With my national VAC meeting this week and plenty of essay work to do, I've left the school and bead projects behind me. After consecutive days starting with 6am meetings and extensive organization, I've left 90 2x6 boards, 80 2x4 boards and money for ten bags of cement in Bormase.
When I return next Monday, the bulk of the frame should be completed. I sure hope it really does get complete while I'm away.
In the meantime, I'll be re-working my essays and discussing the state of Peace Corps Ghana.
I guess the whole goal of Peace Corps is to complete sustainable projects so this will be a good test.
A nice anecdote from my busy few days at site: During our second trip for wood, the driver, Patrick, a few laborors and I took a detour to visit a local waterfall. I absolutely loved the detour and the fact that none of the Ghanaians with which I went had ever seen the falls. Just before leaving, I was ushered over to a small area behind the waterfall and told that it was the meeting place of dwarves. I have heard stories from other volunteers about the invisible dwarves but I had never had the joy of hearing a first hand account.
Too much essay writing has sapped my blog writing reserves.
Love to all,
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
VBP and 2 years in
Two years ago today, I got off the plane with 47 other Peace Corps trainees. There are now 30 other Peace Corps Volunteers in my group and I understand why Peace Corps service is two years long.
One week ago, George and Moro from Village Bicycle Project arrived in Bormase. Despite some minor mishaps, the week has been the best of my service hands down. Last Friday morning, roughly 55 of the 101 registered bicycle recipients showed up for a 7am meeting. Each one drew a number to determine which of the five, day-long sessions they would attend. The remaining 46 participants picked their respective numbers when they had a chance and we were set for the day.
From this meeting, I joined a yelling match at the school construction site. One community did their portion of community labor and were yelling about the distribution of work. I followed what I could of the Krobo chatter until I had to go wait for the truckload of bicycles to arrive. I spent a few minutes playing with my 4 month old neighbor Sweetie (her name is Esther but everyone calls her Swee-tee). When I heard a deep grumble down the road, I took the few steps that were needed for me to see down the road. As the truck approached, people spilled out of the bush cover and cheered to no end. By the time the truck stopped beside the church (the location of the sessions) there were at least forty people, bike recipients and otherwise, waiting and helping pull bikes off.
Patrick translated for each of the five sessions as bike recipients learned basic bike maintenance. They learned how to use spanners without damaging the bicycle. They learned to change a tire and how to patch a tube. They learned to check loose bearings and how to clean and oil a chain. At the end of each day, 20 new bike owners were released to the one Bormase road. With each day, the view from my front yard/dirt was more exciting.
One Tuesday, the headmaster from the primary school stopped by and asked for a meeting. Patrick and I went from the bike session to the school to see children teaching each other to ride their new bikes. When the headmaster left for summer break, funds weren't yet approved for the school improvement project. When he came back for the first day of the new term, over 100 cement blocks were sitting in front of the school. We discussed the plans for construction and the excitement that he and his staff shared was worth the work hands down.
As Patrick and I left, we saw children teaching their friends to ride a bike. Kids that couldn't ride a bike the day prior and had something so nice to call their own were eager to share it with friends. This was also well worth the work.
On Thursday, after our second to last session, Stephen had to patch a puncture before riding the 2 hours back to Asesewa. On the way, I rode my bike while he ran along, pushing his own from behind. I thought I'd help out by holding his handlebars while riding along. This seemed like a good idea until his bike started to veer away from me and I had to drop it. --Careful if squeamish-- When I dropped Stephen's bike, I had to put my sandal-clad foot down to catch my balance. In the tenth of a second that my foot was down, the handlebar of Stephen's bike landed on my big toe. It hurt but I biked on with clenched teeth. When I passed a cyclist going the opposite direction, I noticed that he was staring at my foot. I looked down and was sure that my band-aid was about to fall off. But I didn't have a band-aid on my toe. My big toenail had been ripped off and was flapping by a small bit of skin.
