Hi all,
Dave and I are in Tamale now and have been having a wonderful time. Our trip out of the states started with a bang when security thought that Dave had explosive residue on his bag and they had to give him a full pat down and interrogation. When we got to New York we were surprised with two Sky High tickets from Delta airlines so were were able to lounge in the high class airport eating *free* (it would have cost $50 to be there fi we didn't win the tickets!) cheese and crackers. Needless to say it was a great way to kill time.
We left NY on a 10 hour flight to Accra which went smoothly. Nana (with Volunteering Solutions) showed us around Accra. We rode in trotos which are essentially small white vans with lots of people (welcome to African travel!) but it was really cheap and fun to really be getting to see Africa like a local. We went to the sea (so beautiful! with small cliffs and sharp rocks), watched the futbal game (Ghana won, everyone was going CRAZY. It felt like the entire city was shouting and celebrating), met a couple of Nana's friends who were really friendly and gave Dave and I necklaces, and got to talk to Nana a lot. His phrase of the trip was the "In Ghana, everything is possible." That was his answer to just about everything we asked him. Which was funny but also vague (it seems to be an African theme, everything will work out in the end so I guess I will be good at not worrying by the end of this trip.)
We left for Tamale via bus the next morning. The bus was actually really nice (air conditioned with a TV) so we went to Tamale in style while watching WB Wrestling (so terrible, hopefully Ghanaians have a chance to see other Coloradoans who are not known just for their drop kicking skills) and made it to Tamale by 8 PM.
Today we have done too much for me to write but here are some quick updates:
-the girls at the school are adorable and I am determined to learn their names by the end of the week
-10 minutes into the class the Ghanaian teacher left and I was on my own (eek! but i think it went ok. We'll see if I can come up with stuff to do for 3 months...)
-it's very hot from 12 to 3 but otherwise fine
-my room has one mattress and only a weird blue light but i will adjust i guess!
-I played the djembe (drum) with a couple of men (only men play the drums here I guess) for an hour and had SO MUCH FUN. My hands were pounding at the end but it was completely worth it.
Ok, Dave needs the computer now but I will tell you more about the school, our home, the food, the people, and the children (we have not been to the orphanage yet) soon!
Thanks for reading.
-Jenny
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Low Down
Welcome!
If you’re looking for the blog of that one Grinnell College student from Colorado who is going to Africa with her brother, you’ve come to the right place! My brother Dave and I will be living in Tamale, Ghana for the next three months. We will be working with the organization Volunteering Solutions. We leave Friday, January 28th and return April 22nd. I will be teaching English to 10-12 year old girls at the Maltiti First Steps school for girls. I have been told that I will be teaching alongside a Ghanaian teacher, but I have also been told that that might change, so we’ll see if I am teaching with a Ghanaian teacher or on my own by the end of the trip! In the afternoon after school I will be helping at a local orphanage for children of all ages. Dave will be helping build a well through this: http://www.
I do not believe that I will have internet access at home, but internet cafes are really cheap (.30 to.50 cents per hour) so I hope to get online at least once a week. That may or may not mean that I will post on here every week. I will always also appreciate letters! I will put my address on here once I have it. If you feel inspired to send school supplies or games for the girls or American snack food for Dave and I we would also appreciate it.
Mah Krow! (Goodbye in Twi)
Jenny
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