Week 7
Anne Christien said we have been in Ghana for 8 weeks now. This means we have been at the home for 7 weeks. Really? That seems like a really long time but it feels like we arrived yesterday. I have lost any and all sense of time so I am turning into a Ghanaian. There is the present and the past and the future will take care of itself when it arrives.
Sleepless Nights
What do you do when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep? Read? No books? Watch TV? No way, you'll wake up Mother Sylvia who works way too hard in the day to be awakened in the middle of the night! So you stare at the walls. It was while doing this I realized one reason why I feel so comfortable here. The rooms are just like in Old Bisbee. The floor is bare; nothing is square; the wiring is on the outside of the wall; and there are no closets. Just like my old house! Bisbee was one of my past experiences training me for Ghana. By the way don't feel too sorry for my sleepless night. I had slept too much for two nights running so on the third night I couldn't stay asleep. Oh poor me!
TV watching Family
The other night night I was watching everyone watching TV (Myrte and Anne-Christien excluded, they were in Accra to pick up Theo and Sanders. So, this stuff was written on paper just didn't make it to the internet until today). The show was in Twi so I wasn't distracted from watching the family. There were children in chairs, on the sofa, lying on the floor and each other. When someone on a chair left to get a drink, another person nabbed the chair. The older children could understand the jokes and would laugh followed by the younger kids laughing a few beats behind. There were also times when everyone was talking and no one could posssibly hear the television. Tis continued until Mother Sylvia sent the children to bed. It was a repeat of TV watchin in my house as a child just with different children in Ghana.
Water Filter
As you saw in a picture the ceramic water filter has been purchased. The box says the ceramic part is a 0.2 micron filter. There is also a second filter made up of carbon, sand and stones. The brand name is Safia and it is made in Korea. The salesman said you need to replace both filters every 7 months. The box itself does not specify length of time or number of litres of water that can be filtered. The ceramic filter box says it can be cleaned if it is clogged. Mother Sylvia is cleaning it once a week to keep it from clogging. Pamala or Kevin will you see if you can find out anything on the internet about this water filter and how often the filters need replacing? There is no part number on the box. It has a 12 litre capacity and that's everything I know. If you can't find anythng, I'll just ask Sister Sylvia to replace both filters every 3 months for me.
Funnies
*) The other day I say a chicken sitting in the yard that looked so peaceful and relaxed. I thought to myself, "Oh, I wonder if she is laying an egg". The fowl stood up and lo and behold she was a he. I knew it was a rooster because of his bad leg. When he was sitting and had the rooster's crown I thought it was a chicken.
*) While walking back from the internet near the Liberian Camp I got a little lost. There was a man sitting on his porch who called out, "Hello my wife, when will you come and visit me?" I answered "Hello, I'll visit when my first husband gives me permission." Mark gave me permission but as long as husband number two doesn't see this he'll never know.
*) I am always a walking sweat machine. I had lost my hat so the hankie I use was tied around my head to prevent sunburn. When I was loking for a tro-tro a man was following me wiping his forehead with his arms teasing me. But, I looked back in time to catch him. So, I took my hankie off and wiped my face with it instead of my sleeves. His friends totally enjoyed the show and the fact that he was caught and we all laughed.
*) At the same place one of the guys insisted he would help me get a ride to where I needed to go. He walked me to where the taxi to Camp was. I thanked him and then he asked, "Don't you want to help me." I was tired so I just told the truth, "No, I don't not at all." He was shocked at such a straight forward answer and so I told him that I'm already giving all my money to the orphanage. He then laughed and said, "Oh so you are already helping many Africans. Good, good." He then gave me a small hug and went on his way. The look on his face when I said no, not at all was priceless. People in Ghana do not talk like that. The proper response is to take their address, or say oh I'm sorry I really have no money today maybe tomorrow. But I was just too tired to be proper and he really didn't even care. He was very nice about the whole thing.
Kakum National Park
Rico and Alice from SYTO came for a visit. Like everyone they love our placement. We 3 went to Kakum National Park (Myrte and Anne Christien had already been). First we stayed the night at a hotel. I was in heaven. I had my own FLUSH toilet and RUNNING WATER shower. I was in a room by myself so I could also wake up and walk to the bathroom in the nude. It was incredible. On top of all this there was a swimming pool with shade. I took a shower in my clothes and sat in the pool for a couple of hours. When the sun went down I got COLD!!!
The next day we went to the park. It is a tropical rain forest with a canopy walkway. Don't tell Mark but I was walking on the top of the trees. It was amazing and beautiful and scary all at the same time. It is the only canopy walk way in all of Africa and one of only 4 in the world. It is right outside Cape Coast so we did the whole thing in two days. The travel time was about 3 1/2 hours by tro-tro. It was absolutely spectacular!
Myrte's Gone
We came back from the Park on Friday night. When I was in bed Myrte came and we had the following conversation:
M: "I'm leaving tomorrow."
F: "I know and you'll be back on Wednesday."
M: "No, I won't I'm not coming back."
F: "Oh yes you are!"
