Life in Ghana is slow

I last said I wanted to hit the ground running after training, and I guess I have at least hit the ground trotting. Since I got back to site, I have started looking into our clinic and what needs to be done to get it openned. The buildings need a lot of work. Parts of the ceiling need to be replaced, doors need to be replaced, locks, window panes, the latrine needs to be completely rebuilt, and the place needs to be cleaned worse than any place I have ever stepped foot into. There were so many bugs that the keyholes in the locks were stuffed with bugs and we couldn't get the keys in some of them, which was fine because the keys actually don't work anyway. However, all this work is do-able if I can just get the money. So, I'm working on that now. We're going to the District Assembly monday to see how they can help. I'll keep you all updated on if and how you can help too. Hopefully this will be my big project. I'll be really excited if we can get the clinic up and running this year. Its sad that they've had these buildings for like 6 years and they've gone unused and therefore unmaintained.

Other than that, not much is going on. I'm happy to be back, but the hot season has officially arrived and it is pretty miserable. My friend just checked the weather report for today and said "not bad, its only 106 today". I've now taken to sleeping in my hammock on my porch. It's not too bad when I do that. The hammock is amazing, I kinda want to sleep in it all year. Only about 2 more months of this and then the lovely rainy season comes and I can start a garden.

I almost forgot about the crazy rain. Right now, it is the dry season and has been since like November. So, theoretically, we shouldn't have rain until like April/May. However, one night about two weeks ago we got this crazy rainstorm. An RPCV, Peter, was visiting me at the time, and in the afternoon we were like "it looks like it'll rain, but that's impossible in February". Then it started sprinkling and I stood out in it and enjoyed every drop, thinking that was all that would happen. Then it started pouring! I stood out in that til I was soaked and until the wind was so hard that the droplets stung my skin. When all the Ghanaians ran into their houses, Peter and I stayed out on my porch to watch in amazement and enjoy the storm. However, in our enjoyment, Peter went in my room for a minute and said "does it usually leak in your room?" I went in to see the damage, because it doesn't usually leak in my room, and there was a huge puddle on my floor and the same in my kitchen. After I close the windows tighter, it stopped the leak and then I soaked up half a bucketful of water from my bedroom floor. I waited til the next day to sweep the water out of the kitchen.

We were not the only ones to suffer from the rain though. Since it is the dry season, it is also the season to build mud houses. A lot of people had been building houses or molding blocks to build houses or building new rooms on their houses. They were all taking their time since the dry season was not even close to over. So, this surprising rain was extra devistating. It destroyed all the blocks and many of the rooms that were already built. So, everyone who was building had to either make repairs or start all over. I felt really bad for them, but they all took it in stride and just started over the next day. I've noticed they are working faster this time though so another surprise rain can't come and destroy it again. I love the carefree attitude Ghanaians take for a lot of things. Something like this would upset Americans for weeks, to the point that I would avoid some people until the anger passed, but Ghanaians were laughing about it the next day. I hope I can take that attitude home with me.

Madelyn Marie Caron Pictures

Big sister Emma

The newest member of Julie's family! Madelyn Marie Caron born while we were visiting January 17th at 3:12am 9lbs 2oz.

Mom's Visit and Life Since

As you have all heard already, Sheryl and my mom had a wonderful time while they were here (or at least I hope they were telling the truth). I was a little nervous that they would have trouble dealing with the inconveniences in Ghana, but for every ridiculous setback they put on a happy face and said "this'll make a good story". I was very happy to have them here and thoroughly enjoyed living in Ghana on an American budget for 2 weeks. However, readjusting to no AC or fans at my house was not the easiest. Since they already told most of their stories on here, I'm going to move on now.

Since they left, I hung out at site and relaxed for a while. I also went to the District Health Office and found out the reason we don't have nurses in our clinic is that the buildings are not up to par, so I hope that will be my firs big project. I also visited my friend Kim for her birthday and ate delicious chocolate cake she made for herself. I was a good friend and made her a gift bag out of the stuff my mom brought when she came. I think the crummy yo-yo was the highlight of the package.

