8.22.09
ok, so much for being on top of the blogging, i've been slacking off again i know. though really, i am pretty sure carrie is the only one still reading it at this point (shout out!). i did my first triathlon last sunday - very very hot and long and wow did i feel like crap when it was done - in fact it was soooo much fun i am planning to do a couple next year! i am starting grad school on monday - stats which is a prereq - ugh! i am truly not sure what possessed me to go back to school but we'll see how the semester goes - it's only one class so it can't be too hard, right? life is generally pretty hectic right now but i think that's just going to be the norm - at least for a while. between my school, prepping for a half marathon in november and a full marathon in january, and arlington co. public schools starting in a couple weeks i'm not sure where my time is going. the good news is this afternoon i am taking full advantage of having the first weekend in a LONG time where we have no huge things schedules so i am vegetating and facebooking and generally being lazy - gotta love it! alright, well i don't have too much else exciting to report so for now i am signing off...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
weeklong birthday celebrations!
8.2.09
i'm trying to be more regular in my blogging again so here's the latest update. as my (ugh!) 30th birthday approaches on wednesday i have decided to celebrate all out for the milestone. to start carrie and i went skydiving yesterday (pics to come!) and it was AWESOME! we have more or less been talking about this for a few years and decided it would be a great way to celebrate turning 30. it was definitely nerveracking when we hit around 11,000 feet in the plane and more so when i was at the door with the sky in my face and my instructor telling me to jump. i screamed insanely for an instant then realized just how totally amazing it was to be free-falling. we fell for about 50 seconds then he opened the canopy (parachute) and we took about 5 or so minutes to get to the ground. i even got to steer a bit. a very very cool experience and something i just may be crazy enough to do again! wednesday kory, me, my mom and carrie are going to dinner and there's celebrating to do when meg is up next weekend (though it's a surprise for now so i don'[t know what's in store!). oh, and in 2 weekends i celebrate again by doing the traithlon...so it's a great start to a new decade!
p.s. here's a link to the pics!
http://picasaweb.google.com/marykay.alexander/Skydiving#
i'm trying to be more regular in my blogging again so here's the latest update. as my (ugh!) 30th birthday approaches on wednesday i have decided to celebrate all out for the milestone. to start carrie and i went skydiving yesterday (pics to come!) and it was AWESOME! we have more or less been talking about this for a few years and decided it would be a great way to celebrate turning 30. it was definitely nerveracking when we hit around 11,000 feet in the plane and more so when i was at the door with the sky in my face and my instructor telling me to jump. i screamed insanely for an instant then realized just how totally amazing it was to be free-falling. we fell for about 50 seconds then he opened the canopy (parachute) and we took about 5 or so minutes to get to the ground. i even got to steer a bit. a very very cool experience and something i just may be crazy enough to do again! wednesday kory, me, my mom and carrie are going to dinner and there's celebrating to do when meg is up next weekend (though it's a surprise for now so i don'[t know what's in store!). oh, and in 2 weekends i celebrate again by doing the traithlon...so it's a great start to a new decade!
p.s. here's a link to the pics!
http://picasaweb.google.com/marykay.alexander/Skydiving#
Saturday, July 25, 2009
sorry about the delay!
7.25.09
ok, ok i know, it's been close to 4 months since i posted anything and you're all dying to hear the latest in my super exciting life! so here's the cliff notes version:
i ran a 1/2 marathon in april in nashville when i went down to cheer meg on while she was running her first full marathon - belated congrats for finishing and still walking the next day!
i ran another 1/2 marathon in may and was only off my PR by a couple minutes - this one was in fredricksburg and it was raining (pouring) for most of the race...but i was pretty happy with my time.
in may i started my new job as a public health nurse for arlington county (one of the neighboring counties closer to DC). my primary assignment is as a school nurse - i have an elementary school and a middle school. it's very different but not nearly as stressful as my last job and i like the people and the job. so far so good :)
in june i ran a leg of a triathlon relay with kory's dad and sister. his mom (who finished 2nd in her age group) and kory (who finished 3rd in his age group) each did the whole race. his grandmother was also here from CA so it was lots of bonding - and yes, my mom met his parents...
my mom, kory, and kory's dad all had their bdays at the beginning of the month so it was lots of presents and parties! kory and i also just got back from KS last weekend for a mini-reunion with some of my mom's family, it was a nice surprise to have the weather be 10 degrees cooler there than it was here in reston. tonight carrie kory and i are heading to the brad paisley concert at nissan so i'm looking forward to that. next weekend carrie and i are celebrating turning 30 by going skydiving! then the following week (august 5) i turn 30 (yay!) and we are going out to celebrate the weekend after. i am also doing a rock climbing class that weekend. in the middle of august i am doing my first (sprint distance) triathlon, in luray, va. then the next 2 big things on the race calendar are a 1/2 marathon in november (outer banks) and the full marathon (gulp!) in january in disney world. ok, enough about my crazy busy life and i know i left out a ton but i really will make an effort to do better about regular postings :) happy weekend!!!!
ok, ok i know, it's been close to 4 months since i posted anything and you're all dying to hear the latest in my super exciting life! so here's the cliff notes version:
i ran a 1/2 marathon in april in nashville when i went down to cheer meg on while she was running her first full marathon - belated congrats for finishing and still walking the next day!
i ran another 1/2 marathon in may and was only off my PR by a couple minutes - this one was in fredricksburg and it was raining (pouring) for most of the race...but i was pretty happy with my time.
in may i started my new job as a public health nurse for arlington county (one of the neighboring counties closer to DC). my primary assignment is as a school nurse - i have an elementary school and a middle school. it's very different but not nearly as stressful as my last job and i like the people and the job. so far so good :)
in june i ran a leg of a triathlon relay with kory's dad and sister. his mom (who finished 2nd in her age group) and kory (who finished 3rd in his age group) each did the whole race. his grandmother was also here from CA so it was lots of bonding - and yes, my mom met his parents...
my mom, kory, and kory's dad all had their bdays at the beginning of the month so it was lots of presents and parties! kory and i also just got back from KS last weekend for a mini-reunion with some of my mom's family, it was a nice surprise to have the weather be 10 degrees cooler there than it was here in reston. tonight carrie kory and i are heading to the brad paisley concert at nissan so i'm looking forward to that. next weekend carrie and i are celebrating turning 30 by going skydiving! then the following week (august 5) i turn 30 (yay!) and we are going out to celebrate the weekend after. i am also doing a rock climbing class that weekend. in the middle of august i am doing my first (sprint distance) triathlon, in luray, va. then the next 2 big things on the race calendar are a 1/2 marathon in november (outer banks) and the full marathon (gulp!) in january in disney world. ok, enough about my crazy busy life and i know i left out a ton but i really will make an effort to do better about regular postings :) happy weekend!!!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
the real world
4.8.09
kory and i got in friday night after pretty uneventful flights. we have about a 2 hour layover in paris which turned into not very much time by the time we got off our first plane, went through passport control, went to the other terminal, went through security and got in line to board our flight home. murphy's law of course came into effect - as we were rushing and scrambling to get to our gate we then stood in line for close to 30 minutes waiting to board because there were issues with cleaning the plane or something - go figure! but we were able to sit together and have the personal TVs in the backs of the sets complete with games and a wide array of movies, plus 2 meal services so it wasn't too bad - though i would have been quite OK with getting bumped up to business or first class!