Myrte then laughed and explained that she really isn't coming back. Last I knew she was going to check out her two options on her next placement, come back and think it over. Instead, she decided to take her things, go to the one that interests her most and only if that doesn't work out go check on the second. So, instead of 3 more weeks she was leaving the next morning at 6:00 am. I said ok well then you have to wake me up so I can cry with everybody else when you leave. I then was wide awake thinking about where will she be?, will she be ok?, what if something should happen? I then thanked God that I am not a real mother or I would be a wreck. I was able to calm down by deciding what motherly advice and instructions I would give to her before she left. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't help myself I kept following her around. I told her she had to memorize Evans phone number. If she needs any help or has any problems she must call Evans immediately. He has a motorcycle and will come to wherever she is to rescue her. (I'll be a few hours or days behind on buses). She laughed and said she would. I also told her to send Brother Evans, JoAnna's and my phone numbers to her parents so they can call us if they don't hear from her. So, Myrte's real mom be sure to ask for the phone numbers and if she has memorized Brother Evans number yet.
This morning when it was time for her to go there was not a dry eye in the house. I will see Myrte again before she leaves when she is traveling and relaxing on the beach. The children won't though, so we all cried and were sad. I then went back to bed. The children are better now and so am I.
Refrigerator
Mark, what is in your refrigerator? Ask Mari to clean it out and buy some food to eat! Also, my phone died in the middle of my talk with my mom so that's why you couldn't reach me on Thursday. It should be fixed and ready for me to pick up today so I'll be able to be reached again.
End
This is the longest post and has been possible because Anne Christien and I are in Accra at a place called Busy Internet. It is the busies place in town because it has the fastest speeds. Using the intenet here is the same as the DSL line at my house. I can read my email, type and actually get things done. It is nice. Best fo all, when we leave here we are going to an Obruni restaurant that is a salad bar! We don't eat anything that is not cooked but this salad bar has Obruni belly fresh vegetables. So, I'll leave now and write more after lunch if we get back here. Thanks for all your support, thoughts and prayers.
11 March 2006
08 March 2006
Hello Everyone
I have lost track of what week this is but I’m still here! Last Sunday 5 of March we all went to the beach. It was wonderful. The kids loved it as much as I did. When we got there everyone wanted to hit the water so we each were responsible for one child. I took Kofi expecting him to stay close to shore since he isn’t very high (being two years old and all). We got to the water about Kofi’s thigh high and I let go and said let’s run back. I ran towards shore and he ran towards the sea. I grabbed him in time so he wasn’t knocked down. Next time I let him get knocked over trying to convince him the ocean should be respected. HA!! When I picked him up he shook off the water and laughed. This kept up until my back had enough and I gave him to Anne Christien to watch. I took a much more sensible 6 year old (Susana), who knew not to go out too far. Kofi has no fear whatsoever of the water. Frogs however are very scary creatures, go figure! Extra thanks to Anne Christien’s grandparents who sponsored our trip to the beach.
Here’s an update on the school. The Director of Education for this district visited the school. She asked a class one boy if he could spell his name no, or write his name again no. I then her assistant about class 2 and their problems caused by the lack of teacher’s. Based upon enrollment numbers there is not a lack of teachers. The problem is that the teachers are supposed to combine the smaller classes and have enough teachers for all classes. Instead they have been leaving class 1 and class 2 to volunteers to teach. Not a good practice for anyone. With the associate knowing the situation, it is now up to the director to let the new head master do his job. On a happier note, Anne Christien’s father, Theo, brought some books from an international school in Holland. The headmaster liked them and Theo will be sending the rest of the books for the school to use.
Rico, one of my SYTO daughters from Norway, is visiting us this week for a couple of days. While she is here I will go with her and her friend Alice to Cape Coast and to a National Park. I’ll tell you about it next week after we return. It is the same place Myrte, Anne Christien, Theo and Sanders (Anne Christien’s beau) went last week. They said it was very beautiful but there were no wild animals.
Mother Sylvia’s daughter, Jacklyn, and her grandson, Isaiah are now living at the home. Jacklyn will be going to school in September so Isaiah will be staying with Sylvia. Jacklyn is a big help to her mother and Isaiah is as cute as can be. When he first met me he kept staring and staring. I’m the first obruni he’s ever seen. We now see each other and laugh at how funny I look! He let’s me hold him but like all babies prefers mama to anyone. This morning he rubbed my skin and looked at his hand to see if the strange white stuff would come off. Luckily for me it didn’t. Kofi has been very good with him. Kofi has always been the baby who gets everything. Now Isaiah grabs things away from Kofi. But amazingly Kofi lets him! Kofi also comes to watch when Isaiah is getting his bath because Isaiah cries. Kofi watches to make sure Jacklyn is not hurting his little friend. It is very cute!
When Theo and Sanders left, some of the children cried. The first one was Justice. I asked him, “Are you going to hug Mr. Theo good-by?” He answered, “Yes, but I have something in my eye.” He was trying his best to not cry but those darn tears showed up any way. Father John gave Theo a hug around the legs trying to hide his face because he had also started to cry. By the time Theo left, at least half the children were crying. Luckily for me, it only lasted a little while. Then life was back to normal. When it is my turn to leave, I know I’ll be a blubbering fool! At least I won’t be alone!
