Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Random Pictures Around the Village

I always take my camera when I am in the village you never know what  will be interesting.

 

This young man lives next door and sometimes comes and helps me with language.  Today he

was called over to clean the guineas they had bought for about 15 cedi's because they wanted to

cook them for lunch. 

P1010902              P1010903All clean ready to cook!!!

 

This Sunday morning I was on my usual walk and stopped at the Craft Center because I heard voices.  They are almost through and looking for a truck to take to port in Accra to be shipped to American.  One of the leather handle makers pointed out his house and wanted me to walk that way.  So I did.  No one was at the house so I kept walking toward the main road around Nyariga.  Well about 45 mins later two very nice boys came from the last bore hole to see if I needed help.  I guess I send out SOS’s.  Anyway, I told them where I was going and they said I would end of in Zumbrugo (sp)if I kept going the way I was going.  So they very kindly said they would walk me to the junction.  The pushed their bikes and we talked.  They had many questions about America.  One that I thought interesting was “If I am a stranger in your country do I have to have papers or will they kick me out.”  I think it was about the Mexico border crossing so answered the best I could even went to say I had to have papers to stay here in Ghana, but I do  not carry them with me all the time and you would not have to in America either if you were there legally.

 

P1010900The one in the yellow shirt is Sebastian and for the life of me I can not remember the other boys name except it was English.  The one on the left is 19 and in Junior High School and the other is also in school and I believe he was JHS also.  When we got to the Junction (today is our market day) the Landlord’s Mother was there and wanted to know where I had been.  When the boys and I got finished the whole market was laughing with me and assured me they liked me exercising just make sure someone knows where I am.  Not likely I can do anything without everyone knowing.

As I left this am I heard my name being called and the girls were wanting me to wait for them.  They are all dressed going to church.

P1010896This is how they got there.  P1010897

P1010895

My landlords mother took some of the fresh tomatoes cut them up and put them outside to dry.  They are probably good but wind, dust etc. – that is my bedroom window and I know what comes in through them.  The water tank is for the teachers quarters my landlord is in the process of building for one of the schools.

It is getting hot but I don’t think it is as bad as yesterday yet.. I hope not anyway.  My very simple life.

Life in the Village

I was catching a ride to Bolga with the man across the path and he said he had to stop and pick up tomatoes

to take to town.  We drove to the Junction and the family was waiting for us.  The tomatoes were in a couple

of crates and in lots of dish pans that they covered with 2 yards and tied so they would not fall out.

 

This young man got the boxed balanced and then he carried it by himself up the small incline and placed it

with help on the top of the car.

P1010878P1010880

 

There was a funeral so everyone had to be taken care of like me in the car with the tomatoes.  The three children

go to school in Bolga and because of the funeral they were in Nyariga so the neighbor was asked to get them to school.  The picture speaks for itself.

P1010875The teacher was disappoint I took the picture with his helmet on but I am trying to let you see the way it is.  Look at the feet, the sweet faces and their matching uniform-same school different levels so the uniforms show you where they belong in the school.

 

These young boys EVERY morning fill all those buckets and containers then take it home in the trailer they pull themselves.  The little sister is sitting and playing in the trailer and the neighbor child is waiting her turn.  The Green and terra cotta buckets are mine waiting in line.  YES that is all I can carry and still get very wet!!!

These boys showed me the sling shot very home made but does the trick.  Then they showed me the new toys they were making out of left of zinc (what you and I would call a tin roof).

P1010860    P1010859  P1010858

 

Life in the Village, work, school and play!!!!

Friday, February 17, 2012

My Day at the Craft Center



Here is the man that wants me to speak Fra Fra so bad he is constantly making me repeat what he says. Might get a word or two this way. He is taking all these baskets and putting the letter handles on.

Here the men are making the bottoms of the basket.  They make a bottom and then do another one.  They were showing me but so far I don't get it.  They move to fast


Of course in all the teasing he did not think I would really cook so I did but did not think they would like bean, carrots tomatoes all mixed together and you could still see them.  There were in chunks so I did not think they would like it.



Yes the bowl was licked clean.  This last picture is the Craft Center Secretary.

The back to work!!

