This morning we left at 8am and traveled to 7 of the schools that are in the ASK program. ("A"nswers "S"olutions and "K"nowledge) We will teach to junior and senior high school kids who have elected to be in the program. We only stayed about 10 minutes at each school just so that we could meet some kids, the headmaster of each school and get more comfortable. We didn't get back home until around 4 since the schools were about 2 hours from here. By car and no traffic it would have been maybe 25 minutes, but we had to switch Tro-Tro three times plus we hired a bus to take us to each school.
It was a long ordeal, but also incredible. The primary school children (aged 5 through 8 or 9 maybe) went CRAZY when they saw us. The were jumping and screaming and begging to take photos with us. Then when you show them the picture on the camera screen they would go nuts again. Screaming and running with these amazing big brown eyes and big white teeth. The girls have short hair and everyone wears a school uniform.
One little boy was shy and didn't say a word but followed us everywhere on the school tour. One of the Chinese interns (Fei-Fei) has Garfield on her bag and the boy was studying it and was completely mesmerized by it. I wanted to take him home with me as my little buddy.
Each intern will be assigned to 1 school and we will teach on Fridays. Every other day we can go and teach whatever we want. However, the schools are so far that I don't think I will be able to go everyday. There are more schools in the program within walking distance in the city of Kaneshie and we are going to them next week.
Tomorrow I am leaving for the National AIESEC conference in Cape Coast. None of us interns really want to go the conference, but Cape Coast is a big tourist place -- tons of castles, historical slave trade sites, and a big national park. They got a deal for us so it's only 25 Ghana Cedis ($20) for hotel with beds, showers and A/C; 3 meals per day; and the conference. The conference is Thursday-Sunday but we are only going Thursday-Friday. On Saturday morning we will leave to do tourist things. Saturday night we are camping near the national park and Sunday morning we will go on the Canopy walk where you walk in the trees and look down at the animals.
I won't be posting until Sunday or Monday but I'm sure my next post will be nice and long. Oh, 4 more Chinese interns came today. Super crowded in here, but I am learning some Mandarin!
She-She = Thank you; Shan= mountain; Xia = down; Shang = up; yen = human
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Accra Mall
This morning we woke up at 8am, the planned time to leave for the UN AIDS building. Somewhere around 10:30 we actually left. This is why I chose to wake up at 8am and not a minute sooner... I'm learning quickly.
Anyway, we went to UN AIDS via taxi. About 10 miles; cost was about 5 cedis. It's nice to pay a flat rate, no matter how bad traffic is, which is usually awful. (Taxis = A bunch of old old old old old cars that smell old, putzing around town.) We arrived at this beautiful white building, guarded, with a small park. It is the Ghanaian office of the UN AIDS effort. It is not huge by any means, but very nice. We spent some time in the library learning about AIDS and then proceeded to create easy quiz questions for the students. Very basic stuff, but important to teach. Baffour, our project director and someone I consider a true friend, explained that public schools here are not that great and that these kids need any information that we can give to them.
After UN AIDS we traveled to the Accra Mall and I felt like I was in America again. The mall was like any average small mall in New Jersey, Ohio, California, whatever. Air conditioning, food court with pizza, fast food, etc; movie theater and fashion clothing. We went to see Avatar even! Something else I added to my list of things I never thought I would do in Ghana...
It such a strange feeling to walk around the mall and then walk outside and realize where you are. People selling anything they have, poverty, Africa. I felt incredibly uncomfortable spending so much money on the movie and dinner (and at the super market at the mall which also looks like any average American grocery store... just a lot more expensive!! So much so, that I didnt even take a picture.) Some people here have nothing, but there I was seeing a brand new movie, sitting in A/C, munching on popcorn. I don't know how to explain it, but I already feel a distance from western culture and the extreme waste we seem to have.
For dinner we had pizza and it was surprisingly tasty. It is such a juxtaposition (correct word?) of life here. Tin shacks and people selling things from trays on their head, to movie theaters and a mall. Its like someone dropped electricity on an ancient society. Stone roads and open air gutters, but cell phones. It all doesn't quite make sense to me.