Nate, I saw your post. So your baby is Conner and Austin finally gets a brother. Congratulations to all! Send my love to Carrie. Tell her to wait until after May 12th to deliver so I can be home for Conner’s arrival.
Oh by the way for as little as 3,000 US dollars you can be a 40% owner in a gold mine in Liberia. No really, I met a guy who is a Liberian refugee and he told me he is now an orphan but luckily he still holds the title to his dead father’s gold mine. So since I don’t have the money to help him get his gold, I’m giving all of you this wonderful opportunity. It is sometimes amazing how stupid and gullible everyone here thinks I am. Oh well, you can’t blame a guy for trying!
Thanks Wayne and Carol! And Clark Roushey too!
Soo-Hyun, what are you doing reading this? You should be studying! Get back to work.
Here’s an update on the school. The Director of Education for this district visited the school. She asked a class one boy if he could spell his name no, or write his name again no. I then her assistant about class 2 and their problems caused by the lack of teacher’s. Based upon enrollment numbers there is not a lack of teachers. The problem is that the teachers are supposed to combine the smaller classes and have enough teachers for all classes. Instead they have been leaving class 1 and class 2 to volunteers to teach. Not a good practice for anyone. With the associate knowing the situation, it is now up to the director to let the new head master do his job. On a happier note, Anne Christien’s father, Theo, brought some books from an international school in Holland. The headmaster liked them and Theo will be sending the rest of the books for the school to use.
Rico, one of my SYTO daughters from Norway, is visiting us this week for a couple of days. While she is here I will go with her and her friend Alice to Cape Coast and to a National Park. I’ll tell you about it next week after we return. It is the same place Myrte, Anne Christien, Theo and Sanders (Anne Christien’s beau) went last week. They said it was very beautiful but there were no wild animals.
Mother Sylvia’s daughter, Jacklyn, and her grandson, Isaiah are now living at the home. Jacklyn will be going to school in September so Isaiah will be staying with Sylvia. Jacklyn is a big help to her mother and Isaiah is as cute as can be. When he first met me he kept staring and staring. I’m the first obruni he’s ever seen. We now see each other and laugh at how funny I look! He let’s me hold him but like all babies prefers mama to anyone. This morning he rubbed my skin and looked at his hand to see if the strange white stuff would come off. Luckily for me it didn’t. Kofi has been very good with him. Kofi has always been the baby who gets everything. Now Isaiah grabs things away from Kofi. But amazingly Kofi lets him! Kofi also comes to watch when Isaiah is getting his bath because Isaiah cries. Kofi watches to make sure Jacklyn is not hurting his little friend. It is very cute!
When Theo and Sanders left, some of the children cried. The first one was Justice. I asked him, “Are you going to hug Mr. Theo good-by?” He answered, “Yes, but I have something in my eye.” He was trying his best to not cry but those darn tears showed up any way. Father John gave Theo a hug around the legs trying to hide his face because he had also started to cry. By the time Theo left, at least half the children were crying. Luckily for me, it only lasted a little while. Then life was back to normal. When it is my turn to leave, I know I’ll be a blubbering fool! At least I won’t be alone!
Nate, I saw your post. So your baby is Conner and Austin finally gets a brother. Congratulations to all! Send my love to Carrie. Tell her to wait until after May 12th to deliver so I can be home for Conner’s arrival.
Oh by the way for as little as 3,000 US dollars you can be a 40% owner in a gold mine in Liberia. No really, I met a guy who is a Liberian refugee and he told me he is now an orphan but luckily he still holds the title to his dead father’s gold mine. So since I don’t have the money to help him get his gold, I’m giving all of you this wonderful opportunity. It is sometimes amazing how stupid and gullible everyone here thinks I am. Oh well, you can’t blame a guy for trying!
Thanks Wayne and Carol! And Clark Roushey too!
Soo-Hyun, what are you doing reading this? You should be studying! Get back to work.
03 March 2006
25 February 2006
Week 4
Word to the wise, saying to a Ghanaian man, "You're full of shit. Yes, s-h-i-t, shit." is not the best way to make friends or influence people. Yes, I did it. No, it did no good. I told it to the teachers. These teachers are teachers only in title not in reality. The school day begins at 8:00 and teaching should start by 8:20 after assembly and attendance. The bums rarely start before 8:45. The 1/2 hour break
at 10:00 is usually 45 minutes. The 1/2 hour break at noon lasts until 1:30 when the school day is over. I was in the second grade class where 25% of the students
could not write their name. In this same class 100% of the students do not recognize the lower case letters of the alphabet. But still telling the teachers who keep asking me to "motivate" them (give them money), that they are full of shit was not the best move. I would love to motivate them the way my dad always said, "with a good swift kick in the arse". So, I'm probably not welcome back at the school. Oh well, I've been kicked out of school before!