I'm OK now but was in a bit of shock for a moment. A little chunk of nail bed came away with the nail and I was bleeding quite a bit. My shower/dishes bucket became my foot soaking bucket. Stephen helped cut the nail away and we both tried to scrub away the clotted blood before realizing that the color difference was due to the depth of the cut. OUCH!!! I almost puked/passed out at that point.
Yesterday, we finished the bike project. Short of a few serious sneezing fits I've had in the past, I've never had so many people bless me in such a short period of time. I have never felt so good in Bormase. George and Moro left with a trunkful of plantains and yams.
I'm in Accra now, my toe feels good (looks awful) and I just had a great chat with a business school contact. Definitely straddling two worlds at the moment but absolutely loving it.
I will keep you all updated as things progress.
Love to all!!
Ira
One week ago, George and Moro from Village Bicycle Project arrived in Bormase. Despite some minor mishaps, the week has been the best of my service hands down. Last Friday morning, roughly 55 of the 101 registered bicycle recipients showed up for a 7am meeting. Each one drew a number to determine which of the five, day-long sessions they would attend. The remaining 46 participants picked their respective numbers when they had a chance and we were set for the day.
From this meeting, I joined a yelling match at the school construction site. One community did their portion of community labor and were yelling about the distribution of work. I followed what I could of the Krobo chatter until I had to go wait for the truckload of bicycles to arrive. I spent a few minutes playing with my 4 month old neighbor Sweetie (her name is Esther but everyone calls her Swee-tee). When I heard a deep grumble down the road, I took the few steps that were needed for me to see down the road. As the truck approached, people spilled out of the bush cover and cheered to no end. By the time the truck stopped beside the church (the location of the sessions) there were at least forty people, bike recipients and otherwise, waiting and helping pull bikes off.
Patrick translated for each of the five sessions as bike recipients learned basic bike maintenance. They learned how to use spanners without damaging the bicycle. They learned to change a tire and how to patch a tube. They learned to check loose bearings and how to clean and oil a chain. At the end of each day, 20 new bike owners were released to the one Bormase road. With each day, the view from my front yard/dirt was more exciting.
One Tuesday, the headmaster from the primary school stopped by and asked for a meeting. Patrick and I went from the bike session to the school to see children teaching each other to ride their new bikes. When the headmaster left for summer break, funds weren't yet approved for the school improvement project. When he came back for the first day of the new term, over 100 cement blocks were sitting in front of the school. We discussed the plans for construction and the excitement that he and his staff shared was worth the work hands down.
As Patrick and I left, we saw children teaching their friends to ride a bike. Kids that couldn't ride a bike the day prior and had something so nice to call their own were eager to share it with friends. This was also well worth the work.
On Thursday, after our second to last session, Stephen had to patch a puncture before riding the 2 hours back to Asesewa. On the way, I rode my bike while he ran along, pushing his own from behind. I thought I'd help out by holding his handlebars while riding along. This seemed like a good idea until his bike started to veer away from me and I had to drop it. --Careful if squeamish-- When I dropped Stephen's bike, I had to put my sandal-clad foot down to catch my balance. In the tenth of a second that my foot was down, the handlebar of Stephen's bike landed on my big toe. It hurt but I biked on with clenched teeth. When I passed a cyclist going the opposite direction, I noticed that he was staring at my foot. I looked down and was sure that my band-aid was about to fall off. But I didn't have a band-aid on my toe. My big toenail had been ripped off and was flapping by a small bit of skin.
I'm OK now but was in a bit of shock for a moment. A little chunk of nail bed came away with the nail and I was bleeding quite a bit. My shower/dishes bucket became my foot soaking bucket. Stephen helped cut the nail away and we both tried to scrub away the clotted blood before realizing that the color difference was due to the depth of the cut. OUCH!!! I almost puked/passed out at that point.
Yesterday, we finished the bike project. Short of a few serious sneezing fits I've had in the past, I've never had so many people bless me in such a short period of time. I have never felt so good in Bormase. George and Moro left with a trunkful of plantains and yams.
I'm in Accra now, my toe feels good (looks awful) and I just had a great chat with a business school contact. Definitely straddling two worlds at the moment but absolutely loving it.
I will keep you all updated as things progress.
