London

Hey all,

I'm at Heathrow, waiting for my flight home :)

I was going to write something meaningful and profound about my experience in Africa, but I'm going to sleep a little instead.

Not to worry, I will write again soon!

But I did have a great last day in Ghana ... Maybe one quick story...

So the last day at the orphanage, Devon and I were playing with the kids outside when the founder of the orphanage, Nicholas, drove up on his motor bike to tell us we had to see the new structure being built for the orphanage. He told me to hop on the motorcycle and then pointed at a bicycle, telling Devon to follow us. Devon laughed, "you want me to follow your motorcycle on that?" Nicholas started the engine and we were off, as Devon struggled to hop on the bike and pedal as fast as he could.

I started cracking up, and kept looking backwards to see Devon still laughing, peddling as fast as he could through the dust trail Nicholas was leaving for him (remember that the roads in Hohoe are very BUMPY dirt roads).

It was pretty funny, honestly.

When we returned, the kids sang some songs for us, we received certificates, and we were off after saying our final goodbyes. It was really hard to say goodbye. I keep wondering how the children must feel with us being there just long enough to form a bond of friendship, and then leave. I just hope that our presence there left a positive impact.

I really want to go back. There is a place for volunteers to stay at no cost at the new orphange being built. Any takers? Let me know :)

That's all for now, time to take a nap. I miss Ghana already, but I'm excited to come home as well.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

I hope you guys had a great time. I haven't been able to get the correct phone card for a couple days, but I'll try to find the right kind today. I talked to Lloyd earlier for the 1 minute and 30 seconds I had left on a card, and I know you guys (i.e. mom) need the number here.

I'm a little frustrated that the number they gave me to give to everyone is wrong... Sometimes things here are more disorganized than I was expecting.

Here's a number that hopefully works:

Dial the country code (which I think is 0233)
The number is 0935-20212 or 0935 20252.

Let me know if that doesn't work. Oh wait... you can't!! Ha! No worries, I'll call you.

Anyways, I'm safe and happy :) A little sick though, I may have MALARIA!!!! duh-duh-duhhhhh!!!! Just kidding mumsy, it's just a sore throat :)

New Years was fun, we went to church and then to a bar (go figure). Apparently the majority of the town celebrates the New Year in church, dancing, singing, and drumming until dawn. The church was PACKED. We seemed to arrive a little too early for all that fun stuff though, so we listened to a sermon in Ewe for a while until we headed out.

Back at the bar I drank a bitchpop and headed back home (bitchpop = new word for girlie beer). I had fun but I missed not being able kiss Lloyd on the count down :( Next year!

I wasn't able to go to the orphanage today since they were going away for some celebration, not quite sure what... So I returned to the hospital with Gina and Anela one last time.

We went to the lab today, which was interesting to say the least. The man taking blood samples refused to wear gloves and didn't wash his hands between patients. He explained to Gina and I that he didn't need gloves because he knows how to "handle a needle." Gina tried explaining to him that it wasn't just for his own protection that he should wear gloves, but also for the patients. He nodded and smiled as if we just didn't understand his needle skills. He explained one more time, "I don't wear gloves, I know how to do it without them." Sooo I told him just to be careful and we watched patiently.

On the bright side, we did get to look through a microscope and see malaria parasites!! Exciting!

Anyhoozie, I love you guys and I'll see you in a few days :)

Once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

A day to reflect

I haven't done too much today. I've just been relaxing and reading at the Home Base.

Friday I was sent to a different orphanage in Hohoe along with another volunteer, Devon. This orphanage seemed to have much more structure than Christ orphanage, although I kind of miss the chaos at Christ.

When we arrived, Devon and I were welcomed and we were each given two different groups of children to watch over for the day. I was given a long bamboo stick and a piece of chalk and instructed to teach the children the ABC's and mathematics up through 10. It was a lot of fun, and the children were all hungry for knowledge.

It was difficult to give each child individual attention, and some needed more than others. One boy was scared to even touch the crayon to his paper, and when he did, other children would laugh and grab the crayon, showing him how to do it the "right way." Although they were trying to help him, they seemed to be intimidating him more than anything.

I spent a few minutes with him, trying to have him write the number 2. Finally, he was able to trace over one of my "2"s which was quite the accomplishment! His face lit up when he finished, and I was really excited for him.

Tonight I will work to develop more of a lesson plan for tomorrow, maybe make some flashcards or something. I'm not really sure because I can't even remember how I learned the ABC's...
Any ideas?? Please share in your comments!

Yesterday a group of us went to paint the napping room at Christ orphanage. I was sent more to distract the children rather than to paint, but it was a lot of fun :)

A few of us also walked around with trash bags and gloves to clean up broken glass and trash in the play area and the surrounding village. It was a productive, but tiring day.

Anyways, I'm gonna head back to the house now and lay on the hammock for a bit. I love you all and miss you!!!

See some of you in a week!

Oh, and mom, to answer your question... The Likpe caves were pretty neat, although it was honestly the challenge of getting through and around them that was the really fun part. There were bats in them though, which was cool too :)

Scaling mountains in Africa

Yes, it's true, I actually scaled a mountain today.

It started off as a somewhat difficult hour hike up the mountain. The goal was to reach the Lipke caves, only we were not warned that we would be rock climbing using ropes tied to various trees on the way up. After two hours of intense climbing after the hike, one of the girls cried as she was trying to make it up through the last cave. I had a blast though, honestly. Even after the mini rock slide that occured while I crouched down below covering my head. A few cuts and scrapes, but it was such an adventure!!! The last stretch involved scaling the side of the mountain with not much room for your feet and only a wire tied to trees to hang onto on the mountain side. Last, but not least, we took the hour long hike back down with our wobbly jello legs.

