Part 1 of the Best Day Ever

I said that the waiting time for the bus was an experience all on its own, so here it is.  When we got to Adenta Barrier, we found out that we would probably be waiting for awhile.  So we went to a “joint” so that we could have a place to sit.  This consisted of going into the little restaurantish place…grabbing a couple of plastic chairs and wiping them down because they were super dirty…bringing them outside where it was cooler…and ordering drinks (because we had to be paying customers).  So we just sat and chatted for awhile.  

But pretty soon I got caught up watching all of the busy activities happening right outside of the fence we were sitting behind.  There were so many comings and goings, it was really interesting to see how these people were living their day-to-day lives, when it’s so different from the life I’m used to.  I wondered, as I watched the trotro drivers, if they get bored doing the same exact thing day after day.  And watching the ladies selling items that they carried on their heads, I wondered, 1) how they were able to carry and balance such heavy loads on their heads and 2) if they always lived in worry, wondering if they’d sell enough that day to make ends meet.  It was hard when I saw that many of them were just girls, some of them young girls.  But my heart was lifted when I saw them dancing (there were huge speakers next to where we were sitting playing loud music) and laughing with each other.  I don’t think I’ll ever get over how positive and resilient these people are.  

Or how resourceful.  So, I was kind of bummed seeing so much trash everywhere I looked.  I can’t say I blame them - there are no trash cans anywhere.  But it’s still so hard for me to see how it’s just the natural reaction of everyone to drop their rubbish wherever.  But, one taxi pulled into the driveway of the joint we were at, and helped the lady get a whole bunch of pans and containers of food out of the back.  One pan had spilled over the edge, so he bent down and found some littered napkins and such, and used them to wipe out his trunk.  So I guess it serves a purpose sometimes…haha

I was also impressed with the way one of the girls working at the joint went out front and started sweeping the trash away.  At first it looked like she was just sweeping the dirt, and I wondered again about why they do that (actually, the dirt was looking a lot nicer once it was swept, almost like the lines on just-vacuumed carpet).  But then I realized she was sweeping the rubbish away.  I would be so frustrated, having to do that all the time when I could be saved so much work if people just didn’t litter.  But she just did it, and didn’t seem angry or frustrated.  I think this is one of the things that I love and have a hard time with here.  People are so willing to work extra hard, just because that’s what’s necessary (for example, you have to wash your dishes twice - once after you’re done eating, and again before you eat because the dishes are probably covered with a thin layer of dirt).  But there also seems to be a mentality of just doing because that’s how it’s been done, rather than questioning and finding more efficient ways to do something.  But I dunno…there’s probably plenty that I do just because…but don’t realize it because it seems normal to me.

I also wanted to share about my experience using the “toilet.”  So…shocker…I had to pee really badly after drinking my Alvaro, so Brah Ema kindly asked the worker inside if they had a bathroom.  She said that they hadn’t installed it yet, but I could go in the stall.  But there were no doors, so it looked like it wasn’t gonna work after all.  Then someone said that there was a wooden flap on one, so I could use that.  I walked in and there was just dirt and stones (all wet), and a pretty horrible stench.  So I walked out.  But then I felt stupid and snotty…so I walked back in chanting to myself, “You can do this.”  Brah Ema was so nice and came over to put a stone in front of the “door” so it wouldn’t flap open.  I was very glad that I had a pack of pocket tissues with me = )  And hey, it was better than having no place to go at all.  While we were on the bus I kinda had to go…and that brought back memories of having to pull a bus over, in both Hawaii and Japan, because I had to go…and I was SO glad I had gone before because I definitely wouldn’t have made it…and I’d like to keep my pulling-buses-over-to-pee-in-different-countries tally to two ; )

This is where we enjoyed drinks and shade (it was SO hot!)  You can see the speakers in the background.  This was before Brah Keke, Brah Lartey, Brah Ema, Ampadu, and George joined us.

The view from where were sitting.  Those are all trotros lined up, waiting for passengers.

You can sorta see the girl carrying the bucket of water on her head to the right.  This was before I got up the nerve to ask if I could take pics of them.  I was seriously sitting there for like twenty minutes trying to work up the nerve!

When I first asked, they said, "No."  I had almost convinced them when a guy came over saying that he was in charge, and that they would only be in a picture if I paid him 10 cedis.  I got a little nervous, and told him I didn't have 10, but I'd give him 1.  He said 2...and right then Brah Ema showed up and saved me.  He said the guy was just joking...phew!  The girls were still unsure...but after I took the first one and showed it to them...

they were eager to take another one...and even followed my posing advice = )

Jacob, the one on the right, is the one who gave me the scare, making me think he was the "pimp."  After I had taken the girls' pics...he wanted me to take one of him and his friends...haha = )  To the left is a cell-phone kiosk in a box.

This is my bathroom...and the rubbish out front of the joint.

And this is the pit of rubbish...

...and close up.

The Opares Are Here!

I finally got to meet the famous Mr. and Mrs. Opare today…and they’re just wonderful (surprise, surprise = )  Their ward meets after ours…so I first met them briefly after our church and their sacrament meeting was over, and they were so warm and friendly, pulling me into hugs (this was especially nice because it’s not a super huggy place…especially in comparison to Hawaii).  And then tonight, after dinner, we went over to their house (the house that Mandy grew up in) to chat.  They asked about what brought me to Ghana, and Sis. Opare told me about her miraculous experience with her heart.  I don’t feel like it’s my place to share all of the details, but basically, they were gone because she had to go to Kansas for an emergency open-heart surgery.  Before she left, her bishop gave her a Priesthood blessing, and a promise that she wouldn’t have to have surgery.  He didn’t know that she was actually leaving that very day for the States.  When she got there, the tests showed that her heart had been working to pump against blockage for a long time…but her arteries were clear, and no operation was necessary.  They couldn’t explain it.  It was such an amazing experience!  We also enjoyed RICE KRISPY TREATS that Melinda had made = )  They were SO yummy!!!!

