Sorry I've been bad about updating my blog. I tried to put pictures of the clinic on here a while ago, but the internet wasn't working well or something. Anyway, things are going pretty well. The work on the clinic has started, but this is going to be a long process. The masonry and carpentry work is almost done, and the district came to look at it and made an estimate of the costs of painting and wiring. The village is very happy that we are working on this, but all of us are worried about how long the district will take for their part. I will put pictures up here soon, I promise.
Other than that, I spent the last week in the Upper West region learning about bee-keeping. It was really interesting and bee-keeping is much easier than I thought. Its requires very little work and the starting costs are not too high. I'm hoping to bring this to my village, but have not worked out the details yet on how I'll do that. Even if I don't get to do it in my village though, if the economy is still so bad when I get home from Peace Corps I can just be a bee-keeper there, right?
Last thing for work... I think I mentioned a boat trip that we are planning a long long time ago on here. Well, after months of thinking it wouldn't happen, it seems like it really is going to happen. We are planning on starting on Nov. 7 and finishing Nov. 18. The planning process has been a lot of work, but the trip seems like it will be really good.
Apart from work, life has been pretty normal here. However, I did celebrate my birthday a little. In Mid-September, we had a gathering at the Tamale office where some friends made chicken parmesan for my friend Lizzy and I. Lizzy's birthday was August 30, so we chose the halfway point to celebrate both. It was a pretty laid back time, but all of our good friends were there and we had a great dinner! On my actual birthday I had work to do to plan for the boat trip. That work included going to a village called Nawuni, which means God, where we are going to start the trip. In this village there's a huge water pump in the river that pumps water out to be purified and used as pipe water for the whole region. It was cool to see, but mostly I just like saying I went to God and saw the water of life on my birthday. They also have an area of the river where they bring people who are accused of crimes but deny it. In this area, they have a ju-ju man come and perform a ceremony type thing with a shrine to see if the person is guilty. If the man says the person is guilty and the person still denies it, they send the person into the river to bath. If the person is really innocent, nothing will happen and they come back out and go home. If the person is really guilty though, a crocodile will come and take them away. They also do this for women accused of being witches.
The day after my birthday, I decided to slaughter a chicken and make fajitas as my birthday dinner. My counterpart and I slaughtered the chicken and I made delicious fajitas with veggies from my garden. Another plus, the chicken was a hen and she was about to lay an egg, so I got an egg from inside the chicken. It was delicious the next day. See the fun adventures you can have in Ghana?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Girls Camp and Wedding
I've had a long, but good, two weeks. We just had our Girls Leadership Camp in my district. I don't remember if I wrote about this much before, but it was a week long camp for junior high school (JHS) girls in my district. We asked the headmaster of each village JHS (we didn't include the four town JHS's) in the district to have the 5 best girls from their school apply. Then we chose 3 or 4 from each school to attend, for a total of 50 girls. It was an overnight camp at the senior high school (SHS) in our district capital. We also had 6 SHS girls come as mentors and leaders for the JHS girls. So, we spent 3 days buying stuff and preparing for the camp, then 3 days of training of trainers (meaning we trained the SHS girls), then the 6 day camp.
At the camp, we played a lot of teamwork games, which were fun and funny. Since there is no concept of personal space here, some of the games were extra funny and slightly violent. We also did HIV, STI, hygiene, and budgeting education. Finally, we did lots of leadership and goal setting stuff. We had pretty much every minute of every day from 7am to 9pm scheduled. This camp was started by peace corps volunteers last year and I think its one of the best projects we've done in our district. The change in these girls just throughout the week is huge. The first day they were too shy to volunteer to speak and most of them spoke quietly with their head down. Then everyday they were more confident and energetic. By the end of the camp I think there were maybe two girls left who were still looking at the ground while talking. I was especially happy that one of the girls from my school was always the first one with her hand up to volunteer to read something out loud.
We also brought 4 career women to come and speak to the girls about how they got to where they are and to motivate the girls to set high goals for themselves. It was fun for me to go and find the women to come and speak and then see how the girls reacted. I think they really liked it. We tried to get women from a variety of jobs, so there was a university professor, restaurant owner/carter center worker, orphanage owner, and tie-and-die woman. When I was going around asking for people to come it was really nice to see how people were happy to do it. I was trying to get a banker (which failed because the camp was during open bank hours) and got sent to the highest manager in every bank I went to and they were all very interested if it had been on a weekend.
Apart from the girls camp, I went to a wedding yesterday of a peace corps volunteer who married a man from her town. It was a nice wedding at the church in her town. There were a few hundred people who came and there was tons of singing and dancing during the ceremony. Not at all like the weddings I've been to in the US. She looked beautiful and although I hadn't met her husband before, he seems very nice. After the wedding, a dance troupe in her town put on a performance of many cultural dances from Ghana. That was really cool. Then there was a reception just outside her town and we got a ride back to Tamale from the caterers. Before the wedding, all of us who were going got the same cloth made and had clothes made from it. So we were a big group of white people all wearing the same fabric. Stood out a little I think, haha. It was a lot of fun.
