Hi all,

Well, Dave and I have finally brought our big African adventure to an end. I have re-written this blog entry a few times because I am just not sure how best to sum up what the past three months have been like. We came to Africa hoping to experience a new culture, teach children, build a school, learn some crazy drumming skills, and have an adventure. We are leaving Africa with a new family, a new home, a few new beats and a handful of adventures.

To speak to our family here, Dave and I were very blessed to live with wonderful, caring individuals who would do whatever they could consistently to make sure that we felt comfortable and safe. The director and his wife and the other Ghanaians taking care of us in the home and around town really taught us about what it is to give gladly. In the beginning of our stay when we were trying to figure out what is "appropriate" to give or not give to a chief or child or individual in need of help, Fred consistently told me that "appropriateness" was not what was important, it is "giving from your heart" that matters. While this was initially a frustrating response since it was very vague, after living with individuals who give what they can and when they can as a general way of living, I see how valuable and simple giving purely from your heart without any feelings of obligation or the need to be repaid can be.

To speak to the children, I think that it can clearly be seen in my previous entries that we have fallen in love with the girls I have been teaching and tutoring. These girls opened their heart and souls to Dave and me. They came to school everyday eager to learn and improve. They visited our house everyday wanting to read Dr. Seuss books and play games. They gave their cookies, food, and candies to us at school when they had the money to buy goodies. They would walk us home from school and ask if they could help washing our clothes and gasp at things like a map of the world or the power of the gas stove or the magic of completing a puzzle. Now that I am home I see things that are everyday for us and think, "if only there was a way to show Asia this! She would be so amazed!" Or "Whoa, what would the girls think if they saw THIS?" 

To speak to teaching, it was a challenge, but I loved it. I wish that I could have stayed longer since I know that I was improving with each week. Luckily our last week in Tamale was the children's last week of school before a month long vacation for the rainy season. Therefore, we spent the last week reviewing and then I gave them each a small test (even 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade level students are expected to have exams here!) It was such a perfect way to end my time the children were able to see just how much they had learned! In English we covering subjects like using "has, have, and had", "is, are, and am", "did, do, and does", nouns, pronouns, common nouns, proper nouns, adjectives, verbs, and vocabulary. In Math we got to Chapter 5! We worked through recognizing and spelling large numbers, 4 digit addition and subtraction, measurement (using a meter stick, understanding cm and m, and even converting cm to m and vice versa!), fractions (this was definitely the hardest math subject. They still need much more practice with this since they seem to understand how I do exercises on the board but when the concept of fractions is introduced in new ways they struggle to understand), and we briefly got to creating tables and taking surveys. Huzzah! They all did really well on their "exams" and I think that they and I were pleased. Now I just hope that their teacher continues where I left off and continues to challenge the children since they can do a lot, you just have to be patient with them in the learning process. 

To speak to drumming and dance, I have seen and experienced how music can be a language. A drum tells a story that a dancer illuminates. Every beat, every call, can have a meaning. To you and me, we hear a sweet lick or are impressed by a fast rhythm. To drum masters and villagers alike, they hear their traditions and their stories. When an elder dies in a village, they place a certain drum beat. When a wedding is about to occur, they use a specific drum call. When the chief wants to meet with the villagers, he uses his drum. And in weddings, funerals, and general evening celebrations, the people dance. Feeling the music is just something that seems to be innate in everyone we met there. I will miss talking with my drum, but I will continue to play from the soul and maybe I can tell a few stories of my own with the drum once I really find my place with the djembe.

To speak to the adventures, a few of the stories have made my previous blog entries. The rest I am going to try to share through pictures. I will add the pictures tomorrow to tell a few more stories as my final blog post. As a sneak Peek, (get it? a sneak PEEK?), below are are a picture of Dave and I with each of our classes.

Biani ("until tomorrow" in Dagbani)