Other than that, it was a pretty mellow Sunday.  Church was great = )  I don’t really have anything to share from church, but after church, Chuks put on the Relief Society broadcast and Priesthood Session from last conference.  Mandy and I were cooking, so we could only watch and hear bits and pieces, but we got to watch all of President Monson’s closing remarks from the Priesthood Session.  He was talking about how it’s important that we stand as a light for what’s right, even when we’re standing alone.  But how we’re never really alone when we’re doing what’s right, because we’re always standing with God.  I thought about how, if I was in the middle of a court having to choose a teammate, what an easy decision it would be to be on God’s team as opposed to, well, anyone else’s team.  But yet, in life, I often worry more about doing what will please the people around me than what will please God.  I need to work on that, and I was so grateful for those wise words from our Prophet.

The Best Day Ever!

Oh gosh…I don’t even know where to begin.  I guess I’ll start at the very beginning (a very good place to start ; )…and grab some food and water ‘cause I think this is gonna be really long!

About a month ago, Collins, our technology coordinator, told us we should buy tickets to this “program” (what they call parties/special events) that he was putting on.  It was gonna be an all day outing at the Sajuna Beach Club (located in the Eastern Region on one of the rivers off of the Volta Lake).  Well…I bought one, but Melinda said it’s not her kinda thing (I was sure I was gonna convince her later…and she got close at one point…but it ended up falling on the day after mommy and daddy Opare got home, so she couldn’t go after all).  Anyways…I’ve really been looking forward to it, but I was worried I’d set my expectations too high (when, in actuality, they were met and surpassed = )

Well…Friday night, at our football game, Terry and I were talking about how excited we were, but then I realized I didn’t know where the bus was picking us up, or how to get there.  He kindly offered to stop by my house to pick me up so that we could go over together.  So on Saturday morning, at 7:45, we were off (well first, on my way out, Aunty Angie stopped me saying she had something for me.  She came out with a little cake and a juice box so that I could food for the road!  Is that not the sweetest, most thoughtful thing ever?!?!?!?!).  We walked to a trotro station about 15 minutes away (I had no idea we had one so close!), caught a trotro, and got off at Adenta Barrier.  We were supposed to be meeting there at 8, but the bus didn’t come until like 9:30/10ish, so the whole waiting process was actually a whole experience all on its own.  I think I’ll write about that separately.

Okay, so the bus finally arrived…and I started to get really excited.  It was like a tourist bus (with no a/c unfortunately) and had a big banner along the side that was a blow up version of the ticket, stating “Azonto Stress Over Dance Party.”  There were people hanging out the windows and open door, shouting and cheering.  When we walked over, one guy came out of the rear door and grabbed me and was like, “Come, come, we have a seat for you,” but luckily my group came and rescued me and pulled me up with them.  But when we found out the front was full, we actually ended up going and sitting in the back anyways…haha = )  There was only seat left, so they let me have it…and they all stood in the aisle.  The bus was jam packed with people (I was wondering if it was legal for so many people to be standing…but we passed through a police checkpoint on the way…so I guess it was)!  They were from two different colleges, and then there was our group from Golden Sunbeam.  Once on, they asked where the drum was (how did I miss that one of the guys with our group was carrying a full-sized drum?!)…and started beating it and singing.  It was so awesome!  I just sat there like, “Is this really happening?!”  I had known it was gonna be a long ride…so I debated about whether I should bring my shuffle so that I could listen to music to pass the time - I’m glad I decided against it…haha = )  I didn’t know if they’d keep it up the whole, hour-halfish ride…but they did, if anything, growing with enthusiasm.  I put some videos down below that capture it a little.  The third one is them playing outside of the bus when we made a stop at the gas station = )

Once we got there, we had to stand around and wait again for awhile…but eventually we all got in.  We weren’t sure what to do first, so we decided to get a drink and find a table.  After settling in, we changed into our swimming clothes and went over to the pool (we weren‘t allowed to swim in the river = (…there were boats going out on it…but the trampoliney looking thing in the middle of it had a closed sign on it, with a sign next to it that said “Deep Water, No Swimming.”  I wonder if someone had gotten hurt out there or something.  But yeah…the water looked sorta nasty anyway…so I guess it was for the best).  But on our way we were sidetracked to the beach volleyball court.  It was a little difficult because we had to play with slippers on (the sand was SO hot - like it put Waimea’s sand to shame…when I tried walking on it barefoot at first, my feet felt like they were on fire!  I couldn’t get my shoes on fast enough…I actually had tears coming to my eyes!), but it was super fun still!  I sucked at first, but then I started to get into the groove a little (so I just sorta sucked…haha = )  After playing for awhile, and working up a nice sweat (which could’ve been achieved just sitting, to be honest = ), we were about to finally swim, when we were called over to the pavilion for lunch.  I was excited because I was so hungry (I hadn’t eaten for like 6 hours!…me!), but bummed because I was so ready to get in the pool!

When we went over, Collins said he had forgotten plates.  So he went around and put some balls of kenkey out and some fish…as well as some pepper (the spicy sauce that we eat with everything on the plates and lids he could find) and let the guys dig in (luckily this food is eaten with hands).  He told me I should wait because he was gonna find plates for the ladies so that we could eat in a little bit more dignified of a manner…haha…but I don’t like kenkey anyway (well…I’ve never actually had it…but they say it’s even more sour than banku), so I just took a fish and ate that (bones and head and all!…at first I was trying to pick the little bit of meat from around the bones, but Terry said that they eat it all…you just have to chew really well so the bones to cut your throat…because there’s calcium and nutrients in the bone marrow - and when have I ever turned down more nutrients? = )  It was quite a scene to watch the guys eat, though…haha…I wished I had had my camera = )  I guess it was a good thing I wasn’t fighting for food with them because I don’t think I would’ve been able to get any. 

