Not Exactly weekly but . . .

Hello! I’m back. I’ve been with the children where there is no internet café. Today after about an hour ride on a tro-tro I am in Kofuridua and trying to catch up. The kids all enjoyed their outing to Suhum. I told them they had to buy at least one “thing” with their money. It could be clothes, shoes, books, a game etc. I was thinking of a game as a board game where multiple people would play together. That just shows that I’m old. The kids found electronic games and bought them. I convinced them the batteries would last longer if the sound was muted so I didn’t have to hear too much of the beeps and such. They all wrote about their trips to Suhum but I don’t have them with me so that will have to come another time.

A few things that have happened that made me laugh follow:
*) Two little girls, 3-4 years old I’d guess, saw me and started asking me questions in Twi of course. I didn’t understand and shrugged my shoulders. They laughed and shrugged their shoulders back at me. We did this for a while. Then the girls spread their arms full out (I copied them) and clapped again I copied them. They then put their arms not quite all the way out and clapped. They kept this up until I was able to follow their lead and clap normally. They were very pleased with themselves for having been able to teach me to clap! I realized I was just like the monkeys in the zoo – very entertaining and teachable.
*) On a trip to Suhum after everyone had finished their meal I asked if anyone could eat more. Benjamin replied, “I can if I loosen my belt.”
*) Kwaku was talking to Evans one morning and asked, “Have you brushed your teeth?” Evans replied no. Kwaku said, “Ah, then why are you just standing there?” Evans burst out laughing and I said do you think he may have heard that a time or two himself?
*) Another day Kwaku asked me if I liked bread. I said yes I do. He smiled and replied, “There’s bread in the mother’s room”. He was disappointed with my reply. Instead of going to get us both some bread, I said that it would taste very good tomorrow with our breakfast.
*) Evans was talking to the children and asked them if they missed anything about their previous home. Most replied they missed their friends. Father John said, “I miss my shoe.” When he was packing he left one shoe and he is still missing it!

The children have just finished their break from term two and have returned to school. They will get their report cards at the end of this week and I’ll let you know how they are doing. For now I have to brag about Patience. As a new student starting JHS she was put into the B (lower) class. At the end of the first term she was moved to the A (upper) class. She is doing well overall but does not have the background in science. Sir George, is tutoring her on the weekends so she can catch up.

There is a little news on the fish farm. Mostly things are moving slooooooooowly.
*) The survey is complete and the farm size is 7.7 acres.
*) The EPA report is in progress but not ready to submit for their approval.
*) I will be going to the Ghana Water Resource Institute, WRI, on Monday. We will be discussing my doing an internship with them. I hope to be able to work/study at WRI for 3 months.
*) The WRI has boarding facilities and is setup for students to learn practical applications of farming as well as for grad students and professors to do research studies.
*) I had hoped to also spend time on a working farm. That is not going to be possible. No one wants to train their competition. How strange!

I don’t have my own computer with me so no pictures this time. Hopefully, sometime next week I’ll be in Accra and able to upload pictures. Until then, take care and God Bless you.