BACK AT HOME, IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER THAT WE CAME BACK

HI PEOPLE!!! ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAVE LOGGED ON...
IM MISSING GHANA LIKE CRAZY!!! IT WAS SO HARD GETTING TO SAY GOOD BYE TO THE KIDS AND THERE ISN'T A DAY THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT IS BACK IN GHANA... THE PLANE RIDES WERE SO LONG, BUT IT WAS WORST HAVING TO SIT IN THE AIRPORT. IT GAVE ME ALOT OF TIME TO THINK. I ALSO MISS MY ROOMMATE NAOMI!!! I MISS EVERYONE!!! I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE BACK THOUGH... I MISSED MY MOM REALLY BADLY AND WAS SO HAPPY TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER AND SLEEP IN MY BED!!! I WAS SICK THE FIRST FEW DAYS BACK. I HAD REALLY BAD STOMACH PROBLEMS AND NAUSEA FOLLOWED BY HEADACHES, BUT NOW I AM MY NORMAL SELF AGAIN. AS I THINK ABOUT WHAT IS BACK IN GHANA, I ANTICIPATE THE DAY THAT I WILL GO BACK (HOPEFULLY) AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO ME, GHANA IS LIKE A SECOND HOME.
I DEFINITLY SEE HOW MY VALUES CHANGED AND THIS EXPERIENCE BROUGHT ME AND MY FAMILY CLOSER!!
I MISS EVERYONE THAT WENT ON THAT TRIP.... I LOVE YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING OUR RELATIONSHIP GROW BIGGER!!
GHANA IS THE BEST, MISS YOU!!

Memories.

YEAH, NO SHOWER CURTAIN, JONTONETTE!

THE COOLEST ROOM IN THE HOUSE (when the AC worked)

RICHARD, Morgan's little brother.

MORGAN!

KOJO!

ALASKA. This man right here is STRONG.

JAMES arrived EARLY the day we left for the airport. Go James!

MY CRAZY JEMILA. I MISS HER.

LEFT: MANNAN AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER HANNAN. MY SWEETHEARTS!

Abby, Mama Joanna, and Bobby. (Joanna's laughing)

I love this family. Mama Joanna and Abby made sure we were fed!

Some of the local boys in Nima. They love the camera and the camera loves them.

I MISS:

::WAKING UP IN GHANA

::MY ROOMIE KAREN

::MAMMA JOANA'S HOME COOKING

::GOING TO THE INTERNET CAFE

::GOING TO OSU AND ALWAYS RUNNING INTO RAEGAN, BISMARK&THE OTHER VENDORS

::NIMA.ST KIZITOS.THE KIDS (EXCEPT FOR THE ONES WHO'VE BEEN CALLING BTWN. 12 A.M&3.!)

::JAMES&HIS TRO TRO

::MORGAN, KOJO&RICHARD.CULTURAL DANCE&DRUM CLASSES

::THE ANTICIPATION OF GOING TO A NEW PLACE OR DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERYDAY

::OUR FAMILY WE MADE: ERIC, JAMIE, VIVIAN, JONTONETTE, BETHANY, KAREN, MARCIO AND I

i really miss GHANA.

nice intention but sounds a little misplaced....

My friend Mike sent me this from the BBC News website when we returned. After all the poverty we saw in Ghana this seems like another case of misguided government spending. I'll get off my soapbox now, but please read on...

Erik

Ghana spends $1.4m on gold medals

By Will Ross BBC News, Accra

The Ghanaian government spent more than $1.4m (£704,000) buying 515 gold medals from a company based in the Channel Islands, officials have confirmed.

Almost half the medals were given out last week to prominent citizens at a colourful national awards ceremony.

The government says the rest will be presented over the next four years.

The medals are intended to reward outstanding contributions to Ghana. But critics say the money would have been better spent alleviating poverty.

Eighteen-carat gold

Recipients included politicians, chiefs, business leaders and even the country's President, John Kufuor, who will step down at the end of the year.

We are suffering. As of now, some of us cannot even pay our school fees Accra businessman

He was given the highest award, the Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana.

Set in 18-carat gold, it was also the most expensive.

At $65,000 (£32,700), President Kufuor's award cost many times more than an Olympic gold medal.

This prompted one journalist to make a joke comparing Mr Kufuor to the medallion-wearing American rapper, 50 Cent.

Medals 'not extravagant'

As people woke up in Ghana to learn the cost of the medals from newspapers and radios, many were shocked and disappointed.

