Winding Down in Ghana....

This could be my last group email to all of you faithful followers. I will have so much to share upon my return to America. The pictures are priceless, and we will share them in true Ghanaian fashion. If you have not already, checkout our blog,
www.classroomghana.blogspot.com

Mary and I had a local seamstress fashion us dresses for Sunday church. We were feeling out of place and have had great fun with our dresses.

I thought you might enjoy the description of a typical day in Brenu Akyinim:

5:30 - early morning walk to see the sunrise along the road with hunters and farmers with rifles and hoes;serenaded by a chorus of birds, insects, frogs and the thunder of the sea

7:00 - breakfast after a refreshing shower and a 5 minute walk to the outdoor table by the sea

8-2:00 - school day begun with drums and marching into class, a stone building with open spaces for windows

2:30 - lunch, our big meal of chicken or fish for the day with vegetables fresh from the farm

4-6:30 - time to relax, plan, read, journal, hand wash clothes to hang on the clothesline

7:00 - dinner followed by talking or card playing a local game called "Spa", great fun!!!

9:00 - early to bed as we have a single bulb for light in our room; just happy to have electricity

Today was a little out of the ordinary. When I arrived at my library, I discovered all 90 JHSers were gathered in one room with the Headmaster. In a booming voice he was casting away evil spirits brought on by the white owl that appeared in the classroom, with no apparent place of enty before the building was opened. Keep in mind that the walls do not meet the corrugated aluminum roof, allowing plenty of space for a bird to slip through. One girl was sprinkling hopy water on the gathering from a bucket of water. The children then proceeded to move all of the classroom's furnishings to a vacant room next to Mary's music room. Headmaster informed me that students would avoid entering this room until the pastors exorcised the room of all evil spirits some time next week.

Tomorrow midday we are going to Kakum National Park, a rainforest with a canopy walk on a suspended rope bridge. It is north of Cape Coast, about a 90 minute drive from our village. We will spend the night at a neighboring village where we are scheduled to enjoy a bamboo orchestra. This sounds very exciting!!

Next week we have been invited to attend a chief's meeting in Besease, where 5 young volunteers with Sabre have been placed. The discussion will be about educational practices, including caning which is used freely in both of our villages. When I broached the practice with a young teacher in our village, her reply was, "How do you discipline your students in America?" I offered several ideas, but their practices are deeply ingrained and unlikely to change soon. Perhaps, the next wave of teachers will try new strategies. We have shared the wonderful materials that Walker provided us and have bought others in the city of Cape Coast.

I instructed 2 of my classes to write penpal letters to the Walker Wolves, and I will bring them in November to share. The Brenu kids are so anxious to hear back from you and would appreciate computers and bicycles from you. I asked them to share their dreams, and they did. In the village there are perhaps 12 bicycles shared by all of the children. I have not figured out their system, but it sure seems to work. The tiniest kids will sport around the dirt lots on huge bikes. The only other toy we have seen is a "car", made with a 5" stick, wooden handle, and fisherman's spool for the wheels. The younger kids push them around on their shoulders racing one another.

We have succeeded in staying healthy with our medicines, sunscreen, insect repellant and mosquito nets. I can't wait to get up in the middle of the night and not have to wriggle out of my net. We miss family and friends more as time goes on and are tired of the humidity and heat. It can be very oppressive, although we had about a 2 week respite when it cooled off ever so slightly.

Keep us in your prayers and keep the campaign heading in the direction the BBC has been reporting to our friends in Besease. We have no television or newspaper in Brenu. Very out of touch with the rest of the world.

Lots of love,
Akua Linda