Pictures from my walk

When I was walking I ran into these two boys with bicycle tires they were pushing and watching them roll.   We were at the junction where the dry season farming is taking place.

Found this lady next to the road pounding millet and was pouring it over and over so the wind would take out the husks.  All she is suppose to have left with is the seeds themselves which she will pound into flour.These children followed me down the street.  The little boy next to the girl in green had such an unbelievable laugh.  I would just laugh listening to him.  Notice the herniated belly button.  Soooo many children have them here in the Upper East.

Here I am practicing my sewing so maybe in the next 2 years I can earn my Certificate to become a seamstress.  Notice we are outside next to the dusty road, the machines are from China, and they have a hand wheel to turn the needle.  I did fix the bobbin on one machine because the girls did not know ho

Another day Learning about my Job

Here I am washing my lunch dishes in the front yard. Had last of blackeyed peas and rice, with  a salad –cabbage, tomatoes, green peppers (for some reason I can eat them here), carrots, and onions.

 

My friend Clements invited me to the big soccer game this morning.  On the way I ran into a number of donkey’s even a very hungry little one.

When I found a shady spot on the field I found all the seats taken-look on the branches of the trees so I stood for the 1st 1/2.

The young man in yellow shirt is Clement and is one that invited me with “ so sorry so late but could you come watch the game over there this morning?”.  Look at his feet he does not have shoes but that did not stop him running up and down the field, hitting with his head, or kicking that ball way down field.

Today after the 1st half of the game I found a ride to Zorko to go visit Dawn and see her town and meet and greet with her.  I found her under the trees with a group of people visiting.  I set and visited for awhile then we went to her house.  She said she was going to cook for us and we had a wonderful soup.  We did have two bowls but only one spoon so do we eat in shifts or

Dawn got the short straw and got the BIG spoon.  Good job Dawn.

After lunch we visited in town and then decided maybe I should start looking for a ride.  A taxi came by and I went to get in.  When I was the 7th in the car the driver said 2 cedis, I said no to much, he said 2 cedis so I got out of the cab.  We are talking about a 10-15 min ride down the road-it does not cost that much to get all the way to Bolga.  So we waited for a while and decided to start walking.  We walked all the way to Nyariga almost 2 hours.  We took a wrong road for where I live so an older guy got his bicycle and walked us to my house then road his bike back home.  I did buy him some pure water to say thank you.

Another day as a volunteer learning the ropes and greeting all those that I see.  Did learn a little about the area and where some of the basket weavers live.  Two ladies came out to street (they all seem to know when Salamer white people are in the area)  and knew exactly where I lived because they are weavers for my landlord.  Oh the small town life.

A Day in the Life

This am started as usual, cup of tea, checking email, facebook, washing a few clothes, and today waiting to hear from my Counterpart when we would be going to Bolgatanga to visit some gov’t offices, assembly people Etc. I was not given the list of people so I was just going to “ meet” my main job for a few months.  He came over at 9:30 to let me know since yesterday was a holiday no one was in office or they were to busy today so we would do later in the week, BUT tomorrow he would make appts., to see the chief and another local dignitary for tomorrow.  We shall see.

Since it was mkgt. day in my town and I had never been I wanted to see if I could save a trip into Bolga.  Well NO, there was no vegetable I  knew (there was a beautiful green that they called what sounded like bitter green but they could only tell me to make a stew – asked if it was like spinach but got no explanation so I will keep hunting because it looked like it could have lots of good vitamins Etc. in it.

So I walked back to the Craft shop and told them I would come and go because I needed to go to Bolga.  I did greet everyone and tried to remember names, got lots of laughs and left.

Got things I needed and walked to the junction to wait for a cab.  Dawn texted and wanted to know if I was going in and said she had already been waiting for a cab 1 hrs.  I was so excited to see a cab at the junction and we only needed 2 more people so we could leave with yes 7 people in a 5 person car w/out any rear lights and I could see through the door frame of the driver plus his seat was at a 45 degree angle.  BUT I was on my way to Bolga.

No one answered my texts as to being in town so I went through my errands trying to set up my house, sealed containers, colander, cutting board real fun stuff.  Still no answer to my text so I walked by the banks and the local watering hole for “white” people but no luck.  So I was getting excited about a piece of meat for lunch so I got my chick en leg = see attached.  Rob, Brittany and Dawn were in the food mkgt. area so I joined them.  Got all kinds of veggies, even got 6 eggs for 1 Gh cedis 80 pesewas.  No eggs in my village but plenty of chickens – I guess they all turn into chicks.

