The Best Things Come in Threes

On Wednesday, I had a mini quiz for the students, too see if they were learning anything from my methods. I was a little disappointed because only 4 of my original students showed up and I had three new ones. So, I was only to test four of them. Of the four though 3 got 100% and one just got one wrong. I was happy about that! On Thursday, there was no school because of some political things going on in Ghana. The losing party petitioned the courts (about the presidential election) with fraudulent charges and the verdict was to be told. All of Ho was glued to the tube to hear the results. The case was dismissed. I made tomato soup and everyone was fascinated by it, and kinda confused. They, said okay so tomatoes, water, spices, milk and....? Lol, I explained there's no and that's it. They said no meat? Are you vegetarian? On Thursday I also did all my laundry by hand which was an interesting experience. Scrubbing and scrubbing but man are my clothes clean! And the next door neighbors got a kick out of me hand washing for the first time. They even told me to move a little to the left, so they could see better in Ewe of course! There was no school today either. Today, I went to the Americanized restaurant to buy jollof rice and french fries. I am all bankued out for awhile! I was invited tonight to an all night church session but I had to decline that. Tomorrow I"m supposed to climb one of the mountains in the Volta Region. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

Hangman

Today my class increased to 11 students. I'm trying to find ways to incorporate English lessons so that they don't have to sit in the classroom the whole time. They get restless, especially with the heat. If anyone has any suggestions let me know! I took them outside and called out a word and they had to run and point out the word. They love hangman, it's one of their favorite games we play it at the end of each class. I plan to give them a little quiz tomorrow to see if they are understanding. I think sometimes they don't understand my accent and they won't tell me if they don't understand. They are good when I put them in small reading books if they can't pronounce a word. I'm really wanting a salad but they don't really eat them here. But I was told that there is one special store I can go where they sell ingredients for a salad. Below is banku and sauce.

Arthur and D.W.

Today, was my first reading group I had 8 students total. They're mostly 10 years old but one is 15. I'm teaching the kids that are having difficulty with reading. They have such enthusiasm and excitement it's wonderful!  They all want to answer questions and write on the board. They'll say, "Oh Madame pick me, pick me!" Sometimes I have to calm them down they get too excited. However, I did have to send one student out of the class for hitting the others. But overall, my first class went well.

Two in one

Yesterday wasn't too eventful, I went to get my hair done at a salon. I got blonde braids. It took 6 hours, but it looks really nice. My curls and the humidity were not cooperating. I also stopped by market and this time there were so many people from all over I couldn't even walk. Today, I went to church which was an interesting experience. The men and women sat separately, I've never seen that before. The service was about 3 hours which is kinda long for me I'm used to only 1. I only understood half of what was going on because all of the service was in Ewe the local language. And they go to church twice on Sunday, in the morning, and in the evening as well. One thing I learned they don't take no for an answer too well. Whether it be food, or if they want to take you somewhere. I had to argue for 10 minutes to 3 people of why I wouldn't be coming to the evening service. It finally rained today, the weather feels a lot cooler. They are having an unusual rainy season it has been really hot and no rain. Tomorrow I have the reading groups with the children at school. Until then!

Azonto

Yesterday I went to summer school again, and this time after going to the villages there were more students present in their uniforms. I sat in on the class and Monday I will pull the students aside to hold a reading group. The students that I was supposed to help today weren't there, so Monday it is! I went to a chop bar and had fufu and sauce it was so good. But the portions they feed you are so big! I always have to decline food, which does not go over well but finally they agree. They said that they will send me back plump so my family will know I had a comfortable stay in Ghana. I said oh no!!! I must go back the way I came. They taught me to azonto which was fun but I still don't quite have the hang of it. I did some ASA dances and they loved them. Today is my rest day, and boy do I need it.

I went to the summer school today to sit in on the class to observe the teaching methods. It is very much teacher dictates and students listen. We are trying to make it more interactive so that the children will be more engaged. The class only had 9 students many of the students weren't showing up. The headmaster and I went to the villages to talk with the children to see why they weren't coming and that they must show up tomorrow. We also talked to the elders so that they will push the children to attend. I felt like today was very successful. Hopefully tomorrow we will have a lot more children. I also went to one of the PTA members houses and had fresh coconut from a tree! One of the young boys climbed all the way up the tree and was getting the coconuts down. The best coconut I ever had!

Today, I had a meeting at the school with the elders and the council. John (the other volunteer) and I were introduced and said a couple words of why we were there. I got to see the school for the first time, I saw pictures but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. When I imagined a school in my mind it was like a school from the U.S. At Airfield they have some outdoor classrooms and the classrooms are very basic. I attached a picture of the meeting, sorry but still figuring out the camera lol! So you get a collage!

Tomorrow, I will head there again to sit in on a class to see what the teaching style is and how the teachers interact with the students. Since I've been here, I've noticed my Congolese side and my American side have been pulling me in different directions. I think that my situation is kind of unique because of my mix. There are some things that I understand about the Ghanaian culture that I think the Americans don't understand. I think they assume that I have the same way of thinking or point of view simply because I am American. But I think they don't take into consideration that I have a slightly different outlook because I am Congolese/Black.  I also went to market today, Stella and Stephen helped me buy the things I needed to cook and made sure they didn't over charge me. Interesting fact, there are no mirrors. No mirrors in anyone's house, bathrooms, no stores sell them. They are no where to be found.

Thoughts so far:

I have only been in Ghana for roughly 24 hours and I have already been shown so much hospitality. Starting from the plane ride to Ghana complete strangers have really welcomed me. The headmaster and his two children came and picked me up and have been so helpful for me to get comfortable here. The host couple I am staying with have been so friendly as well. The weather is nice about 80's here but not as humid as I expected. Believe it or not I have not eaten any Ghanaian food yet, the other volunteers were aching for American food. Hopefully tomorrow I will get to eat some banku! One of my co-workers from Vital Records Karyn gave me advice to keep my eyes open and watch watch watch. And that advice has been so useful so far. What I have learned already from this trip is go with your gut. Your gut 95% of the time is right and sometimes like when going somewhere where you know no one all you have is to go with is your gut. Tomorrow I will go to the school for the first time and hopefully go to market.