June 26, 2006 (June update)

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The month isn’t over so you’re getting an early June update. My younger brother, Eric, and his wife, Suzanne, are coming to visit me for a couple weeks, so I’m just killing time at the PC office until it’s time to pick them up from the airport. You can imagine how excited I am to have some of my family come visit.

I told you in my last update that I was going to start teaching at the Senior Secondary School in Kusanaba – the village next to Binaba. Well, I did and I love it!! Of course, I’m not doing it all day every day (not sure I could be a teacher at home). I’m teaching Business Management to Form 1 and 2 (there are 3 total) – around 100 students. I have one class each day except Wednesday. Having a scheduled obligation has added some structure to my week, which I like. The kids enjoy having me there, but I can’t tell if they really hear what I’m saying. There is definitely a language barrier right now, but I think they will learn to hear me over time. I am the only female teacher at the school, so the girls seem to be most excited about having me there. The students call me “Madam” and are very respectful – they realize I’m there because I want to be (not because I have to be) and I think they want to learn. They have so many other subjects with no teachers, so they appreciate my time.

Other than teaching, I’m working in the garden and farm. I finished sowing my groundnuts, maize, and cucumber … it’s fun watching everything grow. I usually go out each morning to weed small before it gets hot. Now, I’m working on the garden and planting some trees around the house.

The biggest news in Ghana these days is that they beat USA 2-1 in the World Cup last Thursday … and according to my neighbor, they even did it without using juju (he said they would beat us 100-0 had they taken some juju to Germany). Anyway, Ghanaians could not be more excited – every city was hoppin’ after that game finished. Unfortunately, their next match is against Brazil (#1) tomorrow. It will be a very tough match.

Vic and baby Paul are doing great! Paul is growing like crazy. Vic says that he’s trying to big and tall like my brothers. If that happens, he will be the tallest man in Binaba!!

Ok, I’m off to the airport …
~ Madam Mary :)

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