It's been several months, but I am now getting around to posting about the playground that was donated to my village last December. One of our tourists, Michael Sheppard from the U.K. came in 2009 wanted to help out the village. With the help of one of my counterparts, Kofi, we put Mike in contact with the local preschool, which needed assistance with school fees. Last summer, I believe, Mike ran a marathon in London to raise more funds for the school. Together, Mike, Kofi, and I decided to put those funds towards repairing the existing playground. Thanks to Mike, we were able to replace the old rusted equipment with new parts to make a see-saw, swing set, and a merry-go-round. We were also able to buy another swing set and a new slide. Take a look for yourself:

These three welders came to my village from Hohoe to design and build the playground. It only took them a couple of days, which was really impressive.

Swing set, before.

New Slide

The top part of the Merry-go-round was sitting in one of the classrooms, collecting dust, and there was this random pole sticking out of the ground. It makes much more sense this way!

All the kids knew something was happening, and they were so excited!

YAY!!!! New Playground!!! (I'm sure that's something like what they were saying.)

This thing is actually a lot of fun!

I just want to say, Thanks again to Mike. I really feel for these kids, because they don't get a lot of attention or toys- that's just the way things are here in Ghana. But the kids are the ones that will correct my Ewe and laugh and play with me, so I was excited and eager to reward them. Kids in Ghana have to do so much around the house for their mothers (fetching water, cleaning, taking care of babies) and they have to help their fathers at farm. Not to mention going to school, which is taught in English. I think the kids are so awesome and adorable, so, on behalf of all the children of Liati Wote, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! AKPE KRA KRA KRA!

So, on Thursday, I got Malaria.

I can safely say that I will never forget my Mefloquin again. Some reasons why this terrible event occurred? Well, it's the rainy season, which means more mosquitoes in my already buggy village. While that's not an excuse, I'm willing to bet that if I forgot my prophylaxis once during the dry season, I would not have gotten sick. Which leads me to my second reason: I forgot to take my Mefloquin!!! Never again, though.

For those of you that followed the link above and read all of the symptoms, DON'T FREAK OUT! I did not have the worst case. I didn't even have to go to the hospital, for which I was grateful. I only was hurting, faint, and had a slight fever. Malaria induces an odd type of pain, because the disease is in your blood cells. There's not one specific area that hurts, you just hurt. (The good thing about this aspect of the disease is that there leave little doubt to the source of your ailment. I immediately knew I had Malaria.)

So, the wonderful doctors at Peace Corps got on the phone with me and told me to take my emergency medicine, and within three days, here I am typing about the incident in Hohoe.

I'm back in town to do a little work. Believe it or not, but I've been busy with meetings and organizing projects. (Yes, you read that right, projects- plural.) I'll hopefully be posting my success stories here in a couple of months. In the meantime, feel free to E-Mail or Comment here. I miss all y'all like crazy, so, please, don't be a stranger.

Love, Katie

Wow, what a whirlwind. I loved coming home to see everyone, but now it's back to work. And what's the first thing that happens? I get sick, go figure. But only a little. Believe it or not, the weather here is cooler than it was in North Carolina. So, I've been feeling cold and a little under the weather.

Today, I am in Ho for the day to hang out with a lot of volunteers. We are going to a pool, which should be different and fun. It's also the first time I'm seeing most of these folks since I've been back. I'm looking forward to it.

Some projects I'm working on? Designing new brochures, finish the new office building, building a playground at the primary school, and an HIV/AIDs project. So, I should be quite busy these next few months. Wish me luck!

Love, Katie

Okay, technically, like 16 days? But I am getting so, so excited! And stressed. So what's on the American to-do list? Here are a few ideas, and feel free to post other ideas for the complete American experience!

