whole “I only speak German” which made me laugh. But I was starting to get uncomfortable, and I could see she was too so I stepped in and had a very cold shoulder to him as I greeted him. He then proceeded to hit on me saying “We are one, we are one. You are very nice girl. Very nice girl.” But he didn’t mean you are kind, he had an inflection in his voice on the word “nice.” So I just stopped paying attention, and he left. The kids then started to laugh, and so did we.
For tonight, Annika and Theresea invited Elvis to dinner and then invited me to come. So we will go to Cape Coast tonight ,and I also plan on talking to Elvis as well. I am just so busy and so is he that I am having a hard time talking to him now. But I must try harder because Ester hit Junior today. Junior came up to Annika and explained that he was playing with the football too close to the fire where she was cooking that she got mad and grabbed his skin above his left nipple and twisted it. He said it hurt, and I looked at it. On own skin, it would have been red and glassy and almost a bad Indian burn. For him, his skin was glassy enough that you could see where she pinched him from across the yard as he played football with the kids. So I was so angry about that but I cannot talk to Ester because she doesn’t understand English. I have to talk to Elvis. So it has to stop. Well, I hope that I well be able to talk to Elvis tonight though.
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