6 Months

December 16, 2012

It’s been forever, and I apologize.

So, I finally did start teaching. I think I taught a total of four classes, and then left for two weeks for school garden training and Re-connect. Needless to say, this term has been a bit of a waste teaching wise. I left my students notes and homework for the two weeks I was gone. One person did half the homework, and only about five people copied the notes in their entirety (owt of 30ish students). Lectures abounded. When half your class is as old as you are, it’s really hard not to throw up your hands in frustration and storm out dramatically.  We played games so maybe I could get some art knowledge into the students before their end of term exam.  I haven’t graded the exams yet, so who knows if it worked. I plan on next term being much more productive. I have one more week of exams left and then I am on break till January 13^th. It’s going to be a good break.

I went to a training about how to make a school garden at a monastery outside of Techiman, in the Brong Ahafo region. I’ll spare you the details on how to make a school garden and instead tell you about the cool monks I met. We stayed at the Kristo Buase Monastery and it was so beautiful. It was begun by Scottish Benedictine monks and is still linked to a monastery in Scotland. There are still a couple Scottish monks there, but soon there will be enough Ghanaian monks for it to become its own monastery. They are real good at gardening and the entire compound is covered in fruit trees and giant rocks. If you climb the rocks you get a sensational view of Africa. Sometimes you feel like you’re right where you need to be.

The monks were real nice (and fix some kick butt jam and chutney). After sharing a beer with one of the monks, I learned Benediction monks are all about obedience. They have a set schedule, set chores, and for the most part they know exactly what to expect on a daily basis. They don’t move, once they pledge to a monastery they are there for life. There are traveling opportunities, but it is under special circumstances. You don’t become a monk to see the world lol. A lot of people in my group thought that lifestyle would be torture. I thought “Man, it would be nice to spend your days praying, enjoying nature, and hanging out with your monk buddies. It would be refreshing to live so simply.” Not that I could ever become a monk, but I can totally understand the thought process behind it and why someone would. Plus to dedicate your life to obedience to God, when there are so many temptations designed to teach us to rebel, takes one heck of a special person.

After that training I went to the ambassador’s house, in Accra, for Thanksgiving. I ate until I was miserable. A few of us Peace Corps ladies decided to “go big or go home” dress wise. Think bright colors and lots of ruffles. I think we nailed it.

After spending a few fun-packed days in Accra, I headed back up north to Kumasi for my three month Re-connect. After being at site for three months, Peace Corps likes to bring us (my training group and counterparts) all back together to discuss things and learn about stuff. And boy, did we learn. It was information overload, important information, but my tiny brain was having a hard time focusing. It was really nice to see everyone again. I got to give some people haircuts, went out on the town with all the counterparts and volunteers, and had a great time.

And then all of the sudden it was time to go home and the traveling was over. I was surprisingly happy to get home, unpack, and settle in.

A week after I came back I came down with a really nasty flu. One morning I woke up with a headache and then I was out cold for four days with a fever, aches, vomiting, and every other ailment you can think of. The worst part was I only had raw veggies to eat. I was too tired/sick to cook and I definitely couldn’t make it to the market to get any protein. I don’t know if you have ever tried to eat raw veggies while you may or may not vomit, but it sucks hardcore. I was sick over a long weekend (due to the election) so all my neighbors were gone and there weren’t any students to send to the market. There were definitely some weak moments of “I just want to go home and be in air conditioning, where there is takeout, and I won’t die.” But I survived and am completely fine now. I don’t think that experience made me a stronger person, I think I just learned to keep eggs and bread in the house.

I started a garden behind my house right before I left. There are three Butternut squash plants, one Jalapeno, three Kales, and two tomatoes. I seriously underestimated the room the squash would need to be happy. It is taking over my pint-sized garden and choking out the other plants. I plan for the break is to expand the garden to accommodate the gigantic squash plants.

I thought I was developing skin cancer on my shoulder. Turns out it’s a fungus haha. There’s something in the water that is giving me white spots on my shoulders.  I have a feeling I need to be chronicling all the ailments I get, just for future reference.

Christmas is coming! It’s so bittersweet. I get to spend Christmas in Africa! And I have to spend Christmas in Africa, away from friends and family. I am in the process of making Christmas plans now. I am hoping it involves some super cool people and the ocean. It doesn’t feel like Christmas at all. There aren’t Christmas lights here, it’s the hot/dry season, I haven’t seen any Christmas trees, it’s real different from the states. I don’t miss the consumerism, holiday rush, spending every penny I have, and all the frustrations that come with the holiday season. I do miss ugly sweaters, the cold, my friends and family, hot drinks, all the lights, the store displays, and all the excitement that comes with the holidays. The thing is that I am in good company. There’s a whole mess of Americans over here feeling the exact same way I do. I think either I will love this Christmas and I’ll fondly look back on it in the future, or in the future I will cherish every Christmas I get to spend with my loved ones and this will just be a chance to have a completely new and different Christmas. I’m sure it will be fine, just know I’m missing all of you terribly this Christmas.