soooo - everyone's burning question is - what are your plans now that you're back? well today i am planning on getting dressed, walking the dog, checking the mail, going for a run and working on the pictures from our trip. oh wait, i think everyone wants to know life plans :) well, i got into mizzou grad school and am waiting to hear from umass - i may do a stats class in the fall and start actual master's courses in the spring or i may do a true MK and decide not to go after all! i met with a recruiter yesterday who has some interesting opportunties for work for me and i am also going to do some of my own searching - my bank account says the sooner i get a job the better! i am also still running, i have a half marathon in may, a triathlon relay in june, and a marathon next january. so that should keep me pretty busy for now - more updates on my life and i figure them out!
kory and i got in friday night after pretty uneventful flights. we have about a 2 hour layover in paris which turned into not very much time by the time we got off our first plane, went through passport control, went to the other terminal, went through security and got in line to board our flight home. murphy's law of course came into effect - as we were rushing and scrambling to get to our gate we then stood in line for close to 30 minutes waiting to board because there were issues with cleaning the plane or something - go figure! but we were able to sit together and have the personal TVs in the backs of the sets complete with games and a wide array of movies, plus 2 meal services so it wasn't too bad - though i would have been quite OK with getting bumped up to business or first class!
soooo - everyone's burning question is - what are your plans now that you're back? well today i am planning on getting dressed, walking the dog, checking the mail, going for a run and working on the pictures from our trip. oh wait, i think everyone wants to know life plans :) well, i got into mizzou grad school and am waiting to hear from umass - i may do a stats class in the fall and start actual master's courses in the spring or i may do a true MK and decide not to go after all! i met with a recruiter yesterday who has some interesting opportunties for work for me and i am also going to do some of my own searching - my bank account says the sooner i get a job the better! i am also still running, i have a half marathon in may, a triathlon relay in june, and a marathon next january. so that should keep me pretty busy for now - more updates on my life and i figure them out!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
back to civilization...sort of :)
3.29.09
kory and i have been busy sightseeing, eating and sampling local beverages (mint tea ad fresh OJ in morocco, wine and sangria in spain). we took the ferry from tangier, morocco over to algeciras, spain - very cool! it was really neat to be on the water looking at the 2 continents. it's nice being in spain now as things are much more western and more like home - there's still a language barrier but kory's spanish from back in the day is coming in quite handy and i am picking up phrases here and there. on friday we took a bus from algeciras to la linea, spain and from there walked across the border to gibraltar. we took the cable car to the top of the rock, saw the apes and several historical sites and did LOTS of walking! it was a very surreal experience - the culture there is part british and part spanish and you can definitely tell it's a tourist destination! we ate fish and chips for lunch at my request and enjoyed speaking english and using british money...then in the evening we went back to spain. i was thoroughly disappointed though that i didn't get another stamp in my passport - the border guards barely even looked at it! yesterday we arrived in seville and have been exploring the city. we went to the cathedral this afternoon (third largest in europe) and walked to the top of the tower to get a bird's eye view of the city. tonight we are off to see a flamenco show (flamenco dancing is native to this area of spain) and then tomorrow we head to madrid. on tuesday night we're taking an overnight train to lisbon then we head home and back to reality on friday! it's been a fantastic trip and we have lots of stories and pictures to share when we get back to the states. have a great rest of the weekend!
kory and i have been busy sightseeing, eating and sampling local beverages (mint tea ad fresh OJ in morocco, wine and sangria in spain). we took the ferry from tangier, morocco over to algeciras, spain - very cool! it was really neat to be on the water looking at the 2 continents. it's nice being in spain now as things are much more western and more like home - there's still a language barrier but kory's spanish from back in the day is coming in quite handy and i am picking up phrases here and there. on friday we took a bus from algeciras to la linea, spain and from there walked across the border to gibraltar. we took the cable car to the top of the rock, saw the apes and several historical sites and did LOTS of walking! it was a very surreal experience - the culture there is part british and part spanish and you can definitely tell it's a tourist destination! we ate fish and chips for lunch at my request and enjoyed speaking english and using british money...then in the evening we went back to spain. i was thoroughly disappointed though that i didn't get another stamp in my passport - the border guards barely even looked at it! yesterday we arrived in seville and have been exploring the city. we went to the cathedral this afternoon (third largest in europe) and walked to the top of the tower to get a bird's eye view of the city. tonight we are off to see a flamenco show (flamenco dancing is native to this area of spain) and then tomorrow we head to madrid. on tuesday night we're taking an overnight train to lisbon then we head home and back to reality on friday! it's been a fantastic trip and we have lots of stories and pictures to share when we get back to the states. have a great rest of the weekend!
Monday, March 23, 2009
more travels from africa
3.22.09
after a very long traveling day i met up with kory in the casablanca airport. our planes actually parked right next to each other and i found him sitting down and filling out his customs form - i actually had to stand there for a second before he looked up and saw me :) customs in morocco was a bit confusing - more so for the customs official than me. he could not understand why i'd written on my form that i had come from ghana - after a few fruitless minutes of me trying to explain he frustratingly crossed out ghana and wrote in rome (where i had connected through). we navigated our way successfully into the city and found a hotel. the next morning we did a LOT of walking and saw the sights of casablanca - including lunch at rick's cafe (from the movie) and a tour of the mosque. on thursday we headed to marrakesh - though first we had a slight misadventure. we got to the train station in plenty of time for our 10:50 train and boarded the train on the correct platform when it pulled in about 20 minutes early. however, we got a bit concerned when it left about 15 minutes ahead of schedule and we quickly realized we were somehow on a train headed for the airport. luckily, and oddly enough, we rode the same train back to the casablanca train station where we found a cafe and hung out till the 12:50 train. marrakesh was a pleasant change from casablanca - much more tourist friendly and easier to navigate (especially if you don't speak french or arabic). we got pulled in by a snake 'charmer' (though the snakes never really moved) and got our pictures taken holding snakes and with snakes around our necks. we wandered through the medina and at dinner on a terrace overlooking the square. the next day we took a tour to the base of the atlas mountains where we saw the largest waterfall in morocco. it was nice to see the countryside and get out of the city for a bit. now we are in rabat staying with some friends and will head to tangier on wednesday. hope you are all doing well, more to come on my (our) continued adventures!
here is a link to my web album with some more of my pics from ghana...
