I should 1st warn my mother not to read this blog posting, because I know she'll just be worried, so Mom, "stop reading this".
Last week was quite interesting. Lets see, Wednesday a little rock slipped into my shoe as I was running it cut the skin around my achilles tenuous and left a nice blister/cut, Thursday I fell sick again with a fever and pains all over my body (I went to get a malaria test but the lab was closed for the day), Friday, right before I went in my room to go to bed for the night, a bee came up and stung me on my face (I haven't been stung by a bee since I was probably 4 or 5), Saturday morning as I attempted to jab a knife into a can of cream to open it, I missed the can and stabbed my hand instead (I thought all my blood was coming out of my body it was bleeding so much). Then Sunday I heard the news on the radio that there is a lion on the loose near my village (there aren't even lions in this region but they're saying he came from Togo) and actually it attacked someone last week. With the luck I was having, I figured next thing to happen would be the lion attacking me. LOL. I even started to think that someone in the village put a curse on me (Speaking of curses, I'll say more about that later on in this blog). But even with all this, I am not ready to come back to America. Even yesterday I had to go in my room because my eyes started to tear up thinking about saying good-bye. I just love the people here and the peacefulness of the village life.
On a more upbeat note, yesterday I went to a dinner party at my German friends' house (the older man and his wife). The food was amazing! I wanted to be greedy and just keep eating until I couldn't eat anymore. At the dinner party was some Germans living and working in Ghana, some native Ghanaians working with them or married to the Germans, and then me, the one American. It was fun. You know I love to talk to anyone, so I just sat and talked, and ate up the good food.
Oh, so I told you I would tell you more about the curses people are putting on each other in the villages. At 1st I didn't know if I believed it or not but after hearing all the stories and even witnessing this woman who was normal when I first got to the village and now she is mad, I know that it's really happening. The mad woman is always visiting me. Last week she came to me with no shirt on, but she had placed band aids on her nipples and was walking around singing and smoking cigarettes. The kids tell me not to talk to her, but I feel bad for her. This pastor lady I know told me that the woman will be normal and then maybe once a year or once every two years she'll go mad for a couple months. The pastor said someone proposed to her a while back and she denied him and after that the man disappeared and people believe he put a curse on her. Crazy stuff.
Time is ticking away too fast. If I didn't have to come home and get a job I would definitely stay here longer. I wish everyone could come life in my village for a couple weeks and understand what I'm talking about. One thing that I think is so funny is the perception most of us as Americans have about the African continent. (That's our 1st problem is that we generalize an entire continent.) I can even say I had my own pre-notions before coming here that I quickly realized where absolutely incorrect. We buy into the stereotypes way too much. I know that one of my jobs now that I've lived in Ghana, is to share with people my experiences so they start to understand one of the African cultures better. It's a beautiful country and a beautiful culture, I hope more people take the opportunity to come see for themselves. Even last evening Guenther's wife (she's a native of Ghana) was telling me that in Germany she was taking care of an 84 year old man. He would always say to her that Africa was uncivilized and say all sorts of things that showed he believed in all the negative stereotypes. She always would tell him to come with her and she'd show him it wasn't that way. So at 84 years old, the German man decided to come with her. She said he was speechless in disbelieve when he drove around the country. He even apologized to her for all the things he had said to her about Africa. I'm not saying there isn't poverty here or children who are starving. What I am saying though, is it's not everywhere, and it doesn't make up what this country is. If someone only looked at the negative aspects of America and based their idea of our country on that, we would look pretty bad too.
Okay I need to run, so until next week I will talk to you all later.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
My depature date is nearing closer :(
I would just like to know, where did the time go??? I honestly feel like I’ve been here maybe 1 month. But soon I will be saying my very sad good-byes. Crazy!! This trip has taught me so much about life and I am beyond thankful for this opportunity. Of course there are things about home that I miss, but honestly I could stay here longer. My mind is so free here, and there so few worries. I know within hours of touching down in the US I’m going to be reminded of the chaos and worries of everyday life we focus on in the US. Gas prices, our failing economy, finding a job, what to wear, who said this and that….. But if there is one thing that I’ve learned here it is that life is short and we have to make the best of each day, and the best of this life. I’m going to try and hold on to the worry free attitude that I’ve developed here. That is not to say I won’t focus on finding a job and staying on my grind towards success, it’s just that I’m not going to worry about it, because even in the bible it says not to worry because tomorrow will worry about itself. With all this said though I’ll give you an update of my life in the village…
Last week I finished my TFA application and submitted it. THANK YOU MARISSA, ROCHELLE, ERICA, JENNIE, and BABY T for your help!!!! Love ya:) I’m thankful to have that completed and now I’m just praying that the selection committee will see my passion exemplified throughout my application and grant me an interview. I will know by February 24th so I’ll keep you posted. At this point I leave in God’s hands to handle.
