28 January 2006
Pictures
Here are two pictures of some of the houses in the village.
Here is the school currently being used for the primary students. When the new school is completed this will become a vocational school.
Here are my two African "daughters" Myrte and Anne Kristen.
Week 1 at the Home
I have been at the orphanage home for one week now. It is HOT, HOT, HOT and HUMID, HUMID, HUMID and did I mention HOT? So, what I've been doing is sweating and sitting and talking and talking and talking. I will try to upload some pictures from Brother Evans. In Ghana, people of your own generation are referred to as Brother or Sister, the generation of your parents are your Aunties and Uncles. Brother Evans is also the papa to the children since he is the male who provides the financial support for the children. His degree is in social work. He has decided to volunteer 10 years to help the children and then go get a job where he can make money and start his own family.
I'm not the best writer but I'll try my best to describe what I've seen and life here.
First the small village is between Accra and Cape Coast close to Kasoa. You can try to find these I don't know where they are myself. The village is also about 15 miles in from the sea so we get all the dust and humidity without the beach. We are planning a trip to the beach one day though. After you pass through Kasoa you turn onto a dirt road that would be unpassable during or right after a rain. It is rough and rutted. Since we are driving in cars, not trucks, we scrape the bottom every so often. After about 45 minutes on this road we arrive at the orphanage.
The orphanage compound is on the outskirts of the village. The village itself has the traditional mud huts with thatched roofs. There are approximately 1200 people in the village and surrounding area. The children from the village and the home go to the primary school that is in the compound. The school was built by the same foundation that has the home. There is a new school being built that will be the primary school. The building currently used for the primary school will become a vocational school for older children from the villages to learn carpentry, sewing, masonry etc.
I am living at the home with two young women (18 and 19 years old) from Holland named Myrte and Anne Kristen. (Sorry for the spelling.) I have my own room and bed. My two "daughters" share a room and each have their own beds. There is a bathroom inside the home for the two orphanage mothers Sylvia and Beatrice and the volunteers to use. It has a toilet that you flush with a bucket of water. It has a shower stall where you take your bucket bath. It is the most luxurious bathroom in the village. (In reality the mothers do not use this bathroom it is only used by the volunteers.) Sylvia is the hardest working person I have ever met in my life. This includes both my workaholic husband and eldest sister! She is on the go from 5 am until 8 pm every day. Cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, looking after the children, going to the market, etc. You name it, Sylvia does it. Beatrice is also non-stop busy. Sylvia cooks inside the house for the volunteers on a gas stove with a cylinder for fuel. Beatrice cooks for the children over a fire outside. I've suggested that when we are eating the same items only one of them cook in one spot but that is not the way it is done. They must do things as they are told and as they know so . . . . .
The children in the home are wonderful. They range from age 6 to age 12 with a 2 year old son of Beatrice also staying here. They are happy, healthy and oh so eager to learn. There were two previous volunteers from Holland who have left. We were writing them letters. The typical letter went as follows:
Dear Kim and Pieter,
How are you? How are your parents? I am fine. I want a reading book. God Bless you. Are you coming back to Ghana? When you get alot of money please buy me something. Love From, name of child
The children have photos of Kim and Pieter and enjoy showing them to us and telling us about Kim and Pieter. I am constantly amazed at how strong the children are. I look at their little bodies and am amazed by their muscles! When you read about their day you will understand why they are so muscular.
Typical weekday in the life of the orphanage children:
*) Wake up at 5 am. Do their morning chores. All children (except the two year old who follows his brothers around trying to help) have a job. They sweep the inside of the house, the patio where we eat and the compound itself. They must sweep the compound to not get a layer of leaves where insects or snakes could hide.
*) After their morning chores are complete, they go to the water tank ( a big under ground cement tank) and using a bucket draw up the water they need for their bath. Six year old Suzanna stands on her tippy toes and bends over at the waist to reach down in and get the water. She amazes me. Once they have enough water in their bucket, they go around to the back of the home for some privacy and take their bucket bath. They they hang their towels and wash cloths on the line to dry. They now dress in their school uniforms.
