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 16th 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 50th 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,
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