http://picasaweb.google.com/marykay.alexander/GhanaPictures#
after a very long traveling day i met up with kory in the casablanca airport. our planes actually parked right next to each other and i found him sitting down and filling out his customs form - i actually had to stand there for a second before he looked up and saw me :) customs in morocco was a bit confusing - more so for the customs official than me. he could not understand why i'd written on my form that i had come from ghana - after a few fruitless minutes of me trying to explain he frustratingly crossed out ghana and wrote in rome (where i had connected through). we navigated our way successfully into the city and found a hotel. the next morning we did a LOT of walking and saw the sights of casablanca - including lunch at rick's cafe (from the movie) and a tour of the mosque. on thursday we headed to marrakesh - though first we had a slight misadventure. we got to the train station in plenty of time for our 10:50 train and boarded the train on the correct platform when it pulled in about 20 minutes early. however, we got a bit concerned when it left about 15 minutes ahead of schedule and we quickly realized we were somehow on a train headed for the airport. luckily, and oddly enough, we rode the same train back to the casablanca train station where we found a cafe and hung out till the 12:50 train. marrakesh was a pleasant change from casablanca - much more tourist friendly and easier to navigate (especially if you don't speak french or arabic). we got pulled in by a snake 'charmer' (though the snakes never really moved) and got our pictures taken holding snakes and with snakes around our necks. we wandered through the medina and at dinner on a terrace overlooking the square. the next day we took a tour to the base of the atlas mountains where we saw the largest waterfall in morocco. it was nice to see the countryside and get out of the city for a bit. now we are in rabat staying with some friends and will head to tangier on wednesday. hope you are all doing well, more to come on my (our) continued adventures!
here is a link to my web album with some more of my pics from ghana...
http://picasaweb.google.com/marykay.alexander/GhanaPictures#
Sunday, March 15, 2009
so long, farewell...
3.15.09
being in ghana has been an assault on my senses, for better and for worse. the sights, smells, sounds, tastes - everything is so different from home and from anything i've experienced before. here's some things i will/will not miss when i leave:
i will miss:
- playing with the children at daycare and the local kids and hearing them laugh and seeing their smiles
- working at the orphanage and knowing i was making the childrens' lives better - especially since i got to see the first group move in
- having lazy afternoons after a hard morning of work
- cheap travel and a cheap lifestyle - i could actually go for days spending little/no money
- bonding sessions with the family and volunteers over card games by candlelight
- being tan and blonder without much effort
- lots of free time to read and think
- the silence that comes from a lifestyle without electricity, running water or modern day conveniences
- fan ice (ice cream)
- the yummy bananas, pineapple and oranges
- the availability of random things when you are in the bus/on the roadside - snacks, toothpaste, shirts, coffins, furniture
- walking home by moonlight without a flashlight
i will not miss:
- waking up in the middle of the night wrestling my way out of my bug net trying to find my flashlight so i can go to the bathroom/outhouse
- finding large crickets, lizards, spiders and cockroaches in the toilet in the middle of the night
- roosters crowing at ALL hours
- being crammed in tros (mini buses) with a bunch of sweaty strangers on a hot afternoon
- a general lack of personal space
- bucket showers and never feeling truly clean
- a lumpy mattress
- being called obruni and hissed at on the street by random locals
- lukewarm drinks
- rarely getting a good night's sleep and sleeping through the night only once or twice in 10 weeks
- seeing trash everywhere without garbage cans, throwing trash on the ground, and the stench of open sewers
i leave tomorrow evening for the airport and head to morocco. i hope you all have enjoyed my insights into ghana and i will try to post more as my travels continue (i get back to reston on april 3rd). have a great rest of the weekend!
ps - sorry that i haven't posted any more pics - either it's the camera or the computer (i think it's the computer) but i'm too lazy to spend the time to figure it out :)
being in ghana has been an assault on my senses, for better and for worse. the sights, smells, sounds, tastes - everything is so different from home and from anything i've experienced before. here's some things i will/will not miss when i leave:
i will miss:
- playing with the children at daycare and the local kids and hearing them laugh and seeing their smiles
- working at the orphanage and knowing i was making the childrens' lives better - especially since i got to see the first group move in
- having lazy afternoons after a hard morning of work
- cheap travel and a cheap lifestyle - i could actually go for days spending little/no money
- bonding sessions with the family and volunteers over card games by candlelight
- being tan and blonder without much effort
- lots of free time to read and think
- the silence that comes from a lifestyle without electricity, running water or modern day conveniences
- fan ice (ice cream)
- the yummy bananas, pineapple and oranges
- the availability of random things when you are in the bus/on the roadside - snacks, toothpaste, shirts, coffins, furniture
- walking home by moonlight without a flashlight
i will not miss:
- waking up in the middle of the night wrestling my way out of my bug net trying to find my flashlight so i can go to the bathroom/outhouse
- finding large crickets, lizards, spiders and cockroaches in the toilet in the middle of the night
- roosters crowing at ALL hours
- being crammed in tros (mini buses) with a bunch of sweaty strangers on a hot afternoon
- a general lack of personal space
- bucket showers and never feeling truly clean
- a lumpy mattress
- being called obruni and hissed at on the street by random locals
- lukewarm drinks
- rarely getting a good night's sleep and sleeping through the night only once or twice in 10 weeks
- seeing trash everywhere without garbage cans, throwing trash on the ground, and the stench of open sewers
i leave tomorrow evening for the airport and head to morocco. i hope you all have enjoyed my insights into ghana and i will try to post more as my travels continue (i get back to reston on april 3rd). have a great rest of the weekend!
ps - sorry that i haven't posted any more pics - either it's the camera or the computer (i think it's the computer) but i'm too lazy to spend the time to figure it out :)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
more about work...
3.11.09
about a month ago i started working every other day at day care (the rest still at the building project) = the building project had a lot of volunteers and work was a bit slow and i was looking for a change of pace. i thought it would be a good opportunity for a change of pace. of course day care here is nothing like at home (it's really more like preschool i think). first of all, the kids come dressed in school uniforms then the start promptly change them into play clothes (play clothes here could be anything from shorts and a tshirt to a party dress!) and give them a snack (parents provide this and it is sometimes biscuits and juice, sometimes candy!). once most of the kids have arrived then have a morning assembly where they sing, march and recite the lord's prayer and a daily scripture passage. the kids then split into 2 groups - older and younger - but many wander freely around with no general direction or purpose. the older kids focus on letters, numbers, coloring, learning fruits and veggies etc, while the younger ones are basically just herded into a small area on the porch w/o much structure or activity. these kids definitely have a ton of energy (even more with the candy!) and are itching to get up and run around - but they are basically trying to sit still till break/playtime at 10:30. sometimes the volunteers help with the lessons or lead the kids in songs and games or just play with the kids. there's also an informal nap time - the kids just lay down when they are tired - whenever and wherever. one of the favorite things for the kids to do is play beauty parlor with my hair - it's very fascinating to them since it's so different from theirs :). the volunteers leave around noon so i don't know too much about what goes on in the afternoon...i was however, surprised to see that caning and harsh discipline start so early here - if a child talks back, hits another child, generally acts up or sometimes even if they give an incorrect answer these are all reasons for the teacher to cane them or slap their hands (or sometimes their head). it's been a very eye-opening experience and of course one which makes me appreciate everything at home even more!