I'm surprised there was no waiver to sign our lives away. Seriously. Loved it! Lloyd, if you're reading this, you would have loved it too. I think...

Anyway, After that, I still managed to head to the orphanage and throw a few children around. I want to take them home!! (Well, at least a few to start) Lots of pictures and stories to tell :)

That is all for now. I'm loving it here, but at the same time I can't wait to get home and drink some milk and eat a Chipotle burrito. And see you guys of course :)

Love you all!!

Molly and Lex, I don't know when you guys will head to India, but have a safe and amazing trip!!!

By the way, incase you're wondering, I can't really download pictures to post unless I wait for 2 hours, so you guys will just have to see them when I return :)

Christmas in Ghana

So I've talked with most of you already, but here's a quick recap...

I had an amazing Christmas! It felt great to be at the orphanage celebrating with the children, and they are the most adorable things you will ever see. Aside from the occasional fighting with each other over who gets to sit on the Yevo's lap, they were all sweethearts. I made the mistake of spinning a couple of them through the air, and suddenly I was surrounded by who knows how many with their arms raised wanting to be tossed around as well. It was a fun, but tiring day. Definately a good workout :)

I spent the rest of the afternoon lounging, napping on the hammock and playing with the kids from across the road. I love kids here, they are SO easily amused.

After dinner we opened gifts from our secret santa; I got a really beautiful painting which I am very excited to hang up when I return :)

A few of us went to the local bar last night and danced around with the locals. Made friends with a girl named Bridget, who is now my new dancing partner for the remainder of my time here :) She's determined to teach me some new moves before I return, so watch out!

Alright, I love you guys and it was really nice to be able to talk to you nuts yesterday :)

Toodles!

The bumpy ride

Hi my favorite family!!

So I just returned from Cape Coast, and had a really fun time! Aside from the 16 hours of sitting in a van over RIDICUlOUS bumps... I'm talking spine-crushing, boob-sagging kinds of bumps... aside from that it was awesome.

We arrived late Friday night to the hotel, and woke up early the next day to start the day. We went for a canopy walk, and I got some really cool pictures! Can't wait to show you guys... Then we headed out for the slave castles and the beach. The castle was intense, especially in the dungeons where they kept the female and male slaves separate - I couldn't stay in there for more than a few moments... it gave me the willies.

Then we headed out to the Coconut grove. It was a nice resort, but a few of the girls and I decided to take a walk through the small fishing village nearby instead. After all, what's the point in coming to Ghana to stay in a westernized resort... honestly....

The village was fun, the kids would shout at us and sing a song, "How are youuuuu I'm finnnne Thankyouuuu!!!" Over and over again as we walked by. The boats here are so beautiful. The sails are made of colorful cloths sewn together, which made for some great pictures.

Last night, my roomie at the hotel and a few girls decided to stay at the coconut grove. Feeling slightly paranoid about staying back at the hotel room by myself, which was not near everyone else's rooms, I asked my friend Kara to stay the night with me... Now I seriously owe her because neither of us got any sleep. Aside from the virulent odor of pee and an air conditioning that sounded like pots and pans being banged together, some crazy preacher man started yelling into a microphone outside our window at 2 in the morning! He was yelling in another language (I'm guessing Ashanti?) and growling as he shouted. I was so tempted to tell him to shut up and to throw something heavy at him, but I decided against it... a wise decision looking back... Honestly though, it was tempting. He finally left, at least long enough for me to just fall back asleep before returning. Upon hearing his growls again, Kara and I looked at each other and just lost it laughing.

Couldn't sleep on the van since relaxing too much could cause you to fly off your seat at every "rumble strip," pot hole, and what seemed like stairs in the middle of the road. WEEEEE!!!

So I think I'm going to get some sleep now, even though I feel pretty hyper, I may be scaring the other yevos.

Anyways, I know that you guys are celebrating Christmas today so MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! I love you guys soooo much and miss you!!! I wish I could be there!!! I'm gonna call you after I walk back from the internet cafe, so I should talk to you within the hour!

Nighty night!! or good afternoon to you slow pokes!

Ewe

Wow. It just took 37 minutes to load this one page.

Anyways, hello!!

Just wanted to let you know that I am leaving for Cape Coast with the rest of the group tomorrow afternoon, so I may not have time to blog or call... But I'll get back Sunday evening.

Hey Mattyface, to answer your question, Ewe is very hard to learn, but really fun. It is difficult to form connections to help remember, so it consists of strict memorization of strange/cool words and pronunciations that are very sing-songy. English is the general language spoken throughout Ghana, but there are over 100 different dialects, and Ewe is the one for the Volta Region. It may be different in the major cities like Kumasi and Accra, but here in Hohoe it seems that people's english is very rough, with knowledge of few words and greetings (though not nearly as bad as my Ewe). The children don't start learning english until later in school, so with many of the young children there is quite a language barrier.

Villagers really appreciate my attempts to speak Ewe with them. When I approach them with "Ndo" (good afternoon), many people will smile and laugh as they respond. They always seemed surprised when I continue on with conversation, impressed until they ask me something I've never heard and I stare blankly with a stupid smile on my face.

I will start working in a newly developed orphanage the second half of next week!! I'm really excited. I've loved my time at the hospital, and though observing can be quite frustrating at points, it's been a great experience. I can't wait to tell you guys more about it when I get home!

Love ya'll!!!

Oh! And don't you fret Mattmat, I got lots of pictures at Wli Falls and the hike up.