Tonight we chatted about religion. Most Ghanaians are Roman Catholic. They are very religious, believe in creationism and don't really know much about Buddhism or Judaism. It was interesting to hear different points of view. Separately, we also discussed relations between China and Taiwan. I'm learning almost as much about Asian culture as Ghanaian culture. There are 8 Chinese, 2 Taiwanese, me, 1 Brazilian and 1 Dutch guy from Holland. I am also becoming very close with the local AIESEC members. About 12 non-interns live here (with another 8 or so that show up once and while) and in just one week I know so much about them. They are extremely kind to us, and I have learned so much from them.
Tomorrow we leave for some of the schools in the program. We are going to meet some kids and teachers. Baffour said I can check out the schools and possibly work here on the off days teaching anything that is in need. That could be fun if the project doesn't fill most of the week.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Just tie the door closed with a hankerchief
It's been a few days so this might be long...
Friday: Pool Party.
The 11:00am pool party finally got started around 2pm... typical as I am learning. Take anytime and add at least 1 hour and that is when you will leave or the event MIGHT begin. For a type-A person like me, I am struggling with that. However, I am often late so it could work to my advantage.
Anyway, we traveled via Tro-Tro to the pool, which was at a very nice hotel. You can pay 5 cedis ($4 to swim all day). Let me first describe the drive there. The only way to truly give you a good picture is to imagine the Indian Jones Ride at Universal Studios. Swerving around pot holes, people, children, cars, taxis, random trash, and even a few boulders. It's like you are on a wooden roller coaster and you know it must be safe, but at any moment this is the particular ride where the track decides to say F you and everything goes wrong... lucky for us we made it! BUT... the pool was closed for cleaning.
So, we then traveled by foot for about 30 minutes. I wasn't bothered because our new Nigerian friends were also with us. I talked with Tina about Nigerian culture, the recent terrorist attempt in Detroit and American culture. She told me how embarrassed the whole country is and that they are desperately trying to change their image. And they also taught me the difference between bananas and plantains. Plantains are not for eating right from the peel -- you have to cook it.
The next hotel was very nice, right out of any tropical setting. Just us at the pool and it was the first time in a week that I felt cool and not hot. Interesting point: most Ghanaians cannot swim well or at all. I tried to teach a few of them.
Saturday: The Beach
We traveled via Taxi to Kaneshie Circle to catch the bus. Jumped on the bus and as we go to leave they try to shut the front passenger door and it would not. So, they just keep slamming it, because if you slam it hard enough it's bound to close... right? No. So then someone whips out a handkerchief and ties the door closed -- and off we went.
I took a movie of some of the drive. The poverty is just unreal. Yet we were traveling on a nice 4 lane highway, well paved. Passing these metal shacks and in each one someone is selling something. And at a traffic light women and children run to the bus to sell whatever they are carrying on their head -- banana chips, water, snacks, etc. It's just incredible.
The beach was beautiful. We had to pay to enter, but the sand was white and clean and the water was warm and great. It's hard to tell how much sun exposure I am getting since it is ALWAYS hazy. I have yet to see the full sun since I have been here.
We traveled back via Taxi and tried to go to this place that served a local dish called FuFu. We waited at the table for about 15 minutes only to find out they were no longer serving food. We found other food later and then last night we went to a bar called Champs. Basically a white people bar-- or bar for tourists. Met a handful of Australians and 3 Americans. Somewhat comforting to see them, but at the same time I am here to experience Ghanaian culture and would rather go to local bars.
__
My project should start tomorrow... I hope.
Friday: Pool Party.
The 11:00am pool party finally got started around 2pm... typical as I am learning. Take anytime and add at least 1 hour and that is when you will leave or the event MIGHT begin. For a type-A person like me, I am struggling with that. However, I am often late so it could work to my advantage.
Anyway, we traveled via Tro-Tro to the pool, which was at a very nice hotel. You can pay 5 cedis ($4 to swim all day). Let me first describe the drive there. The only way to truly give you a good picture is to imagine the Indian Jones Ride at Universal Studios. Swerving around pot holes, people, children, cars, taxis, random trash, and even a few boulders. It's like you are on a wooden roller coaster and you know it must be safe, but at any moment this is the particular ride where the track decides to say F you and everything goes wrong... lucky for us we made it! BUT... the pool was closed for cleaning.