ps - i tried to upload some more pics today but the computer/connection weren't cooperating so i will try again this weekend!
about a month ago i started working every other day at day care (the rest still at the building project) = the building project had a lot of volunteers and work was a bit slow and i was looking for a change of pace. i thought it would be a good opportunity for a change of pace. of course day care here is nothing like at home (it's really more like preschool i think). first of all, the kids come dressed in school uniforms then the start promptly change them into play clothes (play clothes here could be anything from shorts and a tshirt to a party dress!) and give them a snack (parents provide this and it is sometimes biscuits and juice, sometimes candy!). once most of the kids have arrived then have a morning assembly where they sing, march and recite the lord's prayer and a daily scripture passage. the kids then split into 2 groups - older and younger - but many wander freely around with no general direction or purpose. the older kids focus on letters, numbers, coloring, learning fruits and veggies etc, while the younger ones are basically just herded into a small area on the porch w/o much structure or activity. these kids definitely have a ton of energy (even more with the candy!) and are itching to get up and run around - but they are basically trying to sit still till break/playtime at 10:30. sometimes the volunteers help with the lessons or lead the kids in songs and games or just play with the kids. there's also an informal nap time - the kids just lay down when they are tired - whenever and wherever. one of the favorite things for the kids to do is play beauty parlor with my hair - it's very fascinating to them since it's so different from theirs :). the volunteers leave around noon so i don't know too much about what goes on in the afternoon...i was however, surprised to see that caning and harsh discipline start so early here - if a child talks back, hits another child, generally acts up or sometimes even if they give an incorrect answer these are all reasons for the teacher to cane them or slap their hands (or sometimes their head). it's been a very eye-opening experience and of course one which makes me appreciate everything at home even more!
ps - i tried to upload some more pics today but the computer/connection weren't cooperating so i will try again this weekend!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
very very very hot
3.5.09
so i found out today that march is the hottest month in ghana - lucky me! i can definitely feel that it's gotten warmer if you can believe that! however, even though i've been since sick(i am pretty much back to ghana-normal) and not sleeping i am feeling pretty good - and counting down the days till i fly to morocco! i am so looking forward to even being in rome (i fly from accra to rome to casablanca) to get some more western food - though i am anticipating some more culture shock - and then a shower, cooler weather and a more comfortable bed! tomorrow is independence day here so no work - we will probably head to a nearby town to take in the festivities. on saturday a group of volunteers are going to a pool in accra for the day - it will be a good break for the heat and a farewell of sorts as my friends start to leave. i hope everyone has a great weekend - more next week!
so i found out today that march is the hottest month in ghana - lucky me! i can definitely feel that it's gotten warmer if you can believe that! however, even though i've been since sick(i am pretty much back to ghana-normal) and not sleeping i am feeling pretty good - and counting down the days till i fly to morocco! i am so looking forward to even being in rome (i fly from accra to rome to casablanca) to get some more western food - though i am anticipating some more culture shock - and then a shower, cooler weather and a more comfortable bed! tomorrow is independence day here so no work - we will probably head to a nearby town to take in the festivities. on saturday a group of volunteers are going to a pool in accra for the day - it will be a good break for the heat and a farewell of sorts as my friends start to leave. i hope everyone has a great weekend - more next week!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
a few more pictures
here are a few more pics - not too many today but at least it's giving you all a small glimpse into my life here. i was going to post some yesterday but friday night and all day yesterday was pretty ill with an intestinal bug. not fun. i'm feeling better today, though still not great! hope everyone had a great weekend!
1. eveline, fabian and caroline on the tro-tro (mini bus)
2. cape coast fort
3. me at the building worksite
4. view from the hike at wli falls
5. akaa falls
6. my toilet, shower, and water room
7. my house
Thursday, February 26, 2009
two weeks and change
2.26.09
on monday i will be leaving in two weeks and i've been here for about 8. while i definitely feel like it has been a tremendous and worthwhile experience i'm also very much ready to go. i got over my initial homesickness relatively easily but these emotions struck again last weekend. as i've told some of you i'm very much over being hot, sweaty and dirty all the time, done with being stared at, hissed at, touched etc because i'm white and i'm really ready for a change in the menu! it's not that i'm not having a good time - yesterday a group of the volunteers played rugby (touch not tackle - like flag football) against some school kids which was a lot of fun and i still am enjoying getting to know the locals and my fellow volunteers and of course am working hard to finish the orphanage so the kids can move in. but i'm at the point where i feel like i've achieved what i came here for and i'm ready to start the next chapter of my life. i've starting saying goodbye to friends who are going home and the next 2 weeks will have a lot of goodbyes as there is a mass exodous of volunteers. i know march 16th is right around the corner but i'd be perfectly content to wake up and have that day be here. i want to thank everyone for the texts, emails, cards, calls, packages, and facebook messages - your support and encouragement has made a world of difference and i cannot tell you how much i appreciate it! wishing everyone an early happy weekend...
on monday i will be leaving in two weeks and i've been here for about 8. while i definitely feel like it has been a tremendous and worthwhile experience i'm also very much ready to go. i got over my initial homesickness relatively easily but these emotions struck again last weekend. as i've told some of you i'm very much over being hot, sweaty and dirty all the time, done with being stared at, hissed at, touched etc because i'm white and i'm really ready for a change in the menu! it's not that i'm not having a good time - yesterday a group of the volunteers played rugby (touch not tackle - like flag football) against some school kids which was a lot of fun and i still am enjoying getting to know the locals and my fellow volunteers and of course am working hard to finish the orphanage so the kids can move in. but i'm at the point where i feel like i've achieved what i came here for and i'm ready to start the next chapter of my life. i've starting saying goodbye to friends who are going home and the next 2 weeks will have a lot of goodbyes as there is a mass exodous of volunteers. i know march 16th is right around the corner but i'd be perfectly content to wake up and have that day be here. i want to thank everyone for the texts, emails, cards, calls, packages, and facebook messages - your support and encouragement has made a world of difference and i cannot tell you how much i appreciate it! wishing everyone an early happy weekend...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
some pictures - finally!
here's a brief description of the pictures - sorry this isn't well organized but at least after 7 weeks i got some pics up :)
1. josh, dallas, me on the boat trip on volta river
2. caroline, natalie, josh, charlie and dalls in the pool
3. mud bricks!