After lunch we finally went over and swam!  It was so nice to be cool for once that day = )  We splashed around some…and then I had promised I’d teach them how to swim…so we began our swim lessons.  And oh my goodness…it’s so crazy how they just sink (later on Terry and I were having a contest who could hold their breath the longest…and he just sat on the floor of the pool, while I began on the floor, but ended up floating to the top in like 5 seconds).  I ended up giving a lot of swim lessons out that day, but only a couple of the ladies and little boys could actually get the kicking down…all of the guys couldn’t get their legs to the surface of the water to kick.  I felt like such a lousy teacher…but no matter what I said or tried…I couldn’t figure out how to help them do it!  But yeah…it was the first of multiple times that day that I felt so spoiled, and so ungrateful for all I had growing up.  They said very few people can afford swim lessons, and so they just never learn how to swim.  I had so many people ask me to teach them, from the random girls in the changing room (oh yeah…I didn’t tell you about the changing rooms!  I went in and there was a tile wall right in front of me [it was like a t-wall…with the wall part in front of me forming the top of the t, and another wall perpendicular to that, separating the men’s and women’s side.  The part in front of me wasn’t connected to the side walls - there was a 3 ft gap or so on each side that were the entrances to the actual changing stalls] with a small picture for men on one side and for ladies on the other.  You better hope you don’t miss them, though, because…I don’t know what the men’s side looked like…but you walk into the women’s side, and there’s not a single door or stall…it’s just this open 8’x8’ space - so you get to know the people in there with you really well…haha) to grown men.  

After swimming, we went over to the trampoline and jumped on that for awhile…and then we played table tennis, foosball, and some of the other games they had around.  I was terrible at them, so I found my way over to the football field (luckily it rained for a bit, so the sand was cooled down = ) and played for a bit.  It was SO tiring trying to run and pass in the sand…and I got tackled pretty badly (my knees are a mess!…cut upon cut…one side was bleeding pretty badly and they’re actually really sore…so, yes mom, I’m going to actually try to take it easy for a bit = )…so I didn’t last very long.  I went over to the pool and cooled down and let the chlorine clean out my cuts.  And for the rest of the time, we pretty much just kept playing games and hanging out...and we at the cake…yummy!…and so perfect because I was SO hungry!  Oh yeah!  And I had wanted to learn how to dance Azonto…so we had decided beforehand that I’d teach how to swim, Seth would teach how to dance, and Terry would teach how to play table tennis.  So Seth taught me how to dance…and I actually sort of got it = )  We stayed until about 6:30 (we got there at noonish)…and the boarded the buses for home (altogether we had two buses with about 100 or so people on each).

I thought everyone would be exhausted, and it would be a quiet ride home…but what was I thinking?!  Of course the ride home was just as loud and boisterous as the ride there…haha = )  I, however, got comfortable and slept on and off.  Of course the trip home was not simple and straightforward…travel here never is.  The bus dropped us at Atomic Junction, we walked to Madina Station, got picked up on the way by a trotro passing through, got dropped at Adenta Barrier, got a car to Adenta Housing Downs, got dropped I don’t know where, and walked home from there.  By the time I got home I was exhausted and nasty (my hair is still disgusting from the chlorine even after showering) and starving…and so happy!  

The area we were in was so different from where I live...

There were lots of wooden

...and grass huts.

Doesn't this look like a Seussical tree?  You can see the lake in the background.

Hawaii?

Somewhere in Polynesia?

Isn't that the best sign...haha = )

Playing volleyball...

swimming...

jumping...

dancing...

riding...

playing table tennis...

playing draughts...similar to checkers but not the same...I didn't totally get it...

playing foosball...

the football field/dance floor

still drumming...haha = )

Terry...

and Seth

Pelada

It’s the Portuguese word for pickup football/soccer games, literally meaning naked...referring to the stripped down nature of the style of the game…and is the name of one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen…if not the best.  It follows a guy and a girl around the world as they discover how football is played in different places and the universal love for the game.  It’s amazing…watch it!…but that’s kinda beside the point.  What I’m getting to is, in this documentary, they go to Africa.  Only a couple clips show them in Ghana…but they do spend a while in Kenya.  While there, they follow a man who works from 5 am to 5 pm each day…and even though he’s exhausted…still goes and plays football at the one pitch they have in the whole area.  It’s completely dirt and totally uneven, built on a land fill - so there‘s always trash coming uncovered…but the narrator said they know where it dips, where the dirt is loose, etc…so they still manage to play with great skill.

Well…today we, the teachers of Golden Sunbeam, played a match against the teachers of another school…and it was on a field just like that (it‘s so neat…I watched Pelada with Chisa, and she was like, “You‘re gonna be there soon!  I‘m so jealous!”…and I‘m here!)!  The other teachers from my school were actually pretty upset at first.  Since we had come all the way to their school, we figured it was because they had a good pitch.  But they didn’t.  Their field was not just all uneven dirt; it also came equipped with 2 goals without nets, no lines or boundaries, a small mud pond about 20 feet away (which I knew the ball would find its way into…but miraculously didn’t, and only came close once! - go our control! = ), rocky areas, graves (yeah…right outside of one “boundary” were about 10 elaborate, stone/tile tomblike things), and a line of 80 cows or so who kindly walked mostly around the field…just cutting off one corner…haha = )  It was so great!  When will I get an opportunity like that again in my life?!

Before I describe the game, let me start at the beginning.  So, I knew we were leaving at 4...but I didn’t know how we were getting there or anything.  I also didn’t know if we’d have a place to leave our stuff…so I decided I would just change beforehand and wouldn’t bring anything.  At 4, Alex, the PE teacher, called me from the office (I was on the computer with Marian and didn’t realize it was time.  Luckily I had changed early = ) and I followed him out of the school gates to a chartered trotro…haha = )  All the guys who were already out there were still in their work clothes and had all their stuff with them…oops.  But when we got there and they all had to change right out in the open, I was glad that I had already changed!  Anyways…back to the ride over…it was so much fun!  The guys were so jovial…singing all of these songs (I know, right?…a group of guys singing, like, girls’ camp-type songs…it was great! = ) and talking (well…half the time they seemed to be arguing…I think it’s a favorite pastime here…haha = ) and laughing…even though I didn’t understand what was being said, I just sat there smiling.