Hanging with friends and family, priority number one

Eat: burgers, tacos, COFFEE, french fries, BBQ (Stamey's here I come), Mom's spaghetti, Dad's everything else (Love you guys!), soul food, Japanese, Indian, Thai, and lots and lots of SALADS (I anticipate leaving about 15 pounds heavier, but oh well)

Going to the movies

Haircut

Going to the parks in Greensboro

Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway

Canoe down a river in the mountains

Dentist

Manicure/Pedicure

Watching trashy TV

Going to many bookstores

Drink

Going to a show or two

So, yeah, I think that about covers it. Update in Africa? Last weekend, I went to my first Ghanaian engagement ceremony. I had kind of hoped that the stereotypes were just that, but unfortunately there was some truth to them, in this case. The guy was old and rich and the girl was young and beautiful. Apparently, to marry, a man has to have a ton of stuff to give to the bride-to-be's family. We're talking, money for several family members, not just parents, cloth, booze, palm wine in the gallons, kente, beads, appliances, and more. I definitely saw an affluent engagement ceremony. But, usually this ceremony is what deters men from marrying at a young age. They have to earn enough to be accepted by the bride's family.

It was definitely different than our dating/engagement rituals. And I'll be honest, I still have a hard time grasping the mating rituals in this country. But it was kind of cool that they still have these traditions. And some parts of the ceremony were entertaining.

Today, I am avoiding the village and hanging out with a friend in Hohoe. There is a funeral this weekend. And it can get a little crazy. Especially since this one is at my house.

I am getting really excited, and I look forward to seeing all of y'all!

So, currently, I'm at Peace Corps All Volunteer (All Vol) Conference in Ho, and it has been an, ah, interesting week. Mostly lectures, but also fun things:

beard contest

talent show (tonight)

Ghanian engagement ceremony between two volunteers

Prom (I wore a yellow dress, which somehow wasn't ruined when I was pulled into the pool by a certain evil volunteer- VENGEANCE IS MINE!!!)

We are staying in a nice hotel with A/C, TV, and a swimming pool- yeah, being a PCV can be tough sometimes, I have to admit!

So far the workshop has been pretty informative, and it's been cool seeing and meeting people who live far away. It also feels weird being around a lot of Americans in one place. A nice preview for when I come back for vacation.

I guess some things have happened since I last posted, like my birthday extravaganza. A lot of stress, but a lot of fun. At work, we are starting to look at brochure and T-Shirt designs. I am also working on building a database full of pictures for the company to pull from for calendars, postcards, and advertising.

This week has also been a great motivator, especially meeting people who have been here longer. They have ideas and experiences that have actually been invaluable. We have even met some inspiring Ghanaians who can help with projects related to HIV. (This conference is centered around HIV/AIDS.) One was a guest speaker living with HIV, and another was a man who incorporates drama and improv into his HIV/AIDs workshops.

So, basically, I've been pretty busy lately, but never too busy to answer your e-mails. Hit me up if you have any questions. Oh, and those of you in North Carolina? Only about 6 weeks to go!!! See y'all soon!

That's the day I'm coming back home for a vacation! Am getting so, so excited. As of now, my plans are to hit up Asheville, Charlotte, Burlington, and I can be talked into other destinations.

Now, I am gearing up for Easter, which is supposed to be crazy in Ghana. Also, my birthday is coming up, which we're using as an excuse to get together and eat bacon! This is going to be an interesting birthday, I think.

I want to give a shout out to Grandmama and Pops for the care package and to Hannah for the letters and pictures. Also a big CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Jeremy and Emily for tying the knot in Jamaica in January. Sorry I can't make it to your reception in April, but, I'm sure you understand why.

I'm sorry to keep this short, but I'm sure I'll have more to update in a couple of weeks. Until then, I hope y'all have a nice Easter. Thanks for reading!

Have you guys ever heard of Grasscutter? It's a type of delicacy here in Ghana, and it looks like a foot long rat. Apparently it's very expensive... and delicious? I'm honestly not sure if I've experienced said dish, because I tend not to ask too many questions about the meat I consume. Ignorance is bliss right? There's no telling what kinds of food my home-stay mom served me those first few months. I shudder at the thought.