4. inside the orphanage where i've been working
5. woman at the market (sorry this is sideways)
6. view from canopy walk at the rainforest
7. cape coast
8. men fishing at cape coast
9. eveline (my roommate), charlotte and i in the truck we hitched a free ride on
10. me in front of my house
11. worksite
12. my room
religion as a way of life
2.21.09
here in ghana the religious (christian) influence is vast and permeates every aspect of life. it's certainly a much different approach than i am used to and has given me lots to think about. church signs are more prevalant here than starbucks in seattle and the reach includes businesses as well. taxis and buses proudly display their beliefs with stickers covering their rear windows with saying like "yes, lord", "clap for jesus" and "finger of god" (i have no idea what that means). stores have names like "god first fashion shop" and "touch not my anointed (in god we trust) jonas motor parts". god is praised by the people here for everything from good weather, good health, fortune, or even the right card drawn in a game. for a nation of people with far reaching poverty, corruption, and trials & tribulations they are also very thankful and grateful as a nation. the focus seems to be on what is good and positive rather than the negative or what they are lacking. the pervasive belief here is that god will provide for them. from the discussions i've had with locals they find it impossible to comprehend life without god or church. these people put god first in their lives with a passion and fervor that i can only (somewhat) liken to a die hard sports fanatic. not believing in god or even not being christian (there us a minority muslim population here) is just unfathomable. coming from a much more secular society it's sometimes hard to comprehend how someone can believe that god wanted a team to win a football (soccer) match or a card game but it's been a fascinating part of the culture to explore!
here in ghana the religious (christian) influence is vast and permeates every aspect of life. it's certainly a much different approach than i am used to and has given me lots to think about. church signs are more prevalant here than starbucks in seattle and the reach includes businesses as well. taxis and buses proudly display their beliefs with stickers covering their rear windows with saying like "yes, lord", "clap for jesus" and "finger of god" (i have no idea what that means). stores have names like "god first fashion shop" and "touch not my anointed (in god we trust) jonas motor parts". god is praised by the people here for everything from good weather, good health, fortune, or even the right card drawn in a game. for a nation of people with far reaching poverty, corruption, and trials & tribulations they are also very thankful and grateful as a nation. the focus seems to be on what is good and positive rather than the negative or what they are lacking. the pervasive belief here is that god will provide for them. from the discussions i've had with locals they find it impossible to comprehend life without god or church. these people put god first in their lives with a passion and fervor that i can only (somewhat) liken to a die hard sports fanatic. not believing in god or even not being christian (there us a minority muslim population here) is just unfathomable. coming from a much more secular society it's sometimes hard to comprehend how someone can believe that god wanted a team to win a football (soccer) match or a card game but it's been a fascinating part of the culture to explore!
Monday, February 16, 2009
a quick hello
2.16.09
as of today i have only 4 weeks left here in ghana, which sounds like a long time but given how quickly the last couple weeks have gone i can imagine it will be over before i blink! i have learned a lot about myself in the past 6 weeks and am amazed at what i can tolerate. i went from adjusting to life without electricity and running water to today at work having ants crawling all over me and in my clothes. my tolerance for being around people more often has increased and i'm better about keeping certain opinions to myself :). i am more comfortable now when i stick out in a crowd and confident in my abilities to navigate the crazy ghanaian public transportation system. i can bargain on prices and do my laundry by hand - and i think i can even get my socks cleaner than they get at home! however, i still miss home very much and am looking forward to mom's cookies, a cold glass of milk and my very comfortable bed amongst other things. i hope everyone has a great week!
as of today i have only 4 weeks left here in ghana, which sounds like a long time but given how quickly the last couple weeks have gone i can imagine it will be over before i blink! i have learned a lot about myself in the past 6 weeks and am amazed at what i can tolerate. i went from adjusting to life without electricity and running water to today at work having ants crawling all over me and in my clothes. my tolerance for being around people more often has increased and i'm better about keeping certain opinions to myself :). i am more comfortable now when i stick out in a crowd and confident in my abilities to navigate the crazy ghanaian public transportation system. i can bargain on prices and do my laundry by hand - and i think i can even get my socks cleaner than they get at home! however, i still miss home very much and am looking forward to mom's cookies, a cold glass of milk and my very comfortable bed amongst other things. i hope everyone has a great week!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
just past the halfway point!
a week or so ago i sat in on a second level junior high social studies class. the topic of the lesson was how ghana cooperates with other nations. first, i should explain that this is a private school and that children start at various ages, so grade levels as we have them do not exist. kids from various ages are in the same class based on knowledge level. books are shared amongst the students and are passed out at the beginning and collected at the end of class. there seems to be no formal lesson plan and the teaching style here is much more laid back and informal (much like all of ghanaian culture). the teacher was very tangential and easily distracted off topic by the students and took 30 extra minutes to get though the reading. there were also several interruptions from other teachers, the school office collecting fees (those who didn't pay were sent home) and even the reverend (who owns the school). the teacher has only been teaching for 6 months and went to technical college for training. he was enthusiastic but seemed to lack the experience and training as to how to command the classroom. yesterday and today i sat in on school again - this time to proctor mock exams (end of level exams before the students move on to high school). like all things ghanaian, it didn't start on time. for each section the teacher was supposed to allot the students a certain amount of time which he only seemed t6o be sort of following. the students really didn't need us there as the teacher was in the room most of the time, but more than that i doubt any of these children would have cheated even if they had the chance. here in school you can get caned for simple infractions like being tardy so i don't imagine the punishment for cheating would be much fun! the first exam was social studies and the question topics covered very random bits of knowledge like the earth's rotation, who the permanent members of the UN are and specifics about various regions of ghana. in talking to another teacher he explained that despite ghana being a small country the children's knowledge outside of their region is quite limited. this i'm sure is due in no small part to the lack of TV, newspapers, etc. social studies serves to cover a broad range of information about ghana and how it functions in the global community - a seemingly tall order for a country where come of the standardized exams have glaring grammatical and spelling errors! the science exam was an equal hodgepodge, questions covered the function of incisor teeth, basic units of length and measure, and the systematic name for FeS. my overall impression of the school system here is one of disorganization and lack of structure. i do believe that the teachers and children want learning to take place to improve their lives and lift ghana into prosperity but as i am seeing with everything here progress is very slow and inconsistent!
a quick note about my weekend - i traveled to cape coast with a group of volunteers and saw the slave castle (fort) used as a holding cell before the slaves were sent to england. after that we camped in the rainforest (not much sleeping involved) in open air structures on dirty mattresses. more fun than it sounds i promise! we got early the next AM and did the canopy walk - no other tourists which was cool though we didn't see any wildlife (but we certainly heard a LOT). this weekend a bunch of us are heading to the volta lake (largest artificial lake in the world) to see the dam and hang out. i've decided to forgo my trip to togo in favor of something closer and cheaper - as well as giving me the chance to further explore Ghana!
