Groundbreaking developments

One week ago, Patrick came to meet me in Koforidua. We bought twenty bags of cement and twelve galvanized pipes in order to start the construction of Bormase's community bead center!!!

Several members of the bead group came to the work site on Monday and construction was started. Robert Mugabe (not sure why he likes to go by this name) showed up to give instructions and to ensure that the foundation was laid properly and that the pipes were set at appropriate height for the construction of the roof.

School children took shifts collecting sand and delivering it with head-pans and buckets until enough sand was available for the construction of cement blocks. Each child received a pencil in exchange for the work. It might sound terrible that we used the labor of 60 children in exchange for maybe three dollars worth of pencils but in the end, everybody benefited greatly. The children will take arts and crafts time to make traditional Krobo beads. The gift of a pencil was incredibly well received considering that the culture allows any adult to tell any children to do pretty much any chore at any time.

During the day, some of the workers took breaks to look at my MBA school catalogs and ask about the buildings and cars in various pictures. Trying to explain NYC is virtually impossible. A recent Secondary School graduate who studied building technology looked at some of the beautiful architecture at Georgetown University and walked me through how the roof wasn't made out of iron sheets but is made of a different material. Quite an experience.

We also took breaks to play with the various party favor-style toys that I brought back from the USA. Those small enclosed plastic mazes with a ball inside were a hit. Several men would race each other repeatedly, seeing who could get the little metal ball to the center first. Propellers on sticks were flying through the air throughout the day. Everything went great!! Rather than pushing to get work done, I was hanging out with friends while the worked on a project about which they were very excited.

The contractor showed up today to build cement bricks. Tomorrow, Patrick and I will travel with Mugabe to Asesewa to purchase wood for the roof. Construction of the roof will start on Saturday.

When I wasn't working, I turned 27 years old. Cheri came to meet me in Koforidua where we had beer and Fufu to celebrate. We walked a few miles to a small waterfall yesterday and got back to my site to see that some of my American food had been taken from my kitchen. I wasn't too worried about the peanut butter crackers but worried that somebody would go into my space when I was away.

This morning, I double checked my wallet to see that 130 Ghana Cedis of proposal money was missing. We have targeted a prime suspect and taken dirt samples form some footprints in my room and fingerprints from the peanut butter cookie wrappers. Seriously though, we thoroughly questioned Hannah, the mother of Atta and Lahweh. She has a habit of lurking around the house whenever Dorothy goes to market. Several hundred cedis have gone missing from Dorothy's bedroom in the past so she recently changed her locks. I never lock my room but hadn't come across any problems in the past. I've now locked up my house and will see how things stand when I get back to the village.

Love to all.
Ira

I'm Lovin' it!

No, I'm not plugging any golden arches. In fact, I was very happy to avoid McDonald's while in America. I still gained about 12 pounds!!!

Most of my first day back in Bormase was spent sleeping. I didn't realize how tired I was until I woke at 6:30, ate an egg sandwich, napped until 10:45, visited a few neighbors and then napped from a bit after noon until 3:45!!! No wonder I can't sleep at my usual bedtime of 8pm.

Life back in Bormase has been great. Michael and Patience are two new children at the house. They really live next door but after watching 5 year old Michael take care of his toddling sister for long enough, Dorothy unofficially adopted the two kids. They spend the day at our house while their parents farm etc.

Kicking a ball around, playing with bubbles and having incomprehensible conversations with small boys and small girls have been my favorite activities. Handing over earnings from the American bead bonanza was great too. Great thanks to all who helped the cause.

Today, Patrick is coming to meet me and we will purchase the cement for the community bead center. I can't wait!

Love to all
Ira

Adaptability

I know it's been a long time. I was in America!! I had constant access to internet and very full days but didn't take the time to write a blog entry. I was amazed at how easy it was to readjust.

Lugging 80 lbs of beads around in a broken suitcase made travel a bit difficult but balancing that with the efficient subway system and comfortable weather and Ghanaian travel is still far more strenuous. Getting the beads to the airport was one of the most physically demanding things I've ever done.

There is no way that I'll be able to summarize my time at home. I guess that's accurate with every blog entry. I can never share everything so I just crank out what comes readily to mind.

Megan and I wandered around NYC for a few days and had a great time catching up. Rob used the flexibility and perks of his new internship to fly from Chicago to New York for a 12 hour visit. I paid a visit to Columbia, met up with my friend Jay and had dinner and drinks with a number of Rob's classmates from Michigan. I was able to get a sense of business school life while getting to try all of the foods and drinks that I have missed so desperately. Staying up until what was 7am in my body even helped get my circadian rhythm back where it should be.

A night on Long Island started the family explosion that would be the next week straight. Steak, wine and amazing talks with a family I've missed very much kept the influx of joy going strong. I even got to play guitar hero (I know it came out well before I left for Peace Corps but I'm behind the times).

Dinners and planning and tennis and dinners and stories and beads and Jan Jan's service and stories and a bonfire.

So much happened in Vermont that I can't even begin to summarize. It was amazing meeting new people while catching up with others. I've finally hit the age at which I marvel at how old my baby cousins have become. A nice addition to that sensation is the realization of how amazing all of my cousins are and have become.

Visits to University of Virginia, Duke, UNC, Georgetown, Camden Yards and many great eateries helped sum up a spaztacular road trip with my Dad.

I caught up with my friend Sara and wandered NYC more. I ate the best steak in the history of the world. I left yesterday afternoon and got next to no sleep on the plane. One of my two checked bags was somehow lost during my direct flight (I must proudly say that after arriving with bags of 68 and 44 lbs respectively, I was able to rearrange to 50,0 and 49.5 lbs with a heavy backpack in one try!)

I'll be in Accra until at least tomorrow. I'm exhausted and need to sleep but I'm very ready and happy to be back.

Love to all
Ira