Love to all!!
Ira
Thursday, September 10, 2009
All at once
When I was getting advice about readjusting to American culture, I didn't think that I'd be doing so much of it while still in Ghana.
Last Friday, I met with chiefs and elders to discuss the proper approach for the school project. I realize that while I kept the prospective project secret from the village (in case it didn't come through in time) I may have also kept it out of my blog entries.
The 52 year old Bormase Roman Catholic Primary School still consists of it's original cement block building. The building is partitioned into two classrooms for Kindergarten through P6. Over 100 students learn either in this building or under trees or makeshift thatch structures. This recent proposal covers the cost of the construction of three additional classrooms. On Monday, Patrick and I came to Koforidua to purchase 30 bags of cement and 15 nineteen foot iron rods. I shelled out almost 1,000 cedis in one day and felt odd fitting the Obruni stereotype of having money and throwing it around building schools.
While Patrick and I were in Koforidua, 40 community members convened and worked throughout the day collecting sand to be used on cement block construction. Tuesday and Wednesday were for bock construction. Tomorrow, I'll shift gears and greet the Village Bicycle Project and the 101 bicycles that have been paid for by Bormase community members.
Most of next week will be spent in classes of 20, teaching basic maintenance to every new bike owner. The bead structure is still under construction and my first business school application is due in less than one month.
I ordered a transcript and had an official score reported to Columbia today. Talk about having a foot in two different worlds. I've been working on essays when not running around the village on errands.
I'm sending all remaining energy towards the implosion of the Rockies and the appearance of a Giants offense.
It's hectic now but SO worth it.
Will keep you all updated on the progress.
Love to all,
Ira
Last Friday, I met with chiefs and elders to discuss the proper approach for the school project. I realize that while I kept the prospective project secret from the village (in case it didn't come through in time) I may have also kept it out of my blog entries.
The 52 year old Bormase Roman Catholic Primary School still consists of it's original cement block building. The building is partitioned into two classrooms for Kindergarten through P6. Over 100 students learn either in this building or under trees or makeshift thatch structures. This recent proposal covers the cost of the construction of three additional classrooms. On Monday, Patrick and I came to Koforidua to purchase 30 bags of cement and 15 nineteen foot iron rods. I shelled out almost 1,000 cedis in one day and felt odd fitting the Obruni stereotype of having money and throwing it around building schools.
While Patrick and I were in Koforidua, 40 community members convened and worked throughout the day collecting sand to be used on cement block construction. Tuesday and Wednesday were for bock construction. Tomorrow, I'll shift gears and greet the Village Bicycle Project and the 101 bicycles that have been paid for by Bormase community members.
Most of next week will be spent in classes of 20, teaching basic maintenance to every new bike owner. The bead structure is still under construction and my first business school application is due in less than one month.
I ordered a transcript and had an official score reported to Columbia today. Talk about having a foot in two different worlds. I've been working on essays when not running around the village on errands.
I'm sending all remaining energy towards the implosion of the Rockies and the appearance of a Giants offense.
It's hectic now but SO worth it.
Will keep you all updated on the progress.
Love to all,
Ira
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Fufu Awards
After over a week with my fellow 2007-2009 Peace Corps Ghana Omnibus group (31 of our initial 48), the best way to sum up the time is with some highlights from our Fufu Awards. Our new Program and Training Officer Rob brought Fufu awards from his former post in Vanuatu. They're sort of like high school yearbook polls but funnier and more personal. Rob posted highlights from the 180 Fufu awards that were revealed during the conference and I've posted them below.
