Thursday, June 5, 2008

Team Photo - Students Only

by Namrita

Today was an excellent day. We all assumed our regular duties as we knew it was to be one of last days of volunteering. Chris and I went to the New Senchi Ferry clinic. We saw a few patients and then had several hours of downtime. We decided to take matters into our own hands and we took the tro-tro to the Akosombo market and internet café.

After the market, we joined the others for lunch. Lunch was delicious and filling, as usual. Next, Christopher, Amy and Cris and I went to the Volta River while the others went back to the market. The river was amazing, it was my first time rowing and I was excellent. Everyone was so impressed, they were taking notes. NOT.



After our time at the relaxing river, we headed back to dinner. We discussed our plans for a soccer match the next day that many of us are really looking forward to. We finished up the night with a game of Rummy and some reflection on one of our best days in Senchi.

“Don’t speak for others.”

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

by Cris

It was another great day in Ghana. After the usual breakfast, most of the volunteers headed to what was said to be the final day of the construction of the new preschool. Meanwhile, there were medical students contributing at all three clinics today. After our favorite lunch (Peanut soup with rice balls), Amy, Namrita, Chris and I delivered thank you notes to the district’s C. E. He talked all about his position and about the village and we really enjoyed our visit. Most of the others went to the river where they rowed down the Volta on rented boats. After dinner, it was a pretty lazy evening with games of Rummy, books, and movies passing the time until everyone went to sleep.

In other news, today, Barack Obama won the Democratic Presidential Nomination, and Hillary Clinton has yet to concede.

“If you teach a man to hate and fear his brother; that he is less of a man because of the color of his skin or the policies he pursues, then you teach him to face others not as fellow citizens, but as enemies. We must learn that this world can neither be ennobled nor enriched by hatred and violence” Robert F. Kennedy

Team Photo

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

by Ida

As our final week comes to an end, there’s an unspoken feeling within many of us to truly cherish and appreciate our last days in Ghana. Jaylee, who usually spends her days teaching Kindergarten at the Catholic school, wanted to experience helping out in a clinic for a day, so she shadowed Namrita during what was one of the busiest days at the clinic.

At the Senchi-Ferry clinic, Kim, Maryal, Caitlin and Jen volunteered to stay to assist Madam Grace in a natural birth! Based on their accounts and my own imagination, I can confidently say it is a truly incredible experience. As first year medical students, they felt very fortunate to have experienced such an important procedure.

The rest of the afternoon was spent mostly indoors due to some scattered showers, but that didn’t stop any of us from having fun! A few of us caught up on reading and writing, while other put newly bought nail polish to good use.

After a few us of us returned from a nice walk through Senchi Ferry to visit the seamstress again, we all spent the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying our last Tuesday night together in Ghana.

“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”

Monday, June 2, 2008

by Tam
The dreaded Monday has finally arrived. Colin and Eric are heading up the Volta River on their ferry ride while we all get back to work. The four of us, Kim, Amy, Chris and I, headed off to Senchi Ferry at 8:45 in the morning and started our day at the clinic. We headed straight into the exam room and looked at patients for the next three hours. At 12:15, we decided to head back to the guest house for lunch, but Madame Grace asked for our assistance and we stayed at the clinic for a few hours longer. We were even given four pineapples for our hard work!

After finishing lunch, Maryal, Kim, Jen, Caitlin and Richard left for the Akosombo Hydro-Electric Dam while Amy, Namrita, Tara, Jaylee, and Ida left for the Akosombo market. Chris and Cris were fast asleep when I left with Monica to get a shirt made for my younger brother by a local seamstress.

I then took the trow-trow, a local transportation service, to find stamps to send mail to my friend back at home. Then I walked to the bridge and took pictures of the river and two cool Ghanians who knew my name! It was fun! I then walked down the street to browse through the various stores along the way to the guest house.

On my way, I passed by a fabric shop and bought even more yards of great fabric! After purchasing the fabric, and giving up on my search for stamps, I went home on the trow-trow. I ended the afternoon by lying on the couch and reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

As dinnertime came, everyone returned from their excursions and we all ate another delicious meal together! We all separated after dinner, some going to watch a movie, read a book, while others, like me, have to write a journal entry.

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”

Sunday, June 1, 2008

by Kimberly

The month of June began today with out group’s first free day which everyone made sure to take advantage of. With a late breakfast starting at nine, we were all able to get some extra sleep. That is, with the exception of Maryal who managed to get up at 6 to join the community jogging club for a short run. After breakfast, the group split up so that everyone could do their own thing. One group hiked down the main road of Senchi Ferry, which continued past the last houses and ended at the Volta River. It was a hot walk but the view was worth it. Another group headed down to the river to play volleyball and relax, and others stayed in bed even longer.


After a delicious lunch of peanut soup, the group reconvened to walk to the river for an afternoon of fun. It was beautiful day for hanging out at Sajuna Beach Resort. We relaxed in the splash pool, played ping-pong, and foosball, ate strange looking popsicles, and it wasn’t long before a game of volleyball started up.

One game led to more games, and with some talented volleyball players on both sides it was dusk before we knew it. We made the trek back to St.James and enjoyed a new dish for supper. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and getting ready for another busy day. Today was a great opportunity for everyone to take a breather and also to bond one last time as a group before we lost two more teammates on Monday. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

“Two paths diverged in a wood, I took the one less traveled and that has made all the difference” Robert Frost

Saturday May 31, 2008

by Caitlin

Today started with breakfast at 7am followed by a van ride to Accra. Today two of us left and everyone was sad to see them g. In Accra our group split with some going to the mall and some going to see the teaching hospital. In Accra we went to the Art Center where various vendors sold objects curved of wood, jewelry and paintings and clothes. They were very aggressive and would often try to stroke our hands or touch us. We then went to Frankie’s Hotel to eat a westernized lunch, buy some pastries and get ice cream. After this we went to the mall to meet up with the other group. At the mall we stocked up on a few grocery items before we all headed back to St. James. After dinner some people went to a disco while some of stayed in and played cards.

“Any good that I may do let me do it now for I will not pass this way again”