Now, I am at in service training (IST) in Kumasi. We've been here since Sunday, having workshops all day everyday. These workshops have been very useful though and are motivating, so I hope to hit the ground running when I get back. We finally learned about funding and other projects we can do. We also have our counterparts with us, so now they have a better idea of what their role is and the things we can do. I'm excited about the new opportunities for projects.

IST is also fun because it is the first time the whole WatSan group has gotten together since training and its great to see everyone. We're having fun hanging out and coming up with t-shirt ideas to make just for fun. I personally think we have the best group of all the sectors, so this has been a really fun week. After, I'm going to visit my homestay family, which I am also excited about.

I miss all of you and hope all is well at home. Give Madelynn and William hugs and kisses for me and send lots of pictures of them, not just in email, I want pictures of babies on my wall!

More pictures from our visit!

Our gift of a rooster from the Chief, dinner for tomorrow!

Our gift from Sadiq's family dinner for tonight!

A walking safari at Mole' National Park above are 3 of the 8 elephants that we saw.

Julie holding the beautiful baby from across from her home.

She's 3 months old and adorable !

Pictures from Ghana

A small number of children who came ot visit on a regular basis they were lots of fun and loved to spend time with us!

This is Julies village "Voggu". The people were very welcoming family is most important and they liked that we went over to see her.

As you can see when we met up with Julie in Tamale Sheryl and I were in Gahnian dress. Julie was not one bit surprised to see us in such attire!

Our first Ghanian food and drink

Red Red a very popular and tasty meal. Fried plantain, beans and fish mmm-mmm-good

This meal was delicious as you can see!

Great beer Star and Club were our usual

We started out splitting a beer but ended up drinking two!!!

This is the before picture above above was the after.

Return from Ghana Adventure

As you can see Sheryl and I have returned home safe and sound! This was the most amazing trip. We had a wonderful time with Julie. She was a fabulous hostess, tour guide, translator and barterer, not to mention fun to travel with. Something we could have never done on our own.
The last time we posted we were at what we call the "Garden of Eden"( Four Villages Inn) in kumasi. We went to a museum and art center there. We also med Guillermo one of Julies Peace Corps. We had lunch at a restaurant and had hoped to have some Ghanian food but to our surprise they did not serve ghanian food on Sundays!!! We stayed two nights at the inn and loved it there.
As we continued south we saw a significant change in landscape, weather, dress and culture. The more south we went the more developed and modern it was. Don't misunderstand not at all modern compared to our standards but more than the north where many places still did not have water or electricity.
On Monday we were able to take an STC bus to Cape Coast the best mode of transportation we used our entire stay. It was air conditioned and even played a movie! What a treat!!!
We stayed at a friend of Julies at Cape Coast, Nancy. She is a teacher at a school for the deaf and blind. She did have water and electricity another treat. We had a great time at Cape Coast. That is where we experienced our first" trotro". That would be a van with bench seats in which they fit as many people as possible in. No air conditioning of course. Unlike Julies village they don't put luggage and people on the top but fill it up as much as possible.
We went to Kakum National Park where we did the canopy walk a bridge built on the top of trees in the rain forest it was fabulous! We also went to a monkey sanctuary a place where a couple take in animals who are in need of shelter they had many kinds of monkeys, cats (not kitty cats) snakes, and a few more I can't think of oh yes crocodiles and turtles.
From Cape coast we headed to Accra. We were at the bus station at 6:15 am as we were told we could definately get tickets on the 7 oclock bus.
But as usual there were no tickets the second bus had broken down and the other one was already full when it left the previous location. Julie suggested we take a trotro and we did. Once again it was quite an adventure.
We stayed in a very nice hotel in Accra with a pool and had a relaxing comfortable day. After dinner the Shukans pick us up and we had a very nice visit with them. This is Julies pediatricians son and his family they have invited Julie to stay with them whenever she is in Accra it has been great.
Overall our trip was amazing. The Ghanian people were wonderful . Our flight back was uneventful. We met many interresting people throughout our trip. Maryellen and Michael picked us up in New York. It's good to be back. My shower and bed were wonderful. Not to mention some american food like cold milk and yogurt.
We kiss you Julie thank you for a wonderful visit and sharing your experience with us.