Anyways, I was traveling along the Accra-Hohoe road back home when the driver pulls the tro-tro to an abrupt stop. I was happily sitting in the front, next to the driver, with my friend sitting in the passenger seat. It was then, I noticed the small boy standing on the side of the road proudly, showcasing the day's catch: A Nice Juicy Grasscutter.

Needless to say, us Americans were a little grossed-out, while the Ghanaians were really excited. The boy had caught a rare beauty. The driver asks how much, and begins negotiating with the boy. I was then I realized hes going to have to put the grasscutter somewhere, and in typical Ghanaian fashion, he'll just hand it to someone or throw it on the floor and we'll be on our happy way. This everyday occurrence did not sit well with the Americans who like distance between themselves and dead rodents that look like they could eat your face in their previous life. Ugh.

So when the driver grabbed the grasscutter and casually tossed it on the floor- AT MY FEET, both my friend and I lost it. She screamed while I sat paralyzed in fear. And the Ghanaians? They laughed and laughed. I think we were the most entertaining thing to happen since the African World Cup.

The perplexed driver realized that we weren't, um, used to being around dead grasscutters, so he promptly grabbed it from the floor and proceeded to pass it back to the mate and away from the front seat- which was fine with me, except that they had to pass it INCHES FROM MY FACE. Shudder. More screaming ensued (us in the front), as well as laughter (from the Ghanaians in the back). That was one of the more traumatizing tro rides I've been on lately.

It's the dry season now, which makes things dusty. Luckily, the tros aren't getting tuck in mud, but you leave the tro covered in dirt anytime you go to or from a place. It's also the time of year farmers burn the fields for whatever reason. I assume it has to do with rotating crops. So when I travel, I sometimes see these blazing infernos in the fields next to the roads. It's a little unnerving, but the Ghanaians tell us not to worry.

I can't help worrying on tros though...

Okay, I am chatting with Stephanie, my bff from high school (luv ya muffin!), and she's telling me that it's snowing in DC. Nice! Meanwhile it's still unbearably hot here in Ghana. It's still hard to believe that it's already December, and that I have already hit the six month mark! I find it's cause enough to celebrate!

Speaking of, Thanksgiving was so incredible. The food at the Ambassador's (and the open bar) was amazing. The week of Thanksgiving was like living in an American bubble, which I thnk we all needed at this point.

First, I went to Thanksgiving. Then, it was to a sports bar for "Trivia Night," which was fun-ish. I was just happy to catch up with my buddies from training that I haven't seen for several months. Then on Friday I went to the Accra Mall. That's right: shopping the day after Thanksgiving! Diane and I went and saw the movie "Inglorious Bastards," which was really good. And I ate a hamburger!

These days, I've been just taking it easy before we have more training and the Christmas holidays. At this point, I am planning to head north to Nkanta for a Christmas party. I'll keep y'all posted!

SHOUT OUTs:

MOM and DAD~ Thanks so so much for the package! I love it all!

GRANDMA~ I LOVE reading Our State. Anything to remind me of NC is the bees knees in my book! Keep 'em coming!

JODI~ The music is a lifesaver, you have no idea! Thanks again! It's, literally, what keeps me sorta sane-ish. I love you!

Well, unfortunately, Halloween is a foreign concept to Ghana, which a few of the PCVs tried to rectify in Ho- costumes and all. I, on the other hand, had other plans. Last weekend, I experienced my first funeral in Liati. I know it may sound morbid, but what better way to celebrate Halloween than with a funeral?

Maybe I should first explain that funerals in Ghana are a little different than funerals in America. As an outsider, looking in, one could easily be fooled that you are just witnessing a big celebration. Family members and friends from all over the country gather in the village, there is music, dancing, food, booze, and everyone is dressed to the nines, either in black or red. And some people do come out for just the social aspect and free beer. But most are there to celebrate and remember the people that passed.