Let me tell you about the gift I received yesterday that almost brought me to tears. Do you know that this young boy, probably 17 or 18 years old in my village who I’ve maybe greeted once or twice weaved 11 kente clothes for me, out of special threat he bought in Kumasi (a city that’s like 10 hours away). I had no idea that I was receiving anything at all from anyone. It was a gift from him and his family to me, so that I can make a traditional dress from it (BTW, it’s absolutely beautiful!!). If he would have sold it in the market he would have probably gotten close to 200 Ghana Cedis (which is basically 200 US dollars). I was almost brought to tears because who I am to deserve this gift from a family that isn’t starving or suffering, but who are by all means economically disadvantaged (they live in a mud hut with a grass roof). Even Fo Dela told me that no volunteer has received a gift like this before. The family that gave it to me said that they appreciated the way I’ve been free and friendly with everyone in the village. I guess this goes to show that we never know who is watching us, and who our behavior affects (whether positively or negatively).
If you’re wondering, I’m feeling 100% better now. I don’t think its malaria anymore (thank GOD!!) I most have eaten something or who knows. But do you know I stubbed my toe last week and the whole thing turned black and blue. I could barely walk for 2 days. All the children who are a little older keep telling me Africa isn’t good for me. LOL! First I got sick, then I basically broke my toe, and then last week when I washed my clothes, my skin got tanner and the kids hate that (when I’m in the sun). It’s too funny! Especially Francis, my neighbor who’s 7, he always tells me when I’m in the sun that I need to sit in the shade and that if I don’t he’ll tell Fo Dela and that Fo Dela will cane me.
Okay, so the last thing I want to say is that when I leave I don’t know what I’m going to do it. I will be so lonely. How do you go from living in a village and being surrounded by people all the time, to being in a house with 2 or 3 people? And how will I cope with not being surrounded with 10 to 20 children around me pretty much all day long? I’ve actually gotten use to the crying babies (don’t feel bad, mostly they cry cause they aren’t getting their way). It’s going to be very hard. I love my kids too much!! And I love the people in my village. I’m not looking forward to the day I say fair well:( Even though I already have a plan for coming back, it will still be really hard.
Alright, I’m all out of words. Talk to you next week. Please pray for me and the TFA application I submitted. Love ya:)
Last week I finished my TFA application and submitted it. THANK YOU MARISSA, ROCHELLE, ERICA, JENNIE, and BABY T for your help!!!! Love ya:) I’m thankful to have that completed and now I’m just praying that the selection committee will see my passion exemplified throughout my application and grant me an interview. I will know by February 24th so I’ll keep you posted. At this point I leave in God’s hands to handle.
Let me tell you about the gift I received yesterday that almost brought me to tears. Do you know that this young boy, probably 17 or 18 years old in my village who I’ve maybe greeted once or twice weaved 11 kente clothes for me, out of special threat he bought in Kumasi (a city that’s like 10 hours away). I had no idea that I was receiving anything at all from anyone. It was a gift from him and his family to me, so that I can make a traditional dress from it (BTW, it’s absolutely beautiful!!). If he would have sold it in the market he would have probably gotten close to 200 Ghana Cedis (which is basically 200 US dollars). I was almost brought to tears because who I am to deserve this gift from a family that isn’t starving or suffering, but who are by all means economically disadvantaged (they live in a mud hut with a grass roof). Even Fo Dela told me that no volunteer has received a gift like this before. The family that gave it to me said that they appreciated the way I’ve been free and friendly with everyone in the village. I guess this goes to show that we never know who is watching us, and who our behavior affects (whether positively or negatively).
