Last Day in Africa

All great things must end and I am at the end of 33 amazing days in Africa. Said bye to the last other volunteer yesterday so from 7 it's down to just me. I am actually looking forward to some more standard civilization (strong, hot shower; drinks with ice; chocolate milk shake:) and of course seeing friends and family. If anyone out there is considering doing anything like this, I'd love to speak with you about it. I can't recommend it enough. It's a truly life affecting experience in so many ways. And it makes you really appreciate all the great people in your own life. Getting on a plane tonight at 10:40 pm back to London! Then return to Seattle April 6. From Ghana, Ma-ajoo.

Pics, pics, and more pics

Finally have decentInternet access so here are some of my favorite pictures I've been able to grab over the past couple of weeks

Cultural Celebration

On the 2nd to last day of our time in Senchi Ferry, we were lucky enough to see their annual regional culture celebration which pits schools together in a friendly competition of music, dance, & drumming. It was pretty amazing to see that even in a village as poor as this how much they value their cultural heritage and the importance of kids and the arts.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Yesterday it rained harder than I've ever seen it rain in my life. Sheets of rain falling so hard you could not walk in it. We took cover in the village "palace" which is really no more than a tin roofed concrete room. 3 volunteers and 7 locals huddled waiting for the rain to pass. An hour later we emerged to find rivers where pathways just stood and sadly, our morning's work, 60 concrete bricks, reduced to dirt mounds. Luckily, today we were able to recycle the aftermath into new bricks and the work continued.

More kids

Can't stop taking pictures of the kids. The one in the yellow dress is one of my favorite. She attends a nursery school I pass each day on the way to construction. As soon as she sees me she dances across the floor waving and smiling yelling out the customary "Obroni" greeting. A handshake or high five from us is pure excitement for them. I don't know what it feels like to be a celebrity but I expect it's similar.

End of Ghana Week 2

After saying goodbye to those doing a 2-week program, we are down to the final four for the last week. Our contruction is coming along slowly but surely. We had a great party with village chiefs and workers. It is quite a site to see them in their full regalia. The kids continue to amaze us. On Friday we visited two 7th graders in their homes. They were articulate and gracious hosts with high ambitions (a doctor and a nurse). My guess is both will reach those ambitions, hopefully in the clinic we are helping to build.

The People

The people in and around the village really are the best part. They are hospitable, consumately happy, and so appreciative of our presence. The kids are always smiling and are giddy everytime we come around to play games with them at recess. They laugh uncontrollably when I put "my backside in" for Hokey Pokey. Pictured here are Christy, one of our cooks, Ben, our Assistant Team Lead, and Mr. Zachary, one of the town leaders who monitors our daily work and amazes us with his knowledge of the world, American politics, history, sports, etc., even though he has never left African soil. And, last but not least, Pete Smith, my 70 year old roommate on his 4th Global Volunteer journey, who makes me feel young every day.

Ghana: all work and no play ...

Okay so it's not all hard work and unselfish play with kids. Global Volunteers give us the afternoons and weekends off and helps organize some great excursions. We have visited a bead factory, the Akisombo Dam, and this weekend we pampered ourselves at a beach resort in Elmina where the first Dutch fort was built. We also did this amazing canopy walk over a rainforest. Of course wherever we go it's HOT! average daytime temps hover around 100 and the rainforest was about 90% humidity. Thank heavens for air conditioning.

Ghana: the kids

The kids in our village of Senshi Ferry are the best part. Every morning as we walk to work they yell out in excitement, "Obruni, Obruni!"(white people, yes, to them, even I am white.) But it is not discriminatory, it's
more a sign of respect. They love to interact with us and test their English with us. Smiles are everywhere and the bold ones want to hold our hands. After the sun gets too hot and we break from construction, Ken and I treat them to recess games of Simon Says, Hokey Pokey, or soccer. You should see them laugh when I "put my backside in and shake it all about." I'm amazed at how polite and friendly these kids are. Their capacity for learning seems infinite, and yet it feels like I'm the one learning from them.

Ghana: The Work

Each morning we walk about one mile from our guest house to the Senshi Ferry village clinic. Judy and Lynn peel off to their respective schools to teach. Holly ducks into the clinic to work with new moms. And Ken, Pete(70!), Patrice and I report to the construction site where a new clinic patient ward is in the works. For the next 3-4 hours we painstakingly pile sand, dirt, and cement together with water and mold them into the bricks that will build the clinic. Everything in Senshi is done by hand. No mixers or power tools of any kind. The sun is excruciating by 9 am so we can only work in 15-20 minute intervals without a water break. So far our record is 120 bricks but this week we hope to get to 200 in a day. The bricks lay in the sun for approx 2 weeks to dry and strengthen before use. We will then lay them into place to shape the walls of the new building.