A lot of the time, there will be several funerals the same weekend, I guess to help those that have to travel. So this weekend, we celebrated three men, two were older, but one was only 33 years old. As a result, our funeral was a bit more somber since the man was fairly young.

So, I'm glad I was a part of this cultural experience, but i think next time, I'll probably crash at a friend's site that weekend. As far as other celebrations go, I'm having the Hohoe crew over this weekend for pizza, with REAL cheese! So Exciting! And for Thanksgiving, the American Ambassador invited us over in Accra, which should be fun. I bet the food'll be amazing. So, I am sad to be missing out of my American holiday traditions, but I thought I'd reassure y'all that we are still having a good time celebrating our own way here in Ghana.

Cheers, Katie

Okay, as you all can probably tell, I'm not exactly Miss Sporty. To say the least. But it was hard not to get excited Friday night when Ghana defeated Brazil in the final of the Under-20 World Cup! Everyone was glued to the television, including me. After being tied throughout the game, and an intense overtime, Ghana won 4-3. As a result, Ghana became the first African side to qualify for South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Needless to say, everyone in Ghana was excited, including my sleepy village. Hoards of young men were running up and down the street celebrating, and I can only imagine what Accra was like!

Anyways, I don't know if you guys follow soccer. But now that Ghana will be competing for the World Cup, I'll be posting a lot more about Ghanaian football.

Edition 2: What's in a Name?

So I'm living in the Volta region, which is on the border of Ghana and Togo. And I'm in an Ewe area. The Language itself is very interesting, and the people are pretty chill and laid back. The history of the people is kinda fascinating, so I'll try my best to explain, but I honestly can't guarantee accuracy. Sorry-o!

The Ewes came to Ghana by escaping from an evil king who imprisoned his people by building an enormous wall around his kingdom. Different towns in the Volta region have names that describe the way they escaped from the evil king. And in the Liati tradition, which includes my village and maybe ten others, Lia is Ewe for "to climb" and Ti is Ewe for "tree." So those who are from the Liati Tradition all share common ancestors who escaped the king by climbing trees over the wall.

I haven't figured out what the other town names around me mean, like Gbledi or Fodome, but hopefully I'll be able to update soon. Another interesting name is "Hohoe." Before the city got that name, Hohoe and Ho were both in the running to become the regional capital of Volta. In the end, Ho was chosen as the capital, so the city became "Hohoe." In Ewe, Hohoe essentially means "Ho took (from us)."

People's names are also a big deal, and they usually have several names. Usually people are called by their day name or Christian name. As for me? I am known as "Kathleen," "Katie," "Sister Kate," and "Da Yawa," which is female Thursday born. You can find out your Ewe name using the chart below:

The Ewe version is as follows:

Dzoɖa (Monday): Kɔdzo, Kwadzo (Male/Ŋutsu); Adzoa (Female/Nyɔnu)

Braɖa (Tuesday): Kɔmla (Male/Ŋutsu); Abra, Abla (Female/Nyɔnu)

Kuɖa (Wednesday): Kɔku, Kwaku (Male/Ŋutsu); Aku, Akua (Female/Nyɔnu)

Yawoɖa ( Thursday): Yawo (Male/Ŋutsu); Yawa (Female/Nyɔnu)

Fiɖa (Friday): Kofi(Male/Ŋutsu); Afua, Afi(Female/Nyɔnu)

Memleɖa/Memliɖa (Saturday): Kɔmi,Kwami (Male/Ŋutsu); Ama (Female/Nyɔnu)

Kɔsiɖa / Kwasiɖa (Sunday): Kɔsi, Kwasi (Male,Ŋutsu); Akɔsia, Akɔsua (Female/Nyɔnu)

Other than day names, there are specific names describing your birth order, whether you are a twin, and so many other things I can't remember now!