On the bright side, the work on the bathroom has started. It was scheduled to be done this weekend but the contractor got sick. Also the students have all been given 4 exercise books. I'm so glad Rose wasn't there when the children got their books. I practically cried and Rose would have been balling her eyes out. Then, I wouldn't have been able to hold back the tears. The children were so excited and so happy to get their books for writing their lessons. First the whole school clapped for me, then they said, "God Bless you" three times and finally each student thanked me individually when they got their books. But the biggest impact was the look on their faces and the joy they showed at having received their exercise books. These are the books they will write their lessons into --- math, English, writing not something good. Luckily, this happened before my proving to the bums that I know how to spell. There is a picture coming of the students and the exercise books to come at a future date, hopefully before I get home!
It has taken 40 minutes and I'm still not logged into the blogspot, so I don't know if you will get to see any of this. I hope so. I walked to the internet cafe, got to talk to Mark for a little bit when my phone crapped out. I haven't been able to check
my email so don't be angry if you are waiting for a reply. I'll try my email again next week. The response right now is so slow, I'm going to try this and then head back home. Today is not my day for electronic gadgets.
at 10:00 is usually 45 minutes. The 1/2 hour break at noon lasts until 1:30 when the school day is over. I was in the second grade class where 25% of the students
could not write their name. In this same class 100% of the students do not recognize the lower case letters of the alphabet. But still telling the teachers who keep asking me to "motivate" them (give them money), that they are full of shit was not the best move. I would love to motivate them the way my dad always said, "with a good swift kick in the arse". So, I'm probably not welcome back at the school. Oh well, I've been kicked out of school before!
On the bright side, the work on the bathroom has started. It was scheduled to be done this weekend but the contractor got sick. Also the students have all been given 4 exercise books. I'm so glad Rose wasn't there when the children got their books. I practically cried and Rose would have been balling her eyes out. Then, I wouldn't have been able to hold back the tears. The children were so excited and so happy to get their books for writing their lessons. First the whole school clapped for me, then they said, "God Bless you" three times and finally each student thanked me individually when they got their books. But the biggest impact was the look on their faces and the joy they showed at having received their exercise books. These are the books they will write their lessons into --- math, English, writing not something good. Luckily, this happened before my proving to the bums that I know how to spell. There is a picture coming of the students and the exercise books to come at a future date, hopefully before I get home!
It has taken 40 minutes and I'm still not logged into the blogspot, so I don't know if you will get to see any of this. I hope so. I walked to the internet cafe, got to talk to Mark for a little bit when my phone crapped out. I haven't been able to check
my email so don't be angry if you are waiting for a reply. I'll try my email again next week. The response right now is so slow, I'm going to try this and then head back home. Today is not my day for electronic gadgets.
18 February 2006
Picture - Me doing Laundry!
Oh no, it happened. I had to do my laundry. Since I'm not allowed to pay Sylvia, I had to do my own laundry. Luckily, Myrte, Patience and Suzanna are all helping.
Picture -- Children's Bathroom
Here is the outside of the building. If you look closely, you'll see there are gaps between the outside walls and the roof. These are now going to be completed.
The second picture is of the toilet. As you can see there is a hole without a toilet. This will soon be completed also.
The bathside of the building is complete except for the roof section. Windows and screening will be added so it is not too hot inside.
Picture - Our Home
This is the orphanage home. My room is the window to the left of the door with the three plants under it. I have a second window on the patio on the left for a nice cross breeze.
Week 4
Well I can’t believe I’ve been here a month already. At times I think I got here yesterday and at other times I thin I’ve been here forever. As always, pictures are once again promised and not delivered.
Here are some funny things that have happened:
*) Yesterday Anne-Christien and Myrte did not go to school because the students had a field day and the teachers were in a meeting. A child about 4 years old came to school because there were no white people around. She then saw me, got huge eyes and ran home. I was told that is afraid of the white people and only came to school because my daughters weren’t there. So instead of two young small people a big huge one shows up! Luckily, she didn’t cry she just ran for the hills!
*) When the children play soccer, the goalie takes off his shoes and uses them for gloves. Hey everyone knows the goalie is allowed to catch the ball and to do so a person needs gloves. What else are flip-flops for?
*) When I go to Accra I take a tro-tro to Kanechie market. When looking for the tro-tro I asked the mate is the tro-tro to Kimchi market? Kimchi is spicy cabbage eaten by my Korean kids David and Soo-Hyun.
*) Today I saw a white person and yelled, “Hey Obruni!” He didn’t turn around but I still laughed.
*) Fufu is a staple in the Ghanaian diet. It can be made out of yams, cassava and mixed with plantain. First the vegetables are boiled until done. Then they are pounded with a big stick. When I tried to do the pounding, all the children from the orphanage and their 20 or so friends that were visiting from the village stopped to watch. They have never seen an obruni pounding fufu. So ever the ham, I started dancing and singing “fufu dancing, fufu dancing, fufu dancing” in time with my pounding. Everyone laughed hysterically including the mothers. When I turned over the job, Prince did a little fufu dancing and we all laughed. Helen, beware when next I see Frank I will teach him the fufu dance.