*) Once they are dressed for school they eat their breakfast. They give their dirty dishes to one child to do the clean up. (Jobs change weekly so everyone learns how to do everything. (I'm sure Suzanna does not do dishes because she is not tall enough to reach!)
*) The school day is from 8:00-1:30 with two breaks. During the breaks the children play and go home to eat or drink. There is no water and no bathroom at the school. Children who live far from the school must just wait until they get home to get a drink of water.
*) After school the children come home and change into their home clothes. They hang their school uniforms on the line to air out and be fresh for the next school day. They eat their lunch and then play until 4:00.
*) At 4:00 they can start reading and writing with the volunteers. Unlike the children, after being at school all morning we need a break! Myrte and Anne Kristen thought they were going to be working at an orphanage. They are but they are also teaching Class 1 (same as our first grade). However in with class 1 is the nursery age children. Try teaching first grade students when you don't know their language and their younger brothers and sisters are also in the class moving around or crying.
*) Back to the orphanage children. They read and write with us. They then have their evening meal. After eating they do their night time chores. Again the sweeping, dusting and dishes.
*) Lastly, they draw their water and have their evening baths. They play and relax until 7:30 when their mothers send them to bed for the night.
Yes, the children bathe twice a day and draw their bath water into their buckets to do so. The morning bath is because everyone knows it is important to be clean and neat for school. The evening bath is to wash off the dirt from playing all day and be nice and cool for the night's rest. Kofi, the two year old, also bathes twice but his mother helps him both times. Suzanna, the next youngest at age 6, takes one bath by herself and her mother helps her with the other one. This way the mothers are sure she is nice and clean and knows how to wash herself.
On Saturday the day begins the same but instead of going to school the weekly laundry is done. The children draw the water for their laundry and hand wash their own clothes. They wash their house clothes, their bedding, their towels and school uniforms. Sylvia washes for herself and the volunteers. We will learn how to be of some help soon. Beatrice washes the kitchen towels etc., as well as her clothes and her son's clothes. In addition to laundry the weekly cleaning is also done, the floors are washed, the windows wiped down, any extra cleaning that needs doing is done on Saturday. After the chores are complete Saturday is a day of playing.
On Sunday the day begins the same with chores and a bath followed by dressing for church. A previous volunteer sent money for new church clothes and all the children look so very cute and smart in their Sunday best. My daughters have pictures from last Sunday so I'll upload a picture later since they are not with me at this internet cafe. Last Sunday Kofi was the last one dressed and looked so funny and cute marching ahead to lead the way taking Myrte and Anne Kristen to church. His mothers and I laughed and laughed. I will attend church this Sunday. Last Sunday I was busy talking with the mothers about things they need for the home.
After church the children change into their home clothes, read, write and play. They run around and don't even know I am burning up just watching them!
I am going to have another blog of items needed by the village, school and home. Basically it is cash money. Everything can be purchased here in Ghana. The prices on everything I have seen is less in Ghana than in the US with the exception of electronics. Cell phones, digital cameras and computers cost more here. Everything else costs less. For example, I can buy a toothbrush for about ¢3,000 approximately 0.35 US Dollars. It costs $245 USD to ship 70 pounds to Ghana through the US mail. Using any other shipping method is more expensive. So, unless it is something free and light, money into my account is best. I'll point to my new blog from this blog as soon as it is up. In the meantime, start saving your money for me.
I'm not the best writer but I'll try my best to describe what I've seen and life here.
First the small village is between Accra and Cape Coast close to Kasoa. You can try to find these I don't know where they are myself. The village is also about 15 miles in from the sea so we get all the dust and humidity without the beach. We are planning a trip to the beach one day though. After you pass through Kasoa you turn onto a dirt road that would be unpassable during or right after a rain. It is rough and rutted. Since we are driving in cars, not trucks, we scrape the bottom every so often. After about 45 minutes on this road we arrive at the orphanage.