These are the other shape baskets he is putting on the leather handles.  Were 4 men doing handles 2 making baskets.  I am so upset after lunch 2 young girls came in making basket and I did not take their picture.  Will do again on next shipment maybe.
Enjoyed sharing my day.


What I do to keep me Busy and Meeting People

There is only so much you can do when you don’t have a specific project to be working on.  I make a circle every morning visiting a few people at the craft center, which is more now that they are trying to get a shipment out, and get a language lesson, as well as a sewing lesson as well as a basket weaving class if one of the ladies happen to be there. 

Then I stop by a ladies shop I am trying to help get her books with receipts together so she can maintain it for 6 months and possibly get a loan.  She would like more products but does not have the money to get them.  She tried for a loan once before and they told her no but not why or what to do to get one. 

Then I go by the seamstress on the main street and talk to all the women it is partly teaching me sentences or laughing on how that same sentence comes out of my mouth, and partly they are telling me the things they either wish for or the community really needs.

I then go to the junction to see what fresh they have gotten in and as usual it is very little but now we are getting tomatoes.  Hope it keeps getting better with the change of the weather because going into Bolga is not fun.  When you can wait over 2 hrs in the sun for a taxi or lorrie, it makes you want to forget it  except you know you will not have fresh food, you will miss your friends, and perhaps maybe a package will be waiting for you at the Post Office so you wait wait and wait for a ride.

  I then go to the house to fix lunch, read, and try to stay cool for a couple of hours.  Around 4 I go out front where the ladies are getting water, the children are playing or fetching water and see who will visit with me.  Mainly it ends up the children wanting to read or play games.  They range in all ages and abilities plus some are good with English so I always get a lesson in Fra Fra with what we are doing because some of the children have to be instructed in Fra Fra.

As it gets dark I try to get things finished before my landlord and his family come home so I am out of their way.  We share the kitchen so I try to eat my hot meal at lunch when they are at work and then just eat something small in my room and then read, watch a movie until it is time to put in the ear plugs and go to sleep.

P1010818Head Mistress at the Tailor Show that I visit.  She speaks good English and has a sweet little guy that is normally on her back but he was on floor playing about 1 yrs old.

P1010837Here are the children and I reading two books.  The little one with the book on his head is Peter and he is the one that swallowed the candy wrong.  He still comes over and does not seem concerned about it.

P1010835While we were reading the Uncle and his year old nephew drove up.  Yes he had ridden on his mother’s back from Bolga and now he was driving the Moto with his Uncle around town.  He knows the buttons to push, puts his feed in the rack and holds on when he is asked if he is ready.  Told the Uncle he would be in jail in American.  He laughed.

P1010817Here is the lady I am helping w/her books and her two children.  Her dau. I showed you her hair that she put on her and her little boy has the most awesome laugh.  She had just gotten off her moto, baby asleep and her hair wild.  Ha!!

P1010839Here is his football.  It is rubbers (their plastic bags are called rubbers) stuffed and stuffed and shaped round can see where it is tied on top so now he kicks it around while he is walking to bore hole.

When I do go to work I will still be able to do these things.  Everything is relaxed here.  People show up when they want.  Such a different life.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Saturday Meeting Day

I went to a meeting today with a friend from the Village.  It is a group of ladies getting together each Saturday to try and help each other with things they need-like today’s topic was things they should be doing with their children at home-while they do their basket weaving.  The basket weaving is where they get their money during the dry season because they do not have access to water out where they are to do dry season gardening.   I spent a couple of hours with them and listen to their wish list like a building to meet in during the rainy season.  Had no real advice except Children need to be taught English as early as possible.  Don’t think they understood but will try a different approach next Sat.

 

I was going to just post some pictures from today.  Enjoy.  BarbaraP1010804Yes, they think it is that cold.  She was all dressed in her sweater and hat to go to work with Mommy.  ALL children go to work with Mommy and up to about 3 they get nursed whenever and as long as they want while Mommy sews, sells, whatever.

 

P1010806This car has loud speakers and he was driving through the country side telling everyone the Mosquito Net give away would be at the end of this month.  PC and Ghana plus a few other are doing this-giving 2 nets per  family that had registered in December.

 

P1010807Here are the ladies and I under the tree with all their children, nursing, playing or touching the white lady.  They are all so sweet and want a better life for their children.