Most likely to:
• Take a calabash to a kegger – Gray
• Use Ghanaian English in the U.S. – Terri
• Design, sell, and wear her won Ghanaian line of clothes – Shawn Fox
• Still wear too much batik in America - Darren
• Have worms by COS – Daria
• Dress up like a guinea fowl for Halloween – Leanne
• Be a trophy wife - Katrina
• Use “I’m Irish!” excuse for drinking habits – Niall
• To be ticketed for “freeing” themselves in public – Jon
• Get lost on their COS trip and never make it home – Becka
• Eat dogs in America – Blake
• Be unrecognized by family at the airport - Chris
• Treat herself to a pedicure in America, give a pedicure in America, and date her pedicurist – Joy
• Try to take over the world – Carolyn
• Skip PC Conference sessions and sleep instead – Allison
• Feel threatened by other blondes in the U.S. –Caitlin
• Be rich and show it off – Ledor
• Bark like a seal when excited – Phil
• Always be a beach bum - Mandy
• Continue using Ghanaian hand gestures in America – Cheri
• Have the best foot tan lines – Erin
• Keep taking Lariam, not for the malaria, but for “the dreams dude.” – Will
• Succeed . . . with a mustache – Ira
• Have a nation-wide fan club upon the return home – Thuy
• Use the pickup line, “I lived in Africa” for the rest of his life – Jon
• Become a samurai warrior – Egan
• Stare awkwardly at you and then say, “thanks for the dance” – Ashley
• Request that all subordinates call him “Chief” - Larry
As you may have guessed, I rocked a sweet mustache for the conference. Gray and I ran into each other in Koforidua a few weeks before the conference and commented on each others unkempt facial scruff. For fun, we decided to manicure that scruff into a nice COS mustache. They were a hit for sure.
The conference focused on re-adjusting into American culture and the fast pace of life. Compared to previous conferences, this was amazing. The food and lodging was upgraded as a way of rewarding our hard work. We ate barracuda, shrimp and other tasty treats. At night, we let of steam at the hotel pool or on the beach. It was a nice head start at re-adjusting.
From the Peace Corps sanctioned event, many of us branched off onto an event of our own. All volunteers were invited to a beach hotel that was more Peace Corps speed. The rooms had sand floors and the beach had trash all over it. We enjoyed this place just as much as the previous, swank hotel. We used the faux-nerf football that I brought back from the USA to play football/volleyball on the beach court. We broke off into two teams and would simply throw the ball over the net in an attempt to make it un-catchable. It was kind of like anti-catch and it was incredibly fun. We spent our days playing cards when we were tired of football-volleyball and playing cards when physically exhausted. We are going to be very easy to please in the US.
On the last day of our time at the beach, a Lebanese ex-pat befriended a few from our group. Cheri was summoned from the football/volleyball court when Tanal started talking about his wakeboard boat. After two years of telling stories about water-skiing, Cheri was promised the opportunity to strut her stuff. The following morning, most of our group left the beach on their way to their respective sites. Cheri, Daria, Steve, Shawn and I waited for Tanal to make good on his word. I was skeptical until I saw the beautiful boat pull up just before 11am.
Cheri and Steve were incredibly impressive while I failed to even get up out of the water on my first series of attempts. Though I was frustrated, I was perfectly happy to see Cheri so happy and in her element. After I went, Tanal took a turn and wowed us all with back flips and other tricks. He also took the time to show us the 12 bathroom house he's having built beside the Volta River. Talk about a drastic change from live in the world of development.
I got a second try on the wakeboard and stood up on my second try. I felt like a baby learning to walk again but had an amazing time. Once I stood up for the first time, it was like second nature and I couldn't understand how it had been so difficult to figure out. Cheri took another turn on the slalom ski and looked as comfortable as she does waling down the street. Very nice to see.
As we finished too late to get a tro-tro back to Accra, Tanal and his driver (boat and car driver) David gave us a ride to Accra in a nice air conditioned car that took no more than half the time a tro would have. Talk about a head start on re-adjusting. I don't plan to spend my weekends on a wakeboard boat but I did have a nice time indeed.
While away from Bormase, my Small Project Assistance grant was funded by USAID so when I return to Bormase, we can start to work on the school improvement project that is about 50 years overdue. I can't wait!!!
Love to all.
Go Giants!!!!!