Here are some funny things that have happened:
*) Yesterday Anne-Christien and Myrte did not go to school because the students had a field day and the teachers were in a meeting. A child about 4 years old came to school because there were no white people around. She then saw me, got huge eyes and ran home. I was told that is afraid of the white people and only came to school because my daughters weren’t there. So instead of two young small people a big huge one shows up! Luckily, she didn’t cry she just ran for the hills!
*) When the children play soccer, the goalie takes off his shoes and uses them for gloves. Hey everyone knows the goalie is allowed to catch the ball and to do so a person needs gloves. What else are flip-flops for?
*) When I go to Accra I take a tro-tro to Kanechie market. When looking for the tro-tro I asked the mate is the tro-tro to Kimchi market? Kimchi is spicy cabbage eaten by my Korean kids David and Soo-Hyun.
*) Today I saw a white person and yelled, “Hey Obruni!” He didn’t turn around but I still laughed.
*) Fufu is a staple in the Ghanaian diet. It can be made out of yams, cassava and mixed with plantain. First the vegetables are boiled until done. Then they are pounded with a big stick. When I tried to do the pounding, all the children from the orphanage and their 20 or so friends that were visiting from the village stopped to watch. They have never seen an obruni pounding fufu. So ever the ham, I started dancing and singing “fufu dancing, fufu dancing, fufu dancing” in time with my pounding. Everyone laughed hysterically including the mothers. When I turned over the job, Prince did a little fufu dancing and we all laughed. Helen, beware when next I see Frank I will teach him the fufu dance.
14 February 2006
Valentines Day
Hello everyone. Village life is wonderful. Going into Accra is quite a journey! First you walk the 40 minute trail to the highway. You wait until a tro-tro has room to pick you up. You pay 2500 cedis (about 0.30 USD) for the trip to Kasoa. In Kasoa you change to another tro-tro to Kamiche market in Accra. This one costs about 5000 cedis and takes about 40 minutes.
A tro-tro is an independently owned and run public transportation like a bus. It has a driver and a mate. The mate collects the money and talks to the driver. He also yells out the location the tro-tro is headed so you know which tro-tro to get into. I’ll try to describe the typical tro-tro. You take a mini-van that is about 10 years old. You weld a new door mount that is held onto the new door runner in the ceiling. You then add an extra seat across. You now have a mini-van that seats 4 people across. You sit on this and wait until it is full. Of course there is no air conditioning and everyone has been walking just as you have so we are all hot and sweaty and sitting as close as possible. Children ride free when on their parents’ laps so sometimes there are 6 people in one aisle. It gets better when we drive because you have open windows. However, now your knees are hitting the seat in front of you at every bump in the road of which there are thousands. The ride ends at your destination and you have just traveled from the village to Accra in 1 ¾ hours for less than $1.00!
Last weekend Myrte, Anne-Christien and I went to see the small village where Brother Evans grew up. We had the above ride into Accra followed by another 2 tro-tros for another 1 ½ hours of travel time. Twice I was lucky enough to share my foot space with the spare tire. Brother Evans’ childhood home is in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It is very tropical, green and beautiful. We met his mother and step-father. We saw the home he grew up in; the river where he fetched water as a boy; and the primary and JSS schools he attended. He kept saying how much closer the river is now then when he was a child fetching water. Most people still use the river for both their drinking and bathing water.
The soil there is incredibly rich and everything grows. We saw cocoa trees and the inside of the pod. You can eat the membrane around the cocoa seed. It tastes very good. We also saw a cassava plant harvested. When the cassava tree is about 9 feet tall, it is cut down. At this age it is about 3 or 4 fingers in circumference. It is the root that is harvested and eaten. The farmer then just cuts a 2 foot length of the fallen tree and plants it. Then it takes root and grows. We even saw some cassava wood that was intended to be fire wood in a pile that was sprouting. Amazing for a desert rat like me!
The difference between where we are which is coastal savannah and Evans’ home town which is tropical forest is comparable to the difference between Tucson and Flagstaff HUGE!!! It is amazing that we changed environments so completely in such a small amount of time and distance.
I found out that Stephen and Benjamin are biological brothers so no wonder I was so confused earlier! I sometimes do as my mother did when we were growing up; I look at one child and have to go through the list of names to get to the right one. The kids just laugh at me. (Sound familiar mom?)
Happy Valentines Day to one and all. Myrte and Anne-Christien made valentines cards for all the children last night. Today they will give the cards to the kids after school.
A tro-tro is an independently owned and run public transportation like a bus. It has a driver and a mate. The mate collects the money and talks to the driver. He also yells out the location the tro-tro is headed so you know which tro-tro to get into. I’ll try to describe the typical tro-tro. You take a mini-van that is about 10 years old. You weld a new door mount that is held onto the new door runner in the ceiling. You then add an extra seat across. You now have a mini-van that seats 4 people across. You sit on this and wait until it is full. Of course there is no air conditioning and everyone has been walking just as you have so we are all hot and sweaty and sitting as close as possible. Children ride free when on their parents’ laps so sometimes there are 6 people in one aisle. It gets better when we drive because you have open windows. However, now your knees are hitting the seat in front of you at every bump in the road of which there are thousands. The ride ends at your destination and you have just traveled from the village to Accra in 1 ¾ hours for less than $1.00!