 

P1010814The braids are made from fake hair – Patience’s took her little hair and wound it to the fake hair to make braids.  Can’t imagine a 10 month old sitting still for that. 

P1010819Can you see the chalk marks?  This is where she will cut.  Do you see anything to cut straight no they just cut it.P1010821She is adding another line to cut.  Do you see the iron? It is heated with hot coals they put in the bottom.  Her shop does not have electricity.  P1010822

Do you remember Michael from John’s house when I stayed there in Nov?  He was so excited to see me at the seamstress.  He was there with his friend and he had to show off for her.  Make sure Justin sees Michael, they talked to each other under the Mango tree.  He also talked to Jack, but of course he knows only to mimc English.  Love him to pieces!!! He is 3 1/2 yr old.

My Saturday is about over except to read to the children that come while I am outside with “Barbie’s koom” okay so they don’t know its not water.  Ha!!  Talk to ya’ll soon. Love, Barbara

Monday, February 6, 2012

Visit to Deaf School

We had to take a taxi to deaf school which was a long walk from the Oasis.  Dennis and I decided it was to hot to walk 5km into town or even 4 km to the school so we elected to call for a car.  Two others decided to stay with us and the lady at Oasis called for a car.  He tried to play a game with us asking us a crazy amt but the lady helped us and we got him down, still to high but apparently he drove in from Bolga because he was not in the area.
The deaf school was so much fun.  When the taxi pulled through the gates the kids came running.  They grabbed our bags and would not let us carry anything.  Then as a second thought they asked who we were there to see.  I was spelling her name when one of the girls remember she had shown her how to sign her name.  When they knew it was Lauren they took off again just so excited to see so many white people at one time 4 of us at that time.  When they found out Lauren was in town buying chop they went and got us a bench so we would not have to stand and wait for her. 
You might be asking how do you know all this.  Well believe it or not some of the signing came back to me.  The kids were touching and saying things about our mats.  I signed to them it was for exercise.  They laughed and then wanted our names so I had to sign each name though I had to be reminded a few letters.  I thought why did I not learn sign language instead of Fra Fra I might be able to talk a fee fee amount more. Ha!!
Had a nice visit around campus they have their own garden, making a club for vocational type learning, beading, sewing, making shoes, etc. and a room where they were all watching TV.  These kids were so cute they all wanted to know our names so they made a sign for each of us as we told them our names, and they wanted us to know the sign for each of their names like I remember many of them Ha!!!
Such a fun time with them.  Then went right to Lauren’s room where they went away without making a fuss.
Here are a few pictures. 
P1010793They were showing us their names
P1010795Still in Ghana!!!
P1010796Oven being made for making of beads.  Yes, a clay oven.  Lauren in picture is the teacher.
P1010798Watching Tv on a Saturday afternoon.
Loved my time there.  Hoping I can tag onto Lauren’s club idea and get something started here in Nyariga.

VAC meeting in Tongo!!!

P1010775Here we are all at Melissa’s house getting ready to go to our VAC meeting in Tongo Oasis.  Brittany, Emma, Dawn, Laren, Melissa.  All our yoga mats to get us on the right road in the morning to help us decide on committees we want to be on to help with different projects in Ghana with PC.

 

 

P1010777Not our tros thank goodness.  They goats are also in the back half of the inside of the tros.  Must have smelled wonderful in there!!!

P1010778View from the porch the water is low (well this is the dry season) but the birds came as did boys to fetch water.  It was so pretty – looked kind of like the hill country in August.

P1010785We stayed in these huts.  Running water with wonderful shower, had a kitchen but we used the house for eating etc.  Friday night we had taco with flour tortillas, guniea fowl meat, salsa, lettuce just no guacamole out of season.  Very nice.

P1010781Living kitchen dinning area of home where we stayed in the huts or bedrooms next to living room.  We fixed our own meals, except for the above one, had our meeting and hated to leave.

 

This meeting is to get us informed about the different committees the PCV’s are putting together to help in different areas, like HIV/AID; Stars-leadership camp for students; etc.  Learned a lot and want to help with these committees, especially those with helping kids in their education.  We left here to go check out a Deaf School