On the 16th we moved in with our homestay families. My host mom is Grace; she is 52 and has 6 children ranging from 17 – 30. My father is a Methodist preacher named George. I have so far met 2 of my brothers: Robert who is probably 26ish and Opie, who is probably a lil older (they live at the compound). My parents are really nice; mom keeps telling me to eat more and the boys want to make sure that the family is making me feel welcome. My dad wants me to stay in Masse (their village) and do my service…so I am very lucky. I have my own room and bathroom, electricity, running water, a real toilet and a ceiling fan! I am super fancy. There is also a small girl (house helper who works for food and shelter) named Presla. She is starting to talk to me more, which is nice. I stay up and watch soccer with them or play Ghana board games with my brothers…all the board games here are very strategic and I’m pretty sure that they think I am absolutely feeble minded…which these days (thank you malaria meds) isn’t that far from the truth.
So yesterday I got my assignment….drum roll…I will be in the Volta region in Likpe Todome. It is Northeast of HoHoe by 10 miles; you’ll be able to find HoHoe on a map. I am right up against Togo. The village of Likpe Todome is about 2000 people; I will be learning a different language than the one I have studied so far; my new language is Ewe. My assignment is sustainable eco-tourism. We have 6 ancestral/spiritual caves above our village; they were opened to tourism/hikes back in the 80’s; we also have a beautiful waterfall (so I am told, obviously I haven’t been there yet). I am within miles of the Wli Falls which is claimed to be the highest single drop waterfall in West Africa…I have seen pics of this one and it is very pretty. I will also be working with women’s groups; helping them with their small businesses. I will be able to start secondary projects as I see fit. There was a volunteer here, but her service ended in August 2009 and I will be going to my site August 2010.
From what I have been told, I will stay in a guesthouse that is used for tourism (I read somewhere that it was built in the colonial days; once I get to internet I will be googling my a$$ off ); I will have a private apartment there with electricity and piped water…we shall see. It also says my home has a beautiful view of the mountains…So you guys have NO reason not to come and see me. There are several other volunteers who are within a couple hours of me; and lucky me, we all enjoy each other’s company. HoHoe is the main city close to me and I have spent 2 nights there when I was on my Vision Quest last week…so right on! (Also where the orphanage we visited is located..here's some pics from that).
Irene and Chauncey...they loved "forehead, eyewinker..."
That’s about all that’s going on. I enjoy interacting with the people in my homestay village, it helps me with my Twi; my family usually speaks to me in English. The kids constantly yell, “Obruni, Obruni” from blocks away; I usually just smile, point, and yell "abimini" (african child) back at them. I feel like Santa Claus. Everyday I bring joy to people just by showing up and being a foreigner. I don’t even have to do anything and I’m hilarious…and when I try to speak Twi, they really get a kick out of that. So far, this is fun, but I am sure that at some point it will get aggravating. I am currently in search of fabric to have a dress and a shirt made.
room at homestay
Business Goup
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