Readjustment

Lots of people are catching up on blogging because of Snowpocolypse/Snowjam/Snowmaggedon 2014 so decided to follow suit.  I've been meaning to write about readjusting to America for some time now but find it hard to put into words how it's going.  Plus it's hard to neatly close a chapter in your life that's been so significant but that's what I intend to do.

Being back in America is amazing overall.  What's not to love about real toilets, hot showers, being close to loved ones, and an unlimited supply of cheese?  I still actually really enjoy going to the grocery store or farmer's market because it's so easy compared to the trek to the market I endured in Ghana and I can get anything I want!  But there are hard parts too.  I've experienced culture shock before and it's not easy to handle.  Just as there are ups and downs to living cross-culturally there are also ups and downs to the readjustment phase- and life in general really.  I think one aspect of American life that's been really hard for me is being overwhelmed by choices and the consumerism of our culture.  I've felt a lot of panic and anxiety in certain situations that I never did before such as underground parking decks and elevators and I'm still working through those issues.  And also the feelings of busyness...it's gotten better but in the fall I felt busy all the time even if I wasn't.  It's hard to explain but even if you're not so busy you feel as if you are or should make yourself so.  There are just certain parts of your culture that you don't really think too much about or question until you're immersed in another culture.  But I hope to hold onto an appreciate from simplicity and a quiet life that I acquired while in Ghana.

It's been harder to keep in touch with my Ghanaian students, friends and family than I though it would.  In some ways part of me still feel so connected to Ghana but also very disconnected.  Hearing about situations from people that I wish I could help but I'm so far away.  One way that's helped is I've become involved volunteering with a non-profit called Ghana Medical Help which works to provide basic medical equipment to hospitals in the more impoverished Northern part of Ghana where I lived.  I'm hoping to go back to Ghana to visit this summer and also combine that trip with assisting the mission of GMH.  I discovered Ghana Medical Help while doing research on non-profits for a business elective I took called the Business of Philanthropy.  It was a really unique and interesting class and a lot of the writings I completed as assignments helped me process my time in Ghana.

School has been a great way to readjust to America life and try to figure out what the next step will be.  My goal is to work in non-profit management preferably in international development in Atlanta after I graduate but I've learned to be open to other options.  I interviewed for a couple of positions with non-profits earlier this month but neither was a good fit.  Because of the graduate research assistantship I'm doing with school, I'm looking for something part-time which is hard to come by.

It's not easy trying to sum up my Peace Corps Ghana experience in a just a few words when people find out I served there and ask "How was it?"  Wow what to say?  Amazing, life-changing experience, a huge blessing, a time of growth, wonderful, inspiring, yet frustrating, disappointing, terribly difficult, isolating, heartbreaking.  There are so many stories, experiences, and people to tell about which is why I started this blog in the first place.   A lot of it was for me to process as I was living in the moment but some of it was to share Ghana with others as well and to keep a record for the future.  I've had a few people suggest to me to write a book which a lot of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers do. I think I exhausted a lot of my writing on the blog but I'm considering doing a children's book if nothing else to do and keep for myself.

Thank you for reading this little blog and how Ghana shaped me into a stronger, more patient, balanced, and determined woman.  With that I'm closing out Step in Ghana (sorry it took so long).  We'll see what the next Step in...blog will be.

Ghanaian English

Some of my family and friends have heard me talk on the phone to my Ghanaian students or friends and heard the English I speak with them.  Here's a video of my student Linda who and the short interview I conducted with her while she stirred TZ (cooked) for me one day back in March.  Enjoy!

Goodbyes are Hard

Goodbyes are always hard but especially when you don't know the next time you'll see someone.  Before leaving Ghana, I made sure I took my time to prepare to say goodbye and not be rushed doing it all at the last minute.  Honestly I think it was more for me to try and feel some closure as my service came to an end.  Either way I'm glad I started early because it took a lot of time going around to people's houses and giving out a few small gifts as appropriate.

My school did an official goodbye party for me the weekend after July 4th.  They cooked light soup (one of my favorites) with guinea fowl and goat, bought minerals, and gave me lovely parting gifts.  It ended up being held at my house, which was crowded, instead of the school because rain was threatening and the cooking was being done out front under my neem tree.  But it was still nice to hang out with all the teachers and other community members who stopped by.  I wished my students had been able to take part but we'd done ice cream parties in each class so I was glad I done that with them.

I think was the most difficult part for me- trying to properly goodbye to my students.  I tried giving out a few hugs to some of my students I was closer to and it was super awkward.  So for the boys I would just shake their hands but the girls were fine with hugs.  This is one of my final group pictures with some students.