Last weekend Myrte, Anne-Christien and I went to see the small village where Brother Evans grew up. We had the above ride into Accra followed by another 2 tro-tros for another 1 ½ hours of travel time. Twice I was lucky enough to share my foot space with the spare tire. Brother Evans’ childhood home is in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It is very tropical, green and beautiful. We met his mother and step-father. We saw the home he grew up in; the river where he fetched water as a boy; and the primary and JSS schools he attended. He kept saying how much closer the river is now then when he was a child fetching water. Most people still use the river for both their drinking and bathing water.
The soil there is incredibly rich and everything grows. We saw cocoa trees and the inside of the pod. You can eat the membrane around the cocoa seed. It tastes very good. We also saw a cassava plant harvested. When the cassava tree is about 9 feet tall, it is cut down. At this age it is about 3 or 4 fingers in circumference. It is the root that is harvested and eaten. The farmer then just cuts a 2 foot length of the fallen tree and plants it. Then it takes root and grows. We even saw some cassava wood that was intended to be fire wood in a pile that was sprouting. Amazing for a desert rat like me!
The difference between where we are which is coastal savannah and Evans’ home town which is tropical forest is comparable to the difference between Tucson and Flagstaff HUGE!!! It is amazing that we changed environments so completely in such a small amount of time and distance.
I found out that Stephen and Benjamin are biological brothers so no wonder I was so confused earlier! I sometimes do as my mother did when we were growing up; I look at one child and have to go through the list of names to get to the right one. The kids just laugh at me. (Sound familiar mom?)
Happy Valentines Day to one and all. Myrte and Anne-Christien made valentines cards for all the children last night. Today they will give the cards to the kids after school.
09 February 2006
Week 3
First to catch up on the two children I couldn't describe:
Benjamin – He is very much like Stephen so I use to get them confused. Benjamin will sit for hours working on a word seek puzzle. He likes to study and learn everything he can.
Justice – He speaks English just fine. He is aptly named. Whenever there is an injustice you will find him ready to fight. The other day he came charging across the compound chasing a group of village children. I asked him what was going on and he said, “They are trying to sneak around and watch us bathing.” I agreed that was a terrible offense but told him not to throw rocks. So, he waited until he was on the other side of the bushes to throw the rock at the “bad kids”.
I’m turning into a Ghanaian or at least I’m trying. I was at Busy Internet in Accra a few days ago. I had change of 500 cedis coming and the man was hemming and hawing because he didn’t have my change so I said, “Then give me 1,000 cedis.” I had noticed that I had already paid more than the locals for printing so requesting the extra nickel in change really wasn’t such a big thing.
Here is a list of things we have done already since being here. By we, I mean everyone who has given me money before I left, Mark, who will never get over giving me money, and me.
PURCHASED TO DATE
*) Buckets, bowls, sponges and soap for each child
*) 6 bicycles for the school teachers
*) First Aid kit
*) House shoes for all the children
*) Water for one month
*) Nutritious food (fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs, peanuts) for the children
*) Motorcycle for Brother Evans
*) Motorcycle insurance and personal accident insurance for medical expenses in case of an accident
*) Phone minutes for Brother Evans and Sister Sylvia
*) Screens at the home have been replaced
*) New Big bowls for doing laundry
*) Digital Camera (to be mailed)
*) Used lap top (to be mailed)
STILL TO BE DONE
*) Dining table and benches for eating and after school homework
*) Remodel outside kitchen to have windows with screens, tables, shelves, higher ceiling
*) Complete the children’s toilet
*) Provide funds so chief’s house can have one room and one meeting room completed
*) Hand pumps instead of buckets to get water from tanks
*) Installation of above hand pumps
*) Ceramic Water Filter
*) Material for school uniforms for next year
*) Trip to the beach on March 4 or 5 for whole family
Thanks to all for your help. If you haven't looked at it yet, click on the Donations Request link on the side. If you need more information contact Mark.
Benjamin – He is very much like Stephen so I use to get them confused. Benjamin will sit for hours working on a word seek puzzle. He likes to study and learn everything he can.
Justice – He speaks English just fine. He is aptly named. Whenever there is an injustice you will find him ready to fight. The other day he came charging across the compound chasing a group of village children. I asked him what was going on and he said, “They are trying to sneak around and watch us bathing.” I agreed that was a terrible offense but told him not to throw rocks. So, he waited until he was on the other side of the bushes to throw the rock at the “bad kids”.
I’m turning into a Ghanaian or at least I’m trying. I was at Busy Internet in Accra a few days ago. I had change of 500 cedis coming and the man was hemming and hawing because he didn’t have my change so I said, “Then give me 1,000 cedis.” I had noticed that I had already paid more than the locals for printing so requesting the extra nickel in change really wasn’t such a big thing.
Here is a list of things we have done already since being here. By we, I mean everyone who has given me money before I left, Mark, who will never get over giving me money, and me.