"We are suffering," one Accra businessman told the BBC. "As of now, some of us cannot even pay our school fees," he said.

How can the president decorate himself with such expensive jewellery when people are in dire need of basic amenities? Dr Tony Aidoo National Democratic Congress (NDC)

"The medals will not bring anything to the country," said another.

"They are just for individuals so the money has just gone to waste," he added.

The Deputy Information Minister, Frank Agyekum, disagreed.

"You can't put a price tag on an award which is meant to encourage, motivate and congratulate people for making a great contribution to the country," he said. "This was not extravagant."

"The remaining medals will be used for the next three to four years," he added, before noting that even beauty pageant winners are given a whole house these days.

Parliamentary enquiry

In recent years, the awarding of national honours has been a low key affair, but this year the government said it was keen to help unite the politically divided country.

Politicians from rival parties were offered medals, but the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), boycotted the event.

Not surprisingly, the NDC is now making a noise about the cost of the awards

"This was a severe misplacement of priority and an insult to the intelligence of Ghanaians," said Tony Aidoo, a senior member of the party.

"How can the president decorate himself with such expensive jewellery when people are in dire need of basic amenities?" he asked, calling for a parliamentary enquiry, and for evidence that the remaining medals really exist.

Stability 'priceless'

The fact that the head of the Ashanti Kingdom, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, could not collect his award because he was mediating a chieftaincy dispute, shows the need for nation building in Ghana.

Peace and stability are priceless on the African continent Bright Simons, Imani Centre for Policy and Education

"Peace and stability are priceless on the African continent," said Bright Simons, of the Ghanaian think tank, the Imani Centre for Policy and Education.

"If the process had succeeded in building a lot of reconciliation across the political spectrum, it would have been worth it," he added.

Mr Simons said the intention was honourable, but suggested the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), could have managed the event better - by including members from across the political divide in an independent awards committee.

Ghanaians are also waiting to learn how the proceeds are spent from recently discovered oil in the country, estimated to total 2 billion barrels.

Those worried that Ghana may follow the lead of Angola and Nigeria will seek little comfort from news of how $1.4m has been spent on the medals. Some Ghanaians are also asking why the medals could not have been produced locally - especially as their country is Africa's second largest producer of gold.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7502716.stm

Published: 2008/07/11 19:09:12 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

back at home

I'm back in San Francisco, and it feels very diff rent. I wish I had a little more time in Ghana. I miss every one so much. I cant wait until I'm able to go back. Its only been three days since Ive been back , and its already drama. I try to appreciate things more. I find that I don't get as mad as I use to over little things. me and my mother just got into a argument but instead of me trying to prove my point I just shut up, and let her go off. I don't feel the need to try to prove myself to anyone anymore. It take to much energy, and time. I'm miss Ghana sooooooooooooo much.

Still on Ghana time

Just home for a little over 48 hours and I am still not over my jet lag yet. Considering the time difference is only 7 hours I am surprised I am not more adjusted. Maybe it also has something to do with the fact that in Ghana there are two time zones, or ways of perceiving time, that are in effect. In Ghana there is "Ghana time" and "real time."

"Ghana time" is the way most everyone operates. When you tell someone to meet you at noon they show up at 1:00, or later, and think nothing of it. For us westerners this seems like a problem, but maybe it's how most everyone we met there stays calm and, friendly and relaxed. Maybe it's the inability to feel rushed or pressured that keeps Ghanaians more contented? Or maybe it's just accepted as a way of life and why fight it?

We began to deal with "Ghana time" almost immediately with our trotro driver James by asking him to meet us anywhere from 1-2 hours earlier than needed. This worked almost all the time with him. James was a great driver and became quite connected to our group. Always complying with the student's requests to turn up the music and always willing to talk to anyone. Once we figured out that James runs on "Ghana time" we were able to work around his schedule in most cases. Only a few times did he leave us stranded and at the mercy of ruthless street vendors swooping down on us for the sale.

Once, while waiting for James after lunch in Osu, we had forgotten to call him mid-meal to say we were ready to go and had to wait in the hot sun dealing with Bizmark, Raegan and others continually asking us to buy their wares. When our patience was being tested Jontonnette would get on the phone to him and berate him, well, more like comically harass him, to get to us NOW! It was hysterical to hear her end of the conversation. "JAMES!!! Where are you? I am dying out here. I am gonna faint in this heat! How far are you? Six minutes? You said that ten minutes ago! Why are you doing this to me? Just down the road? I don't see you! James, I'm really about to faint. I might die on the streets here if you don't come soon. I'm selling necklaces just to hang on. Get over here now!!! This is killing me!" (Note: this may not be exactly accurate, but you get the idea.) I can only guess what James was thinking listening to her diatribe, but he never hung up on her and eventually showed up with a smile. Jontonnette's humor helped keep the rest of us from getting upset.

