My Weekly Schedule

Hi All,

Sorry for the long absence. If any of you have emailed me I have probably (definitely) not responded yet because life has gotten ridiculously busy here! It’s still awesome, but let me fill you in on my general day…

6:45- Wake up

7ish-Drink hot tea or Milo (similar to hot chocolate) with bread and with jam and honey or eggs.

7:45- Walk to school

8:00-12:30- Teach English and Math

12:30-1:00- Walk home with the girls who always insist on carrying our backpacks. They love mimicking how we walk. So I’ll take really tiny steps, then suddenly take really big steps, then switch to hopping up and down backwards and they can’t get enough of it. By the time we arrive home we are usually thirsty, sweaty, tired, but happy.

1:00-2:00- Some of the girls stay at our house to drink water and play games. I brought out the memory card game (where there a pictures that each have a pair and you have to try to find the pair) and they love it. Who knew that one game could entertain 10+ girls for so long! While they play I either sit with them or we make our lunch. Usually fried yam, a noodle dish similar to Ramen, or peanut butter and jelly.

2:00-3:00-Ok, this one comes with a back story. Two weeks ago I told the class that if any of them wanted to work more afterschool with me one on one on the homework or other questions they have they should let me know. What I meant by “let me know” was that they should come see me after class and tell me if they wanted to work with me.) Instead EVERY girl raised her hand and said that she wanted to work more. Every single girl! And it wasn’t one of those things where because a few people raised their hands everyone felt that they should, they all sincerely wanted to do more afterschool. So, I decided to split them into 5 different groups and I work with 5-8 of them every day from 2 to 3. I split them up by their reading and math levels and have been reading picture books that we brought from home. They LOVE it. Some of the books are too difficult though. I assumed they would be at a 10-15 year old U.S. reading level but in actuality the Dr. Seuss book I brought is perfect. So we have been going through some of the other books slower. After reading I have been reviewing what I think the students that I am with need the most help on. With the advanced students I tried to have them write a short story. I do not think they have every been asked to write something creatively so they had a hard time understanding what I meant but it was relatively successful and they were really proud of themselves so that’s what counts.

3:00-6:00ish-Monday through Wednesday I go to my drumming lesson while the other volunteers go to the internet café or walk around town. Drumming usually goes from 3:30 to 5 (I’ve stayed till 6 a few times to watch the dancers practice but I am usually ready to switch things up after 5 and I’ll join the other volunteers. Thursday and Friday we go to the orphanage from 4 to 6. We change, bath, clothe, and feed the babies and toddlers. The more we go there the more enjoyable it is since we know the children’s faces more and know what comforts the babies more.

6:00-7:00 maybe go to the internet café. If not we go home and eat dinner.

As of last week from 7:30 to 10:00 we now are holding evening classes/tutoring sessions with the older girls who have left the elementary school we teach at for junior and senior high. For now we are doing these classes 7 days a week, but since that is pretty ambitious I think it will become a Sunday through Thursday night thing soon. I have really enjoyed working with these girls because they speak more English so it’s easier to talk to them and get to know them personally. Before leaving I think I am going to do a sex education night with them (eek! But it is completely necessary since they do not get the information from school or at home.) I also want to start taking more of them to the internet café. Four girls asked if they could come last week and 3 of the girls had never used a computer, not to mention heard of Google or Facebook or emailing. Honestly, it has been overwhelming to realize the extent to which these girls are cut out from information even though they want to learn (the fact that all of my 10-15 year olds wanted to do extra school every day is evidence of this). It’s heartbreaking to see just how much they are lacking because of resources. Hopefully I can come up with a plan/schedule/curriculum that future volunteers and the director here can use once I leave so that the girls continue to get follow up on Sex Ed and computers. There is just so much to do and teach and encourage and inspire and empower!

After 10: Sitting on the wall outside our house and enjoying a beer or cold soda, preparing for my morning lesson the next day, and finally, sleep!

Besides being busy with the kids here are a couple of gems that have happened recently:
-There is a new volunteer here from Germany. (There is another 23 year old male from Isreal, a female 19 year old from Germany, and now this 19 year old volunteer from Germany.) She is really nice and has convinced all of us to go running before school in the morning.
-Last Tuesday (the 6th) was Ghana's Independence Day. They celebrate in the morning when selective students from different schools in Tamale march in the main square. The students, famous actors from Tamale, soldiers, police officers, hair dressers, and seamstresses all march and compete.The girls at our school were not selected to march but they have been marching around the school in the morning singing the marching song for a week. I will forever have the song "Why are you marching so? Why are you marching so? Why are you marching so? Sixth of March! 1967. Ghaaaaaaana. Independence Day!" We met up with a couple of the girls at the march and sat with one of our host brothers. There were SO many people. The Vice President of Ghana was there and the entire park was packed with people and vendors. Pictures can't really capture how many people were there but if you imagine a field the size of a track with bleachers on each side and rows of people standing on the track that's about the size of where we were.

Also, thank you SO much for the donations so far! We have enough for my class (34 girls) so far and I know that a few checks are still on the way. Once we buy the books I will take pictures and post them so you all can see how happy I know the girls will be!

That's all for now. I hope you all are doing well. Thanks for reading!