Ira
Most likely to:
• Take a calabash to a kegger – Gray
• Use Ghanaian English in the U.S. – Terri
• Design, sell, and wear her won Ghanaian line of clothes – Shawn Fox
• Still wear too much batik in America - Darren
• Have worms by COS – Daria
• Dress up like a guinea fowl for Halloween – Leanne
• Be a trophy wife - Katrina
• Use “I’m Irish!” excuse for drinking habits – Niall
• To be ticketed for “freeing” themselves in public – Jon
• Get lost on their COS trip and never make it home – Becka
• Eat dogs in America – Blake
• Be unrecognized by family at the airport - Chris
• Treat herself to a pedicure in America, give a pedicure in America, and date her pedicurist – Joy
• Try to take over the world – Carolyn
• Skip PC Conference sessions and sleep instead – Allison
• Feel threatened by other blondes in the U.S. –Caitlin
• Be rich and show it off – Ledor
• Bark like a seal when excited – Phil
• Always be a beach bum - Mandy
• Continue using Ghanaian hand gestures in America – Cheri
• Have the best foot tan lines – Erin
• Keep taking Lariam, not for the malaria, but for “the dreams dude.” – Will
• Succeed . . . with a mustache – Ira
• Have a nation-wide fan club upon the return home – Thuy
• Use the pickup line, “I lived in Africa” for the rest of his life – Jon
• Become a samurai warrior – Egan
• Stare awkwardly at you and then say, “thanks for the dance” – Ashley
• Request that all subordinates call him “Chief” - Larry
As you may have guessed, I rocked a sweet mustache for the conference. Gray and I ran into each other in Koforidua a few weeks before the conference and commented on each others unkempt facial scruff. For fun, we decided to manicure that scruff into a nice COS mustache. They were a hit for sure.
The conference focused on re-adjusting into American culture and the fast pace of life. Compared to previous conferences, this was amazing. The food and lodging was upgraded as a way of rewarding our hard work. We ate barracuda, shrimp and other tasty treats. At night, we let of steam at the hotel pool or on the beach. It was a nice head start at re-adjusting.
From the Peace Corps sanctioned event, many of us branched off onto an event of our own. All volunteers were invited to a beach hotel that was more Peace Corps speed. The rooms had sand floors and the beach had trash all over it. We enjoyed this place just as much as the previous, swank hotel. We used the faux-nerf football that I brought back from the USA to play football/volleyball on the beach court. We broke off into two teams and would simply throw the ball over the net in an attempt to make it un-catchable. It was kind of like anti-catch and it was incredibly fun. We spent our days playing cards when we were tired of football-volleyball and playing cards when physically exhausted. We are going to be very easy to please in the US.
On the last day of our time at the beach, a Lebanese ex-pat befriended a few from our group. Cheri was summoned from the football/volleyball court when Tanal started talking about his wakeboard boat. After two years of telling stories about water-skiing, Cheri was promised the opportunity to strut her stuff. The following morning, most of our group left the beach on their way to their respective sites. Cheri, Daria, Steve, Shawn and I waited for Tanal to make good on his word. I was skeptical until I saw the beautiful boat pull up just before 11am.
Cheri and Steve were incredibly impressive while I failed to even get up out of the water on my first series of attempts. Though I was frustrated, I was perfectly happy to see Cheri so happy and in her element. After I went, Tanal took a turn and wowed us all with back flips and other tricks. He also took the time to show us the 12 bathroom house he's having built beside the Volta River. Talk about a drastic change from live in the world of development.
I got a second try on the wakeboard and stood up on my second try. I felt like a baby learning to walk again but had an amazing time. Once I stood up for the first time, it was like second nature and I couldn't understand how it had been so difficult to figure out. Cheri took another turn on the slalom ski and looked as comfortable as she does waling down the street. Very nice to see.
As we finished too late to get a tro-tro back to Accra, Tanal and his driver (boat and car driver) David gave us a ride to Accra in a nice air conditioned car that took no more than half the time a tro would have. Talk about a head start on re-adjusting. I don't plan to spend my weekends on a wakeboard boat but I did have a nice time indeed.
While away from Bormase, my Small Project Assistance grant was funded by USAID so when I return to Bormase, we can start to work on the school improvement project that is about 50 years overdue. I can't wait!!!
Love to all.
Go Giants!!!!!
Ira
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