Dawn headed for the bank so I finished up and headed for the tros tros.  When I walked up an old gentlemen hollered “Oh my Nyariga friend, Welcome”  It was so sweet.  He said wait and he tried to get me on but the tros tros was full.  He said no problem you wait for another car I get you on in front.  I just laughed and said okay.  He then proceeded to get me to talk Fra Fra With him.  He introduced me to everyone that came by and had me practice.  It was so funny, because he would laugh every time I said something.  I called Dawn but she was still in line (have I mentioned how much we hate banking in Ghana?) so I told him to save her one in the next tros tros.  Of course we had to wait for the top to be loaded with beer-the top was lined with the plastic containers with bottles in them so I knew we would not crash this time because they would have died rather than let even one bottle break.

I told my driver I would alight in Nyariga and he asked me if I lived with Tie hero (my spelling and pronunciation).  When I said yes and asked how he knew.  He said a new volunteer was living with him and he figured I was the one.  He does not live in my town.  Anyway, when I got out and went around the vehicle two little boys were running as fast as they could to fight over my bags to carry them for me.  One was very heavy but they insisted they could handle it.  These are the same boys who CAN NOT carry my water, because boys don’t do that.

When I came into my room they stopped by the door and set everything down and said they would play the game and come out when I could.  So I put what I had to up then went to watch them play.  They will all be in school next week and I will miss all their Fra Fra- English help. 

While fetching water a young man came up to get his water.  He is a teacher here and introduced himself.  He told me where he lives across the field from me, and said I could come get him anytime I needed help with my English.  I told him I was thinking about a tutor – maybe someone who needed to practice their English.  He said school starts next week and he will think if there is a child that could help me.  Today while waiting for my ride home he came over and smiled and asked if I knew him.  I said yes not his name but that he was a teacher.  He smiled ear to ear and said he had to get back on tros tros because he was going on it.

Have I told you how nice everyone is??  They take an interest in everything that is going on around them and want to help.  My friend in Canada emailed me that she read that Ghana was the 5th happiest country in the world, Canada was 28th.  I can say that I have not problem with the statistic.  I have met a mother of 3 – one on her back the other two following her and she can speak very little English but she has decided I am her new friend and makes a point to stop by the house each time she comes for water to say hello with a great big smile on her face.  I will try to get a picture of her tomorrow.  It was to dark tonight.

Not sure what is next but with such nice people at least you don’t have to worry about that (unless you are banking and again I HATE BANKING IN GHANA!!!) and it is exciting to see who you will meet and talk to next.

Enjoy the pictures on the next blog because I am using my computer modem and it is not too fast.

Pictures of Children

Getting a watermelon out of the field to share with each other

Children from the compound I have been playing with and yes the middle girl has a baby on her back.

Its about 6 pm and we are all getting water.  This is my new friend with her smallest child asleep on her back while she is pumping water.

Pictures from the Market in Bolgatanga

Didn’t know this is where Bob and Justin gets their spare parts

Where I get my fresh bread

Waiting for Tros Tros to fill up this is a Mercedes!! Taxi next to it is loading up also.

My lunch today with Meat yes that is a leg where the meat on the leg is is anyone’s guess They cook there meat way past the point of done I have even eaten the skin because it is so crisp. Meat once a week and eating the skin won’t kill me RIGHT???? The cabbage, carrots, green pepper on the side is soooo good.

My friend’s are trying to get me to buy meat at the market and it will be alright until I get home and put it in the fridge.  Just can’t look at that meat being butchered and then expect to go home and eat it. 

Random pics of new town Nyariga, Ghana

If traveling gets much worse I guess I will pay him to get me to town and back, next best is bike in back however, it will be way to hot soon to ride after 10 am (about 110 degrees starts end of Feb) then it will be to rainy.  Can’t win here.

Getting water from the bore hole near my home.  The children are wonderful in helping me get water home.

Helping Grandma wash clothes. She also said I did not do it right or good and helped me with my clothes.

This is little girl I live with getting her bath before she goes to work with her mother.  She is still scared of me but hopefully we can change that.

Getting all the purchases with the owners on a tros tros to get home Ladies carrying things on their head are selling to people sitting in tros tros waiting to leave.

My front yard – this is a mother pig with about 6 piglets but I don’t

know where they are.  She is looking for stuff thrown out. (They have me empty my garbage on the ground)

I believe this is the newest Muslin Temple in town.

I will take pictures of the baskets at the craft center soon and forward them on. 

I am at my village

Oh this has been a very informative, exciting, and making me think out of the box week.  I finally got here on Monday.  John’s son meet me in Bolatanga and made arrangements to have a taxi take us home with all my luggage.

