Back from Field Trip

Hey, so the blog has not been updated in some time. We have been really busy with language training and technical training.

Everyday, we all have language classes for about 4 hours (a little long if you ask me). We are all learning different languages based on where we have been placed with Ghana. I am learning Twi or attempting to learn it. We then learn skills related to our sector. Thus far, we have learned about the various styles of latrines, visited an HIV/AIDS clinic, visited some boar holes, have met various community leaders and organizations. We just got back from a field trip to the North and then to the Volta region. In the North, we stayed with a current volunteer and visited her community's water source, a dam, and played in a football match. Football is quite big here so one way to do community outreach is by organizing a football game and doing a presentation during half-time. We did a presentation on guinea worm, which is a parasite that is in the water and then after a year, pops through someone's leg (or another body part) to try to find water to lay more eggs. It is been eradicated in many places in Africa and Ghana, but it is still prevalent in the North. We then went from the North to the Nkwanta/Volta region. In the Nkwanta region, we payed a visit to a Women's Development Project, the District Hospital, and a current volunteer's site. At Cynthia's site, we met with the workers at the clinic, visited the chief, and watched various dramas presented by students on issues affecting Ghana. The topics of the dramas were HIV/AIDS, the importance of education, and saving money. My site is only 10 K from Cynthia's site so we passed by it and I got to see my future home! I am so excited. My site is nestled right up against a small mountain. Apparently, women come down from the mountain to sell mangoes, oranges, papaya, etc. Also, the other volunteers near my site have gone up the mountain to do baby-weighing at a community in the mountains. They make a whole day trip out of it-the hike, the community outreach, and then the community feeds them. I just saw the outside of my house and it looks like a standard living environment for volunteers. Cynthia did tell me that during funerals, for whatever reason, they place the loudspeaker right by my window and blare music all night. Funerals here are a time to party. They are quite the fete. Perhaps if I really cannot sleep, I will go to Cynthia's. Cynthia also told me that Tutukpene (my site!) has quite the nightlife so they usually meet in my village for some cold refreshments. My village has a two story bar (spot) - a big deal! haha. Besides the natural beauty and the social life, Cynthia has told me that Sarah (the volunteer I am replacing) loves Tutukpene and has had a great experience. :D

So that is sort of boring stuff. There have been quite a few funny cultural situations. My friend Elyse and I went to church last Sunday. We both do not go to church in the states, but here it is recommended to go, at least once, because church is such a large part of the lives of Ghanians.So we went. I must admit that I took my sweet time getting ready in the morning and thus, we were like two hours late. In Ghana, that does not really matter since church lasts 5 hours. I was really apprehensive about going, but I had avoided it the weekend before, so I bit the bullet. If it was any indication of what I was getting myself into, one of my fellow volunteers left about two minutes after I got there because she could not handle the messages being conveyed about the role of women any longer. I missed out (?) on that part, but came when the two hour long offering session had just begun. So in Ghana, giving offering lasts like an hour or two. They just keep playing more music and calling people up to the altar. If they see foreigners (Americans=money), they congratulate you for coming by singling you out to donate money and call your name out as if you have won the lottery. Many volunteers get letters from community churches announcing that they have been selected to donate a given sum of money. It seems that most politely decline. So the culmination of the service is when Elyse and I are called up to the altar and they announce that we cannot go back to our seats unless people donate 10 ghana cedis for each of us. That is quite a large sum so I expected both women and men to donate money and for the money to come from various individuals. Nope. I guess it was literally an auction. The pastor donated 10 cedis for Elyse and then a young man, about my age, donated 10 for me. Under his breath, after the donation, the pastor then told me that I will marry this benefactor. Um yeah....I stayed for about 5 more minutes. I doubt I will be going back. hah.

While we were in the North, the chief brought us a live guinea fowl as a welcoming present. Some young boys helped slaughter it and that was dinner. I have never smelled fresh blood. Not sure if I want to again. I'll stick with groundnut paste (peanut butter), avocados, and soy kebabs. Actually, I have been trying many things here. I do like fufu because it is hearty and takes on the flavor of the soup it is served with. I love a dish called red red, which is fried plantains, rice, and beans in a red sauce. I am excited to cook for myself and eat more cabbage and veggies. My host family tries hard but they do not understand the concept of fiber.

So, I am sure you all are surprised that I actually played football since my hand-eye coordination is seriously lacking. It was so much fun! We were great comic relief. Only one of the guys in our group wanted to play and he played for the first half. So it was all women against these agile, quick-steppin Ghanian men. Some of us had never played before. My friend asked me, "So is the theory of the game?" Oh yes. It was ridiculous.

call me or email me!
linds