general update

Well, last week wasn't the greatest week for us here in Ghana. Last Tuesday, mom started feeling sick and it was downhill from there. By wednesday afternoon, we were considering taking her to the hospital, but luckily a few hours later she started to improve... at which point i got sick from about thursday night to saturday. Anyway the weekend was a write-off. We were supposed to go to a monkey sanctuary but we couldn't go because i was in no condition to leave the house. Let's just say that we lived in the bathroom for most of the week. Then our host father started getting sick on sunday. This makes me think it was something we eat. Further supporting evidence comes from the fact that leftovers sit on the stove (for at least a day) and don't go in the fridge... and then are served again the next night. Also, there is no soap in the house to wash dishes, our water is yellow and comes from the river, and the kitchen is infested with countless species of insects (and the occasional lizard). hahah oh ghana, i love you so much. To be honest, for some reason little of this bothers me.. i'm here for the experience... i expected to get sick--i can't believe it took this long--but mom is much less willing to accept these health risks (and is much smarter in doing so i would say).

Anyway, we're going to Ada Foah tomorrow, which according to many volunteers is the most beautiful place in ghana. It's right at the point where the Volta River meets the ocean. We're staying in a hotel that you reach by boat. It's on the beach and you stay in huts with sand floors and no electricity. And the price is right at only 10 ghana cedi a night. We're really looking forward to it!

Mom has finished at Christ Outreach and will spend the final volunteer week (next week) at a private medical clinic, plying her former trade. And from what I hear they are very excited to have her and even asked her to make any suggestions on how things could run smoother at the clinic. They know her very well from her frequent visits with the children. Thankfully, the orphanage received some money from parents who are adopting some of the children, however, it didn't go very far. They'll have some food for a few weeks anyway, but they're already out of clean drinking water. But more children keep getting malaria and continue to swim in stagnant pools, leading to more schistosomiasis cases. The children were sad to see her go, as was the matron of the orphanage, but she's going to go back for a visit before we live, which is still a way off.

I was in the Rural and Community Health ward this week, which meant commmunity outreach projects. One day i went to a farming village that was in the middle of nowhere. It was very exciting. We weighed babies, gave them vitamins and inoculations. In fact I was able to give my first needle this week to a 14 week old baby boy. Needless to say, he cried ahaha. I also went along on two visits to maternity clinics where we did similar work. It was hilarious when we arrived because there was always a sea of women with newborns, and of course there was a huge uproar because first i was white and second i was a male. Plus i've been growing a beard here for quite a long time now. It actually somewhat resembles a legitimate beard. Growing a beard while travelling/volunteering in west africa just feels right for some reason haha.

I know, i'm continually saying it, but so much to say, so little time... But I have to mention religion in ghana. This has to be the most fervently christian country i've ever been to. By far. I think it must be 70 or 80% christian, with a muslim minority of about 15%, and the balance made up by animistic local religions. But christianity especially is everywhere and it is an intrisic part of life here. Many cars and trucks, both private and commerical have religious slogans stickered on their windshields, such as "God is Love" or "Anything is Possible with Jesus". But that is just the start. Essentially, you can attend church on any day of the week--but of course sunday is huge here. Most churches have services that last from 9 am to 1 pm--yes a vast majority. However, there are many churches that start their service at 4:30 am on sunday morning and they go all day.. and i mean ALL day. It's incredible. In fact, when we stay in Kasoa on the weekend (which is rare) the music from the church usually wakes us up. Furthermore, i would say about 35% of all businesses here have some sort of religious reference in their title. Here are a few of my favorites from Kasoa alone:

1. Clap for Jesus Engineering Shop
2. In Jesus' Blood Print Shop (i still can't believe this is real place of business)
3. By God's Grace Fast Food (and by fast food they don't mean burger and fries)
4. King Jesus Phones

There are many more, but i can't remember them all. I'm going to have to start writing them down. Faith is very powerful here though. And given the economic situation for many, it is easy to see why. For example, a nurse who i have worked with extensively is 20 years old, has a basic 6-month 'nursing' degree under her belt and lives with her aunt and uncle. Her uncle does not let her or her aunt out of the house except to work. She has no money to further her education, and plus the government can withhold her salary for 2 years because she's a new graduate. And what was her only hope? "I pray to God that a miracle will happen" she told me. I can't tell you how many people i've met in similar situations, but most seem to find comfort and hope in religion which is a good thing for them to have. It certainly makes me appreciate the opportunities that i've had that much more.

I should say more about our host family too. Very interesting people. Eric, our host father is 35, but he told me he's 27 haha. His father is a chief (Eric's last name means 'chief') in the northern region of ghana, which is vastly underdeveloped compared to the south. Eric's father has 7 wives and eric has 31 brothers and sisters in total (including half siblings of course). He is one of 4 children who are not farmers in the north. He was supposed to succeed his father as chief but he said it wasn't for him. We're really not too sure what he does for a living because, he's home all day. He has a taxi, but it doesn't work and he's trying to sell it. Jemimah is pregnant (but doesn't know when she's due). She works at a hair salon in accra, but wants to start up her own shop in Kasoa. Based solely on my observations of our host family, it seems to be quite a man's world here. Even though Jemimah works all day, she still prepares food and cleans. Eric doesn't really have to lift a finger. And Akouse, Jemimah's 13 year old sister who also lives in the house, also does a lot of work. It seems to be that you have to pay your dues while you're young here by doing all the dirty jobs--washing clothes (which of course is done by hand), fetching water, and pounding fofu. She even refuses to let us carry anything remotely heavy when we're around. We play cards with our host family and a game called ludu and we talk a lot about how things are in Ghana and in Canada. I watch a lot of soccer with Eric, and we talk for hours about everything from politics to sports to the price of oil. I must admit though, extremely awkward moment this week. He said he wants to come to canada and work for a while to raise some money. But he expects us to pay for all flights, to sponsor him, and to find him work in Canada (where he couldn't work legally anyway). We were told by volunteer abroad that our host family would likely ask for money or for us to sponsor them to come to Canada. Anyway, we kind of brushed it off, not wanting to upset the current balance in the house as things have been very good. But next week, we're going to have to break the news.

Anywho, mom and I are both feeling great now--the trip is starting to fly by. I must admit that for the first time i felt really homesick last week while i was back and forth to the bathroom. But at the same time, i'm very comfortable. Sometimes I forget that i'm in ghana. And then it hits me at random times and i realize how special it is. Even in the down time (of which there is quite a bit) i don't wish time to pass faster because i won't have another experience similar to this for a while (this won't be the last time i do something like this).