PURCHASED TO DATE
*) Buckets, bowls, sponges and soap for each child
*) 6 bicycles for the school teachers
*) First Aid kit
*) House shoes for all the children
*) Water for one month
*) Nutritious food (fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs, peanuts) for the children
*) Motorcycle for Brother Evans
*) Motorcycle insurance and personal accident insurance for medical expenses in case of an accident
*) Phone minutes for Brother Evans and Sister Sylvia
*) Screens at the home have been replaced
*) New Big bowls for doing laundry
*) Digital Camera (to be mailed)
*) Used lap top (to be mailed)
STILL TO BE DONE
*) Dining table and benches for eating and after school homework
*) Remodel outside kitchen to have windows with screens, tables, shelves, higher ceiling
*) Complete the children’s toilet
*) Provide funds so chief’s house can have one room and one meeting room completed
*) Hand pumps instead of buckets to get water from tanks
*) Installation of above hand pumps
*) Ceramic Water Filter
*) Material for school uniforms for next year
*) Trip to the beach on March 4 or 5 for whole family
Thanks to all for your help. If you haven't looked at it yet, click on the Donations Request link on the side. If you need more information contact Mark.
07 February 2006
Week 2
I am at the internet café across from the Liberian refugee camp. Sister Sylvia thinks I should take a taxi from the village to here but it costs 60,000 cedis which is way too much money to waste. My daughters think I should walk the whole way from the village and back home again. I did walk the whole way here. It took about 75-90 minutes. (In case you can’t hear it, Mark is cheering right now.) I will take a taxi back home though for 30,000 cedis. By the end of my stay I may be walking both directions but not now.
Week 2 at the home has ended and all is wonderful! The children are great. This Sunday a photographer came and took a family photo when everyone was dressed in their church clothes. It looks great! I’ll get this picture uploaded when I can with the names of all. For now, I’ll try to capture a little of the children’s personalities for you.
T H E B O Y S
Kofi – is the son of Mother Beatrice. He is a typical 2 year old. It’s his way or you are wrong! He wants to do everything himself and everything that all his older brother and sisters can do. When they go to school, he’ll walk into a class, sit quietly and listen. After that is too boring he’ll get up and walk back home. The school to the home is very close and the mother’s can see where he is going and when he is coming back. When he goes to school he will be very prepared. He is learning both Fante (spelling?), the native language of this village, and English from all the volunteers.
Justice – He is very quiet so I don’t really know him as well as the others. Writing this has made me realize that I need to spend more time with Justice and Benjamin. He is very polite and always “minds his manners” (that was for you Rose!). The children are supposed to offer their food to us before beginning to eat. We are then to thank them and tell them to eat it. Justice rarely forgets to do this. Father John rarely does this.
Father John – Yes, his name is Father John. He was named after a Catholic priest hence the name. When I was first here it was very hard not to laugh when I heard a little short mischievous 8 year old boy being called Father John. Now it is as normal a name as Florence. This is a typical Father John story. One day after school an older girl from grade 6 came over to the house asking for her money. Mother Sylvia asked what money she was talking about. The girl said she had given Father John some candy to sell and she wanted her money. The girl thought Father John would sell the candy to the Obrunis, the white people. Of course he didn’t. He ate the candy and had no money. Mother Sylvia told the girl she should have better sense than to give that boy candy.
Benjamin – He and Justice are buddies and hang out together most of the time. I’m not sure how much English he knows versus how shy he is. I’m going to spend more time with these two boys this week.
Prince – He is a very good little artist. His drawings are very detailed and good for his age. He is also a master manipulator!!! He has a beautiful face with expressive eyes that he knows how to use. He can get teary eyed if that will serve his purposes to get the volunteers worried about him. He can also get his sister Patricia to do his work for him. So, it’s not just Obrunis that are charmed. He also likes to test the limits set by his mother knowing that the volunteers will be upset if he is spanked. He’ll steal your heart before you even realize it’s gone!
Stephen – He is the oldest boy. He speaks English very well so he can interact with all of us easily. He is very smart and wants to learn. That is when he is not playing soccer. A boy has to have priorities you know. He is the natural leader and organizer of family games. He taught us the Ghanaian version of musical chairs. There is one less chair than there are people. Every 3 people are named a fruit (banana, pineapple, orange, mango, etc.). The person in the middle, who does not have a seat, will name one to all of the fruits. The people whose fruits are called must get up and change chairs. The one left without a chair is now in the middle and calls the next group. It was very fun for all ages.
T H E G I R L S
Suzanna – She is a little 6 year old sweetheart. When we were walking from the village up to the main road, she kept trying to carry my purse for me. She is 6 years old and is a small girl but she would gladly have carried my purse on the whole 40 minute walk. She was walking with me because she had just helped with my laundry. Her mother does her laundry but she helped me do mine!
Regina – She has a laugh that lights up her whole body with joy. It’s infectious. I start smiling even though I have no idea what was just said. She has the same body type as my niece Lexi. She’s tall, thin and muscular. She’s absolutely gorgeous. She is also kind to her baby sister. At bath time she helps Suzanna carry her bucket from the water tank around to the back of the house for bathing.