The orphanage compound is on the outskirts of the village. The village itself has the traditional mud huts with thatched roofs. There are approximately 1200 people in the village and surrounding area. The children from the village and the home go to the primary school that is in the compound. The school was built by the same foundation that has the home. There is a new school being built that will be the primary school. The building currently used for the primary school will become a vocational school for older children from the villages to learn carpentry, sewing, masonry etc.
I am living at the home with two young women (18 and 19 years old) from Holland named Myrte and Anne Kristen. (Sorry for the spelling.) I have my own room and bed. My two "daughters" share a room and each have their own beds. There is a bathroom inside the home for the two orphanage mothers Sylvia and Beatrice and the volunteers to use. It has a toilet that you flush with a bucket of water. It has a shower stall where you take your bucket bath. It is the most luxurious bathroom in the village. (In reality the mothers do not use this bathroom it is only used by the volunteers.) Sylvia is the hardest working person I have ever met in my life. This includes both my workaholic husband and eldest sister! She is on the go from 5 am until 8 pm every day. Cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, looking after the children, going to the market, etc. You name it, Sylvia does it. Beatrice is also non-stop busy. Sylvia cooks inside the house for the volunteers on a gas stove with a cylinder for fuel. Beatrice cooks for the children over a fire outside. I've suggested that when we are eating the same items only one of them cook in one spot but that is not the way it is done. They must do things as they are told and as they know so . . . . .
The children in the home are wonderful. They range from age 6 to age 12 with a 2 year old son of Beatrice also staying here. They are happy, healthy and oh so eager to learn. There were two previous volunteers from Holland who have left. We were writing them letters. The typical letter went as follows:
Dear Kim and Pieter,
How are you? How are your parents? I am fine. I want a reading book. God Bless you. Are you coming back to Ghana? When you get alot of money please buy me something. Love From, name of child
The children have photos of Kim and Pieter and enjoy showing them to us and telling us about Kim and Pieter. I am constantly amazed at how strong the children are. I look at their little bodies and am amazed by their muscles! When you read about their day you will understand why they are so muscular.
Typical weekday in the life of the orphanage children:
*) Wake up at 5 am. Do their morning chores. All children (except the two year old who follows his brothers around trying to help) have a job. They sweep the inside of the house, the patio where we eat and the compound itself. They must sweep the compound to not get a layer of leaves where insects or snakes could hide.
*) After their morning chores are complete, they go to the water tank ( a big under ground cement tank) and using a bucket draw up the water they need for their bath. Six year old Suzanna stands on her tippy toes and bends over at the waist to reach down in and get the water. She amazes me. Once they have enough water in their bucket, they go around to the back of the home for some privacy and take their bucket bath. They they hang their towels and wash cloths on the line to dry. They now dress in their school uniforms.
*) Once they are dressed for school they eat their breakfast. They give their dirty dishes to one child to do the clean up. (Jobs change weekly so everyone learns how to do everything. (I'm sure Suzanna does not do dishes because she is not tall enough to reach!)
*) The school day is from 8:00-1:30 with two breaks. During the breaks the children play and go home to eat or drink. There is no water and no bathroom at the school. Children who live far from the school must just wait until they get home to get a drink of water.
*) After school the children come home and change into their home clothes. They hang their school uniforms on the line to air out and be fresh for the next school day. They eat their lunch and then play until 4:00.
*) At 4:00 they can start reading and writing with the volunteers. Unlike the children, after being at school all morning we need a break! Myrte and Anne Kristen thought they were going to be working at an orphanage. They are but they are also teaching Class 1 (same as our first grade). However in with class 1 is the nursery age children. Try teaching first grade students when you don't know their language and their younger brothers and sisters are also in the class moving around or crying.
*) Back to the orphanage children. They read and write with us. They then have their evening meal. After eating they do their night time chores. Again the sweeping, dusting and dishes.
*) Lastly, they draw their water and have their evening baths. They play and relax until 7:30 when their mothers send them to bed for the night.
