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Introduction

A lot of major events have transpired since my last post.. Here are just a few glimpses:

Going Home

For those that do not know, I went home-home (LA!) for a few weeks during my school break.. I wish I had made that visit under different circumstances, but that is life

Here are some thoughts on how the trip in its relation to my Peace Corps experience:

The trip forced the realization that my time in Ghana is very limited.. 2 years! But with months quickly passing me by.. I now have only 10 months left!

Moreover, I missed my life in Ghana in that short period.. The simple, natural surroundings and people.. However, I didn’t miss the food that much – I was too busy gorging some American favorites :).. Although I did get sick for part of the trip and didn’t get a chance to taste all the flavors I had hoped ;(

I am definitely not ready to call my Peace Corps time quits.. There is still much I have to learn and still much I hope to accomplish.. The “much to accomplish” part is what I am worried about.. It took me all this time to just get used to life, and yet with only 10 months left, I still have a lot of items on my “To-Do List”:

- improving my teaching

- starting my Boyeyey Club

- doing the World Map project with my students

- learning to weave kente-cloth

- go fishing in the lagoon

- teaching kids bhangra! ;)

With 10 months left, the trip home also forced me to realize the giant shift in my lifestyle coming in the near future.. An even more intimidating shift than the original one from life in the US to the one is Ghana.. For my Peace Corps experience was somewhat structured, whereas the next stage in life is completely open to the imagination

However, I will not bore/confuse you with my jumbled thoughts the next steps in my life, but it is terrifying to start planning for a life 10 months in the future!

One thing I have already started to develop is a POA (plan-of-action) for coming back to visit Ghana!

JZ

Another major event was the visit of 2 friends (J and Z)! I have to admit, it was a lot of work than I had expected.. As a rural volunteer, you quickly forget the little difficulties you faced in the transition period from the US to Ghana.. Those little difficulties become “normal” as I tried to explain in the last blog

My own standards for cleanliness, punctuality, food have changed dramatically.. That makes planning a trip for 2 US citizens a bit tricky.. Rather very tricky!

Though stressful at times, I was delighted to have 2 friends come and visit.. There are very few people who even think about visiting a friend in such conditions and I am glad I have 2 who not only thought about visit, but acted upon their thoughts.. Thanks guys :)

Here is a brief overview of the trip:

- Accra

- Tsiame (my site) – A chance to see first hand the rural lifestyle.. One afternoon, we were all dragged into dancing the “chicken dance” at a funeral event.. We, however, did forget to visit my school!

- Atimpoku – A nice relaxing visit on the Volta River front.. We took a speed boat to go look at the Volta Dam (generates the majority of power for Ghana!)

- Old Tafo – A quick stop over to see my Home-stay family

- Kumasi – The capital of the Asantes.. People sometimes refer to Kumasi as an “urban village”.. It reminds me of Mumbai due to the sheer number of people in the market there.. Here, we visited some shrines and got to see a glimpse of the Asante king during a visit to his Palace!

- Techiman – A hidden monastery.. Peaceful, serene, and it has the most incredible views from top of these huge boulders

- Cape Coast / El Mina – The castles at both the places tell chilling stories of the slave trade that transpired there.. We also visited Kakum National Park – with its 40 foot high canopy walk!

1^st NOTE: To read an experience directly from one of my friends, scroll down to the end of this blog entry for their guest blog section :)

2^nd NOTE: As the reader already is aware, pictures are this blog’s forte.. Only enjoy.. There are some on Facebook

School!

School official began September 27^th – after a 2 week nation-wide delay due to inadequate infrastructure for a new 4-year high school education system that was being implemented

Much debate has ensued on the change from a 3-year high school system to a 4-year one and back to a 3-year one.. Note that the students in the incoming class will be doing 3 years of high school, whereas the students already enrolled will be doing 4 years.. A bit confusing even for volunteers here :/.. And a lot debate focuses on current facilities – which cannot support the new incoming freshman class.. Sadly, many people say it is more of a political issue than an educational one

The new freshmen class have started, sluggishly, to pour in (Note: Enrollment will probably last a few months).. I love the look of fresh faces :)

I have also.. FINALLY.. Started my BC Tsiame (Boyeyey Club of Tsiame) with some of the students in the school.. Our first project is what else but a garden in the school :).. I have some more things in mind, but those will have to wait.. Maybe bhangra lessons ;).. I will keep my readers updated on the projects

Scripps Spelling Bee

A small side project I am doing is working with the primary/junior high schools here to enroll some students into the Ghana national Spelling Bee (associated with the Scripps Spelling Bee in the US).. One contestant from Ghana will compete in the finals at Scripps!

We (the English teachers and I) have completed the School Bees and some winners were selected.. We now are in the process of training them to compete in the regional level.. Hopefully, we can have at least 1 representative to the national level in Accra in February!

Boyeyey Gardens

Most of the nursery was eaten by snails! Thus, only the seeds that we planted directly are growing.. American Sweet Corn is doing just fine here and the Squash is doing incredibly well in the African continent.. I bought some local seeds to supplement the lost nursery.. I have my fingers crossed :)

Fin

And so I end another post.. Short, sweet, and very late

Enjoy