To James's credit, when we told him we needed to be picked up super early to get to the airport he showed up earlier than requested and waited for us! I know he liked us because he gave us all his email and contact info, but never seemed to expect anything more than perhaps a friendly email. As several of the group have already commented James was a big part of our experience in Accra. Poor Jamie now has to deal with public transportation and misses him dearly I am sure. Having our own trotro driver may seem quite luxurious, but you try getting a group of 8 around Accra all day long with taxi's and public transportation. It was much cheaper, and far more entertaining, in the end to hire James and deal with "Ghana time."

I'm not so sure I am ready to be back on "real time" here at home yet. My lack of a solid night sleep may have something to do with this, but there is something to be said about a more relaxed pace and way of life. I will miss hearing "I'm coming" from our Ghanaian friends.

Last impromptu dance session with Morgan

The always smiling Kojo drums for the dancers

Experiencing the "Ghana Blues"

I can't get Ghana out of my mind...

I'm still stuck in Ghana time. Yesterday, I tried to fight my tiredness but I ended up knocking out before 9:00 p.m.(which is real early for me btw). This morning I woke up around 4:30 and immediately began thinking of the children and all my friends in Nima---I miss them dearly. My first thought was, "Wow, I was just in Africa two days ago." It felt different not waking up to the roosters crowing and not hearing Jontonette wake me up saying, "Bethany! Move over!" (she was my roomie and I was a crazy sleeper). My dad says it may take awhile to get over the "Ghana Blues". He's right---I'll be thinking of my friends until the day I return to visit (hopefully with the FX crew). Lord willing that will come soon.

Visiting Raley's after sooo long...

The day after we got back from the trip, I dropped by to visit my co-workers at Raley's Supermarket. Everyone was super excited to see me back. It was a really good feeling to see courtesy clerks again (I can't wait to start work). Ahmad, my best, worked yesterday---OH MAN HE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST/WARMEST/TIGHTEST HUG EVER!!! Everyone wanted to know how the trip went and almost everyone asked me the same question: "Will you go back?" And I said "yes" every time. I still have another week off work, so I have some time to get settled in. There's so much more I want to share!!!

One thing I can say that I am NOT missing---

GETTING BIT UP BY MOSQUITOS!

(I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SWELLINGS TO GO DOWN.) 

I CAN FINALLY SLEEP IN PEACE!

Alone in Accra

It's been about 48 hours since Erik and the students left and I'm now slowly making my way back into reality here. I got on a public trotro for the first time in weeks and instantly missed James' clean and roomie trotro. My seat was unusually high and I kept hitting my head on the roof and the seat was not bolted to the floor so we kept rocking back and forth every time the driver hit the brakes. Where is James???

I went to Nima yesterday. It was my first trip there since the students left. The Nima kids seemed down. They were not their usual happy playful selves. I knew this trip would impact both groups but the impact was much deeper than I ever expected. In these past three weeks the SF students bonded with the Nima kids as much if not more than I have in 3 years.

The potential for these strong friendships was evident to me on the first day. I was expecting the Nima kids to be very shy but they were actually outgoing and curious to find out about the Americans. I smiled as I watched Ajara and Naomi holding hands, Yaw asking Erik question after question, and many of the young boys chasing after Marcio. That first day in Nima exceeded my expectations ten fold. It was the highlight of my trip and a day I will never forget.

The experience overall had it's ups and downs as one would expect. Ghana is not for everyone so the SF students did a great job coping with the heat, pollution and power outages. Erik & Vivian also did a great job helping with the planning and logistics. One of our biggest challenges was getting the kids out of bed in the morning. We quickly learned that they would get out of bed for the internet. So we scheduled internet time in the morning before heading off on our daily activities. Who ever came up with this idea is a genius!

This trip has been more than 2 years in the making and I can't believe it's over now. I'm excited to get back to SF to start looking at the photos and get the editing process started for our big show at SF Camerawork. I really shouldn't say it's "over" because I believe some of the SF students will return to Ghana to work with the Nima kids. When the SF students were crying on the last day I told them not to think of this as the end but the start of long friendships and many more trips to Ghana. I often tell people that you can't go to Africa just once and I think the SF students have caught the Africa travel bug.