Madam Millanie from church made me beautiful hand-painted calabashes to take home and use as decoration.  I'm working on setting up our Ghana guest room and will hang them up in there.  

Most of the tears didn't happen until it was actually time for me to leave early in the morning.  A small group of students came to see me off which meant the world to me.  I tried to hold it together as much as possible but with all the girls crying it was hard.  I did ok for the most part and then lost it on my final ride to Bolga from the village.

Here I am with Auntie in front of the lorry that carried me away from everyone and the village I grew to love. As much as I miss the people, I don't miss the crowded lorry rides on bumpy, unpaved roads.

After going to Kumasi to witness the wedding of a volunteer to a lovely Ghanaian gal, I stopped by to see my homestay family one last time before proceeding onto Accra to start the process necessary to close our your service.  I drove banku for old times sake and my homestay mom made me okra soup which was one of my favorites that she cooked.

They also took me to the nearby spot where we all had minerals and Fan Ice (vanilla ice cream) to make floats.  I introduced this to my homestay brother on my first (and only) birthday in Ghana and he remembered I liked them.  I actually was pretty sick in this picture and while I stayed with my family but I learned to hide it pretty well by then.  I felt awful on my last trip to Accra and so was feeling rather ready to leave Ghana and stomach troubles behind from a physical comfort standpoint.  It made it a bit easier to say goodbye to Ghana and then hello to England for two weeks before my homecoming in Atlanta.  

2013 in Review

I don't usually do an official year in review to be shared with others but I have a lot to be grateful for and I'm in a reflective mood so here it goes.  It had its ups and downs as life usually does...overall 2013 was a tremendous time of blessing in my life.

Went on a walking safari at Mole National Park in Ghana and saw wild elephants close up in their natural habitat

Helped other volunteers hold 2 successful HIV testing events in our region the Upper East

Saw my trained peer educators step up and fulfill their role in amazing ways by educating their peers on HIV prevention (so wonderful to see hard work pay off in work that sometimes doesn't see its impact until years later)

Got to "ride" a camel!  I've always wanted to do this!

Saw hippos in the wild

 Enjoyed all the sights Barcelona had to offer with my fiance (especially Gaudi's architecture) and ate delicious food- perfect treat for a Peace Corps volunteer!

Saw the Mediterranean for the first time!

Our Peace Corps family lost a dear, amazing sister; she was a friend to everyone and an inspiration to all of us

My niece Care graduated from high school which I hated to miss but couldn't be prouder.  She also started at Tech this fall- continuing the Jackets tradition in our family!

 
Saying my goodbyes in my village was definitely a bittersweet time but closing out my Peace Corps service felt great!

 
I took a "Close of Service" (or COS as we call it in Peace Corps) trip to England and met my sister and brother-in-law there.  We had a fabulous time in London and touring the countryside, including some Jane Austen sites.  I also went to Edinburgh a few days alone.

Started my part-time evening MBA at Kennesaw State and through my assignment as a graduate research assistant met the President of Ghana

Married my best friend and love

Became part of the Yeargan family

Honeymooned in Hawaii- highlights included a volcano, sea turtles, a luau, stargazing, hiking, and ample relaxation on the beach

I have all my stuff in one place for the first time in at least 3 years!  Feels good to start a home with Ed (my niece did this painting of our house for us for Christmas)

Added a black cat named Salem to our little family (Abby the German Shepherd is still getting used to her sister)

First married Christmas and at home with the family in 3 years!

Happy New Year everyone! Farewell 2013, cheers 2014

Titus

I really wish I'd written about Titus before I left the village while I could better remember all his details. But somehow all the details involved in finishing my Peace Corps service well kept me quite busy. My friend Chris introduced me to Titus within my first few months in the village. I blogged about him a couple of times before, namely in the Too Cool for School post.  Because of that post, I came into contact with Rae who commented that she wanted to help Titus by translating the text to Braille- with a machine. So much easier than the laborious process we had begun!  The picture to the right was taken with one of the first boxes we received from Rae.  She not only sent the Braille of the English textbook but also magazines for Titus to read as well as some books of the Bible to help him teach Religious and Moral Education at the School.