So yeah…we got there, and while the guys were changing (Golden Sunbeam has a set of sport uniforms…so we wore them to represent. There was one skirt in the set - the girls here wear skirts for PE - that they wanted me to wear…but I told them I was happy wearing my own shorts…thank you…haha - but I wore the jersey), I was tying my shoelaces (ever since daddy would tie them super tight for me when I was little…I’ve loved having my cleats laced really tight) when a guy from the other team walked over and said, “You’re gonna play?”  “Yup,” I responded.  Well, he didn’t seem to happy about and said, “Well, I’m gonna boot you (like kick me with his boot/cleat),” to which I replied, “Then I’ll boot you back!”  I realized I had my work cut out for me.

Well, they put me in as left defensive back…and I was so nervous because it’s been YEARS since I’ve played on a full-sized field.  It took a bit to get used to running in the places where the dirt was deep…it was like running at the beach in the soft sand…but eventually I started to get in the groove…and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!  Of course I was taken out in the first 10 minutes  - this huge guy on the other team fully barreled into me!  I fell so hard…getting like a rug burnish scrape on my arm, getting covered in dirt on my right side…from head to toe, and smacking the side of my head on one of the rocky places.  The guy who knocked me down felt really bad, though…and I earned his respect after that = )  The rest of the game, slowly but surely, I found that I was surprising the rest of my critics…haha (besides one jerk who kept yelling at his teammates to pass to him because the “lady” was marking him, and he could use his experience against me).  Considering how intimidated I was to start out with, it was so nice to have so many of their players, the bystanders (we drew a crowd from the neighborhood), my players, and one adorable little girl with her daddy, come up and congratulate me on how I played after.  One of the guys was like, “I want to tell you how impressed I am that you were the only lady out there, and you played better than most of the guys out there (that was so not true…but it was still nice, nonetheless= ).  I thought you were gonna be too tired to keep playing after 15 minutes, but you have more energy now than me.”

After the game, we walked over to this hangout spot (it was basically a cluster of small homes with a couple of tables and chairs in the middle) and had malts and bread (bread and drink seems to be a pretty customary snack - it’s just a loaf of white bread…fresh baked of course…that everyone tears into…yum!), and sang more songs (everyone was in a celebratory mood, even though we tied 2-2...they scored at the very end!).  We had to find a way home, so we all walked over to the station to see if we could find a trotro, or divide up by locations and take taxis, and lo and behold, there was a completely empty trotro seemingly just waiting for us = )  The ride home was just as fun as the ride there, although even more rambunctious…haha = )  You woulda thought they’d all just drank Guinness beer, not Guinness malts, with the way they were acting…haha = )  When we got back to the school, they were still singing and having a great time, so the boarders (who had come to welcome us back and see how we did) were kind of pulled into the fun spirit.  There was just so much excitement in the air, Miracle (the little 2nd grader who usually ignores me when I try to talk to him) even hugged me!

It was such an awesome afternoon and evening!!!!

Tongue Tied

Okay…so I thought by this time I’d be able to teach you a bit of the language…but I am still as terrible at it as day one = /  I’ve always prided myself on being able to speak foreign languages pretty well…as far as being able to pronounce the words with the correct intonations and sounds (now learning languages is another story…that I don’t have a gift for…haha = )…but oh my gosh…I can’t even repeat back the words they tell me.  And when I actually think I’ve finally said a word correctly…they keep repeating it, as in, “Good attempt…but let’s try again.”  In these instances it’s even more frustrating because I feel like I’m repeating back exactly what they’re saying to me!…haha = )

First off…they have sounds in their languages that we don’t…so that’s really tough.  And then their intonations are really different from Hawaiian…even though a lot of the words and names look Hawaiian in spelling.  But the hardest part is that even when I ask for the spelling…I’m still just as confused.  Let me give you a couple of examples.  So…the name of the most common/universal language in Ghana is Twi…pronounced “Chwi” with a bit of an ‘r’ sound in it.  And it’s pronounced with the lips…if that makes any sense.  Anyways…I’m still struggling to learn how to just say the name of the language!  The last name Twum is pronounced “Choom”…sorta.  The name Okyere is “Ocheeree.”  Melinda and I were talking about it…and she said that I hardly move my mouth when I talk…but when they talk they totally move their mouths a lot and like shape their mouths around the words.  Another random, unrelated difference I’ve noticed in the way that we talk is that they speak in a lower register…like even the women.  Charles is so funny!  He has a really deep voice…but when I talk to him he’ll always reply in this super high voice…haha = )  Anyways…basically I’m really bad at pronouncing their words.