To the SF students: You are always welcome in Ghana. AKWAABA!!!!!

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

I'M REALLY MISSING MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME: GHANA. ACCRA. ALAJO. JOANNA, ABBY AND ALASKA. JAMES. MORGAN, KOJO &RICHARD. NIMA. ST. KIZITOS. THE KIDS. THE PEOPLE. THE VENDORS. EVERYTHING I'VE COME TO KNOW AND EVEN LOVE.

i'm really having a hard time adjusting to being back in the states. i miss ghana so much, you don't even know. i miss everything and everyone. i cried last night just thinking about my second home and not being able to wake up and be there. a rasta approached me on my last day at st. kizitos and asked if i was a native ghanaian--not only because of my name, my clothes and my jewelry but he said it seemed as if i was walking around like i was at home. it's true, i do feel at home in ghana and i really do like it, no love it way more than the states. 

i have been truly humbled and see life in a whole new light. ghana has made me thankful for what i have and has made me appreciate every single thing i have going in life, even the bad stuff. i am thankful for my three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that houses ten people and sometimes more when all people have in ghana sometimes is a single room. i am thankful for my kitchen with my ghetto sink and broken cabinet when there are people in ghana who have some rocks, wood and a fire as their kitchen. i am thankful for my small bathroom with my quirky toilet when the gutter and outdoors are people's bathroom. i'm just really thankful for everything that i've been blessed with--i've gotten all that i need plus more and these people struggle from day to day to live. i'm not trying to make you feel sorry for them because that's exactly how i DON'T want you to feel. i'm happy for these people because they are in poor conditions and bad situations and may not have much, yet they go about life so positively and have this happiness that makes you envy them. i mean here we are complaining over dumb stuff while these people are struggling and we have everything and still aren't happy and they're the true meaning of contentment and they make due with what they have.! i hope one day, lord willing to return to GHANA and i can't wait for that day.

I'm back home

Missing my Second Home

I miss Ghana so much. I couldn't blog on our last day because it killed me that we had to leave the children so soon.. I cried for a long time---and I didn't care who saw me. If I had the choice to stay for three more weeks, I would've. There isn't a place in the world like Ghana. I know I haven't been around the world, but like there is only one me, there is only one Ghana. What I will miss the most about Ghana are the people---their charisma, their energy, their friendliness, their smiles, and their love through food, words, hugs, and a simple "hello". That made packing much more difficult---seeing an empty bedroom made me cry even harder because it will carry all those special memories. I will miss waking up in the morning to Mama Joanna cooking breakfast downstairs. By the crack of dawn, the locals are up and working, and I will miss hearing the tro-tro driver's yell out, "Kanesh! Kanesh!" (the station). I will miss walking through the black gates where Alaska greets all of us with his warm smile. The dogs in the streets are everywhere, and I won't see that out here where I live. I will miss walking to the internet cafe and hearing people call out, "Hey Obruni!" (white woman). I will miss falling asleep to the music blasting from across the street. I will miss drum/dance class---Richard, Morgan and Kojo will always be in my heart. I have never driven in taxis so much in my life---and I will miss that. 

I will miss everything and everyone. Ghana is truly a magnificent country. There is an emptiness in me that only Ghana can fill. I can't describe how much it has changed me as a person. Here in America, people don't realize how much we've got it made. My sister Naomi said it right, "GHANA PUTS AMERICA TO SHAME."

Arriving at JFK airport

What a huge difference...I didn't get the same vibe coming back to America. I actually hated it.

When we went through customs and immigration first---Uggh...the officer/security guard was sooo RUDE!

Naomi and I went up to the counter together where he checked our passports. At first, Naomi and I

approached him with a huge smile(and said "hello" of course)---and what do we get??? He just looked

at us and said, "Let me see your passports." Okay so not the happiest of most people, but hey, we gave

him a benefit of the doubt...we just smiled again and handed him our passports (we had passport holders)

We hand the officer our passports and he goes, "NO, I WANT YOUR PASSPORT---JUST YOUR

PASSPORT." Okay Naomi and I stopped smiling in a quickness. I looked at her, she looked at me.

We looked at each other like, "OH NO HE DIDN'T!" Yes he did though...yes he DID!!! I simply answered

him and said, "Those are our passports." His tone sounded somewhat annoyed when he responced with,

"I SAID I WANT YOUR PASSPORT AND YOUR PASSPORT ONLY!" By that time I just kept my mouth shut

and thought about the people in Ghana---that calmed my nerves down haha. But for real though, in Ghana,

everyone smiles---IT'S CRAZY! I know I won't get that here. At the JFK airport, I smiled at people just to see

their reaction. Some smiled, some didn't. Others were too much of a hurry to even notice. Again, I just thought of all the

happy faces in Ghana...

After that incident, I couldn't wait to get home to my parents and tell them about everything. When we finally arrived at

the SFO airport, I couldn't believe how many WHITE PEOPLE I SAW---hahahahahaha. The drive back home felt weird

too. In Ghana, you won't get a ticket for not wearing your seatbelt. So when I hopped into my boyfriend's

car, I forgot to put it on until I saw him reach for his. In Ghana there are no freeways, no speed limit posts,

hardly any street lights (or working ones at that). Coming home just felt DIFFERENT---but it was also an eye opener.

I really DO HAVE IT MADE. My house isn't all that, but if I brought a friend from Nima, they would think of my house

as a mansion. I take things for granted and now I have to check myself everytime I complain about something.

C'mon I have running water---HOT WATER! I jumped in the shower last night and I thanked God for it. For three weeks, we had to deal with low water pressure that spurted out JUST cold water. I've become so used to it that the warm shower burned a little. I could finally enjoy a nice, refreshing shower---and feel CLEAN! I could finally brush my teeth and gargle with the tap water from my sink and not have to open bottles after bottles of drinking water. And man...using a washer and dryer again after weeks of handwashing and pruny fingers...I COULD'T ASK FOR MORE!!! And let me tell you----my clothes were D-I-R-T-Y. As my clothes were rinsing, I put up the lid and saw the water was black and murky. At that moment, I looked back at the time we had a power outage. There was no electricity for a couple of days. I had to handwash my clothes in the dark. Then I thought about the people in Nima...they do that everyday. What we experienced within three weeks can never match what the people in Ghana have struggled for years...and for most, the struggle will last a lifetime.

LIVING IN GHANA---WHAT A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE...

More Pictures

Poem day in class

Naomi being harassed by a street vendor as we're trying to drive down the street in Osu

Jontonnette and Morgan

Group photo with the drum/dance teachers -
Kojo, Naomi, Richard, Erik
Jontonnette, Jamie, Karen, Bethany
Morgan, Marcio

Joanna, our host mother in the kitchen of our house

Kakum National Park

Bethany, Naomi & Karen

Crazy girls!!!!!

Jontonnette photographing at Cape Coast Castle

Napping at Labadi beach

Playing Oware on the first day of class

Naomi & Ajara - best friends

Karen with some of the students

At the football game

In the trotro

Firdaus and Florence at the Beach

Yaw after being buried in the sand

Marcio after being thrown in the water

Playing cards outside because the power was out and we were trying to get some fresh air

On the bus to Cape Coast

Homeward bound

Just a last note to say good bye to Ghana and all the wonderful people we have met and experiences we have had. My life has been changed. Please keep checking back here in the weeks ahead as I am sure we all have more to say. Time to leave the internet cafe for the last time...

Madasi-pi Accra!

Erik

Close To The End

It is the last day. WOW! How did this happen? Just because the troops are leaving tomorrow does not mean the blogging is going to stop. Keep checking in for post-trip updates. I will also finally be able to put up a proper blog now that I don't have to deal with logistics, etc. I hope you all have enjoyed the blog thus far.

OUR LAST DAY.... ='(

WOW I CANT BELIEVE THE END IS APPROACHING US... I FEEL SO SAD JUST TO KNOW THAT I WON'T SEE THE KIDS UNTIL WHO KNOWS WHEN!! I FEEL THAT IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KIDS GREW TO BE BETTER. I HOPE THAT THIS WON'T BE THE LAST TIME I WILL GET TO SEE THE. IT WOULD BREAK MY HEART TO KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THEM GROW...
I FEEL THAT THIS TRIP CHANGED MY LIFE. I NOW SEE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND VALUE MORE WHAT I HAVE. EVEN THOUGH THESE WEEKS FELT LIKE MONTHS, IT FELT GREAT GETING TO MEET A COMPLETLY DIFFERENT WORLD WHERE I FEEL WELCOME AND FULFILLED WITH WHAT I DON'T HAVE BACK AT HOME. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY MOMMY, SINCE I BEARLY TALKED TO HER SINCE I WAS HERE!!!
I KNOW THAT I WILL BE TAKING A PART OF GHANA WTH ME AND IT WILL REMAIN WITH ME FOREVER.... GHANA WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, AND GETTING TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE I HAVE LOVE FOR WAS THE BEST...