At the camp, we played a lot of teamwork games, which were fun and funny. Since there is no concept of personal space here, some of the games were extra funny and slightly violent. We also did HIV, STI, hygiene, and budgeting education. Finally, we did lots of leadership and goal setting stuff. We had pretty much every minute of every day from 7am to 9pm scheduled. This camp was started by peace corps volunteers last year and I think its one of the best projects we've done in our district. The change in these girls just throughout the week is huge. The first day they were too shy to volunteer to speak and most of them spoke quietly with their head down. Then everyday they were more confident and energetic. By the end of the camp I think there were maybe two girls left who were still looking at the ground while talking. I was especially happy that one of the girls from my school was always the first one with her hand up to volunteer to read something out loud.
We also brought 4 career women to come and speak to the girls about how they got to where they are and to motivate the girls to set high goals for themselves. It was fun for me to go and find the women to come and speak and then see how the girls reacted. I think they really liked it. We tried to get women from a variety of jobs, so there was a university professor, restaurant owner/carter center worker, orphanage owner, and tie-and-die woman. When I was going around asking for people to come it was really nice to see how people were happy to do it. I was trying to get a banker (which failed because the camp was during open bank hours) and got sent to the highest manager in every bank I went to and they were all very interested if it had been on a weekend.
Apart from the girls camp, I went to a wedding yesterday of a peace corps volunteer who married a man from her town. It was a nice wedding at the church in her town. There were a few hundred people who came and there was tons of singing and dancing during the ceremony. Not at all like the weddings I've been to in the US. She looked beautiful and although I hadn't met her husband before, he seems very nice. After the wedding, a dance troupe in her town put on a performance of many cultural dances from Ghana. That was really cool. Then there was a reception just outside her town and we got a ride back to Tamale from the caterers. Before the wedding, all of us who were going got the same cloth made and had clothes made from it. So we were a big group of white people all wearing the same fabric. Stood out a little I think, haha. It was a lot of fun.
Friday, July 16, 2010
YAY
THANK YOU a thousand times over to those who donated to my clinic renovations! We finally raised all the money and in a few weeks when it gets to my account, we will start the work. My community is going to be ecstatic!
On another work related note, I recently had a health dance in the community. The women have a traditional dance here called the tora-tora. For a couple months now, I've been trying to plan a day to have the tora-tora and have my women's group teach the other women about nutrition and safe drinking water. We had to delay a few times, but finally had the event. I'd say about 200 women and girls came out to dance and we stopped about an hour in to teach them about nutrition. It was a bit chaotic, but the women from the group split up and each talked to a small group of women, using the nutrition handout I made for them as a guide to teach about nutrition. They also talked about the importance of drinking the borehole water over the dam water. Before the event, the women made me promise to dance, so I agreed of course. I dance the tora-tora for about 10 minutes and then they made me stop because I "must be tired". At the end though, they had a session where everyone got in a circle and one person at a time would go in to dance. They made me dance there too, and everyone loved it. Then I made my counterpart dance too (he never dances) and they loved it again. It was a very successful event and I hope to do it again sometime.
Other than that, I've added a fridge to my collection of electronics. I now have ice cold water at my house everyday :). If I put the plastic bottle against the back of the fridge it will even freeze! And, my vegetables last much longer and the lovely things sent from home that are supposed to be refrigerated, like maple syrup and mayonnaise packets, now won't spoil.
Lastly, I've been told to put an updated list of requests for things in packages, so here goes:
pasta sides
freeze dried meals
canned chicken
bacon
cheese packets
parmesan cheese
seasoning packets (like chili seasoning and those things)
maple syrup
cookies
chocolate
candy
Things not to send:
mayonnaise packets (they're good, but I have plenty)
canned chicken or tuna salad (plain chicken and tuna are great, but the canned salads aren't so great)
As always, I miss everyone at home and hope you are all doing well. Thanks again for donating to my clinic project and for all the packages I've received.
On another work related note, I recently had a health dance in the community. The women have a traditional dance here called the tora-tora. For a couple months now, I've been trying to plan a day to have the tora-tora and have my women's group teach the other women about nutrition and safe drinking water. We had to delay a few times, but finally had the event. I'd say about 200 women and girls came out to dance and we stopped about an hour in to teach them about nutrition. It was a bit chaotic, but the women from the group split up and each talked to a small group of women, using the nutrition handout I made for them as a guide to teach about nutrition. They also talked about the importance of drinking the borehole water over the dam water. Before the event, the women made me promise to dance, so I agreed of course. I dance the tora-tora for about 10 minutes and then they made me stop because I "must be tired". At the end though, they had a session where everyone got in a circle and one person at a time would go in to dance. They made me dance there too, and everyone loved it. Then I made my counterpart dance too (he never dances) and they loved it again. It was a very successful event and I hope to do it again sometime.