We went to John’s house instead of my new place.  Olivia was feeling bad and she said that we might have to clean when we get there.  I caught up with Michael and the whole family what they had been doing since I had left.  Michael was so excited to see me.  Made me feel good (remember he is the 3-4 yr. old that is John’s grandson but he and I hit it off right away).

The next morning I was up early with Michael and Olivia and I carried the backpacks plus one of the gucci bags to my new place.  About a 15-20 min walk.  The house is on the main road through town and next door to my own 7-11, well the Ghanaian 7-11 anyway.  Pictures of the house are below.

My room is off the “living room”  the family even has a TV.  I have had to put my water container there because I only have a bed in my room at this time.  It also needs a new mattress so I am to purchase tomorrow.  We have few things that have to be done to meet Peace Corps requirements.  I have to have a “screen” door (best way to describe to my American friends) on my door from the living room because of flies and mosquitos.  I have to have a table and two chairs and I need shelves or something for my clothes, toiletries in my bathroom, plus I would like somewhere to put my food things since I will not be eating with the family.  I just can’t do all the carbs.

I have cleaned my room windows, walls, bathroom etc.  I have a few things to purchase like rugs in the bedroom and bathroom.  I need to find another light for my bed you know my reading habits, now I am using a flashlight or the light on my kindle.  Once I get my new mattress I will make my bed up right and put on Tammy’s pillow cover might even buy another pillow.

Money is a hassle here.  Since everything put in banking acct. you have to get it out in paper form until we get our debit cards.  These should have been given to us way before training was over but……  The lines are something you can not even imagine.  Before the bank opened the other day the line was from the front door back and forth about 6 times, plus all the way to the street.  I wish I had had enough sense to take a picture.  I will get you one though.  And the barging in while you are at the window was unbelievable.  There is no privacy to count your money or put it away without everyone being able to see. Makes me very nervous.   So I ordered a debit card could take 1 – 3 months to get and the line for the atm well lets not even go there.  Needless to say no banking on Market Days.  No bank, no grocery store for fresh stuff even eggs, no taxis or lorries,  no nothing in my village.  So Bolga trips are a necessary evil at least once a week if I have a fridge but I don’t yet because I have to get 300 cedis out of the stupid bank. AT least I have a friend that is willing to help me get the fridge and mattress to my little town but I did not have enough nerve to ask him how we were going to do it.  Sometimes I worry less when I don’t know as much. Ha!!!!

I have walked my little village basically just walking through farms  Generally I have my own parade of children following me since school is out here like the US.  They have been wonderful about filling my buckets and carrying them for me.  I have tried to greet everyone I see however, once we get past the greeting the children have to tell me what is being said and I try to say in Fra Fra the right response.  Usually the kids just end up laughing as well as most adults.  Guess I will eventually get another step further when I start my tutoring.

The children here seem to take care of themselves unless an adult see something wrong.  I can’t stand the hitting so I have to have them stop it in my present.  They don’t just hit they slug the person that has done them wrong.   Anyway, I quit playing games with them this afternoon because they would not stop slugging each other for no reason that I could see.

The other person living in the house besides the family is the purchasing agent for a French company.  She was nice enough to invite me over to the craft center to see what they are trying to finish.  They are on a dead line and as I have told you Ghanaians don’t get that.  The French designer sent over the instructions of what she wants then they have to figure out what they expect and then do the work.  The baskets I saw this evening were so nice.  I am going to try and get me one.  They also have a sewing center where some of the baskets have a liner  or a liner with a cover for the top.  They were really nice.

Pictures will follow since I went with a walk with the children and we ended up at the craft center.  I am sending a picture of a young barber doing a child’s head.  They use a comb with a two sided straight razor to cut the hair.  I asked if they cut the skin but he said he was very good.  He was a friend of the volunteer I am replacing so he was excited to meet me.

The nights and early morning are so cool it is wonderful. I  have walked, each morning or done some kind of movement.  I plan on starting my cd’s on yoga tomorrow morning before I leave for Bolga might get my brain straight before I go get in the bartering me. 

The pictures are the before since I am still working on the house. Hopefully my new modem will work good for me.

My room where my clothes will go when I have a shelve or something:

My front door looking into family living room and yes there are actually 2 motos that are parked in the “dinning room”.

My front windows where most of the light comes from.  Hopefully, my table and two chairs will be in this corner.

My shower tiled on the floor with big drain. 

My flush toliet when I fill the tank with a whole bucket of water.  Needless to say it only gets flushed when necessary.

My place for two years  will show you again when I have it in better shape.  The walls are mud bricks covered with stucco so not much can be put on the walls and nothing can be screwed or nailed into the walls.  Maybe some paint would help but how would I get the paint on the walls?  Wouldn’t a roller fall apart.  Oh well I will find out.  Enjoy

 

Here is the barber: