Coloring on the Porch

Ada Foah

Dixon and Lelabi coloring on my porch

We also made leaf necklaces (I settled for a leaf tiara)

This is what you get when you tell them to smile.

Vicki is super cute.

Dixon's funny man face.

Pics from Beach



Our hut is the one on the right.



Just to remind you you are still in Ghana; sheep on the beach.

Yup, that's how I feel.

My watch stinks really bad and this dog was completely into it.

Chris chasing crabs.

Jellyfish

Crabs

Fishing for mullet

Pics from the HIV Event

Francis deomonstrating the bridge game.

One of the teachers doing the bridge game.

Kids playing the baby elephant game, Richard facilitating.

Villagers doing the bridge game.

Happy Birthday to Chris and Me

August 9, 2011

Really? August already? 

So the HIV event in my village went really well.  The PC trainees and the peer educators I trained in my village were awesome.  The first night we did an introduction and played games.  It was a lot of fun and we probably had around 150 people (with half being kids).  They enjoyed the games and they got a lot of laughs.  The second night we did condom demonstrations, watched the Scenarios From Africa and handed out condoms.  This night was the most fun.  First we had to set up the projector so the villagers were all interested in that and while we waited we played music and danced with the kids.  They loved running in front of the projector light and seeing their shadows on the wall.  Next came condom demos.  So 2 of my trainees, one peer educator, and me went out into the crowd to do the demonstrations on the wooden penises.  I handed out the condoms and penises (I was the only girl doing the demos, fyi) and then Lil’ Francis comes over and goes, “Boala give me the big penis, you take the little one!” There is one penis that is smaller than the others and he didn’t want the small one.  So we break off into our groups and I have one of the women from my Watersachet Group in my crowd.  “Oh Boala….”  saying  something in Sekua about the penis being small.  “I know right?  I’m the only girl and I get the little one, ain’t that how it goes?” …or something like that and the women started roaring.  It was really funny.  So then we watched the short films and everyone laughed and “ohh’d” and commented at all the right parts; so they really enjoyed them.  Afterwards we handed out condoms and we were mauled by the young men trying to get them.  Then a little later an old guy comes up to me, “Sister Boala, give me condom.”  “Oh PaPa I’m sorry, they’re finished.”  The young whippersnappers had snatched them all up in seconds and the poor old guy left without a condom.  So we had about 250 people in attendance that night.  The last day I put a box out in the morning for people to submit questions.  We got 31 questions ranging from sex myths to very complicated and personal questions about fidelity, testing positive, and if God condemns condoms.  So…it was a successful event.  The chief asked us to come to the “palace” and he thanked us for giving the villagers information to keep themselves safe.  This week a guy from Bakua came to me and asked if I would do an HIV event in Bakua…his dad is the chief.  I told him to gather his people and see if they are serious and to come find me in September.

Having 5 people stay out my house (my one room) made me overwhelmed.  Just having all the conversations going; I could feel myself going crazy in my head like I didn’t know where to focus.  I’m used to a lot of alone time and even when I’m around people I don’t understand most of what is going on.  It was very strange…coming back to America is gonna make my head explode from sensory overload.

New subject: This week we added handkerchiefs and bandanas to the product line of the batik group.  I have Sister Naomi (seamstress in our village) overlocking the edges and then we’ll sell them in the shops in HoHoe.

So this week I turn 29, last year of my 20’s…geeze.  So tomorrow I’m going to meet a couple friends in the Eastern Region.  Thursday is the bead market in Koforidua and then we’ll go stay in the villages we trained in when we first got to Ghana.  Sunday I have a PC meeting at the training site; I’m the safety and security warden of Mid Volta.  Then it’s off to Ada Foah; it’s an island where the Volta River hits the ocean.  Chris’s bday is the 16^th and we’ll stay there for a couple days before heading back to our sites.  Then we have a week or so and then to Accra for the 50^th Peace Corps Anniversary and the swearing in for the new volunteers…August is crazy busy.

So that’s the run down.  Guess what?  Mom and Dad are coming to Ghana in January.  YIPPEE!!!  I’m so excited…just watching dad in a tro station will be worth the trip. LOL.  I can’t wait to see them!

Love you and,

Year of 28

Lived in Ghana for 1 year…without any malaria I might add

Got another cat

Not so afraid of spiders any more

Might of found my mothering instinct

Might be starting to grow up

Carried water on my head…among many other things

Learned to cook Ghanaian food

Fell in love with fufu

Saw dung beetles

Italy with Leila was awesome

Finally tasted wheat beer again

Climbed a mountain that made me cry

Put a condom on a wooden penis

Learned patience

Still amazed by the amazing friends and family I have

Learned to sew

Learned to batik

Hobnobbed at the U.S. Ambassador’s more than once

Become more outspoken and confident

Learned humility, time and time again

Learned what it means to “pick your battles”

Became an excellent barterer

Learned exactly what “homesick” means

Katie Mae and Sheldon from the U.S.

Took 9 hot showers in 365 days

Lost a dear friend in Ghana

Had more strangers sleep on my couch than I can count

Can’t imagine not being called “Sister Boala”

Value my headlamp as one of my most prized possessions

Don’t wear deodorant every day

Can wield a machete

Have made friends from around the world

Been “unemployed” for a whole year

I can kill many things by throwing my shoe

Palm wine!

Became a teacher

I get in fights for what amounts to 80 cents

Seen Juju close up

The only piercings I have now are in my lobes

Made cheese

Don’t even change clothes when a kid pees on me anymore

Can walk into the bush and pick the most delicious fruit

Learned that my body is kick ass strong!

Said many goodbyes and hellos…once again