a quick note about my weekend - i traveled to cape coast with a group of volunteers and saw the slave castle (fort) used as a holding cell before the slaves were sent to england. after that we camped in the rainforest (not much sleeping involved) in open air structures on dirty mattresses. more fun than it sounds i promise! we got early the next AM and did the canopy walk - no other tourists which was cool though we didn't see any wildlife (but we certainly heard a LOT). this weekend a bunch of us are heading to the volta lake (largest artificial lake in the world) to see the dam and hang out. i've decided to forgo my trip to togo in favor of something closer and cheaper - as well as giving me the chance to further explore Ghana!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
milestones
2.3.09
last saturday marked 4 weeks here, tomorrow is one month (to the day) that i arrived, and this upcoming weekend i am halfway done with my time here. wow, time is starting to fly! friday night was a wash - literally, as we had a 2 hour freak rainstorm, more like a torrential downpour! we were going to go have a drink at the club and charge our phones but instead sat on the porch, talked, and watched the rain. saturday was a lazy morning catching up on journaling and reading (i've finished 5 books!). in the afternoon some of the volunteers went to aburi to the wood carving market - originally the plan was also to go to the botannical garedens there but we had heard they weren't worth it so we skipped them. we had to wander around for a while and finally a couple of local boys (who happened to have family with shops there) showed us the way. it was quite interesting to see all the different carvings (masks, figurines, animnals, and lots of fertility objects!) and to talk to the artisans about their work. saturday night we watched a movie (the great debaters) at another volunteer's house and charged her phone - her family has a generator that they turn on a couple of nights a week. sunday a few of us went to church - that was quite an experience! we stayed for the first hour and a half, though it lasted 2 more, as it was time for us to have lunch. there was a lot of chanting, singing, clapping and out of tune music - the congregation is small but VERY spirited and energetic! it was a much less formal service than what i am used to with most of the people coming and going at their leisure (including the reverand!). yesterday afternoon was a lazy day as i slept very little sunday night and made a ton of mud bricks (as well as this morning). i was definitely wishing i was home watching the big game (and commericals of course) and eating good food - thanks to meg for taping it!!! on friday morning a group of us will travel to the kakum national park to see the rainforest and do a canopy walk. my roommate and i are then traveling down to cape coast to see the historical sites related to slave trade (this is where a lot of slave ships left from) and then we will return to the village monday evening. tonight a group is going into town for dinner to the "western restaurant" again, i plan to order a club sandwich and fries so i will be sure to update you on how it compares to home. i hope everyone has a great week - miss you all lots!!!!
last saturday marked 4 weeks here, tomorrow is one month (to the day) that i arrived, and this upcoming weekend i am halfway done with my time here. wow, time is starting to fly! friday night was a wash - literally, as we had a 2 hour freak rainstorm, more like a torrential downpour! we were going to go have a drink at the club and charge our phones but instead sat on the porch, talked, and watched the rain. saturday was a lazy morning catching up on journaling and reading (i've finished 5 books!). in the afternoon some of the volunteers went to aburi to the wood carving market - originally the plan was also to go to the botannical garedens there but we had heard they weren't worth it so we skipped them. we had to wander around for a while and finally a couple of local boys (who happened to have family with shops there) showed us the way. it was quite interesting to see all the different carvings (masks, figurines, animnals, and lots of fertility objects!) and to talk to the artisans about their work. saturday night we watched a movie (the great debaters) at another volunteer's house and charged her phone - her family has a generator that they turn on a couple of nights a week. sunday a few of us went to church - that was quite an experience! we stayed for the first hour and a half, though it lasted 2 more, as it was time for us to have lunch. there was a lot of chanting, singing, clapping and out of tune music - the congregation is small but VERY spirited and energetic! it was a much less formal service than what i am used to with most of the people coming and going at their leisure (including the reverand!). yesterday afternoon was a lazy day as i slept very little sunday night and made a ton of mud bricks (as well as this morning). i was definitely wishing i was home watching the big game (and commericals of course) and eating good food - thanks to meg for taping it!!! on friday morning a group of us will travel to the kakum national park to see the rainforest and do a canopy walk. my roommate and i are then traveling down to cape coast to see the historical sites related to slave trade (this is where a lot of slave ships left from) and then we will return to the village monday evening. tonight a group is going into town for dinner to the "western restaurant" again, i plan to order a club sandwich and fries so i will be sure to update you on how it compares to home. i hope everyone has a great week - miss you all lots!!!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
24 hours in a day
1.28.09
a lot of you are wondering by now how exactly i pass the time here and what it is i do all day long in ghana...from previous blogs i've mentioned that i don't sleep through the night or a lot which is about the same. i usually wake up between 5 and 6 (or wake up for the last time i should say) and read, write in my journal, jot notes for my blog, or listen to my ipod. around 6:30 i walk across the road for breakfast (hot chocolate. water, bread, jam) then back to get ready for work. we meet our local "boss" kwesi around 8 and are either working in the village on housing projects or in tinkong (20 minutes down the road) working on the out buildings for an orphanage. work is anything from making mud bricks, moving bricks, mixing concrete, laying bricks, applying plaster (concrete) to a bricked structure or painting. work ends around 12 or 12:30 ( we don't work in the afternoon because of the heat) and we head back for lunch (yams/rice/pasta and sauce - sometimes a rare treat of meat or salad, plus fruit). the afternoon i have free to do laundry, nap, shower, play frisbee, read, write in my journal, play with the local kids, observe classes at the school, go to town etc. dinner (same food as lunch) is between 5:30 and 6 and then the volunteers hang out, play cards, talk, go for a drink at the local bar on occasion or go to bed. on wednesdays we gather in mamfe at the local office to hang out and talk (where i can charge my cell phone). today there wasn't much work today (lack of money) so my roommate and i observed a social studies class - it was very different from school in the US and deserves more than a couple lines. we are going to try to go back next week and sit in on a math and science class so i'll write a whole blog about that once i have more material!!! this weekend some of the volunteers are going to aburi to the botanical gardens and the wood market which should be fun. i hope you are all staying warm - have a good day!!!!