But here’s a little lesson with the couple of words and phrases that I have learned = )
Ye fre wo sen (ye fre wo szen): What is your name?
Ye fre me Jaclyn: My name is Jaclyn
Ete sen (e ti sane): How are you?
Meho ye or Eye (me ho ye or e ye): I’m fine
Meda se (me da si): Thank you
Maakyie (maa che): Good morning
Me pa wo kyew (me paw cho): Please

So funny story.  Last week Friday I was sitting on the floor in the office going through this super dusty box of yellow and green cards (we use them to show who’s paid their fees) - there had to be hundreds of them…and I was trying to sort them into neat piles…fun ; ) - when Terry and Seth came in to get their lunch coupons, and asked, “Ete sen?”  So I responded, “I’m dirty.”  Again they asked, “Ete sen?”  We went back and forth a couple of times, to the point that Melinda started to interject and interpret for me.  But I was like, “I know…you’re asking how I am…and I’m saying, ‘I’m dirty.’”  They were all like, “Ohhhhhhh…haha.”  Melinda later explained to me that that wasn’t really a relevant response…haha…oops = )

The Power of Prayer

Oh my gosh!  Today I stayed late to help the girls with volleyball again, and I lost the office key!  There’s a little like 2 inch square pocket inside my workout shorts…and I always put it in there when I’m playing football, running, etc…but today when it was time to go…it wasn’t there!  I started freaking out because it’s the only key to the office…all my stuff was in there…the windows were open and the lights and fan were on (there are bars across the window, though, so an open window doesn’t mean easy access)…and I just knew I NEEDED to find it.  A couple of the kids started looking with me, but in about 10 minutes it had gotten completely dark, so I was in even more dire straits.  I started praying, got a flashlight, and began retracing all the places I’d been (which was like everywhere since I was leading the girls in physical training exercises today).  Goscomorrow (he needed me to open the office so that he could get the keys for the room that his stuff was in = /) and a couple of the kids were helping me, and Seth and Terry…who were on their way out…came back and helped me look.  I looked everywhere…and still couldn’t find it.  I even walked back and forth on the soccer pitch, as if I were vacuuming the place, which took forever…but still couldn’t find it.  I was praying so hard, thinking to Heavenly Father that, with the money I lost I wanted to find it…but with this key I needed to find it.  Terry kept saying I should check upstairs (I made the girls run the stairs today)…but I had already checked it thoroughly twice!  Well…lo and behold…I went upstairs a third time and found the key = )  I was SO relieved and happy and grateful…and humbled = )

So…like I said…today I did conditioning with the girls.  I started them in the library, where I asked them why they wanted to play volleyball (to win, to work their bodies, to get fit) and then worked in a little presentation on calories and metabolism and exercise.  I just felt like they needed that foundation so that they would understand, and have a little incentive, when I started having them run and strength train.  I also gave an overview of the game…because some of the girls know nothing about the rules or the dynamics of volleyball.  Then we went outside and ran stairs, did lunges, did pushups, ran laps, jumped stairs, did suicides, worked our abs, did calf raises, did triceps dips…and practice bumping and setting.  You can imagine my excitement when one of the girls (who‘s one of the leaders of the pack ; ), after we had been hitting the ball for awhile, asked if we could do more exercises!  I was like, of COURSE!  It’s so fun to pass on some of the things I’ve learned because of my passion for health!  I feel like so much of what we consider common knowledge, concerning nutrition and exercise, is news to people here.  And even at home, we have so many misconceptions.  I just think that a lot of people would make different choices if they were just better informed, ya know?  It just feels like I’m helping them to feel more empowered, more capable, more stronger (just saying stronger didn’t have quite the same ring…haha = )…and it’s so rewarding!  Generally, this is still a very traditional society in terms of gender roles (don’t get me wrong…I agree with traditional gender roles to a certain extent), to the point that I think wives are often subservient to their husbands and women to men.  But I want these girls to see that they can keep up with the boys = )  Anyways…it definitely helps my day knowing that I have that to look forward to = )

A Religious People

This morning, while walking to work, I passed by an older woman who was standing in place, with her legs staggered one in front of the other, kind of rocking back and forth.  When I turned to look at her, I locked eyes with her and felt a chill run down my spine.  I don’t think I’ve ever looked into eyes like that.  They were huge and round, and I could see the entire iris, as well as the whites of her eyes circling her iris.  And the only way I know how to put it is she looked possessed; her eyes were like vacant.  It was so creepy, and I had Grace, Andrea, and Amanda with me so I just hurried them along because they were trying not to stare, but they were disturbed as well.  Later on I felt terrible.  I should’ve done something, but I don’t know what.

Here, witchcrafts and such things are very real.  It’s an interesting juxtaposition because you have such a strong Christian following here, but the traditional culture is still such a prevalent part of the religious scene.  I was talking to some friends yesterday who were asking about the LDS church (they had heard some pretty strange things about us) and telling me about churches here.  It‘s interesting because they said that lots of people want to work as pastors and such because there‘s so much money there.  They said a pastor can sell a bag of plain water as “holy water” for like $10 (when they’re normally sold for like 10 cents), and people will actually buy it.  And people (especially women, they said) will pay tons of money just to have a pastor pray for them.  They said that people look at life as so difficult, and full of so much suffering, that they will buy anything that promises relief.  So terrible!…taking advantage of people who are so trusting and desperate for help.

I also find it interesting that nursing mothers here are expected to eat a lot of palm nut soup and mashed kenkey, because they provide milk.  I had never heard women at home talking about foods that help give them breast milk, so was curious about this.  I asked Mandy why those specific foods provided breast milk, and she said that it’s because they’re liquid…and that basically any type of liquid works, even water.  As I thought about it, I realized that since drinking water is not easily accessible, they have to be sure to eat foods that will provide liquid so that they get enough.

Change in Perspective

I laughed to myself, today, as I remembered how we teachers went off at lunch (in Hawaii) about how it was so wrong for school to stay in session when the power went out (in our defense…the classrooms were REALLY dark, even with the windows open).  Oh my goodness, if we were released from school every time the power went out, we’d be going home a LOT!  Today it was pretty miserable, though…the office was STIFLING!  I felt bad for those poor kids having to still learn and those poor teachers having to still teach.  I remember when it was really hot in our classrooms at home, the kids would get so cranky (and so would I).  But everyone here still seemed in good spirits = )  I even asked Audrey, one of the first grade teachers, and she said the kids were fine.