If you’re wondering, I’m feeling 100% better now. I don’t think its malaria anymore (thank GOD!!) I most have eaten something or who knows. But do you know I stubbed my toe last week and the whole thing turned black and blue. I could barely walk for 2 days. All the children who are a little older keep telling me Africa isn’t good for me. LOL! First I got sick, then I basically broke my toe, and then last week when I washed my clothes, my skin got tanner and the kids hate that (when I’m in the sun). It’s too funny! Especially Francis, my neighbor who’s 7, he always tells me when I’m in the sun that I need to sit in the shade and that if I don’t he’ll tell Fo Dela and that Fo Dela will cane me.
Okay, so the last thing I want to say is that when I leave I don’t know what I’m going to do it. I will be so lonely. How do you go from living in a village and being surrounded by people all the time, to being in a house with 2 or 3 people? And how will I cope with not being surrounded with 10 to 20 children around me pretty much all day long? I’ve actually gotten use to the crying babies (don’t feel bad, mostly they cry cause they aren’t getting their way). It’s going to be very hard. I love my kids too much!! And I love the people in my village. I’m not looking forward to the day I say fair well:( Even though I already have a plan for coming back, it will still be really hard.
Alright, I’m all out of words. Talk to you next week. Please pray for me and the TFA application I submitted. Love ya:)
Monday, February 9, 2009
And I'm back bloggin...
I hope you didn't miss my blog update too much last week (joking). I was really busy both days I came into Ho because the electricity in my village was out for a whole week so I had to do a lot of typing here in the office. But I thank God cause it finally came back on Saturday!! I don't know if I have time to update you on everything that's happened since I last wrote but I'll at least tell you the as much as I can before either the internet fails, the electricity goes out, or my hand grows tired.
Last Tuesday I taught english to class 6. I was really happy that I did, because it clarify for me that if I get accepted to Teach For America (pray that I do), that I will love my job!! I might go back again tomorrow morning but I have to focus and get this application finished before Thursday so it can be finished!!
Then Friday, my Ghanaian grandmother, (I call her this because her kind heart reminds me of my grandma) had a big celebration. She is Dela's aunt but he even says she's like his 2nd mother. She had surgery and recovered so she had a three day celebration were everyone ate, danced, and praised God for her successful recovery. I can really appreciate this fact about the Ghanaian culture. They always celebrate and give thanks to God whether it's in regards to their health, the completion of a new house, or whatever. They stay thankful, it's a beautiful thing. This is one thing I know I will take as a lesson learned and put into practice as I journey back to the US.
The celebration was really nice. Her son owns the biggest hotel in our region so he's kinda a big deal. I still haven't met him yet, but I definitely spent the night at his mother's house and slept in the bed with her. You may be asking why, why did I sleep in the bed with the 80 some year old woman in her house. But Dela went to go stay with his family on night in Ho (the town I come to to use the internet) and she lives really close to him so I stayed with her. When I went to go lay on the mat on the floor she told me I could come sleep in the bed with her so I did. She is just too sweet. Well I actually don't really understand anything she says but her spirit is so kind. So Momma's party (Momma is what you call your granny in Ewe) was a big celebration with plenty of people and fun and drumming and dancing. loved it:)Oh yea, and I definitely took witness to a 4 year old taking a shot of gin. I'm absolutely not okay with this but who am I to say anything. I'll leave it at that.
Well, I loved the party until I got sick. Friday morning I was feeling a bad headache. Then my whole body was feeling extra tight and in pain, then by afternoon I had caught a fever and by 4pm my fever was up to 104. Kinda thought I was nearing death, not going to lie! To make matters worse, it was probably close to 110 degrees outside, and there was no electricity to provide me with a fan or ANYTHING cold!! Even the water from the dam was warm. I almost went to the hospital but seeing that would have entail waiting for a tro tro and then riding in a hot ass tro tro with 20 some people for 1 hour on a road that jerks your body left to right, up and down, I decided to wait on the hospital. Luckily my fever went down some before night time, but I was still hot and my room felt like a furnace. So Dela made me a bed outside and he even sat in a chair and slept out there too. It was pretty bad. But I felt fine the next morning. I'm praying it's not Malaria, cause the missionary lady told me that's a sign (the high fever coming one day and then it will leave and then a few days later return). But I'll just keep watching my health and praying.