So, we then traveled by foot for about 30 minutes. I wasn't bothered because our new Nigerian friends were also with us. I talked with Tina about Nigerian culture, the recent terrorist attempt in Detroit and American culture. She told me how embarrassed the whole country is and that they are desperately trying to change their image. And they also taught me the difference between bananas and plantains. Plantains are not for eating right from the peel -- you have to cook it.
The next hotel was very nice, right out of any tropical setting. Just us at the pool and it was the first time in a week that I felt cool and not hot. Interesting point: most Ghanaians cannot swim well or at all. I tried to teach a few of them.
Saturday: The Beach
We traveled via Taxi to Kaneshie Circle to catch the bus. Jumped on the bus and as we go to leave they try to shut the front passenger door and it would not. So, they just keep slamming it, because if you slam it hard enough it's bound to close... right? No. So then someone whips out a handkerchief and ties the door closed -- and off we went.
I took a movie of some of the drive. The poverty is just unreal. Yet we were traveling on a nice 4 lane highway, well paved. Passing these metal shacks and in each one someone is selling something. And at a traffic light women and children run to the bus to sell whatever they are carrying on their head -- banana chips, water, snacks, etc. It's just incredible.
The beach was beautiful. We had to pay to enter, but the sand was white and clean and the water was warm and great. It's hard to tell how much sun exposure I am getting since it is ALWAYS hazy. I have yet to see the full sun since I have been here.
We traveled back via Taxi and tried to go to this place that served a local dish called FuFu. We waited at the table for about 15 minutes only to find out they were no longer serving food. We found other food later and then last night we went to a bar called Champs. Basically a white people bar-- or bar for tourists. Met a handful of Australians and 3 Americans. Somewhat comforting to see them, but at the same time I am here to experience Ghanaian culture and would rather go to local bars.
__
My project should start tomorrow... I hope.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Kojo Jeff
Today I learned that if you are born on a Monday your name would be "Kojo". So I would be Kojo Jeff.
Today was much better than previous days. Two more Chinese interns arrived...I think they now outnumber the locals, and me of course. We had a quick meeting about my project today, what was done and where we need to go. We are starting with fundraising and learning (teaching the students) before we move into "expansion" where we will try to go to other schools. Currently, we are in 2 schools and they are going to battle for which ever school learns the most about HIV and how to prevent it. The project probably will not start until Monday.
Tomorrow there is a pool party. The whole LC (local committee, committee=chapter) plus all the interns are going. I think it costs 5 cedis (1 USD = 1.43 cedi). It's amazing how fast I am getting comfortable with the culture and food. Tonight we had banku, which is a sort of stew. You eat it with this bread made from corn and you dip it in the soup to eat the liquid. No utensils for that dish.
Things are fairly cheap here. Dinner was 1.5 cedis, a coke is 80 pesewas (just like American cents). So dinner was 2.30. However, I usually dont get a coke and just bring a 500 ml bag of water. Yes, a bag but they call it a sachel. You can buy a pack of 30 little bags for 1 cedi. About 80 cents for the equivalent of 30 bottles of 16oz bottles. Very cheap and safe to drink. Strange because the bag looks like a bean bag but clear. You bite one corner of it to drink. It's funny because everyone walks around with the pouch of water hanging from their mouths.
Also, today I got a phone. The process to do this was insane -- so many people and buses and food and used crap that no one wants to buy. For my phone, it's about 15 cents per minute to call internationally and 5 cents per text message. It will be handy to keep in contact with people, especially for meeting up. My number is 054 534 8708. Not sure of the country code. Anyone can text me, and its about 20 cents from USA.
We still need to always walk around with a local to make sure we don't receive the "obruni price" (obruni = white person). It's not an offensive word, just something people on the street call you.
I will try to post some pictures soon.
Today was much better than previous days. Two more Chinese interns arrived...I think they now outnumber the locals, and me of course. We had a quick meeting about my project today, what was done and where we need to go. We are starting with fundraising and learning (teaching the students) before we move into "expansion" where we will try to go to other schools. Currently, we are in 2 schools and they are going to battle for which ever school learns the most about HIV and how to prevent it. The project probably will not start until Monday.