Other than that, I've added a fridge to my collection of electronics. I now have ice cold water at my house everyday :). If I put the plastic bottle against the back of the fridge it will even freeze! And, my vegetables last much longer and the lovely things sent from home that are supposed to be refrigerated, like maple syrup and mayonnaise packets, now won't spoil.
Lastly, I've been told to put an updated list of requests for things in packages, so here goes:
pasta sides
freeze dried meals
canned chicken
bacon
cheese packets
parmesan cheese
seasoning packets (like chili seasoning and those things)
maple syrup
cookies
chocolate
candy
Things not to send:
mayonnaise packets (they're good, but I have plenty)
canned chicken or tuna salad (plain chicken and tuna are great, but the canned salads aren't so great)
As always, I miss everyone at home and hope you are all doing well. Thanks again for donating to my clinic project and for all the packages I've received.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Fans!!!
After my electrician took three days for this father's funeral, as is the muslim tradition, he came back and finished the job. I had a meeting in another village while he was doing the work, but he apparently had to crawl around in my ceiling a lot and spent about 3 or 4 hours working on my messed up wiring. But, when I got home, I had working fans and lights!!! I never gave fans enough credit when I was home. They are the most amazing things in the world! It's sooo nice to sleep under a ceiling fan now. The lights attract bugs, but are useful sometimes, but its the fans that I am incredibly grateful for.
Also, Nicole asked about my garden. Well, we planted some yams, corn, and carrots, but after a very windy night, the goats got into my garden and ate the corn that had started growing. So, I think we'll have to replant the corn, but I have high hopes. We are also nursing tomatoes, peppers, and onions, but that isn't going great either. I think the onions won't make it but maybe the tomatoes and peppers will be okay.
Finally, thanks for all the clinic donations so far! Only about $1,000 to go. You guys are great, keep spreading the word about it.
Also, Nicole asked about my garden. Well, we planted some yams, corn, and carrots, but after a very windy night, the goats got into my garden and ate the corn that had started growing. So, I think we'll have to replant the corn, but I have high hopes. We are also nursing tomatoes, peppers, and onions, but that isn't going great either. I think the onions won't make it but maybe the tomatoes and peppers will be okay.
Finally, thanks for all the clinic donations so far! Only about $1,000 to go. You guys are great, keep spreading the word about it.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
LIGHTS!!!
That's right, I finally got electricity! On wednesday evening they came and hooked up the electricity on my village. I've never seen my community so excited. The MP (Member of Parliament) for my district came for the event and gave a little speech on the night that they hooked it up and then the whole village ran back to their houses to see if their lights were working. Most of them were, but since then, there has been a steady stream of electricians flowing through the village fixing problems with people's wiring. Since my house was wired over 5 years ago and has been sitting in poor shape since, I was worried as I walked back to find out if everything was working. Let me tell you, I had reason to worry. Unfortunately, only one light in my house works and it is the outside security light. And, none of my fans work. All of my outlets seem to be working though.
The first electrician that came to look at it said he would have to enter the ceiling to find the problem but he thought he was too heavy and would break the ceiling (but I'm pretty sure he really just didn't want to dirty his clothes), so he left. The second one wouldn't enter the ceiling that day because of his clothes and it was getting a little late. But, he came back the next day and put on some sweats and climbed all around in my ceiling. Unfortunately, he couldn't figure out the exact problem because a pole burned in a nearby village and we didn't have electricity most of that day. In the afternoon, he came back and told us his father had just died and he had to go immediately. So, he will be with his family for a few days and then come back to hopefully finish the job.
Eventually, I hope to have working fans and lights, but for now it is nice to be able to charge my phone and plug things in. Also, in my lack of faith in actually getting lights, I had left most of my electronic stuff and my adaptor in Tamale for when I am here. So, when I get back I will have an adaptor and at least be able to plug in the fan Aunty Cindy sent me, which will make me very very happy.
The first electrician that came to look at it said he would have to enter the ceiling to find the problem but he thought he was too heavy and would break the ceiling (but I'm pretty sure he really just didn't want to dirty his clothes), so he left. The second one wouldn't enter the ceiling that day because of his clothes and it was getting a little late. But, he came back the next day and put on some sweats and climbed all around in my ceiling. Unfortunately, he couldn't figure out the exact problem because a pole burned in a nearby village and we didn't have electricity most of that day. In the afternoon, he came back and told us his father had just died and he had to go immediately. So, he will be with his family for a few days and then come back to hopefully finish the job.