But I need to get back to the village. The office is closing. Peace and Love.
Last Tuesday I taught english to class 6. I was really happy that I did, because it clarify for me that if I get accepted to Teach For America (pray that I do), that I will love my job!! I might go back again tomorrow morning but I have to focus and get this application finished before Thursday so it can be finished!!
Then Friday, my Ghanaian grandmother, (I call her this because her kind heart reminds me of my grandma) had a big celebration. She is Dela's aunt but he even says she's like his 2nd mother. She had surgery and recovered so she had a three day celebration were everyone ate, danced, and praised God for her successful recovery. I can really appreciate this fact about the Ghanaian culture. They always celebrate and give thanks to God whether it's in regards to their health, the completion of a new house, or whatever. They stay thankful, it's a beautiful thing. This is one thing I know I will take as a lesson learned and put into practice as I journey back to the US.
The celebration was really nice. Her son owns the biggest hotel in our region so he's kinda a big deal. I still haven't met him yet, but I definitely spent the night at his mother's house and slept in the bed with her. You may be asking why, why did I sleep in the bed with the 80 some year old woman in her house. But Dela went to go stay with his family on night in Ho (the town I come to to use the internet) and she lives really close to him so I stayed with her. When I went to go lay on the mat on the floor she told me I could come sleep in the bed with her so I did. She is just too sweet. Well I actually don't really understand anything she says but her spirit is so kind. So Momma's party (Momma is what you call your granny in Ewe) was a big celebration with plenty of people and fun and drumming and dancing. loved it:)Oh yea, and I definitely took witness to a 4 year old taking a shot of gin. I'm absolutely not okay with this but who am I to say anything. I'll leave it at that.
Well, I loved the party until I got sick. Friday morning I was feeling a bad headache. Then my whole body was feeling extra tight and in pain, then by afternoon I had caught a fever and by 4pm my fever was up to 104. Kinda thought I was nearing death, not going to lie! To make matters worse, it was probably close to 110 degrees outside, and there was no electricity to provide me with a fan or ANYTHING cold!! Even the water from the dam was warm. I almost went to the hospital but seeing that would have entail waiting for a tro tro and then riding in a hot ass tro tro with 20 some people for 1 hour on a road that jerks your body left to right, up and down, I decided to wait on the hospital. Luckily my fever went down some before night time, but I was still hot and my room felt like a furnace. So Dela made me a bed outside and he even sat in a chair and slept out there too. It was pretty bad. But I felt fine the next morning. I'm praying it's not Malaria, cause the missionary lady told me that's a sign (the high fever coming one day and then it will leave and then a few days later return). But I'll just keep watching my health and praying.
But I need to get back to the village. The office is closing. Peace and Love.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thank God for wireless internet!!!
Well I said last week that I would have more to say this week, and I do, but I'm in Accra and I need to hurry up and start my journey back to the village soon so this won't be all that detailed... Last week I finished up my 1st drafts to my TFA application (all that know me well, know that I spent hours writing it because I have A.D.D. and can't stay focused for more than 10 minutes at a time), so I'm happy to be finished with that step of the process at least. But why on Thursday after riding my bike 10 miles to town I got there and found out that the entire town had no internet service. So I met up with my German friend Guenther and his wife for a soda and got my ass back on the bike and rode 10 miles back to the village. This situation made me really, really, really, appreciate the internet in the US. Even when I left the village on Saturday to travel to Accra, I was traveling through Ho the city that I go to, to use the internet, and the internet was still out!!! Might still be out today, who knows. But I wasn't taking my chances so I just decided to use the internet in Accra before heading back.
I came to Accra this weekend to go to Dr. Mensa Otabil's church. He is a pastor here in Accra, Ghana and he and my pastor in the US are friends. Dr. Otabil came to my church before in America and my pastor comes out here I think once a year to preach at Dr. Otabil's church. But I'm really happy I made the journey because he is an amazing preacher! I'm going to try and come back at least one more time to his church but maybe even 2 more times. But I somewhat hate traveling to Accra because the drivers here are crazy!!! It was too funny coming here because I was in a big van and the driver was going soooo fast and whipping around corners, and driving like he was in a race. I was a little scared for my life, I had to say a prayer. But the funny part was when both me and the other white person reached to put on our seatbelts. All the other passengers I don't even think notice his crazy driving, but the white people (me and the other girl) were all nervous (LOL).