Tomorrow there is a pool party. The whole LC (local committee, committee=chapter) plus all the interns are going. I think it costs 5 cedis (1 USD = 1.43 cedi). It's amazing how fast I am getting comfortable with the culture and food. Tonight we had banku, which is a sort of stew. You eat it with this bread made from corn and you dip it in the soup to eat the liquid. No utensils for that dish.
Things are fairly cheap here. Dinner was 1.5 cedis, a coke is 80 pesewas (just like American cents). So dinner was 2.30. However, I usually dont get a coke and just bring a 500 ml bag of water. Yes, a bag but they call it a sachel. You can buy a pack of 30 little bags for 1 cedi. About 80 cents for the equivalent of 30 bottles of 16oz bottles. Very cheap and safe to drink. Strange because the bag looks like a bean bag but clear. You bite one corner of it to drink. It's funny because everyone walks around with the pouch of water hanging from their mouths.
Also, today I got a phone. The process to do this was insane -- so many people and buses and food and used crap that no one wants to buy. For my phone, it's about 15 cents per minute to call internationally and 5 cents per text message. It will be handy to keep in contact with people, especially for meeting up. My number is 054 534 8708. Not sure of the country code. Anyone can text me, and its about 20 cents from USA.
We still need to always walk around with a local to make sure we don't receive the "obruni price" (obruni = white person). It's not an offensive word, just something people on the street call you.
I will try to post some pictures soon.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Day 2
Today started off with me feeling extremely sick. Head, stomach, everything. Without using too much detail, I decided 3 days was long enough to hold everything in. And yes, I now feel much better. I also drank a lot more water which helps.
4 more interns (2 from China, 2 from Taiwan) arrived today. Now I know what I looked like when I got here -- dazed and confused. I realized how much I already new about how to live and it made me feel a lot better. It's basically like being a baby. I have to completely relearn how to eat, shower, go to the bathroom, everything. Once I get my routine down and rid myself of western ego I think I will be fine.
I spent the day basically sitting and sleeping. Jet lag usually doesn't bother me this much, but in combination with the heat and food it been interesting to say the least. I did not exchange money or get a phone yet, but that will all be tomorrow. With a phone and calling card, it will actually be very easy to call the USA. All the people here my age have laptops and phones, just like home eh? The only difference is that I am showering with a bucket.
The other interns and I went to dinner at this place called Homer's. Ate chicken and rice again... starting to get old but I'm trying to ease my way into local food. After dinner we went onto the roof to enjoy a "cool" 80 degree breeze and later played cards. I'm starting to learn my neighborhood a bit. I live on Russia Road at Flamingo Intersection. Absolutely zero street signs, so for all I know its not true.
I requested to be moved to a host family. I think the experience will be so much different. Here it is like living in a college dorm with college kids. While really fun and tons of people to talk to... in terms of feeding myself and experiencing local culture I think a host family will be better.
I still have no idea what time it is, but I know that I'm tired and I smell. Off for a "shower" and some sleep.
4 more interns (2 from China, 2 from Taiwan) arrived today. Now I know what I looked like when I got here -- dazed and confused. I realized how much I already new about how to live and it made me feel a lot better. It's basically like being a baby. I have to completely relearn how to eat, shower, go to the bathroom, everything. Once I get my routine down and rid myself of western ego I think I will be fine.
I spent the day basically sitting and sleeping. Jet lag usually doesn't bother me this much, but in combination with the heat and food it been interesting to say the least. I did not exchange money or get a phone yet, but that will all be tomorrow. With a phone and calling card, it will actually be very easy to call the USA. All the people here my age have laptops and phones, just like home eh? The only difference is that I am showering with a bucket.
The other interns and I went to dinner at this place called Homer's. Ate chicken and rice again... starting to get old but I'm trying to ease my way into local food. After dinner we went onto the roof to enjoy a "cool" 80 degree breeze and later played cards. I'm starting to learn my neighborhood a bit. I live on Russia Road at Flamingo Intersection. Absolutely zero street signs, so for all I know its not true.