a lot of you are wondering by now how exactly i pass the time here and what it is i do all day long in ghana...from previous blogs i've mentioned that i don't sleep through the night or a lot which is about the same. i usually wake up between 5 and 6 (or wake up for the last time i should say) and read, write in my journal, jot notes for my blog, or listen to my ipod. around 6:30 i walk across the road for breakfast (hot chocolate. water, bread, jam) then back to get ready for work. we meet our local "boss" kwesi around 8 and are either working in the village on housing projects or in tinkong (20 minutes down the road) working on the out buildings for an orphanage. work is anything from making mud bricks, moving bricks, mixing concrete, laying bricks, applying plaster (concrete) to a bricked structure or painting. work ends around 12 or 12:30 ( we don't work in the afternoon because of the heat) and we head back for lunch (yams/rice/pasta and sauce - sometimes a rare treat of meat or salad, plus fruit). the afternoon i have free to do laundry, nap, shower, play frisbee, read, write in my journal, play with the local kids, observe classes at the school, go to town etc. dinner (same food as lunch) is between 5:30 and 6 and then the volunteers hang out, play cards, talk, go for a drink at the local bar on occasion or go to bed. on wednesdays we gather in mamfe at the local office to hang out and talk (where i can charge my cell phone). today there wasn't much work today (lack of money) so my roommate and i observed a social studies class - it was very different from school in the US and deserves more than a couple lines. we are going to try to go back next week and sit in on a math and science class so i'll write a whole blog about that once i have more material!!! this weekend some of the volunteers are going to aburi to the botanical gardens and the wood market which should be fun. i hope you are all staying warm - have a good day!!!!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
a glimpse into my world
1.24.09
i thought this time i would give you some visual descriptions of ghana as i am seeing it since the connection is too slow to allow me to post pics so here goes...
picture a hazy blue backdrop with rolling mountains (kind of reminds me of the blue ridge) dotted with tall green trees, grasses, corn fields and palms stretched across as far as you can see. there is a cool gentle breeze blowing to cool you from the hot sun (warm but not too intense). the ground is a vast expanse of dry red clay dirt that clings to your skin and covers you in a fine layer. in the distance you hear a cacophony of roosters, chickens, goats, dogs and cats. small tin roofed mud houses plastered in concrete dot the foreground with laundry hanging out to dry. the colored were once bright but now faded and most of the structures are crumbling. people are friendly but curious and always interested to wave at, yell at, or talk with the passing obruni. this is a place where everyone down to the smallest children carry things on their heads from water to bundles of wood to school bags. it's a quiet and more relaxed pace, but also a place of poverty and decay. trash cans are non-existent and garbage is carelessly tossed on the ground to be swept into piles and eventually burned. it is a place completely foreign but becoming less so with each slowly passing day. to me to me, this is ghana.
i thought this time i would give you some visual descriptions of ghana as i am seeing it since the connection is too slow to allow me to post pics so here goes...
picture a hazy blue backdrop with rolling mountains (kind of reminds me of the blue ridge) dotted with tall green trees, grasses, corn fields and palms stretched across as far as you can see. there is a cool gentle breeze blowing to cool you from the hot sun (warm but not too intense). the ground is a vast expanse of dry red clay dirt that clings to your skin and covers you in a fine layer. in the distance you hear a cacophony of roosters, chickens, goats, dogs and cats. small tin roofed mud houses plastered in concrete dot the foreground with laundry hanging out to dry. the colored were once bright but now faded and most of the structures are crumbling. people are friendly but curious and always interested to wave at, yell at, or talk with the passing obruni. this is a place where everyone down to the smallest children carry things on their heads from water to bundles of wood to school bags. it's a quiet and more relaxed pace, but also a place of poverty and decay. trash cans are non-existent and garbage is carelessly tossed on the ground to be swept into piles and eventually burned. it is a place completely foreign but becoming less so with each slowly passing day. to me to me, this is ghana.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
the effects of a profound lack of sleep over time...
10.20.09
happy inaguration day! it's a balmy sunny warm dday here in kwamosos (really akrapong where the internet is) bot like the chilly wheather in DC! i don't think i've gotten a full night's sleep since i've been here but i am starting to adjust. last week and through monday night there was nightly music, chanting, and general noise as part of a weeklong funeral celebration. unlike at home, here they celebrate the person's life with parties, music, food and parades and it seems to go on endlessly. unfortunately, they do it at the deceased person's house, which is right next to where i am...over the weekend i travelled with some other volunteers to wlii falls where i got a REAL SHOWER and FLUSH TOILET! (and yes, i was really excited about those and fascinated by the lights too :)). the hike was great, the waterfall was refreshing and overall it was fun times. the bed, though was hard as a rock so again, sleep was not so great - though for once i was sleeping without a bug net which was a nice change. the biggest adjustment besides all of the above it my lack of alone time - so i value it very much and get very little. in any case, i wake up early and read and write in my journal before my roomie gets up with is seeming to suffice. aside from a few cuts, scrapes and bruises and one bout with some stomach troubles i've been pretty lucky so far as far as being healthy and i haven't broken anything! i do have a couple of cuts that i need to watch because the flies get in them and lay eggs which can leas to a fun infection but so far no problems there. and for anyone that is wondering, no i don't really need to iron my underwear or any of my clothes for that matter :) hope you are all well. i will be on this weeekend for longer so i promise to write more then. take care and ma ha from ghana :)
happy inaguration day! it's a balmy sunny warm dday here in kwamosos (really akrapong where the internet is) bot like the chilly wheather in DC! i don't think i've gotten a full night's sleep since i've been here but i am starting to adjust. last week and through monday night there was nightly music, chanting, and general noise as part of a weeklong funeral celebration. unlike at home, here they celebrate the person's life with parties, music, food and parades and it seems to go on endlessly. unfortunately, they do it at the deceased person's house, which is right next to where i am...over the weekend i travelled with some other volunteers to wlii falls where i got a REAL SHOWER and FLUSH TOILET! (and yes, i was really excited about those and fascinated by the lights too :)). the hike was great, the waterfall was refreshing and overall it was fun times. the bed, though was hard as a rock so again, sleep was not so great - though for once i was sleeping without a bug net which was a nice change. the biggest adjustment besides all of the above it my lack of alone time - so i value it very much and get very little. in any case, i wake up early and read and write in my journal before my roomie gets up with is seeming to suffice. aside from a few cuts, scrapes and bruises and one bout with some stomach troubles i've been pretty lucky so far as far as being healthy and i haven't broken anything! i do have a couple of cuts that i need to watch because the flies get in them and lay eggs which can leas to a fun infection but so far no problems there. and for anyone that is wondering, no i don't really need to iron my underwear or any of my clothes for that matter :) hope you are all well. i will be on this weeekend for longer so i promise to write more then. take care and ma ha from ghana :)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
dry season?!?!
