"white lady, where are you going?"

The title of this blog describes a very common happening here in Ghana. I got out of the trotro, just wanting to walk to this internet cafe. However, I can't just walk somewhere without every taxi and trotro stopping to ask me where I'm going. I'm walking with another PCV and a car drives by and the mate says "white lady, where are you going?" My reply: "Black man, where are you going?" Good news is that's totally acceptable here. =)

So, after the short walk of about 5 minutes (which God forbid is just too long for white people to walk!) I'm now sitting here in a wonderful internet cafe (which is ridiculously fast) in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region waiting to go to the Peace Corps hub site for the week to participate in the PST training/scheduling for the new volunteers coming in June. Speaking of, it's absolutely, unbelievably crazy that I am already going to be seeing NEW trainees come to Ghana. I feel like I just came, and I'm now going to be the 'old' volunteer. Times flies when you're having fun :)

I tried updating a few weeks ago when I was in Wa, but the internet connection wasn't working. I have a blog typed on my computer, but unfortunately my computer is in Wa, and I'm 20 hours away in Kof. I'll type another one for you for all you faithful followers and at the request of Gena!

February 2011

Valentine's Day was the biggest highlight in February in Kulkpong. I went to the JHS (Junior High School) that morning, supplied with VAL'S day goodies for the kids. And yes, they call Valentine's Day 'VAL's Day' here. ((So it's your day Aunt Val, never let Uncle Jay tell you different.)) I had stickers, erasers, candy and valentines cards to share with the kids. They celebrate it in the regional capitals, but the people in the rural villages really don't know the meaning or why it's a holiday. So I told them that it's a day of love and all that. One kid came up to me and said "Naama, I'm the happiest kid in the whole school today." I asked the question "why, Appiah?" and he says without any hesitation "because today is Valentine's Day!!" =) It was a very successful day (other than when I handed out candy and they wanted more more more!) and I think the kids really found it interesting and fun to see how we celebrate holidays in America.



This month I also got a wonderful fence put up around my yard. It has been a lifesaver and I feel more relaxed and have tons more privacy now. It all started when my propane cylinder finished and I had to start cooking with a coal pot. Therefore, I had to cook outside and it was everyone's business what food I was cooking. I understand they are just curious, but it was time to get a fence and have some privacy. Ting was great, per usual, and got the grass fence put up while I was away on a weekend trip to Tamale. Now I'm able to sit in my yard and not have 20 kids stare at me all day, everyday. (I've learned to appreciate the small small things, like a fence, while in Ghana.)




March 2011

This month started out with a great weekend trip to Mole National Park. Although there were no elephant sitings, I got to see other wildlife and enjoy a relaxing day at the pool. When we first arrived, we were eating banku at the staff canteen and a baboon walked by with her baby. In case you're wondering, baboons carry their babies on the chests, like they are giving them a big hug. Then when the mother walks, the baby is just hanging around, literally. We also went on a guided walk through the bush with a ranger and saw he told us to look for Pumba from The Lion King. We saw plenty of Pumba's and his family members, as well as antelope, crocodiles, bush bucks and birds flying around. The park is huge, and last years rains were plenty, so the elephants have more watering holes than usual so they weren't gathering by the hotel as often. I wish I could have seen an elephant, but as our guide told us, we were unlucky that day.



Once leaving Mole, you come to a village that has the oldest mosque in West Africa. The village, Larabanga, is known for its uniquely built mosque that dates back to 1421. There is also a mystic stone on the edge of the town and it is said that the man who settled in the village went to the stone and threw a stone and where ever the stone landed a mosque would be built. Then apparently the next morning the mosque was built. {This background information on this village is only what I remember and is only as accurate as I remember.}



The daily routine in the village is still pretty normal, going to school, cooking fufu, playing with children and Ace....also, my proposal for the Malaria Campaign has been sent to Washington, so I'm just waiting to find out if I'll get the funding. In the meantime, we've been having educational talks and meetings about building soak-away pits throughout the village to stop the breeding of mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Also, the JHS kids want to start an school club and we're definitely going to have community clean-up days! YAY!

Here's some pictures from around the village...







I just came from Chris's Kente Festival in his village. He lives in the Volta Region and they weave Kente there. It's a traditional cloth and is really awesome. Unfortunately, Ghana isn't nice to me and I had some skin infections (gross, I know) and I was knocked out from antihistamines and antibiotics but now hopefully it's under control! (*fingers crossed*) However, the festival was fun and he did an amazing job. His town was so proud of him and really appreciated other volunteers coming to see their work. I've ordered an awesome Kente bag so I'll keep you all updated.

So don't be worried about my medical issues here. I'm managing and I've talked with the PC medical officers. So Aunt Beth, relax. =) I'm off to the hub site for the week to plan for the new volunteers arrival. Wow, I still can't believe I've almost been in Ghana for an entire year.

Peace&Love
xoxo