I asked Rae what inspired her to help us and this is what she wrote: Titus's story lies at the intersection of two interests: Ghana and braille.  I was a high school exchange student in Ho and I now do freelance braille transcription work.  Whenever I tell people what kind of work I do, the first question they have is, "Why is braille still necessary with all the technology that is available?"  The simplest answer to this question is, "Braille is literacy". The number usually quoted in the US for braille literacy rates is between 10-15 percent and the vast majority of blind people who are employed read braille. Even in the US parents often have to fight to get braille instruction for their students. Reading that Titus was a braille reader and was eager to teach but didn't have a braille textbook, I wanted to offer my help. In this situation, technology actually makes braille more accessible. With only a slate and stylus, copying the book into braille is a huge task.  Being able to do the work on the computer makes the process much quicker.  I'd love to be able to go to back to Ghana and do braille production work there. Serendipitously, the school I attended, Mawuli Secondary School, opened a resource center for blind students last year and I've been collecting braille books and magazines for them.  Most of this material would otherwise be thrown away. Knowing how scare braille is in Ghana, I try to find a second home for whatever I can.  

Both Titus and I are so happy Rae helped us out!  It's amazing how blogs can connect people to work together when they've never met.  Big shoutout and thank you to Rae!!!

But the story doesn't end there.    Titus is smart as a whip but has only completed junior high school because of some unfortunate circumstances with his high schooling.  But he still has dreams and aspirations of returning to high school.  Titus wants to be a lawyer in the future but right now he's having a hard time coming up with the funds.  Before I left Ghana I helped Titus write a letter to the District to ask for their support because they do receive funds from the government to help disabled members of the community.  I keep in touch with Titus on the phone from time to time but the last time we talked he hadn't heard anything back from the District.  Last week the volunteer who replaced me called to let me know that she'd finally gotten in touch with the District and they're taking their time to give an answer.  She decided she really wants to try and help Titus by raising funds for him to start school next term by contacting her friends and family back home and asked me to do the same.  We're still trying to figure out the logistics of moving the funds and ensuring accountability but please contact me if you're interested in helping Titus.  I believe he's a good investment!

Update- Urinal Pit

Since being back from Ghana I haven't touched my blog at all despite having a few loose ends I wanted to tie up.  So I'm going to attempt to do so in the next week or so and somewhat close out this amazing, challenging, once-in-a-lifetime chapter in my life :) first up an update on one of the projects that was completed before I left the village.

My Friend

Awong outside of her house

In her fancy dress

My friend and me

Being sassy with Chris

I have a friend from church who I always make a point to greet when I see her.  I blogged about her when I first met her a while ago.   My friend Chris and I were walking one day came upon her fetching water at the well nearby her house.  And to be quite honest when you look at her you feel sorry for her.  She’s stooped with old age and uses a stick to walk but once you get to know her you see she’s just fine.  She’s quite spunky!  She admonished Chris once after we hadn't been to visit for a while and ask why he hadn't brought me to see her.  She's just one of the amazing people I’ve met in Gbedema.  Here’s the interview with Awong by Awenlie (that’s me) translated by Chris.

Name: Agambiel Awong

Age: in her nineties

Best Food: Rice and beans with palm oil

Family: Married in the nearby village of Kanjarga to a man with two wives.  She gave birth to 7 children and only 1 made it into adulthood that she knows of but has since passed away.  She believed her rivals (the other wives) killed 4 of her so she left the man.  2 more of her children left and never came back.  She has 10 grandchildren one of whom founded an NGO in Sandema called CBR.  

How has Gbedema changed in your lifetime?

It’s now modern Ghana here.  In the olden days there weren’t lights, loud music, or a grinding mill so we used stones to grind our millet and corn.  

Tell me about your church life: She started attending church during Kwame Nkrumah’s time and now attends the Catholic church.  

What gives you joy? (I asked this question because whenever I see her she is always smiling)

My family is not into witchcraft.  I like joking with people and insulting them in a playful way (I’d say she’s spunky and sassy) and not fighting.  This makes me happy because I don’t quarrel with anyone.  Also I like making people laugh like at church I’ll be dancing and people have been laughing. 

What else would you like to share? 
Her amazing story:

When she was young after her mother died, she went to Kumasi often since she was trading apeteshie and other things at the time.  (Note: I got confused on the timeline but I think this was after she married and left her husband) On the way back from Kumasi on one of her trips, she was involved in a lorry crash with 12 people.  9 died and only 3 lived including her.  In the accident, her leg was injured and ever since then she’s had a leg problem.  One doctor even wanted to amputate but another doctor disagreed and she kept her leg.  Her grandson wanted her to move to a nearby village to be closer to family but she refushed. 

Today she lives on her own in the village and farms millet and groundnuts herself around her house, cooks all her own food, fetches all her own water, does all her own chores, etc.  Chris believes this is why she's lived to be so old because she doesn't have people disturbing her all the time! The last few times we visited her we decided to take photos.  The first time we came back she didn't wear her fancy dress she wanted in the pictures so we had to come back the next day and do more photos.  I printed some out for her in Bolga as a goodbye gift and she was exceedingly happy.