Ghana Team Journal

Thought for the day:

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Journal by: Pat

At breakfast we were glad to greet Esther and Kathleen and share our weekend adventures before leaving for school. Those who hadn’t visited Ericson Educational Institute came with us; for Sandy, it would be her first day of teaching, taking the older students from Liz’s class.

But where were the students? Ten from my class drifted in as I read with the earlier ones. It seems the school van was in need of repair so some couldn’t be transported, while others weren’t aware that summer school was extended through this week. With the smaller class, David, the third grade teacher, and I were able to do work with each child as we taught vocabulary development and fractions. We thought about the meaning of “is the bowl half full or half empty?” We were challenged to find a word opposite in meaning to “war”—“unity” was the answer one student contributed, but “peace” didn’t come immediately to their minds.

We also fit in a health reading, taking our weather recordings, geography with several maps, and, of course, a welcome break. The most powerful moment of the morning was when one girl declared that she wasn’t going to stay in Ghana since “some say it’s a dirty country.” David didn’t hesitate to address the students, emphasizing that this is their country, and it is their responsibility to keep Ghana free of litter, protect natural resources, and lead by their example.

Back to the St. James Guest House for lunch, five of us squeezing into the taxi. Liz, Susan and Vivian decide to leave immediately after lunch for the Akosombo market and post office, to return by tro-tro.

Reading at the library was a pleasure, with Samuel permitting my group to use the adult room. As I read a picture book about Moses, illustrations of making bricks, herding goats, and village life seem so similar to Senchi today.

During dinner we had much to discuss, wondering at our bright students, exploring how to reach those with more limited English, and wishing them a successful future. Will they qualify for Kathleen’s scholarships, complete high school, and go on to be the leaders Ghana needs?