It was actually a really fun afternoon.  Because the inside of the office was so hot, once school was out, we spent most of our time out front of the office.  It made everyone a little more relaxed than usual (or maybe the heat was just getting to our heads…haha = ), so we danced Azonto and laughed and had a good ol’ time = )

At about 5:30, when I was getting ready to go home, Aunty Aggie asked me if I knew the rules for volleyball because the boarders were trying to play on Sunday, but didn’t really know the rules.  I told her I knew the basics…so she told me I’d explain them to the kids…haha = )  Well…I was out there kinda helping them for a bit when Seth came down and took over (apparently he was the one who got the whole volleyball thing started because he’s a good player and has coached before and stuff.  Thank goodness…since my volleyball skills are…shall we say - lacking).  So I filled in an assistant role with Terry (they’re the two sixth grade teachers who are basically joined at the hip…haha = ), and it was SO fun!  It was great to see a sport where the girls (all of them - big or small) were just as enthusiastic and involved as the boys = )  We ended up staying until way after dark (which was super dark because of lights out), and the kids were still playing = )  I felt so bad leaving them in that big school with no lights and no electricity…but they said they’re used to it.

Just a little side note: It’s so weird!  When I had to brush my teeth with sashay water (the little bags of water) because we didn’t have any running water, I couldn’t make myself drink the water as I was brushing.  It used to be that I always had to remind myself to not drink as I brushed (for some reason I’m always really thirsty when I finish brushing my teeth), but now I’m so used to it it’s the other way around!

The Song of the Righteous Is a Prayer Unto Me

Today was a wonderful Sunday!  Actually, I didn’t feel very well for most of church (it was almost unbearably hot)…but it was still really good = )  It was ward conference, so it was super packed!  The stake president came and spoke on temples and family history work; the bishop also spoke, but I missed most of his talk because I was out with Mandy and Chichi.  There has been such an emphasis on going to the temple here.  From what I’ve gathered from talking to people and the words of the leaders, there was so much excitement when the temple was announced and built, but actual attendance hasn’t matched that enthusiasm.  Why do we, as humans, always do that?!  We want something so badly when we don’t have it; we want it, we need it, we obsess about it.  And then we get it, and so quickly we take it for granted.  Or, the other way around, we have something precious, but because it’s always there we’re not grateful for it.  It’s only after it’s gone that we realize the value of the thing or person.  I’m so trying to not live that way anymore, but it’s hard!

Sunday School was taught by Thankgod…I thought the name needed mentioning = )  It was on the Doctrine of Christ (2 Nephi 31-33).  I know I’ve read it plenty of times before, but the simplicity and thoroughness in explaining why we need to be baptized and how we achieve eternal life really stuck out to me this time.  It’s so hard to endure to the end and not get frustrated and give up, but we need to keep trying our best, and repenting when we make mistakes, because it’ll so be worth it in the end.

I think one of the reasons why it was such a good day is because Chuks had church music playing the ENTIRE day (and no TV or anything).  It brought such a sweet Spirit to the home; I loved it!  I just felt so uplifted and happy.  Life gets discouraging, but it’s so much easier when we are making righteous choices that allow the Spirit to be our constant companion.  We receive needed guidance, added joy, and extra strength and support.


Oh yeah…and I forgot to write about this yesterday…but on my walk (it was actually really nice to be going at the slower pace…I was able to observe so much more) I saw some guys who looked like they were about to build a brick wall.  But, at the moment I saw them, they were actually making the bricks!…right on the side of the road, between the road and the edge of the “yard”.  They had this mold and a container of water and a pile of…not sure…I guess powdered cement?…and they were just laying them in rows to dry.  It was pretty incredible!

These buildings are across the street from the stake center.  I took the pictures a long time ago...but for some reason never posted them.  It's so interesting...so many of the buildings are like this...where you can't tell if they're being built or if they're falling apart.

Ultimate Frisbee

Yup…you heard me right.  Today, instead of my normal Saturday run, because I got out of the house later than I had planned (Mandy made the most delicious lunch - her variation of red-red), I decided to not lose another battle to the afternoon sun and went for a long walk instead.  And then afterwards I went to play ultimate Frisbee with the kids!  This was quite remarkable, considering yesterday when I showed them the Frisbees (Emmanuel and Natasha brought them from the US…and he wanted me to introduce them to the kids), I don’t think one had ever thrown one…and most didn’t even know what it was.

Yesterday, I started with the basics, showing them how to hold it, which way was up, and how to throw it.  The older boys kinda passed in an organized circle, while the younger boys were just throwing like crazy, and therefore running like crazy to catch the crazy passes…haha = )  But throwing the Frisbee quickly gave way to playing football (it was, after all, football Friday = )

Today, I went to the school because Aunty Aggie is super stoked about the Frisbees, and wanted me to practice with the kids some more.  So we threw for a long time, and this time I was helping the younger boys, so they were throwing with a lot more control.  But again, everyone wanted to play football after awhile, so we switched sports.  But after a couple hours, Aunty Aggie came out and said, “I haven’t seen the kids playing Frisbee ball yet.”  I was like, “I know…we threw around earlier, but they wanted to play football.”  But she wanted to see an ultimate Frisbee game.  Luckily, I had already explained the rules to the Form 3 boys, so I jumped in with them and we played a trial game, so that everyone could learn from watching them.  And they picked it up really quickly!  The younger boys formed teams, and started rotating in (I was always on the new team).  It was SO fun…and they loved it!  It was funny…they were surprised by how tired they got…I was even surprised!  I forgot what a freakin’ good workout it is!  After about an hour, I had to leave because it was pretty much dark…and they were STILL playing!  And it was so cute because all of the girls and other kids, as well as Aunty Aggie, of course = ), were watching from the sidelines and balconies, and all over.  Very cool = )

Sorry...

For perhaps the first time, I really don't know what to write about.  Sorry!  I have a lot on my mind...but just personal stuff...not really anything of interest to all of you...haha...so I guess I'll just say that I can't believe I've already been here for two months!  It totally feels like it was just one month!  And now I only have about two months left!  Just writing it is making me want to cry.  I miss everyone at home...but I'm so not ready to leave.  I keep telling myself I have to stop thinking about it because I still have a lot of time left...but it's hard...