Yes, the children bathe twice a day and draw their bath water into their buckets to do so. The morning bath is because everyone knows it is important to be clean and neat for school. The evening bath is to wash off the dirt from playing all day and be nice and cool for the night's rest. Kofi, the two year old, also bathes twice but his mother helps him both times. Suzanna, the next youngest at age 6, takes one bath by herself and her mother helps her with the other one. This way the mothers are sure she is nice and clean and knows how to wash herself.
On Saturday the day begins the same but instead of going to school the weekly laundry is done. The children draw the water for their laundry and hand wash their own clothes. They wash their house clothes, their bedding, their towels and school uniforms. Sylvia washes for herself and the volunteers. We will learn how to be of some help soon. Beatrice washes the kitchen towels etc., as well as her clothes and her son's clothes. In addition to laundry the weekly cleaning is also done, the floors are washed, the windows wiped down, any extra cleaning that needs doing is done on Saturday. After the chores are complete Saturday is a day of playing.
On Sunday the day begins the same with chores and a bath followed by dressing for church. A previous volunteer sent money for new church clothes and all the children look so very cute and smart in their Sunday best. My daughters have pictures from last Sunday so I'll upload a picture later since they are not with me at this internet cafe. Last Sunday Kofi was the last one dressed and looked so funny and cute marching ahead to lead the way taking Myrte and Anne Kristen to church. His mothers and I laughed and laughed. I will attend church this Sunday. Last Sunday I was busy talking with the mothers about things they need for the home.
After church the children change into their home clothes, read, write and play. They run around and don't even know I am burning up just watching them!
I am going to have another blog of items needed by the village, school and home. Basically it is cash money. Everything can be purchased here in Ghana. The prices on everything I have seen is less in Ghana than in the US with the exception of electronics. Cell phones, digital cameras and computers cost more here. Everything else costs less. For example, I can buy a toothbrush for about ¢3,000 approximately 0.35 US Dollars. It costs $245 USD to ship 70 pounds to Ghana through the US mail. Using any other shipping method is more expensive. So, unless it is something free and light, money into my account is best. I'll point to my new blog from this blog as soon as it is up. In the meantime, start saving your money for me.
18 January 2006
Change in Plans
Guess what? I'm not going to Kumasi, I am going to Gomoa Nkwantanag. I have no idea how to pronounce it. Tina, the SYTO coordinator, asked me if I would go here when she saw my face when she said that the orphans did not always get enough to eat. She knows a Big Mama will feed the children. There are 2 of my babies going here also. They will keep the kids bellies full. Tina asked me to go to work at the school. The elementary school has 3 teachers instead of 6 and almost no supplies. So my girls will be working at the orphanage and I will be at the school.
Here's what I know about Gomoa.
*) It is somewhere between Accra and Tema.
*) It is a small village of about 150-200 people.
*) The only electricity is in the orphanage and it is solar powered. Hopefully, there is sufficient lighting etc. but??
*) The water is taken from a pump in the village.
*) Twice a week we walk to the market to purchase food. It is about 3 miles round trip and you are carrying groceries on the return journey.
*) To get to the internet you walk to the small town also.
*) The only people who speak English are the teachers who come from another town. I know much less Twi than either David or Soo-Hyun knew English when them came to Tucson. I will be living with a woman who speaks no English. So, this will be my chance to feel what my ex-change students have gone through coming to Tucson.
*) The children are suppose to learn English from their teachers. So they will have some Engligh but very few if any go to school beyond grade 6.
*) There is no shower only a bucket for washing.
So, instead of the big city with all the conveniences I will be in a small village with no modern anything. It is exciting and crazy and stupid all at the same time. I told Tina she could just send the junk I brought and I would still go to Kumasi, but she said they really needed teachers here and the place in Kumasi has alot of support already. Soooo I'm off to Gomoa. Until today, I did not even know what the name of the place was.
On Friday we leave for our placements. Tina said that the first week is the worst. The poverty is incredible where we're going. There may be only one book for the whole class to use for reading or math or whatever the subject is. She said we should just copy the assignment or reading material onto the board so all the kids can see it.
Anybody want to guess what I'm going to be requesting?? Not yet, my plan is to give the teachers everything I currently have from home to use. Then I will wait at least two weeks seeing how the teachers work before doing anything else. I have heard some horror stories about some teachers in remote areas. We'll see what I encounter.
Here's what I know about Gomoa.
*) It is somewhere between Accra and Tema.
*) It is a small village of about 150-200 people.
*) The only electricity is in the orphanage and it is solar powered. Hopefully, there is sufficient lighting etc. but??
*) The water is taken from a pump in the village.
*) Twice a week we walk to the market to purchase food. It is about 3 miles round trip and you are carrying groceries on the return journey.
*) To get to the internet you walk to the small town also.
*) The only people who speak English are the teachers who come from another town. I know much less Twi than either David or Soo-Hyun knew English when them came to Tucson. I will be living with a woman who speaks no English. So, this will be my chance to feel what my ex-change students have gone through coming to Tucson.
*) The children are suppose to learn English from their teachers. So they will have some Engligh but very few if any go to school beyond grade 6.
*) There is no shower only a bucket for washing.
So, instead of the big city with all the conveniences I will be in a small village with no modern anything. It is exciting and crazy and stupid all at the same time. I told Tina she could just send the junk I brought and I would still go to Kumasi, but she said they really needed teachers here and the place in Kumasi has alot of support already. Soooo I'm off to Gomoa. Until today, I did not even know what the name of the place was.
On Friday we leave for our placements. Tina said that the first week is the worst. The poverty is incredible where we're going. There may be only one book for the whole class to use for reading or math or whatever the subject is. She said we should just copy the assignment or reading material onto the board so all the kids can see it.
Anybody want to guess what I'm going to be requesting?? Not yet, my plan is to give the teachers everything I currently have from home to use. Then I will wait at least two weeks seeing how the teachers work before doing anything else. I have heard some horror stories about some teachers in remote areas. We'll see what I encounter.
Orientation at SYTO
Today is day 3 of the orientation so I'll give you the highlights so far:
*) I'm the oldest person of the group by enough to be the mother of all. Many of the volunteers are right out of high school and having a year off before starting college. They're so young to be so far away from home.
*) We had health and safety tips. Eat only cooked food, drink only bottled water, use sunscreen and mosquito repellent, sleep under a mosquito net.
*) We had a day going through the main market in Accra. The isles are small as can be at times only wide enough for one person to go around a corner and there were 16 of us staying together. All the Ghanaians were yelling hello, welcome, where are you from. I was give the name "Big Mama" by one vendor. I loved it. Whenever anyone would ask me my name from then on I answered Big Mama.
*) We went to the art center and saw drumming and dancing. The dancer would do a pelvic thrust at the end of his dance in front of the woman who he was dancing in front of. When he got to the end of his dance in front of one of "my babies" I put my hat in front of her eyes so she did not see. Everyone laughed. He then came to dance for me. When he thrust his "manhood" I thrust back my "womanhood" (my chest since I was seated). Again alot of hooting and laughing by all. The dancer would get different people to dance with him, I declined only because it was too hot. When he was dancing with one of "my babies" when he did his thrust I stood up and spanked his butt with my hat not my hand. (With as cute as his dancer butt was that was showing real restraint.) He asked me didn't I want him to dance with my daughters and I said not that way with my babies only my older girls. Of course the men watching loved the fact that he was reprimanded by Big Mama for his actions. Many of the men of course want to date and marry these beautiful rich white women and go home with them to Holland, Norway, Belgium, etc.. I told all the men to have their mother's call and talk to me and we would discuss whether or not they were allowed to date my daughters. No mothers called but one man did show up that evening wishing to talk to me. I was too tired so he didn't get the chance.
*) Today we had orientation in the language Twi. I am oh so not a linguist and oh so very lost! We then had a lesson in drumming and native dancing. There were no pelvic thrusts in this dance. I believe the other dance was meant to be a man's dance to prove his manlihood or to try to find a love. SYTO would certainly not have that taught to the volunteers!
*) The orientation is going very well overall. It is fun. I like everyone here.
*) I'm the oldest person of the group by enough to be the mother of all. Many of the volunteers are right out of high school and having a year off before starting college. They're so young to be so far away from home.
*) We had health and safety tips. Eat only cooked food, drink only bottled water, use sunscreen and mosquito repellent, sleep under a mosquito net.
*) We had a day going through the main market in Accra. The isles are small as can be at times only wide enough for one person to go around a corner and there were 16 of us staying together. All the Ghanaians were yelling hello, welcome, where are you from. I was give the name "Big Mama" by one vendor. I loved it. Whenever anyone would ask me my name from then on I answered Big Mama.
*) We went to the art center and saw drumming and dancing. The dancer would do a pelvic thrust at the end of his dance in front of the woman who he was dancing in front of. When he got to the end of his dance in front of one of "my babies" I put my hat in front of her eyes so she did not see. Everyone laughed. He then came to dance for me. When he thrust his "manhood" I thrust back my "womanhood" (my chest since I was seated). Again alot of hooting and laughing by all. The dancer would get different people to dance with him, I declined only because it was too hot. When he was dancing with one of "my babies" when he did his thrust I stood up and spanked his butt with my hat not my hand. (With as cute as his dancer butt was that was showing real restraint.) He asked me didn't I want him to dance with my daughters and I said not that way with my babies only my older girls. Of course the men watching loved the fact that he was reprimanded by Big Mama for his actions. Many of the men of course want to date and marry these beautiful rich white women and go home with them to Holland, Norway, Belgium, etc.. I told all the men to have their mother's call and talk to me and we would discuss whether or not they were allowed to date my daughters. No mothers called but one man did show up that evening wishing to talk to me. I was too tired so he didn't get the chance.
*) Today we had orientation in the language Twi. I am oh so not a linguist and oh so very lost! We then had a lesson in drumming and native dancing. There were no pelvic thrusts in this dance. I believe the other dance was meant to be a man's dance to prove his manlihood or to try to find a love. SYTO would certainly not have that taught to the volunteers!
*) The orientation is going very well overall. It is fun. I like everyone here.
15 January 2006
I'm Here
I arrived in Ghana Saturday morning about 1:00am for a total of 30 hours of travel time. All went well but I was exhausted. I am in a dormitory setting with 3 other young women. Two are from Norway and one is from the Netherlands. They are very young and sweet and kind.
Here are a few funny things I have seen or heard:
*) "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude or anything but doesn't SYTO . . . ." and I started laughing. Rico, my roommate, was referring to the fact that I am now only 35 years old because that is the oldest age for the SYTO program. Yes, I am old enough to be the mother of all my roommates. I have told them what I can but remind them that I have only been in the country for 24 hours longer than they have so I really don't know anything.
*) Sitting on the terrace at the Pink Hostel I heard a vehicle with speaking coming out of the megaphones mounted to the top. I assumed it was a political message of some kind. When I saw the van it had the words in English about some medicine that cures "Worms, seizures, stomach problems, asthmas as well as a good laxative". This is the modern day equivalent of the charlatan on the carriage selling miracle cures.
*) A little girl, aged 5-7 I guess, was proudly walking down the street wearing her mother's high heel shoes.
I have also seen many interesting sights from the patio.
*) Ladies walking down the street carrying their loads on their heads (bananas, onions and things in bags that I couldn't see)
*) Beautiful, colorful clothing on many people.
*) Boring, western clothing on many people also.
*) Taxis especially, but almost all cars, beep when they see people on the street. (No, not me I am sitting on the patio, native people). I've decided the beep means a car is coming step out of the way. Taxi beeps also mean do you want a ride?
Tomorrow starts the SYTO orientation, I'll fill you in on that later.
P.S.
*) Yes, I realize I really am a geek because I have to use bullets to write notes.
*) I can definitely get pictures developed and placed onto a CD so I will have pictures LATER. I'm saving the two disponsable cameras I have until I find more or until I get to the orphanage, whichevert comes first.
Here are a few funny things I have seen or heard:
*) "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude or anything but doesn't SYTO . . . ." and I started laughing. Rico, my roommate, was referring to the fact that I am now only 35 years old because that is the oldest age for the SYTO program. Yes, I am old enough to be the mother of all my roommates. I have told them what I can but remind them that I have only been in the country for 24 hours longer than they have so I really don't know anything.
*) Sitting on the terrace at the Pink Hostel I heard a vehicle with speaking coming out of the megaphones mounted to the top. I assumed it was a political message of some kind. When I saw the van it had the words in English about some medicine that cures "Worms, seizures, stomach problems, asthmas as well as a good laxative". This is the modern day equivalent of the charlatan on the carriage selling miracle cures.
*) A little girl, aged 5-7 I guess, was proudly walking down the street wearing her mother's high heel shoes.
I have also seen many interesting sights from the patio.
*) Ladies walking down the street carrying their loads on their heads (bananas, onions and things in bags that I couldn't see)
*) Beautiful, colorful clothing on many people.
*) Boring, western clothing on many people also.
*) Taxis especially, but almost all cars, beep when they see people on the street. (No, not me I am sitting on the patio, native people). I've decided the beep means a car is coming step out of the way. Taxi beeps also mean do you want a ride?
Tomorrow starts the SYTO orientation, I'll fill you in on that later.
P.S.
*) Yes, I realize I really am a geek because I have to use bullets to write notes.
*) I can definitely get pictures developed and placed onto a CD so I will have pictures LATER. I'm saving the two disponsable cameras I have until I find more or until I get to the orphanage, whichevert comes first.
10 January 2006
Thanks Friends
If you ever want to be treated like a queen, let everyone know you're leaving the country. In this last week I've been given books, flowers, candy, money, lunches, hugs and kisses. It has been wonderful! Thanks for these is sent out to Sunny, Pamala, Mari, Rose, Joy and Linda.
Also thanks for listening to everyone I ran into who listened to me freaking out about going away and being gone for 4 months. I can't put down all your names because there are so many of you and some of you were too scared to tell me your name. Just a hint, don't chase after people asking them their names, most scared people can run super fast. Thanks any way.
Also thanks for listening to everyone I ran into who listened to me freaking out about going away and being gone for 4 months. I can't put down all your names because there are so many of you and some of you were too scared to tell me your name. Just a hint, don't chase after people asking them their names, most scared people can run super fast. Thanks any way.
09 January 2006
Two Days to Lift-Off
I'm out of here in two days. Yes, I'm scared and freaked out and anxious and excited and thrilled all at the same time.
Thanks to Pamala I'm all packed. At one point Pamala said to me, "If you just leave these pencils behind, I have everything else packed." I replied, "But what about this?" We both started laughing because two suitcases were full and we hadn't packed any of MY things (like clothes) yet. So, I'm heading out with 3 suitcases to check, one carry on and one full purse.
Luckily, I'm being met at the airport in Accra and then at the bus station in Kumasi so I won't have to lug this stuff by myself.
I have nothing else to write because I've lost my brain. I hope to find it in Accra. If you should find it, please return since it may be old but its been rarely used. One of my favorite sayings goes "Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most."
Thanks to Pamala I'm all packed. At one point Pamala said to me, "If you just leave these pencils behind, I have everything else packed." I replied, "But what about this?" We both started laughing because two suitcases were full and we hadn't packed any of MY things (like clothes) yet. So, I'm heading out with 3 suitcases to check, one carry on and one full purse.
Luckily, I'm being met at the airport in Accra and then at the bus station in Kumasi so I won't have to lug this stuff by myself.
I have nothing else to write because I've lost my brain. I hope to find it in Accra. If you should find it, please return since it may be old but its been rarely used. One of my favorite sayings goes "Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most."
04 January 2006
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