I requested to be moved to a host family. I think the experience will be so much different. Here it is like living in a college dorm with college kids. While really fun and tons of people to talk to... in terms of feeding myself and experiencing local culture I think a host family will be better.
I still have no idea what time it is, but I know that I'm tired and I smell. Off for a "shower" and some sleep.
My arrival
Welcome to my first blog post!
I'm already technically into day 3 of my journey... I left Monday, January 18th at 11:30am and finally arrived Tuesday the 19th around 4pm. The program is through AIESEC, a cultural exchange experience. I will be working with junior and senior high school kids, helping them learn about AIDS and HIV and how to prevent it. I will know more about the work once we start...
So, some AIESEC members picked me up from the airport. The one runway landing zone is what it really is. Customs and Visa check points were pretty organized and they moved quicky. For customs I'm not really sure what they told me to do, so I just walked away and out the door. I'm not arrested yet so I think that I'm safe.
We then traveled via Tro-Tro (combination of a bus/taxi system) to Kaneshie Station - which is like a main hub for all the buses. They told me that you can get anywhere in Accra from this point. Now, its not what you might expect from a bus station. Dirt roads, old vans that hold about 15. No signs, and people just everywhere. Apparently it just works. Also, I felt bad since I had my giant bag which took up the space of a whole person.
From Kaneshie Station we got onto another Tro-Tro to reach our destination - the AIESEC house/apartment. This whole trip took over an hour and I'd say we went about 10 miles...maybe. The place I am staying is fairly big. About a dozen bedrooms, a big common space and a kitchen, which is pretty jank (Jank = not old or broken but just not right). Overall it looks like a crack house, but a nice one. I wish I had brought a computer since they have Wi-Fi! No running water right now because the pipes are ... malfunctioning? but hopefully next week. I showered with a bucket yesterday. That was fun.
At this point I'm trying to break through culture shock and cope with the heat. It's a bit warmer than the midwest.... Dinner last night was chicken and rice. It was actually not bad, but my stomach is still freaking out from all the travels.
There are 2 other interns with me, both from China. Apparently 6 more are arriving today and 2 more are somewhere for something. Basically, I have no idea what is going on. But we have internet and a lot of UPN shows. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is a favorite.
The plan for today is to convert some money and get a cell phone. Wish me luck!
I'm already technically into day 3 of my journey... I left Monday, January 18th at 11:30am and finally arrived Tuesday the 19th around 4pm. The program is through AIESEC, a cultural exchange experience. I will be working with junior and senior high school kids, helping them learn about AIDS and HIV and how to prevent it. I will know more about the work once we start...
So, some AIESEC members picked me up from the airport. The one runway landing zone is what it really is. Customs and Visa check points were pretty organized and they moved quicky. For customs I'm not really sure what they told me to do, so I just walked away and out the door. I'm not arrested yet so I think that I'm safe.
We then traveled via Tro-Tro (combination of a bus/taxi system) to Kaneshie Station - which is like a main hub for all the buses. They told me that you can get anywhere in Accra from this point. Now, its not what you might expect from a bus station. Dirt roads, old vans that hold about 15. No signs, and people just everywhere. Apparently it just works. Also, I felt bad since I had my giant bag which took up the space of a whole person.
From Kaneshie Station we got onto another Tro-Tro to reach our destination - the AIESEC house/apartment. This whole trip took over an hour and I'd say we went about 10 miles...maybe. The place I am staying is fairly big. About a dozen bedrooms, a big common space and a kitchen, which is pretty jank (Jank = not old or broken but just not right). Overall it looks like a crack house, but a nice one. I wish I had brought a computer since they have Wi-Fi! No running water right now because the pipes are ... malfunctioning? but hopefully next week. I showered with a bucket yesterday. That was fun.
At this point I'm trying to break through culture shock and cope with the heat. It's a bit warmer than the midwest.... Dinner last night was chicken and rice. It was actually not bad, but my stomach is still freaking out from all the travels.
There are 2 other interns with me, both from China. Apparently 6 more are arriving today and 2 more are somewhere for something. Basically, I have no idea what is going on. But we have internet and a lot of UPN shows. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is a favorite.
The plan for today is to convert some money and get a cell phone. Wish me luck!
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