Life’s a Beach

I GOT TO GO TO THE BEACH!!!!  It felt so good to have my feet in the sand, to let the water wash over me, even to have the salty water burn my eyes and throat = )  Yesterday, Chuks’s brother, Ossi, took me to…oh shoot…I kept asking him the name of the beach so that I would be able to write it, but I still forgot (it’s like Labodi Beach or something).  

In the morning, I got to watch Iris and Dante while Nana Yaw and Natasha did a presentation at the school.  It was so fun and so tiring…haha = )  They are just the cutest little kids ever! = )  We played with the blocks, pretending they were dragons and birds, read poems, and went on a bear hunt (I took them with me to buy phone credits, which are sold about 100 feet from our place…but Dante wanted to keep going because we had to find the bears, so we followed their “prints” for awhile, until we conveniently found them when I said it was time to turn around…haha = )  They also let me try blackberries, which are nothing like the blackberries we have in America.  I wouldn’t have even known they’re a fruit because they’re not juicy.  But they were very yummy (kind of a chocolatey cherry taste with a peanut buttery note = )  

When they got home, I went upstairs to get ready because I was still in my pajamas…but, unfortunately, I didn’t know we were going to the beach (he had mentioned wanting to go earlier…but it was just in casual conversation).  So, I dressed in my standard uniform, a skirt and Downeast T (luckily it was my most casual skirt) and off we went.  We were in the taxi for a long time…and I was wondering where we were going because it was like we went into the city and back out again…but I figured I’d just go with the flow and see where we ended up.  When we pulled up to the beach entrance (there was a big sign with a gate thing because they charge a fee), I was like, “Oh my gosh!  I didn’t know we were going to the beach!”  He didn’t believe me at first, but then he was like, “That’s fine, we can just walk along the beach and next time you can bring your swimming attire.”  I felt so bad, though, because it costs a lot of money to take a taxi that far…plus once we were on the beach I wanted to get in so badly…so I ended up just swimming in my clothes…haha = )  

Their beach is so different than ours.  It’s what I imagine an East Coast beach to be like - there were all these little shops and stands selling food and drinks, a bunch of tables and chairs set out for patrons of different bars, and tons and tons of people!  No one was laying out…there was no space to lay out… and even the water was just a mass of bodies.  The people didn’t go past the shore break, though, so it was just everyone standing and bobbing in the waves as they hit the shore.  The “lifeguards” were these guys with whistles and sticks, who would walk through the crowds of people, keeping them from going too far out or over (it was like there were side boundaries, too).  Sometimes they would just move all of the people out of a certain area, for what reason I don’t know.  On the shore, every couple of feet there’s a new group of boys playing football, but they’re in such a confined area, it’s more like keep-away.  We joined one group for awhile, and that was really fun = )  When we got back in the water after that…the water felt hot, almost.  I always thought Hawaii beaches were warm, but here you don’t even have that initial ::cringe:: moment when you get in.  And it’s so interesting what the people wear!  Some of the boys wore shorts, but a lot were in boxers, and even briefs, and yet many had shirts or tank tops on.  The girls who were “swimming” (there weren’t many in the water) mostly had on swimsuits, but they wore mostly tankinis instead of bikinis…and EVERYONE had shorts or skirts on.  The beach had a lot of rubbish (there were no trashcans), but other than that it was pretty clean.  Like the sand was mostly white (unlike the black sand that Stacy and I saw at the beach that we went to in Kamakura…which wasn’t a black sand beach btw), and the water was pretty clear.

One thing that was the same as Hawaii was that there were a lot of fights = /  But no, Jules, I didn’t jump in to try to stop them…haha = )

We sat at a table for a little bit at first…but soon after we decided we wanted to swim.  I asked him about where to put my purse…and followed him to what I figured would be lockers or something.  But we ended up going to one of those little shops and asking the girl working there if we could leave my bag in the back.  I was really nervous because I had my wallet in there, my camera, my prescription sunglasses…but Ossi seemed to think it was fine, so I went along with it.  How cool is that…that we were able to trust a complete stranger with our valuables! = )  Like I said earlier, it was SO nice to get in the water!  But the guys there were crazy!  I thought I had gotten kinda used to the extra attention for being white, but these guys had absolutely NO boundaries!  So yeah…after being in the midst of everyone for awhile, we went down to the edge of the group.  

As it got darker, in a couple of different areas they started to play music.  It was really fun dancing for awhile…but again the guys got to be too much, so we went to go get popcorn! = )  I forgot about popcorn…haha…but it was SO yummy! = )  

It was so much fun…but by the time I got home, I was really tired and really hungry…and I found a plate of dinner waiting for me in the microwave = )  I couldn’t believe it!  Mandy’s the best, isn‘t she?! = )

IRIS!!!!  This is like her classic face = )  

And then a big smile = )  I didn't get a pic of Dante...but there's a video of him at the end.

I was trying to get the man's cool hair

Ossi chillin' when we first got there

Is this cool or what?!

This kid really wanted me to take a pic of him...haha...

...and then of course his friends all wanted to get in on one

PACKED!

But no one's out very far

 A horse! = )

This stage was getting set up to play music later in the night

6th of March

Happy Ghana Independence Day!  Today I woke up and watched the Independence Day Parade on the television with Mandy.  It took place at Independence Square in Accra, which is a huge piazza looking place with stadium seating on one side…very cool!  It’s very different than parades we have at home.  The people marching in it were literally marching, and were all dressed in uniform, rather than waving and in everyday clothes.  And they march around the square, rather than in a straight line from one point to another.  The President spoke, but I’m not sure what else happened because I had to go in to the school suddenly to get the money from the drawer for Marian (I was the last to leave the office yesterday, but I didn‘t even bother to check the drawer because she usually takes it when she‘s there…so I guess we both thought the other was going to grab it).

