Sunday February 21, 2010

contributed by Shirley

We began our day at 8 am. Had breakfast at the Airport View Hotel (toast, hard boiled eggs, baked beans, sausage, scrambled eggs, pineapple juice, coffee.) We left the hotel at 10 am after exchanging money to local currency. Our journey was expected to take 2 hours to arrive at our Village – New Akrade and St James Guest House. We all piled into a non air conditioned van with two jump seats. A second van carried all of our luggage. On the way we traveled through many villages and saw multiple outdoor churches with worship services being conducted. As we traveled, we saw a variety of animals along the side of the road including beef cattle, sheep, goats of all sizes and colors, chickens, and dogs. We arrived at St James Guest House early and received our room assignments. Esther held our first team meeting, where we were requested to share four goals of why we chose to come to Ghana. Prior to this exercise, we played a name game to get to know one another. Our goals were shared with the group and then were grouped by subject matter:

1. To experience African culture and share our own.
2. We came to Ghana to help people in need.
3. Experience personal growth.

Following the exercise, Esther then did an overall orientation regarding the do’s and don’ts while in Ghana. Examples:

1. Don’t use the left hand to gesture when speaking.
2. Do not wear shorts above the knees.
3. Do not cross your legs.
4. Do not become intimate friends.
5. Walk in pairs, not alone.
6. No gift policy – things bought for children may be taken to school each day and brought back at night and left for the schools on the last day at St James Guest House.

Developed and reviewed 10 characteristics of an effective team:

1. open communication
2. respect each other
3. trust each other
4. good listener
5. flexible
6. patient
7. helpful to another
8. positive attitude
9. considerate
10. share ideas and approaches

Esther then taught us local phrases of twi language

Obroni – hello from afar
am greeting – makye
afternoon greeting – mahaa
evening greeting – madwo
add to greeting:

ye ena – to a woman
ya agya – to an older man
ya nua – to a friend
ya oba – to a child
me das see – thank you

We ate lunch and then went back to our room for a rest. We had a 4 pm appointment to meet the chief. We walked to the community center in oppressive heat over very rough terrain. When we arrived, we were situated on one side, and the villagers were sitting across from us. We were greeted and asked our names, and then when the meeting began we stood and introduced ourselves and told where we were from. We met with our country host Action Association under the direction of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. We had an opportunity to break into groups and met with the teachers and the construction crew.

We were introduced to the chief who had just returned from a meeting, and he extended his welcome to us. On our walk back, we met a few of the village residents and tried to practice our new language. When we arrived at the St James Guest House, some enjoyed the local brew (beer) and waited for our dinner served at 7 pm. Following dinner, the group planned for some activities during our free time.