Last Day

Today is the Last day and I'm so upset. It has been a great 3weeks being with the kids and learning a new religion and culture. I'm really gonna miss Abu, he hs really had an attachment to me. I don't know how the rest of the day will go but as long as i see the kids, it will all be ok. I bought a lot of stuff for my family members and for myself. As you can see in the post Vivian posted, I did get thrown into the water by 3kids. I got them back at the end of the day. I am really going to miss the kdis and the people here, but I can't wait to see my Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister. Also Cousibns and Auntie's and Family.

MY DEAR AJARA;;i won't forget her

dear naomi,

i hope by the grace of God you are fine. I'm using this opputunity to thank you for all what you done for me. i appreciate it. as you are going back to U.S.A, i will miss you very much. as you left yesterday i was so sad and started to cry. please come back as soon as possible. i will be very have (happy) to see you again soon. LOVE VERY MUCH. that's all what i have for you.

yours friendly

ajara

this is the letter ajara wrote and gave to me yesterday--reading it filled me with tears and i just hugged her forever. ajara really is my ultimate favorite out of the group and i'll miss her. i wish i could tell you about her and how i feel to give you an idea of who she is but i don't think it's possible. i'm really sad this is my last day and probably my last post in Ghana.

even the neighborhood kids came to see us at St. Kizitos yesterday and it just made me so happy. we also went to art centre yesterday and got to see Felix, Michael, Bizmark, Abraham, and David and their Auntie for the last time--i was happy and sad at the same time. they've been so kind to us the few times we went and i won't forget them. we also went to Osu and i got to see Bizmark, raegan, Oliver, Nyarko and the other vendors--haha, they were so irritating at first but i'll even miss them.

I LOVE GHANA AND I HOPE TO COME BACK AGAIN BUT I'M READY TO COME HOME TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

MY LAST DAY

Today is the day I have to say goodbye to the kids . I am not feeling so well right now. I don't know how I'm going to say good bye to them, this is going to be so hard for me. I love these kids more than the word love it self. They have taught me alot while I was here. They have taught me what really matters in life. They really opened my eyes up to life it self. Africa is like a different world than America. They value what people should value in life . They dont walk around mad at the world because they live in poverty. They have so much freedom here. I feel like I'm the one who has been missing out on life and real happiness. I live in a world where only material things can make you happy but here you consider rich by the size of your family and how many friendships you have. Im going to miss my Real Home. I LOVE GHANA!!!!!!!

2 MORE DAYS LEFT

Hello everybody , I know I haven't been on here along time, and I'm sorry. we have to come to the Internet cafe in the morning and Iam not a morning person. I ant believe we only have to more days here. I'm not ready to go home . My mentor left yesterday and i miss her so much. it seem like my things are all over the place. our group feels incomplete. Imiss you so much Vivo. I miss you regulating on me . lol . back to the trip Im SO not ready to leave but I also feel like I have learned a lot while. think Ihave become a different person on the inside and out. I can definitely see myself coming back here and visiting the kids. I have so much love for the kids I don't know how I'm going to leave them. I never felt so passionate about anyone or anything besides my family. Its like I built a new family here with in a matter of three weeks . HERE a picture of my yahaya

Two days left

I can't believe that we leave for home in less than 48 hours. Our time has flown by here...mostly good, but some tough times for sure. Through thick and thin the group has persevered for sure. Probably the hardest thing for us lately has been the near constant power outages. It's going to make packing and cleaning a bit more of a challenge. When we tell people here about the power problems, they say, "Well, this is Africa." True...

This weekend we had some great classes with the kids in Nima. Saturday we did a studio portrait day, which we realized none of us brought a digital camera that day so we have nothing to add for it until we get home. The kids from Nima helped operate the slr film cameras (for the first time really) and also dressed up for the camera and dressed up some of our group too for good measure. I can't wait to see the film.

Yesterday we had a fun class too and Bethany taught them how to do an Acrostic puzzle as part of her project that you will all have to see when we get home. I think we have been getting a lot of great images here from from all the students.

We have added extra classes to spend as much time as possible with the kids here. It's going to be sad leaving Nima tomorrow evening. I am really proud of what our group has done here with these kids. I really feel like so much of what Jamie and I hoped for with this trip has been coming to fruition. I encourage you all to keep checking back here even after we return for more thoughts on our trip!

Thank you all for reading and being a part of this trip.

Erik

Only two more days...

Compassion
The congregation this time had a guest speaker. The lesson was on COMPASSION. Again, this is another great lesson to learn and grow from. By helping the children in Nima with photography is a sign of compassion. I strongly believe that our motivation comes through LOVE. Being with the kids is a reward all its own. I love the fact that the children have an opportunity to show the world what they are capable of even when all they have is a little point and shoot camera. I can't wait for the exhibition---I can't wait to tell others how much I've changed as a peron---and it's because of COMPASSION that I will always remember the people who have touched me here in Ghana.

The Weakest Internet Cafe---EVER
Yesterday morning, my sister and I were totally in the blogging mood. So we decide to hit up our regular spot down the street after church. Come to realize it, they were undergoing a bit of a remodel so we had to go next door. I was so bummed about that because I had a feeling the internet cafe right next to our usual spot would be incredibly WEAK. And it was. But I have to say, they do charge less for an hour session (our regular charges 50 peswas/ 50 cents, and the other place only charges 30 peswas/ 30 cents). When we arrived, I noticed that most, if not all the monitors or computers were off. The models looked super old anyways...but we had to work with it. So here I am all excited to get online---but my page is taking forever in a day to load! "Why is it taking sooo long???" I start getting impatient and finally tell the guy who runs the place, "Um, excuse me, but I don't think I'm connected to the internet." He comes and does all kinds of weird twirks only my dad would understand. It so happenes that my sister couldn't go online either, so we had to wait for about "two minutes" (the guy kept telling us "Oh, two minutes---two minutes.") Man I was sitting up in that hot room for about a good 30 minutes before I fell asleep on the keyboard. I wake up and still---NO CONNECTION. I ask my sister if we should just leave and take the money. She tells me, "No Beth, maybe 10 more minutes." MAN FORGET THAT! I was hungry, hot, sleepy, grumpy, mad---just FED UP! I did not just waste almost a full hour doing NOTHING! I wanted to blog sooo bad and it bothers me when I can't do it everday. Being the sweet girl that I am though, I agree to wait 10 more minutes. TEN MINUTES LATER...STILL NO CONNECTION!!! The cafe is packed now full of people...meaning more body heat!!! Okay by that time I had to get up an dsay something. I went up to the boy and told him that I had to leave because we were on a tight schedule. I asked him whether or not it would be working by the next day (today) and he nods his head yeah. He let me keep my passcode so I wouldn't have to pay him again for my next visit. I HOPE FOR HIS SAKE THAT I CAN GET ONLINE.

I don't want to leave...
I can't believe that we're leaving in two days...My heart goes out to all who have made this wonderful experience come to life. I can guarantee one thing---I don't regret accepting this oppportunity. Although we had a few bumbs along the way, I feel it only made us stronger. I can go home and have a totally different outlook on my life. At work, when my customers may annoy me, I'll just think of all the happy memories in Ghana. When a friend is in trouble, I'll be the first to run and help them. If my parents are getting on my case about something, I'll listen instead of arguing back. When I go home, I will definitely be CHANGED. And because of COMPASSION, it won't be so difficult to leave. I love the people so much that I know I will be back.

catching up on posts.

wow, where do i even start. sorry i haven't posted lately--i've been so caught up in the last couple of days. only two more days...i want to cry just thinking about it. i truly love ghana and i just can't bare to leave the kids. i've grown so attached in just three weeks, you'd think i've known them their whole lives. before i get all carried away, let me rewind to the last couple of days.

cape coast:
not like home--accra.alajo.joanna and abby.alaska.nima.st. kazitos. the kids. or like james.
it seemed as if we were in a whole other part of africa...these are the words i wrote in my journal when we first arrived. cape coast isn't like accra but it's still such a great place and i did things i'd never do any other day there. let me start with day one--so we took a 3-hour bus ride which is okay. we bought a fanice and some ginger cookies, plugged in our ipods and enjoyed the ride. almost as soon as we got there and unpacked at the hotel, we went to elmina castle. that was quite an experience to actually walk on the very grounds the slaves walked on and to go through the door of no return. i came across a plaque put up that i really liked:

in everlasting memory

of the anguish of of our ancestors

may those who died rest in peace

may those who return find their roots

may humanity never again perpetuate

such injustice against humanity

we the living vow to uphold this

after the castle and being stuck in crazy traffic because of the festival, we headed to mabel's table and had a nice dinner while we looked out on the beach. the four of us girls decided to share a hotel room because cape coast hotel reminded us too much of scary movie hotels.