It ended up being an all day affair at the school (I brought my laptop and a change of clothes to play football in because yesterday, Terry and Seth - two teachers - said they’d be going the next day…but I didn’t plan on being there until 6!).  It was actually really fun, although I was sad to leave Mandy and Chichi on a day off.  But yeah…I got to hang out with the kids and stuff (part of the time I was typing up vegan recipes to send to Summer because Natasha has an awesome vegan cookbook…and the kids were thrilled to just get to type on my laptop - like they were waiting in line to type a sentence for me = )…and when we played football, the girls played, too.  And this time it was like a real game on the pitch.  It was so cute!  I didn’t realize how many of them want to play, but don’t get to because it’s always the boys playing.  It seems like they’d just come to terms with the fact that girls don’t play.  And I hope this doesn’t sound like bragging, but it hit me when I was talking to Terry and he said that it was neat to see the girls playing (like it’s never happened before) - I think that seeing me play has helped them to know that girls can play and that they deserve to be out there.  Don’t get me wrong…it was quite frustrating at times.  Some of them weren’t taking it very seriously, and they lacked ball skills and knowledge of the game…but they were trying their darndest and hustling and listening to my coaching…and really improving!  It was so exciting to see!  And the boys who played with us were so cute and so patient (we started out girls against boys…but some of the boys voluntarily put themselves on the girls’ team).

While I was there, Aunty Aggie asked me to watch the kids while she went to the senior high school campus to visit her daughter…so after everyone had collapsed from playing soccer (so I’ve been really bummed that I haven’t gotten any sun, it seems, when I thought I’d be getting super tan in the hot, Africa sun - but today was SO hot…and I actually got color! = ), I still had to stay.  But Terry forgot his key in his house, and his roommate wasn’t gonna be home until like 6, so I got to have a companion to hang out with = )  And of course the kids hung out with us, also, but more for the companionship of our laptops than us…haha = )
When I got home the house smelled SO good!  Mandy had prepared jollof (woot-woot! ; ) and the most delicious chicken wings!  But yeah…I forgot to talk about our meal last night.  She made super rich and creamy mashed potatoes, literally the most juicy chicken breast I’ve ever had (and that’s after only eating dark meat for the past two months…oh my gosh…besides being so delicious it was just so nice to have chicken breast!), and chocolate cake!  It’s funny because the over didn’t bake it well…but I liked it better than chocolate cake because the outside was crisp, like the corners of brownies, and the inside was mushy, like cake batter…so it was the best of both worlds = )  And then we watched Coach Carter…love that movie! (the boys are so fine! ; )

Talk about a perfect ending to a perfect day…my Skype, which has been anything but cooperative, worked for Becca and I to talk for like an hour and a half - it was so wonderful! = )  And so now, even though it’s 12:26 and I was up at 5:38 this morning and 4:48 yesterday, I’m feeling so perky = )  But actually…writing this is making me very tired, so luckily I'm finished writing now.

The Perfect Prescription

Today was a yuck day!  I dunno…we had a lot of angry parents this morning (today was supposed to be the day that sacking’s began for those who haven’t paid fees yet)…plus I had to be there at 6 am, and you know how I am on little sleep.  I tried to shake it off and snap out of it…but I was in a pretty lousy mood for most of the day.  But then, after school, I was walking around outside carrying Eddy and watching the kids play football (that in and of itself made me smile = )…and then a tiny fifth grade boarding student, Abigail, came over and started talking to us.  After chatting for awhile, she timidly said, “Aunty Jaci, I want you to buy me a storybook.”  I explained that I don’t have very much money, and that she should try the school library (which is very bare).  She responded that she’d already read all of the books in the library! = (  She had in her hands a moldy book, the kind of language arts textbooks that I couldn’t get my students at home to read (they’re pretty fat…and they have condensed versions of stories or books from different genres, with reading comprehension questions at the end of each).  I asked, “Is this yours?” and she said, “No, I just found it over there.”  So it wasn’t her reading level exactly, but we found a reader’s theater Paddington bear story…and began reading.  Pretty soon we had an audience, so we all crowded around this book, and gave parts to the people who wanted one, and read the story -- it was so much fun!  I found that they were very fluent readers, but their comprehension wasn’t great (especially since the story used so much vocabulary that they weren’t familiar with), so we stopped a lot to talk about what we were reading.  It just made me so happy (and sad at the same time…to see how starving for print they seem to be).

When we were finished, I was about to go home when Julius asked if I could help him with his homework.  He had creative arts and math…and it was so neat to see blank stares turn to being able to do problems on his own = )  It was also really rewarding because, again, we had quite an audience, and the older kids at first were trying to just give him the answers, or even do the work for him, and so they were able to see what it looks like to help and teach someone rather than to do for someone.  One of the boys who was watching seemed especially interested.  He said that he used to get beat (I think it’s like saying “getting lickin’s” at home…not always like actual beating beating…I hope) for doing his little brother’s homework for him, so I think he was enjoying learning how to help someone without doing it for them.  And when another girl asked for money to buy a snack, and I said I don’t give out money because I really don’t have very much since I’m not working for money, he was totally shocked…and I as able to explain about volunteering and stuff.  It was really neat; he seemed to really ponder intently on what I was saying…so I’m hoping I sparked a desire in him to do the same one day (although, I think that every citizen here has to do a year of volunteer service after they graduate from university…but I’ll have to double check that).

Then, on the way home…I got to talk to Ayo and Daniel! = D  Needless to say, I ended up going home in such a fantastic mood…even after one of the worst days so far.  I LOVE CHILDREN!!!!  Their humility and thirst for learning and love of goodness and desire for growth are just some of the qualities that I think our Heavenly Father was thinking of when he said that we need to become as little children = )

P.S.  Jake...if books aren't already part of your eagle project...list of goods...if you want to add them...books would be so valuable here! = )