Eventually, I hope to have working fans and lights, but for now it is nice to be able to charge my phone and plug things in. Also, in my lack of faith in actually getting lights, I had left most of my electronic stuff and my adaptor in Tamale for when I am here. So, when I get back I will have an adaptor and at least be able to plug in the fan Aunty Cindy sent me, which will make me very very happy.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Back to site and work
The abcess saga has come to an end. I got back to site about a week ago and you'll be very happy to know that my armpit is doing very well. However, the adjustment to life with no lights, AC, or TV was a bit of a struggle. I don't know what it is about TV, but its very addicting and can cause withdrawal when you don't have it anymore.
Luckily though, the rainy season is on its way up here, so the weather is getting a little cooler sometimes. This is also a love/hate thing for me though, cause I hope for rain everyday and when it doesn't come, which is most of the time, I am disappointed again. But, since it is coming, I am starting a garden outside my house. My counterpart has been working very hard on building a fence around the area so that goats and sheep won't come in and destroy the garden and I just bought seeds in Tamale. I bought tomato, onion, carrot, and pepper seeds and also plan to grow a little bit of corn. I'm debating buying lettuce seeds too, but we'll see how much room I have in this garden. I am also not sure that I have a green thumb. Judging by how well I took care of my Ivy plant in college (it died in a week), I might not, but I did keep couple other plants alive for my last two years of college. So, this could be really awesome or a complete failure, but either way it'll be something to do while everyone is farming in the rainy season. If any of you have good gardening advice though, please do share.
Other than that, I've been continuing with my women's group and I'm trying to work on getting the boreholes in my community fixed (we are down to 1 of 6 working). I'm also working with some people to plan a girl's leadership camp for August, which we just wrote the proposal for. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to my clinic so far! We have raised about $700 already and I'm told that people are still working on it at home and sending in checks. You guys are awesome, thanks!
Luckily though, the rainy season is on its way up here, so the weather is getting a little cooler sometimes. This is also a love/hate thing for me though, cause I hope for rain everyday and when it doesn't come, which is most of the time, I am disappointed again. But, since it is coming, I am starting a garden outside my house. My counterpart has been working very hard on building a fence around the area so that goats and sheep won't come in and destroy the garden and I just bought seeds in Tamale. I bought tomato, onion, carrot, and pepper seeds and also plan to grow a little bit of corn. I'm debating buying lettuce seeds too, but we'll see how much room I have in this garden. I am also not sure that I have a green thumb. Judging by how well I took care of my Ivy plant in college (it died in a week), I might not, but I did keep couple other plants alive for my last two years of college. So, this could be really awesome or a complete failure, but either way it'll be something to do while everyone is farming in the rainy season. If any of you have good gardening advice though, please do share.
Other than that, I've been continuing with my women's group and I'm trying to work on getting the boreholes in my community fixed (we are down to 1 of 6 working). I'm also working with some people to plan a girl's leadership camp for August, which we just wrote the proposal for. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to my clinic so far! We have raised about $700 already and I'm told that people are still working on it at home and sending in checks. You guys are awesome, thanks!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Clinic Renovations
I just sent in my final copy of my proposal for money to fix my clinic on Friday, and guess what? Its already on the website so people can donate to it! If you haven't heard about this already, it means you are not on my email list and you're not my facebook friend. I just found out that the request was on the website yesterday and today I found out we already raised $600! Keep up the good work everyone. If you haven't donated yet, or want more information to decide if you want to donate, go to this website:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=641-295
Overall, when the clinic opens it will become the closest clinic for people in 15 villages. That means you'd be helping about 11,000 people. As soon as I raise all the money, we'll start the repairs and hopefully get the clinic running this year. Also, by donating to this project, you know exactly where your money is going. All the money donated goes directly to my project and I will oversee all the work so that I can make sure all the money is spent wisely.
That's my exciting news for now. Other than that, I'm still in Accra waiting for my abcess to heal. Its almost healed now and I should be leaving on Tuesday morning. I'm enjoying the break, but I'm ready to get back, so I hope it continues to heal well and quickly.
Thanks in advance for all your donations!
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=641-295
Overall, when the clinic opens it will become the closest clinic for people in 15 villages. That means you'd be helping about 11,000 people. As soon as I raise all the money, we'll start the repairs and hopefully get the clinic running this year. Also, by donating to this project, you know exactly where your money is going. All the money donated goes directly to my project and I will oversee all the work so that I can make sure all the money is spent wisely.
That's my exciting news for now. Other than that, I'm still in Accra waiting for my abcess to heal. Its almost healed now and I should be leaving on Tuesday morning. I'm enjoying the break, but I'm ready to get back, so I hope it continues to heal well and quickly.
Thanks in advance for all your donations!
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