March 25, 2007

I hope this update finds you well and enjoying my favorite season ... spring! (not hot season which is what I have here). I'm back from my trip home to the U.S. and trying to get back into the swing of things. It was quite an adjustment going to the U.S. And after only being there for 2 weeks, I wasn't expecting such a difficult adjustment back to Ghana. I'm glad to be back, though. I stayed for the perfect amount of time. Long enough to see everyone and get a taste of what I've been missing, but not so long that I didn't want to come back. Of course, seeing my family and friends only made me miss them more. I especially enjoyed the cold weather, good food, driving a car, multiple TV channels, draft diet coke, and hot showers. Unfortunately, I came back to hot season. Since I've been back, the lowest temp at night is 90 degrees. And it's getting up to 110 during the day (in the shade!). Yuck!!

Two days after I returned from the U.S., Ghana turned 50 years old on the 6th of March. Sometimes I wonder what the U.S. was like at 50 years old. I have to keep reminding myself how young Ghana actually is when I get frustrated. Of course, the U.S. is very young also (compared to other nations). It's all perspective I guess. The celebration was grand. Presidents and leaders from all over the world (mostly Africa) were in attendance. Ghana flags and colors decorated the entire city. People dressed in red, yellow, and green. There was so much pride. Refreshing. I was especially pleased that not a single taxi driver that day tried to charge me double because I'm a foreigner.

Because of the big celebration, the Director of Peace corps (in Washington DC) was in the country for a couple days. I had the opportunity to meet him at a small reception at our office in Accra. He's only been in office for 6 months or so. He's very down to earth, loves Peace Corps, and all the work we do around the world. It was neat to hear about his service in India many years ago.

It's been a few months since I last wrote. I believe it was around the holidays in fact. Since then, my cat has delivered two more kittens, my dad came to visit for a week, I participated in a 50 mile bike campaign teaching about HIV/AIDS, I sat on a camel, and of course, I celebrated Ghana's 50th birthday.

Yes, just 5 months after her first litter, Pi delivered two more kittens. They already have good homes lined up and I'll get 2 more fowls (tradition is that you exchange a fowl for a kitten). Someone told me recently that it's taboo for your cat to deliver before the owner. Specifically, if she delivers a fourth time before I deliver my own child, I will never be able to deliver again. My mom will be disappointed to hear that she will never get grandchildren from me. So sorry.

My dad came to visit for a week in January. We spent a week touring the Volta region as well as some sight seeing in Cape Coast where the slave castles and rainforest are located. Overall, we ate lots of good food, did plenty shopping, and saw some things that I had not done before. It was very nice having him here. I hear he's been playing the drum he bought here since being back. I'm sure his dogs and neighbors love that!

The week after my dad left, I participated in a HIV/AIDS education bike ride in the upper Volta region, one of the poorer parts in Ghana. It was a challenging week but lots of fun. Over the 5 days, I biked 40+ miles and presented in 10 villages ... most very small (500 or less people), places where cars can not go, no electricity, no market, no health facilities or trained volunteers, and little food (specifically vegetables and protein). I was given clean, drinking water that looked like milk-colored, soapy water ... and the women walk 4-7 miles for that. (Don't worry, I didn't drink it!) I saw entire villages of children with watermelon bellies due to malnutrition and/or worms. There were 4 riding groups each on a different route. My group had 11 Ghanaians and 4 other Peace Corps volunteers. It was the first time I've spent 5 entire days and nights with a group of Ghanaians. It was interesting to be in a group where I was not treated different or as an outsider. I got to be with Ghanaians having fun the way they like to have fun ... and then including me. Between the 4 groups, more than 10,000 people were educated ... or at least informed on what HIV/AIDS is, how you get it, and how to prevent getting it. I consider this week quite successful and one of the most fulfilling (so far) of my Peace Corps service.

Sorry my "regular updates" have become not so regular. I have been posting pictures every month, though. You can keep up with my activities there. They're more fun than reading long emails anyway.

Take care and enjoy the beautiful spring weather!! ~MJ

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