day 2:

this is where the adventures really started. after kicking off the day with a spanish omelet, toast and tea, we headed to kakum national park. indiana jones, king-kong and jarassic park came to my mind when i saw the shaky, narrow bridge--excuse me, the SEVEN SHAKY, NARROW bridges we had to walk across. but i have to admit, it was so much fun. we also went on a life journey nature hike, which was tiring. but hey, when am i ever going to do these things in another country right.? after the park, we headed over to han's cottage botel to eat and i TOUCHED A CROCODILE.! like really, seriously got to approach a crocodile and pet it. my heart was pumping and that is definitely something i'd never think of doing. but i did.

at night, we got to see kojo and the trinity dance group perform. they were all great and i enjoyed meeting all of them. some of my favorites were isaac, mary and martha. i will never forget them.

day 3:

next stop--cape coast castle. another amazing place...i've heard about it but to be there was just the greatest feeling. i also wrote down some great quotes here:

in memory of our ancestors who suffered the cruelest crime against humanity

we the survivors vow to ensure that such evil will never again be committed by man against man.

fear is our greatest enemy,

we must conquer it.

to conquer fear we must face it.

SANKOFA: we look to the past

to help us move forward into the future.

after that, we had to say goodbye to cape coast. i was sad yet happy to go home to accra--kinda how i feel about leaving ghana back to america.

friday:

today bethany, karen and i went with jamie to the photo store so we could run to the fabric shop. there we met a girl who i will never forget--her bright smile and patience when we'd try to get her to cut fabric that wasn't supposed to be cut. haha, sarfowa is her name. when me and bethany went back a second time, we gave her a 2 cedis extra just for being so helpful and she jumped up and hugged us both. it was so cute and such a happy moment for me. just two dollars and she was so thankful--wow, just her reaction--i won't forget. i'm excited to get clothes made at jamie's tailor's place.! then we went to go see the kids. man...i really am just in love with them. it felt so good to be back at the school with all of them and to also see the neighborhood kids who've taken a place in my heart as well. i told ajara i'd be leaving in just a few days and she ran and hugged me tight and didn't let go for a few minutes. you don't know how hard it was hard for me to not start crying. out of all the kids, she's been my little sidekick and has a very special place in my heart. i can't imagine waking up in the states and not being able to hop in a tro tro or taxi to go visit the kids...

sunday:

today's worship service really made me miss our home congregation. it was bring a friend day--we've also had a day similar at the congregation my family and i attend back home and i just loved how they were so friendly and warm to the visitors. i am so thankful for their warmness and kindness with my sister and i for the three times we went there. i'll never forget it.

haha, today one of our students, yaw (yao) wrote me a letter. he told me not to let anyone read it so i can't write it out on the blog but basically he admitted how he's liked me and hopes we come back to ghana. it was too cute--but i let him down easy.

wow, only three weeks and i love ghana. the people. the kids. everything. only two more days and i have to go home to the states. i'm trying not to think about it but whether i like it or not, it'll be time to go home. i've grown so fond of the kids and we've each touched each other's lives in a way we'll never forget. i'll even miss bizmark and the infamous raegan. :) oh and forgot to mention nyawko.! he sell really nice bracelets, bizmark makes name braclets and raegan sell necklaces and paintings and bothers us. haha, but i will NEVER forget those boys. i won't forget emmanuel always helping us out at the internet cafe. i won't forget mama joanna, abby and alaska who've opened up the guest house to us and have shown so much hospitality. i won't forget sarfowa at the fabric store. i won't forget james our driver who's always late--always "around the corner." i won't forget morgan, kojo and richard--they started off as just drum and dance instructors and now have become our friends. i won't forget all of the other people i've met in ghana. NEVER. not only have we met so many great people, but all of us on the trip have just bonded in a way that no one can ever know or replace. unfortunately, my sister, karen and jontonette have graduated from the program but i don't think we'll forget this experience we've shared with one another.

i want to thank GOD for giving me life and blessing me with so much more than i could ask for. i want to thank my family for their unconditional love and support throughout my life and still. i want to thank vivian for sacrificing her own time and money to be on this trip with us. i want to thank jamie for introducing us to so many great people and places and for starting this program then sharing it with us. i want to thank eric for bending his back for us all and helping to make the trip happen and for always creating bigger and better things for the program. he is by far the BEST at what he does and no one else can fill his shoes. i want to thank all the people who've generously donated and come through for us on this trip. i want to thank the people of ghana for embracing us with such kindness and friendliness. i want to thank the kids for loving us as much as we've loved them and for touching my life in such a powerful, magnificent and beautiful way. i'll be back to GHANA lord willing for sure one day.