Akwaaba

Akwaaba to my blog! Akawaaba means Welcome in Fante.

I have been learning a lot of Fante lately because it is the primary language here it is Cape Coast. The language barrier is larger than I expected but everyone loves when I try and everyone is always willing to teach me. When I say everyone I mean everyone, the culture here is extremely friendly and welcoming to those that you come in contact with. I have always felt safe, even in the streets where there is a lot of traffic and people, who do not have the right of way.

On Sunday June 2, I was picked up from the volunteer house I was staying at by my host family. A main question that I get asked is, do I have a toilet and does it flush? The answer is yes to both of those questions. But even if I didn’t I would still love this house because these individuals would be my guidance for the culture, language, and life lessons I hope to learn for the next two months.  I have a mother, father, and a little 2 year old brother who are all Ghanaian. I also have an American roommate for one month named Megan who is from Iowa and working in the health clinics here. I call my mother, Sister; my father, Kofi; my brother Papa, and my roommate Akua (for Wednesday). My name in Ghana is Aba, because I was born on a Thursday. 

My first day of work began the Monday after I moved into my new home and I, along with all of the interns, had a ProWorld staff member take me to the location of our work. From my home, going to work I walk down our dirt hill/road lined with houses, taking about five minutes and then I get a in a taxi. In the morning it usually takes about 15-20 minutes to grab a taxi, even though there are 5 for every 1 car passing by, but because of the amount of people and the traffic. It then cost 70 Pesewa’s to get to work. If you can remember from the earlier blog it is about 35 American cents.  Then I walk up a large hill to get to my office, which is the Department of Social Welfare, (DSW) which is a government building. This information on how to get to work is very important because it proves that none of our parents walked uphill both ways to get to school!

In my office I work with two other American interns Lashae and Emily and we are all very passionate about what goes on in the office and are always asking questions to learn about the Department. We were all told on the first day that we will all be doing a project and we needed to improve one of the three systems of Community Care, Justice Administration, and child rights protection and promotion. After researching the first day we decided our focus would be child rights protection and promotion which includes day care registration and monitoring, Training Attendants, Case work with family reconciliation, paternity, child matiness, and family tribunals. All day when discussing the project we worked under Kwabena Amofa Appiah, who used to be a teacher so is very enlightening and allows the office to contain a lot of laughing, with efficient work of course. The office closes around 4 pm and we are dismissed.

After the first day I got an internet stick for work, which is on a USB drive, and then went home but got lost for an hour and a half in the rain. Being lost was the first time that I truly realized how much I stand out. I always here Obroni, Obroni, Obroni, which means white person, and all of the little kids want a high five or to touch me. When I went to a day care on the second day of work and I had about 30 kids running up to me and chanting Obroni, and tackling me to the floor, it was really cute! Here we taught a hand washing lesson got to see what we really wanted our project to be.

If anyone knows me they could guess what I found on the third day Fan-Ice, ICECREAM that tastes like CAKE BATTER!!! It is in a little bag and one would bite a corner and suck it out and it is only 60 Pesewa’s.

I am having a blast and loving every minute of my time here. Be thankful for what you have and love those around you.

Sincerely,

Aba 

First day

Hello Again,

This was written on May 31^st but due to power outages this is when I am posting this.

So I am finally here and have officially spent 24 hours in Ghana!

It is funny because even when traveling I never knew what to expect upon arriving. Traveling is an adventure within its self, one is challenged to talk to people, figure out the locations, and handle frustrations that come with being in small quarters. My 30 hours of airports and flights made me appreciate land and experience the challenges. I am fortunate enough that I got the opportunity to meet up on my second flight with two Central students, Katy and Michelle, doing an internship with the same program but different fields as me. Our experience really started when we landed.

Off the plane I went outside on the runway and then walked into the airport. Getting my bags, exchanging money, and going through customs was quick and easy. The language barrier was larger than I expected though! Through our program a hotel type location was provided along with a taxi. Yet, little did the trusted cab driver know, 6 large bags and three of us would be a tight squeeze and require a bungee cord to close the door.

Arriving at the stay for the night the barbwire and isolated place ensured safety, just because it was dark and I was in an unfamiliar place. Paying the cab was my first use of cedis, which is equivalent to about half of an American dollar.  After being shown the room Evelyn took care of us by giving us a water bottle and telling breakfast was. A shower was the first thing on my mind that first started as a small stream out of the faucet but turned off 5 seconds after hopping in. The water and the power turned off that night and the fact that I was in Ghana really started to sink in. Luckily, the air conditioner was on earlier that cooled the room down so it was very easy to fall sleep. 

The next morning breakfast was served to us three and two other interns we met, that also arrived the night before. Breakfast was a few egg whites in an omelet, toast with jam, a hotdog, and a tomato slice. It was then time to pick up 9 more interns from the airport in Accra and travel four hours to Cape Coast. Everyone is so great and all have such a positive attitude about everything! Lunch was packed for the interns on our ride and it had the best mango and pineapple that I have ever tasted. 

Arriving in Cape Coast, today, we are staying at the official ProWorld stay and again tomorrow where we have free Wi-Fi, somewhat. We are going to the beach tomorrow and getting to know each other more. But the power just went out luckily my laptop was charged and I this at a later date, this means bed time.

Good night,

Lydia 

Almost To Ghana

Hello,

Today I received an email that had a title of "Almost to Ghana". This made my heart race because it meant that in 14 days, exactly two weeks, I will start my traveling to my home stay in Ghana. I having been dreaming about traveling to Africa since I was little and now that it is becoming a reality, possibilities seem endless.

When people ask each other about their summer plans it is commonly about working or taking classes, so when the question is directed to me and people hear that I am doing a Social Work internship in Ghana, Africa, I get gasps because they are so surprised. When I get these shocked reactions it gets me even more excited to embark on this adventure and this amazing learning experience.

My placement is in Cape Coast Ghana through an organization called ProWorld, which will help me learn a great amount about my future job as a social worker. I will not only learn about social work but also a whole different way of living. Being in a different culture will allow me to treasure the unique characteristics between all cultures and live in different way that I am used to.

As the email added a packing list and said see you soon, I realized there is a lot to be done and I should start investing my time in packing and preparing.

Until next time,

Lydia