Okay that is where I'll leave off today. I might get to the internet on Thursday (if it's working). But otherwise God Bless you and I'll check in later!
I came to Accra this weekend to go to Dr. Mensa Otabil's church. He is a pastor here in Accra, Ghana and he and my pastor in the US are friends. Dr. Otabil came to my church before in America and my pastor comes out here I think once a year to preach at Dr. Otabil's church. But I'm really happy I made the journey because he is an amazing preacher! I'm going to try and come back at least one more time to his church but maybe even 2 more times. But I somewhat hate traveling to Accra because the drivers here are crazy!!! It was too funny coming here because I was in a big van and the driver was going soooo fast and whipping around corners, and driving like he was in a race. I was a little scared for my life, I had to say a prayer. But the funny part was when both me and the other white person reached to put on our seatbelts. All the other passengers I don't even think notice his crazy driving, but the white people (me and the other girl) were all nervous (LOL).
Okay that is where I'll leave off today. I might get to the internet on Thursday (if it's working). But otherwise God Bless you and I'll check in later!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Quick update from Ghana
So basically this is going to be a very short blog because I didn't have anytime since last Monday to write anything before I came here to Ho and I have a lot to do in the town today. Last week the kids went back to school so things have been a little quieter. Although Francis, my 7 year old neighbor didn't go to school last week for whatever reason so he kept me company, and the sad thing is, he probably learned way more staying at home sitting around the house with me then if he had gone to school. The school in our village is a joke. THe kids spend half the time fetching water and weeding the grass. A 13 year old boy that comes over every night to learn can't even spell Ghana and he goes to school everyday. So everynight I sit on the porch and any kids that come over, we sit and I teach them math and english. There's at least 4 or 5 kids everynight there waiting for me when the sun sets.
Last week I spent most my time working on this dang ol' Teach For America letter of intent and essay and i'm hoping to be finished with the 1st drafts by this Thursday. Other than that, just observing, learning, growing, being thankful, and loving life. Next week I will have more to write, but until then I'm out of time and words. I will close with saying that I'm a little sad I'm missing the big historical day tomorrow but I'm so excited that when I come home that Bush will be out and Obama will be in!!!! YAY OBAMA!!!!!
Last week I spent most my time working on this dang ol' Teach For America letter of intent and essay and i'm hoping to be finished with the 1st drafts by this Thursday. Other than that, just observing, learning, growing, being thankful, and loving life. Next week I will have more to write, but until then I'm out of time and words. I will close with saying that I'm a little sad I'm missing the big historical day tomorrow but I'm so excited that when I come home that Bush will be out and Obama will be in!!!! YAY OBAMA!!!!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
If you though this experience would change me to like manual labor, you thought wrong (LOL)
I am at my half way mark!! Wow, it's going by incredibly fast. Last week I didn't do too much of anything. One day I went with Dela to paint someone's house. I didn't mind the work so much but the fumes were getting to me a little. My eyes were burning and my nose was running. I thought, this can't be a good sign (lol). So when Dela informed me that we'd be coming back to finish the rest of the house (total of like 5 or 6 days) I had to let him know I didn't know if I was down with it. I am trying to be as open to everything as possible but when I feel like paint fumes are poisoning my body... nah, I'm okay. Then another day he went to harvest some corn and he told me he would come and get me when he needed my help, and sorry if this is going to sound bad but I was really happy that time never came. I really don't like manual labor, and no experience will change that. It's just not how God made me. If anything I've become more willing to help people do it and not complain, but I still dislike it... strongly.
On Wednesday night, Dela put me on the schedule to be the speaker for our bible study class. Although I don't really like speaking to groups of people, it definitely helps that the people I'm speaking to don't understand me that well (if at all). Dela just interpreted for me, so I figured even if I messed up or was sounding bad, he would just make it sound better when he translated it to them. So it was fine. Although, I was suppose to speak for an hour and I think it was maybe 30 minutes. But I think most people were actually happy about that.
One thing that is really interesting about my experience here is that I'm always with Dela, so I feel like I'm understanding everything more so from a man's point of view. For example, last Sunday evening the bible study class came over and all the women cooked. Since I don't really know how to cook what they were cooking and most of the women don't speak English, I just kinda sat back and watched them. Then, when some of the food was finished, the women served the men and as the men ate the women finished cooking their food. Dela invited me to eat with all the men so it was one bowl of fufu, 6 men, and me eating together. There was one bowl because like most things in the village, things are communal, even the way they eat. I don't think that I've ever seen someone eating by themselves in their home. Anyways, by the time the women started eating, they barely had any food, cause the men ate most the food. I felt bad and awkward in this situation because here I am a woman, but receiving "the rights" of a man. I wish I could understand better how it is to live as a woman here in the village. But the only way I can understand this is by observing, although my observation is limited as well, seeing that I don't speak the language and I'm not around the woman as often as I am the men. I ask Dela a lot of questions concerning how the women live and what their role is, but this is a man's point of view. Sometimes I get a sense of how it is to be a woman here from the things people (mostly men) say to me. But because I'm a foreigner, volunteering in this village, I know that they treat me different then what they treat the women of the village.
So, not a lot to tell. Just busy trying to work on these proposals for my committee and trying to get this application for Teach for America finished. Hope all is well back in the U.S. I'm a little sad I'm missing the inauguration of our new President next week but when I get back to America I'll try and watch it then, cause I know trying to watch it here is going to be way too difficult. Talk to ya'll later.
On Wednesday night, Dela put me on the schedule to be the speaker for our bible study class. Although I don't really like speaking to groups of people, it definitely helps that the people I'm speaking to don't understand me that well (if at all). Dela just interpreted for me, so I figured even if I messed up or was sounding bad, he would just make it sound better when he translated it to them. So it was fine. Although, I was suppose to speak for an hour and I think it was maybe 30 minutes. But I think most people were actually happy about that.
One thing that is really interesting about my experience here is that I'm always with Dela, so I feel like I'm understanding everything more so from a man's point of view. For example, last Sunday evening the bible study class came over and all the women cooked. Since I don't really know how to cook what they were cooking and most of the women don't speak English, I just kinda sat back and watched them. Then, when some of the food was finished, the women served the men and as the men ate the women finished cooking their food. Dela invited me to eat with all the men so it was one bowl of fufu, 6 men, and me eating together. There was one bowl because like most things in the village, things are communal, even the way they eat. I don't think that I've ever seen someone eating by themselves in their home. Anyways, by the time the women started eating, they barely had any food, cause the men ate most the food. I felt bad and awkward in this situation because here I am a woman, but receiving "the rights" of a man. I wish I could understand better how it is to live as a woman here in the village. But the only way I can understand this is by observing, although my observation is limited as well, seeing that I don't speak the language and I'm not around the woman as often as I am the men. I ask Dela a lot of questions concerning how the women live and what their role is, but this is a man's point of view. Sometimes I get a sense of how it is to be a woman here from the things people (mostly men) say to me. But because I'm a foreigner, volunteering in this village, I know that they treat me different then what they treat the women of the village.
So, not a lot to tell. Just busy trying to work on these proposals for my committee and trying to get this application for Teach for America finished. Hope all is well back in the U.S. I'm a little sad I'm missing the inauguration of our new President next week but when I get back to America I'll try and watch it then, cause I know trying to watch it here is going to be way too difficult. Talk to ya'll later.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year!
Happy 2009 everyone!!! As the new year approached, I thought of all that God has blessed me with throughout this year: each day in 2008 I woke up to see another day (365 blessing right there), I graduated (finally) from the University of Minnesota, I have traveled to safely to Africa where I’m learning and growing so much, and I have been blessed with the presents of amazing family and friends. So as I enter into this New Year I anticipate great things because God is good.
So on New Year's Eve I we went to church from 10pm to about 12:30am. It was mostly singing and dancing and giving thanks to God for bringing us safely into the New Year. The highlight of that night for me was when this man who is the father of one of my favorite kids in the village (Francis) stood up, walked to the front of the church, and gave the leaders of the church money to dance. He called them out in front of the members of the church and said “you never dance, so we want to see you dance!” He was definitely intoxicated and it was too funny. So the drummers started playing their drums and the leaders got up and danced along with the drunk man. When they were finished dancing one of the leaders said to the man, who had went back to his seat in the back of the church, “You said that you never see us dancing in church, but we never see you coming to the church?!” Everyone was laughing cause they know the man and they know he is what you might call a town drunk or I guess village drunk. So that was New Year's Eve for me. Out of the 3 holidays I spent here, for some reason I was missing my family and friends this day more than any of the others. But at the same time I felt very fortunate and happy to be in Ghana, in my village, with my people.
On New Year's Eve Day, me and Fo Dela went to Ho to do some things. When I was in the internet cafe, I saw my German friend Guenther who I forgot to tell you about in my previous blogs. He is this older man (probably like 60 or something) from Germany that has been doing work in Ghana and all over the world the last 40 years. I met him in a tro-tro coming back from Accra to Ho last month. He lives in Germany, but he and his wife have a home in Ho also (his wife is a native of Ho). He's just one of those people in this world that know all the right people and can connect you to a lot opportunity. Plus he is very nice and his stories are very interesting to listen to. So, after seeing him in the internet cafe he invited me to come have a soda with him and his wife. So we all just sat around and talked for a while. Also, before Christmas, me and Fo Dela met him for sodas and he brought me a birthday present. He gave me a book and a post card to send to my great grandmother. The reason being (for the postcard), when we were in the tro tro I was telling him that I had some German roots. He asked me if anyone in my family still spoke German and I told him that my great grandmother who is 105 is the last person I know that knew any German (although I said I was unsure of how much she knew anymore). So, on the post card he wrote a short message to her in German for me to send to her. I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful. Sometimes when I take a moment to pause and reflect about my time here, I just think about the experiences I'm having and the people I'm meeting that I would never have met otherwise. So I am very thankful.
Next point of discussion… Presidential Elections! Thinking that once my man Barack won, and I left America that the election season was over and no more campaigns... WRONG. I get to Ghana and they're Presidential election is still going. Voting was on December 7th but because no one got 50% + 1 vote, they had to have a 2nd vote with just the two main parties going head to head. So finally on December 28th they had a 2nd vote. As the votes were coming in it was looking very close, yet one party was leading by maybe .7%. So on Monday, people had already started celebrating the leading party's victory. The taxis were driving down the road waving the NDC flag and honking their horns, people were parading in the streets and stopping traffic and it was just a big celebration. Here I am thinking that FINALLY elections are over. Tuesday night however, they announced to the country that an entire region (about 20,000 people) didn't vote on the 28th of December because the supplies needed for the polling stations didn't get delivered. (The corrupt government at it's finest. Sort of reminds me of a situation we had years back in America). So then they announced that the region would vote Friday so they could declare an official winner by Saturday. So THANK GOD, Saturday about 11am, the announcement came on over the TVs and radios that NDC (similar to the democrats) won. Everyone in my village, minus 4, was for the NDC, so you can imagine it was a huge celebration. They had a bonfire, people parading up and town the street, people covered in baby powder (a sign of victory), people carrying coffins with R.I.P. NPP (the losing party), the kids dragging a wooden elephant down the road beating it with a stick (NPP's symbol), laughter, dancing, drumming, and it was just excitement and happiness everywhere. And for those 4 people whose party lost, it was too funny. All the people in the village were making fun of them and just giving them a hard time.
I could go on and tell more but I think I'm getting to a spot where most of my friends and family's are losing their attention (you know who you are, lol). Let me just say this in closing out... It is hard to believe that I've been here almost 2 months now (half way mark). I'm actually getting sad that it's going by so quick. I feel like I still have a LOT of things I want to accomplish while I'm here so please just pray for me that God gives me the resources and the ability to complete everything. I’m currently working on 3 proposals, researching funders, trying to devise a plan to get our road fixed, and also in the beginning stages of creating a new project to open up a youth center in my village (my goal is to open it in the summer of 2010). So as you can see my plate is full. So thank you for all your prayers and I just ask that you continue to pray for me, as I will continue to pray for all of you. Until next time, I’m out.
So on New Year's Eve I we went to church from 10pm to about 12:30am. It was mostly singing and dancing and giving thanks to God for bringing us safely into the New Year. The highlight of that night for me was when this man who is the father of one of my favorite kids in the village (Francis) stood up, walked to the front of the church, and gave the leaders of the church money to dance. He called them out in front of the members of the church and said “you never dance, so we want to see you dance!” He was definitely intoxicated and it was too funny. So the drummers started playing their drums and the leaders got up and danced along with the drunk man. When they were finished dancing one of the leaders said to the man, who had went back to his seat in the back of the church, “You said that you never see us dancing in church, but we never see you coming to the church?!” Everyone was laughing cause they know the man and they know he is what you might call a town drunk or I guess village drunk. So that was New Year's Eve for me. Out of the 3 holidays I spent here, for some reason I was missing my family and friends this day more than any of the others. But at the same time I felt very fortunate and happy to be in Ghana, in my village, with my people.
On New Year's Eve Day, me and Fo Dela went to Ho to do some things. When I was in the internet cafe, I saw my German friend Guenther who I forgot to tell you about in my previous blogs. He is this older man (probably like 60 or something) from Germany that has been doing work in Ghana and all over the world the last 40 years. I met him in a tro-tro coming back from Accra to Ho last month. He lives in Germany, but he and his wife have a home in Ho also (his wife is a native of Ho). He's just one of those people in this world that know all the right people and can connect you to a lot opportunity. Plus he is very nice and his stories are very interesting to listen to. So, after seeing him in the internet cafe he invited me to come have a soda with him and his wife. So we all just sat around and talked for a while. Also, before Christmas, me and Fo Dela met him for sodas and he brought me a birthday present. He gave me a book and a post card to send to my great grandmother. The reason being (for the postcard), when we were in the tro tro I was telling him that I had some German roots. He asked me if anyone in my family still spoke German and I told him that my great grandmother who is 105 is the last person I know that knew any German (although I said I was unsure of how much she knew anymore). So, on the post card he wrote a short message to her in German for me to send to her. I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful. Sometimes when I take a moment to pause and reflect about my time here, I just think about the experiences I'm having and the people I'm meeting that I would never have met otherwise. So I am very thankful.
Next point of discussion… Presidential Elections! Thinking that once my man Barack won, and I left America that the election season was over and no more campaigns... WRONG. I get to Ghana and they're Presidential election is still going. Voting was on December 7th but because no one got 50% + 1 vote, they had to have a 2nd vote with just the two main parties going head to head. So finally on December 28th they had a 2nd vote. As the votes were coming in it was looking very close, yet one party was leading by maybe .7%. So on Monday, people had already started celebrating the leading party's victory. The taxis were driving down the road waving the NDC flag and honking their horns, people were parading in the streets and stopping traffic and it was just a big celebration. Here I am thinking that FINALLY elections are over. Tuesday night however, they announced to the country that an entire region (about 20,000 people) didn't vote on the 28th of December because the supplies needed for the polling stations didn't get delivered. (The corrupt government at it's finest. Sort of reminds me of a situation we had years back in America). So then they announced that the region would vote Friday so they could declare an official winner by Saturday. So THANK GOD, Saturday about 11am, the announcement came on over the TVs and radios that NDC (similar to the democrats) won. Everyone in my village, minus 4, was for the NDC, so you can imagine it was a huge celebration. They had a bonfire, people parading up and town the street, people covered in baby powder (a sign of victory), people carrying coffins with R.I.P. NPP (the losing party), the kids dragging a wooden elephant down the road beating it with a stick (NPP's symbol), laughter, dancing, drumming, and it was just excitement and happiness everywhere. And for those 4 people whose party lost, it was too funny. All the people in the village were making fun of them and just giving them a hard time.
I could go on and tell more but I think I'm getting to a spot where most of my friends and family's are losing their attention (you know who you are, lol). Let me just say this in closing out... It is hard to believe that I've been here almost 2 months now (half way mark). I'm actually getting sad that it's going by so quick. I feel like I still have a LOT of things I want to accomplish while I'm here so please just pray for me that God gives me the resources and the ability to complete everything. I’m currently working on 3 proposals, researching funders, trying to devise a plan to get our road fixed, and also in the beginning stages of creating a new project to open up a youth center in my village (my goal is to open it in the summer of 2010). So as you can see my plate is full. So thank you for all your prayers and I just ask that you continue to pray for me, as I will continue to pray for all of you. Until next time, I’m out.
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