Orientation - "If we went home today, the trip would be worth it!"

Team Journal - October 10, 2010

Written by: Volunteer Betty

Quote of the Of Day: "In the final analysis, our most common link is that we inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future, and we are all mortal." ~ John F. Kennedy


After breakfast, we traveled to the St. James guest house while we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Sunday in Ghana. We saw many people in their beautiful authentic colorful dresses. Others were carrying baskets of fruit on top of their heads. We listened to praise mujsic on the radio while visiting some with Eric and Vincent. People were selling watermelons, tomatoes, cocoanuts, pottery, and other things.

After lunch we participated in team building exercises. The three categories that evolved for our purposes to be here were these: 1. to help the children, 2. to encourage our own personal growth, and 3. to learn about the Ghanaian culture.

We found the guest house to be clean, comfortable, and attractive.

After walking to the palace in Senchi Ferry, we had the experience of a lifetime being welcomed by the tribal chief, the queen mother, and many major leaders of the community. We met some of the teachers and heard speeches of welcome. They were all dressed in native costumes and tribal robes.

One man told the story of this golf staff which was important to every formal occasion. It included a carving of a man climbing a tree—but he needed help—signifying that we all are in need of each other. It indicates that we are all on this earth as one.

They invoked the memory of their ancestors with an alcoholic drink poured. One unusual happening was when the serious, revered tribal chief answered his cell phone!

We have now begun to test our taste buds with the spices of Ghana mixed with rice or pasta. If I went home today, the trip would be worth it!

September 10, 2010

Thank you!

September 9, 2010

Prepared by Kevin

Quote of the day:
“And we find at the end of a perfect day, The soul of a friend we’ve made.” -Carrie Jacobs Bond

We headed out to see the monkeys and the waterfall. The ride to the monkey sanctuary was smooth, compared to what was to come. It took awhile to find the monkeys, but once we located them it was a wonderful experience. The monkeys were willing to approach us as long as we have bananas. Since Tim and I ate 1 banana each and Jessica decided to feed 5 bananas to the monkeys, we ran out of bananas rather quickly. We tried to offer banana nut cereal bar to the monkeys, but they did not fall for it.

After spending almost 2 hrs at the sanctuary, we headed out to the waterfall. The drive itself was an adventure. With all the bumps on the road, I’m surprise the axel and the shocks are not damaged. The car bumped along for few hours and when we finally got there, we had sandwiches for lunch. The 45 minute walk to the waterfall was very peaceful with a soothing sound of the running water in the background. As we walked, we counted down on the bridges that we had to cross. As soon as we crossed the 9th bridge, the view was breath taking. After numerous picture shots, all of us decided to follow Samuel into the water. The cooling mist as well as the view of the bats made the trek worthwhile. It started to pour as we headed back to the car for another bumpy ride back to the hotel. We made it back just in time for dinner. Except for Kathleen who was not feeling well, the team finished eating dinner in 20 minutes. This was followed up with another Ice cream party.

September 8, 2010

Prepared by Jessica

“The morning is wiser than the evening”. Russian Proverb

Sadly to say….. a few more days until we leave our friends in Senchi-Ferry. Walking thru our daily trail to the library, it is such a joy to see the locals and animals especially my adopted “GOATS” giving us their morning greetings. This is a moment I will be thinking about when I am back to the noisy morning rush hour of New York City.

Library, Library, Library… Just seeing the children room has displayed books and puzzles onto the wood shelves. I must say it’s almost coming into place. Under Samuel’s direction Lu decided to categorize Mathematics textbooks in order. What a project for the day! Looks presentable. I can image the children are picking up these textbooks and doing super well on their Math scores.

An hour and so, Gerard & Katy has joined in and working on the adult room with a help from Young Tim. It is so nice to see everybody has been chipping in the labor work.

Tick Tock- 12 pm--- “ LUNCH” Katy suggested us to pass by a religious monument and will be an interesting place to check out. So, we did and it doesn’t looks like I am in Sechi-Ferry. We would definitely recommend the next group to go see it along with a brisk walk with termite hills back to St.James.

September 7, 2010

Prepared by Tim

Quote of the day – “I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.” ~ Rita Mae Brown

Group #99 - Senchi Ferry
1 – Computer class with 14 – 16 kids using one laptop (Unacceptable)
2 – Kids learning how to crop & edit pictures. (Delightful)
3 – Off Day from yard work. Giving us a much needed break . (Exhilarating)
4 – Washing the floor, cleaning the shelves, and stacking the books. (Satisfying)
5 – Jessica & Christina – Dancing during break time (Entertaining)

@ Cede’s Bead Shop
1 to 2 cedis for a single bracelet
400 bracelets purchased (Empty Wallets)
8 Free bracelets at the end of the day.
SMILES ALL AROUND!

September 6, 2010

Prepared by Katy

Quote of the day: “A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.” ~G.Thomas Gale

Labor Day--Hard sleep--Light rain--Breakfast comfort--Hot coffee--Journal catchup--Fictitious fun--Journal joking--Esther scolding--Dream sharing--Malarone blaming--Smaller team--Missed companions--Familiar walk--Maa kye--Yaa ena--Fewer children--Dust shelves--Sweep floors--Computer classes--Pickax swinging--Rock Breaking--Shovel scrapping--Water chugging--Soapy mopping--Clean room--Soon, books--Baby goat--Crazy Obronis--Warm shower--Rice beans--Van ride--“Believe God”--Money out--Curvy road--
Busy streets--Heavy rain--Craft Market--Drop off--Steep steps--Wood carving--Large drum--Machete bite--Toilet search--Endless shops--“Power House”--Statue drop--Bruised foot--Many sales--Heavy bags--Empty wallets--Wet pavement--Wawa trees--Green hills--Red earth--Real Africa--Team 99--Giving 100--Post Script--Dinner Discussion--Family calling--Home missing--Mosquito biting--Journal writing--To live--To sleep

September 5, 2010

Prepared by Mickey

Quote of the day: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia

We started the day with a hot model named Eric who served us breakfast while his also very good looking brother cooked us breakfast. That definitely put a smile on all of the girls face, especially me.

Vincent, our very shy and quiet driver took us to the Kakum National Park. Right before we entered the park, Cristina and Jessica had to use the bathroom. So they decided to use the bathroom right in front of everyone showing their bare bottoms, which brighten up the guys’ day. As soon as we walked into the park, we saw the restroom.

We did the canopy walk and nature walk. The canopy walk was a lot of fun. It almost felt like we were Tarzan swinging/walking on trees. The nature walk was interesting and informative until we all got attacked by angry ants. At the end of our walks, Kevin and Cris bought fruits off the street even though Esther warned us to never buy anything on the streets.

There is only one main road that all the vehicles take, and the street is always filled with people trying to sell goods. It took us almost 6 hours to get back to the guesthouse due to the heavy traffic. On our way back, Gerard thought he saw Citibank and Jessica thought she saw someone with bread. We were obviously a little delirious from being inside the van most of the day.

We got to see more of Ghana this weekend and it was fun, but we missed the children and cannot wait to start the second work week volunteering at the library.