Patricia – She will do her brothers’ work for them before finishing her own whenever they ask. The other day I had to stop and tell her she was being too nice. She had to let Prince do his own chores. She is the quietest of the girls but still a little treasure.
Patience – She is the oldest child, she just turned 12 last week. She is tall and maturing into a young woman. From a picture you might think she is older, but talking to her and seeing her interacting with her siblings she is still a child. As the oldest girl she has a lot of responsibilities around the house. However, she must go to school and do well at that also. At the end of the day you can find her playing singing and hand clapping games with Patricia. The intricacies and changes in the patterns amaze me. They’ve tried teaching me some songs to peals of laughter all around. I almost have the most basic one that Suzanna mastered years ago.
Week 2 at the home has ended and all is wonderful! The children are great. This Sunday a photographer came and took a family photo when everyone was dressed in their church clothes. It looks great! I’ll get this picture uploaded when I can with the names of all. For now, I’ll try to capture a little of the children’s personalities for you.
T H E B O Y S
Kofi – is the son of Mother Beatrice. He is a typical 2 year old. It’s his way or you are wrong! He wants to do everything himself and everything that all his older brother and sisters can do. When they go to school, he’ll walk into a class, sit quietly and listen. After that is too boring he’ll get up and walk back home. The school to the home is very close and the mother’s can see where he is going and when he is coming back. When he goes to school he will be very prepared. He is learning both Fante (spelling?), the native language of this village, and English from all the volunteers.
Justice – He is very quiet so I don’t really know him as well as the others. Writing this has made me realize that I need to spend more time with Justice and Benjamin. He is very polite and always “minds his manners” (that was for you Rose!). The children are supposed to offer their food to us before beginning to eat. We are then to thank them and tell them to eat it. Justice rarely forgets to do this. Father John rarely does this.
Father John – Yes, his name is Father John. He was named after a Catholic priest hence the name. When I was first here it was very hard not to laugh when I heard a little short mischievous 8 year old boy being called Father John. Now it is as normal a name as Florence. This is a typical Father John story. One day after school an older girl from grade 6 came over to the house asking for her money. Mother Sylvia asked what money she was talking about. The girl said she had given Father John some candy to sell and she wanted her money. The girl thought Father John would sell the candy to the Obrunis, the white people. Of course he didn’t. He ate the candy and had no money. Mother Sylvia told the girl she should have better sense than to give that boy candy.
Benjamin – He and Justice are buddies and hang out together most of the time. I’m not sure how much English he knows versus how shy he is. I’m going to spend more time with these two boys this week.
Prince – He is a very good little artist. His drawings are very detailed and good for his age. He is also a master manipulator!!! He has a beautiful face with expressive eyes that he knows how to use. He can get teary eyed if that will serve his purposes to get the volunteers worried about him. He can also get his sister Patricia to do his work for him. So, it’s not just Obrunis that are charmed. He also likes to test the limits set by his mother knowing that the volunteers will be upset if he is spanked. He’ll steal your heart before you even realize it’s gone!
Stephen – He is the oldest boy. He speaks English very well so he can interact with all of us easily. He is very smart and wants to learn. That is when he is not playing soccer. A boy has to have priorities you know. He is the natural leader and organizer of family games. He taught us the Ghanaian version of musical chairs. There is one less chair than there are people. Every 3 people are named a fruit (banana, pineapple, orange, mango, etc.). The person in the middle, who does not have a seat, will name one to all of the fruits. The people whose fruits are called must get up and change chairs. The one left without a chair is now in the middle and calls the next group. It was very fun for all ages.
T H E G I R L S
Suzanna – She is a little 6 year old sweetheart. When we were walking from the village up to the main road, she kept trying to carry my purse for me. She is 6 years old and is a small girl but she would gladly have carried my purse on the whole 40 minute walk. She was walking with me because she had just helped with my laundry. Her mother does her laundry but she helped me do mine!
Regina – She has a laugh that lights up her whole body with joy. It’s infectious. I start smiling even though I have no idea what was just said. She has the same body type as my niece Lexi. She’s tall, thin and muscular. She’s absolutely gorgeous. She is also kind to her baby sister. At bath time she helps Suzanna carry her bucket from the water tank around to the back of the house for bathing.
Patricia – She will do her brothers’ work for them before finishing her own whenever they ask. The other day I had to stop and tell her she was being too nice. She had to let Prince do his own chores. She is the quietest of the girls but still a little treasure.
Patience – She is the oldest child, she just turned 12 last week. She is tall and maturing into a young woman. From a picture you might think she is older, but talking to her and seeing her interacting with her siblings she is still a child. As the oldest girl she has a lot of responsibilities around the house. However, she must go to school and do well at that also. At the end of the day you can find her playing singing and hand clapping games with Patricia. The intricacies and changes in the patterns amaze me. They’ve tried teaching me some songs to peals of laughter all around. I almost have the most basic one that Suzanna mastered years ago.
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