An Unsung Hero…

            Today I was thrust into a situation that I was completely and utterly unprepared for. I was told that I would be going to work at an afterschool program so that I could start getting some volunteer hours in now since primary school has not started yet. I had no idea what I was going to be doing, the only thing I knew was that there would be a woman at the office to take me wherever I was supposed to be going. I recognized her as the same person that told us about her basket weaving class that she does with the kids. Her name is Beatrice. I immediately assumed that I would be doing something of that sort. WRONG!!! We get to her house and she says, “So what are you going to teach them today?” I was shocked. She told me I could teach them anything, math, English, etc. About 15 minutes of rummaging through a small supply of books and struggling to come up with something to teach, the square yard out front was set up with benches and a board. Out of nowhere I had around 20 young Ghanaian children all around me! I was super lost. The children were anywhere from 3 to 14 and some of them did not understand me very well.

            Long story short, I used some of the older kids to help me with the little ones and I went through some basic topics like the alphabet, vowels, sounds, and very simple sentences. Towards the end I read them 3 different stories. Teaching a large group with everyone at different levels is so tough, especially when I’m not good at their first language. After 3 hours I was so exhausted. I found out that Beatrice started the program at her home with the help of another woman (who is foreign) about 3 years ago. The neighborhood is very poor and none of the parents can really afford to send their kids to school. So, they started the program to be bale to give the parents a safe place where their children could go to learn and play. The bad part is that Beatrice runs this program on her own with the help her two sons (one of which I know is a senior in high school) and her sisters because the other woman no longer lives there. I spoke to her briefly on the phone and she wished me well for the duration of my stay in Ghana.

            I am stuck in a very hard position because this place is not my permanent internship location but I really want to help. However, I don’t know if I have the skills or the creativity to do a good job teaching. I know I have to do something, whether I try to go once a week or encourage some other students to go in my place. Beatrice is a strong woman with a good heart…. She just wants the best for her community.  She told me that she doesn’t really care if I make up games for them to play or take them to the lot to play soccer. She just wants them to enjoy being there. Even though the program is needs a lot of help, I see Beatrice as an unsung hero. Her program has so much potential. Looking at those children today all I kept thinking about is how much I wanted to help them, yet I felt so helpless. I will definitely be seeing them again.

Nante Yie (Goodbye!)

Comments? Questions? Concerns?

(I will be going to Kumasi this weekend so look out for the post!)

Just An Overview...

So I’ve already been in Ghana for almost 3 weeks! But like we always say, things are better late than never. I’ve done a lot but there is still much more to see and do! I’m here at The University of Ghana, Legon with a program called CIEE, Council on International Educational Exchange, which provides a large amount support while we’re here.  We stayed in a hotel for the first two nights here, we had a scavenger hunt, moved in on campus, and class has begun! I am taking 4 courses and an internship for credit in which I will be teaching in a primary school. Here’s a quick summary of points I wanted to share thus far:

·      Registration is very slow process here, makes me appreciate Georgetown

·      The campus is hugeee.

·      There aren’t many sidewalks around

·      I’ve never done so much walking in my life, but I’ll have great legs by the time I leave.

·      Everyday travel is done by taxi, but you have to bargain to get a good price, or tro-tro.

·      You can always bargain in the markets as well for almost everything but food

·      There are places to get your hair braided everywhere

·      We are now in the rainy season which is relatively cool

·      Most of the food we eat is veryy spicy

·      Nightlife is great so far

·      I must hand-wash all clothes or pay for someone else to do it

·      No hot running water

·      Mosquitoes haven’t been bad, they usually are out more at night than during the day. I sleep under a mosquito net (it’s quite cozy)

·      Idk how people come to Africa and lose weight. There’s food everywhere!

·      Ghana is a Christian nation, and any foreign person would know that just by walking down the street

In any case, Ghana is a beautiful country with a great spirit. People here are very kind and there’s a strong sense of community.  For those concerned with my safety, Ghana is the most stable country in West Africa, with a political system similar to that of the U.S. In fact, there are plenty Ghanaians that follow U.S. politics better than most Americans. I hope I didn’t leave out anything important. I hope to post about twice a week. I have so much to say! So Keep Reading!

Medaase Paa (Thank You Very Much!)

The Night Market

A scene from Makola Market

Makola Again

Akwaaba To Ghana

This is Where the Learning Happens…

I thank God for allowing me to travel Africa. Never in a million years did I think I would end up here. It is true that we are products of our past, but we are not prisoners of it. My past motivates what I do. So for me it comes as no surprise that I have propelled myself to this very place.

In life we tend to take too much for granted. Things like hot water, electricity, clean air, and clean water. It's true that students study abroad all the time, but Africa is not very common. Initially I wasn’t sure why I wanted to come to Ghana, but I believe that my presence here is no accident. Life here is sure to be a challenge, but a challenge that I am ready for.  I’m here to let go, to live, to learn, to thrive and to succeed. It won’t be easy, but I know that I will return home with a load of knowledge to share with the world. I could have gone anywhere but I chose Africa.....Because this is where the learning happens. 

So please read and share with family and friends because this will be the journey of a lifetime.
AKWAABA! :-)