1.13.09
got caught in a freak rainstorm walking to the internet cafe - lucky me! too bad i had already had my shower for today. thankfully it was short lived and the very gracious hosts of the cafe gave us all towels to dry off! it's getting better, at least in terms of me adjusting. i am going with a couple other volunteers to wlii falls this weekend where there will be more hiking! it's funny how my perspective has changed in such a short amount of time. the poverty here is really something else, but i am slowly noticing it less and less. it's a world where cassette tapes are the norm, cars are older than i am, and they sweep the dirt floors. but it's also a country of incredibly friendly people with a more laid-back attitude. at work (i'm helping build the structures for an orphanage) i've learned how to pour foundation, mix concrete, make mud bricks and lay bricks. i will try and post pics next time but the connection here is kind of slow so we'll see. there are several volunteers who have now arrived so i am no longer the newbie - out of 8 of us i've been here 3rd longest! we went to the local bar/club last night - it's really just a place with loud ghanian music, plastic chairs and not so cold drinks. but it was fun and i tried to dance (i seriously have NO rhythm compared to these people). i've been reading and hanging out in the afternoons and just marveling at the vast cultural differences. i can't say at this point that i won't be happy to leave but overall it's a good thing i'm here. i have the most amazing understandings of hardship and a true insight as to how lucky and fortunate i really am, both of which will make me a stronger and better person. feel free to email me - i'm not so good at getting back to people but i really really appreciate all the love and support!
got caught in a freak rainstorm walking to the internet cafe - lucky me! too bad i had already had my shower for today. thankfully it was short lived and the very gracious hosts of the cafe gave us all towels to dry off! it's getting better, at least in terms of me adjusting. i am going with a couple other volunteers to wlii falls this weekend where there will be more hiking! it's funny how my perspective has changed in such a short amount of time. the poverty here is really something else, but i am slowly noticing it less and less. it's a world where cassette tapes are the norm, cars are older than i am, and they sweep the dirt floors. but it's also a country of incredibly friendly people with a more laid-back attitude. at work (i'm helping build the structures for an orphanage) i've learned how to pour foundation, mix concrete, make mud bricks and lay bricks. i will try and post pics next time but the connection here is kind of slow so we'll see. there are several volunteers who have now arrived so i am no longer the newbie - out of 8 of us i've been here 3rd longest! we went to the local bar/club last night - it's really just a place with loud ghanian music, plastic chairs and not so cold drinks. but it was fun and i tried to dance (i seriously have NO rhythm compared to these people). i've been reading and hanging out in the afternoons and just marveling at the vast cultural differences. i can't say at this point that i won't be happy to leave but overall it's a good thing i'm here. i have the most amazing understandings of hardship and a true insight as to how lucky and fortunate i really am, both of which will make me a stronger and better person. feel free to email me - i'm not so good at getting back to people but i really really appreciate all the love and support!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
maha from ghana! (good afternoon)
1.6.09 (cont on 1.9.09)
hot, sweaty, frustrated, overwhelmed, shocked and completely out of my element. that's about how i feel right now after a couple days here and a day of working. my family is nice but an outhouse for 10 weeks and pouring water from a bucket over your head for a shower is going to be interesting and challenging! the volunteers staying close by me ( a 2 minute walk) are nice, a guy from the UK, a guy from Indiana, and a girl from Vancouver, BC. i am very slowly learning my way around, trying to remember names and trying to figure out what people are saying to me (in twi it's impossible, in english it's still pretty hard because of the accents!). here's a few things random observations so far...
- "obruni" = hey white person!! - this is kind of getting tiresome since i get yelled at so many times a day :)
- my host mom gets up at 4 am which means i wake up around then too, but it's light only till about 6 or so so we go to bed by 830 or 9 most nights
- roosters, goats, cats, chickens all walking around during the day is weird - when the make noise all night long it's downright annoying!
- i think i may sweat off half a person, the sun isn't so intense but seriously it's 90+ degrees every day with no AC
- the poverty here is on a level that you cannot imagine and very difficult to stomach for me (at least so far)
- having only a pocket mirror is good for now because i do NOT want to look at myself (though it would be nice to clean up before i get to morocco!)
- lucky me, i have already found the mormon missionaries!!! i think i am destined to find them everywhere i go :)
- the diet consists mostly of carbs, some fruit, very little protein and even fewer veggies - this is taking A LOT of adjusting.
ok well i have made it through one week, tomorrow i am off to see a waterfall and hike a bit, i've been a bit homesick and yesterday was not so good but i think today will be better. it's just taking time to adjust. if anyone wants to know anything in particular or wants me to post something - just let me know. even after being here a short time i could probably write for a long time!!!
hot, sweaty, frustrated, overwhelmed, shocked and completely out of my element. that's about how i feel right now after a couple days here and a day of working. my family is nice but an outhouse for 10 weeks and pouring water from a bucket over your head for a shower is going to be interesting and challenging! the volunteers staying close by me ( a 2 minute walk) are nice, a guy from the UK, a guy from Indiana, and a girl from Vancouver, BC. i am very slowly learning my way around, trying to remember names and trying to figure out what people are saying to me (in twi it's impossible, in english it's still pretty hard because of the accents!). here's a few things random observations so far...
- "obruni" = hey white person!! - this is kind of getting tiresome since i get yelled at so many times a day :)
- my host mom gets up at 4 am which means i wake up around then too, but it's light only till about 6 or so so we go to bed by 830 or 9 most nights
- roosters, goats, cats, chickens all walking around during the day is weird - when the make noise all night long it's downright annoying!
- i think i may sweat off half a person, the sun isn't so intense but seriously it's 90+ degrees every day with no AC
- the poverty here is on a level that you cannot imagine and very difficult to stomach for me (at least so far)
- having only a pocket mirror is good for now because i do NOT want to look at myself (though it would be nice to clean up before i get to morocco!)
- lucky me, i have already found the mormon missionaries!!! i think i am destined to find them everywhere i go :)
- the diet consists mostly of carbs, some fruit, very little protein and even fewer veggies - this is taking A LOT of adjusting.
ok well i have made it through one week, tomorrow i am off to see a waterfall and hike a bit, i've been a bit homesick and yesterday was not so good but i think today will be better. it's just taking time to adjust. if anyone wants to know anything in particular or wants me to post something - just let me know. even after being here a short time i could probably write for a long time!!!
Friday, January 2, 2009
happy 2009!
1.2.09
ok, so tomorrow at this time i will be at the airport and on my way to one of the biggest adventures in my life! i am a bundle of nerves, excitement, anticipation etc. luckily i am mostly packed and as ready as i will be. hopefully i can get some sleep tonight! if i have time during my layover tomorrow, i might try to log in, otherwise my next post will be from ghana! i also wanted to share another address for mail in case anyone wants to send me letters - this one might be better to use since it's in care of the organization though i think either are fine.
c/o Projects Abroad
P.O. Box 31
Mamfe-Akuapem
Eastern Region
Ghana
wishing you all the best for 2009!
ok, so tomorrow at this time i will be at the airport and on my way to one of the biggest adventures in my life! i am a bundle of nerves, excitement, anticipation etc. luckily i am mostly packed and as ready as i will be. hopefully i can get some sleep tonight! if i have time during my layover tomorrow, i might try to log in, otherwise my next post will be from ghana! i also wanted to share another address for mail in case anyone wants to send me letters - this one might be better to use since it's in care of the organization though i think either are fine.
c/o Projects Abroad
P.O. Box 31
Mamfe-Akuapem
Eastern Region
Ghana
wishing you all the best for 2009!
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