I could write a whole post on just drumming and dancing, which I think I'll save for another time. Let me just say, the Ewes definitely have their own style, which is fun.

Below is an example of Ewe Kente cloth:

Ewes were the first in Ghana to weave Kente. In the Ashanti wars against the Ewe, Ewe weavers were captured and it thus have been prisoners of war from the Ashanti / Ewe wars that taught the Ashanti how to weave.

Well, that's about all I have for you this time! Stay Tuned!

Peace, Da Yawa

Okay, uploading these took a few hours, CORRECTION, make that days, but I have had to learn immense patience while living here! Enjoy:

This is the view of my town from the top of Mt. Afajato.

My Counterpart, Dora, and Me at Tagbo Falls.

Mt. Afajato.

The main street in my town.

A view of Afajato from my house.

So sorry, I had several other pictures selected, but I may have to save those for another post!

Right now I am visiting with my friend Rebecca. She works with a company called Global Mamas, and you can find some of their jewelry and gifts at store like Ten Thousand Villages in the States.

As for me, I've been working hard, but also taking time out to read and lay in my hammock. Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to post questions for me.

For more information about my town, feel free to browse the G.R.E.E.T. website. Check under "Destinations," and select Liati Wote to learn about my site.

Last week was my Grandmother's Birthday!!! YAY! Happy B-Day Grandma!

Ayekoo!

Okay, okay, okay, I realize that it’s been way too long, and for that I am really sorry. Just because I’m not writing, it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about and missing all of you! In honor of the time spent apart I’ll write you guys a few blogs, hopefully they’ll all load!

Sorry-o for the time apart!

I’ve received a few questions about the logistics of living in Ghana, so I figured I’d write about everyday activities for you guys! Enjoy!

Bucket Bathing- Even though I have “running water,” I sometimes have to fetch a bucket of water to bathe with when the water runs out.

Laundry- All is done by hand. I did search out a Laundromat in Hohoe, but no luck. At first I was killing my hand by how vigorously I washed my clothes, but I’ve since learned that you have to go slow and soft, because it’s easy to cut up your hands. You have to start with your whites and move through the darker clothes. Last you wash any items made here, like the batiks and tie/dyes. Those tend to bleed the most. Then you hang the laundry out to dry, but since it’s still rainy season right now, I usually end up having to take them inside after a few hours. Oh and you always have to wash your own underwear (or called pants here), even the men. It’s insulting to have someone else wash your own pants.

Food- Cooking is quite a time-filler, since I have to make everything from scratch. So far, I’ve had bean burgers, yam fries, pancakes, biscuits, spaghetti, pasta alfredo, stir fry, and yam balls. I also like to make tuna sandwiches and grilled cheeses. There is a cheese-like substance here called Laughing Cow, which can be tasty. So I’m not dying for cheese anymore!

Shopping- There are a few stores in my town, and several spots. There, I can usually find items like flour, soap, phone units, coke, sugar bread, tomatoes, and onions. For anything else, I have to go to Hohoe for market. Usually, on any given day at market, you can find a stand dedicated to just about anything. Then on market days, you can find everything, and then some! Instead of one stand, you can go to about 25 stands just for tomatoes, for example. Because of the season, vegetables are plentiful at market, but we’ll see how that changes once the harmatten (dry season) begins. (When Ghanaians say “Harmatten,” it kinda sounds like they’re saying “Hammer time,” so we all call it Hammer Time.) For fruit, if I don’t just go pick it off a tree myself, I can find it being sold along the street. Just the other day, I bought a few oranges for maybe 10p. And sometimes I get bananas, avocados, and yams from my neighbors, which is nice. For clothes, you can easily find fabric being sold at market or shops along the street. Then you take it to a dressmaker to make whatever she determines you asked for. Right now I’m having a dress made, so we’ll see how it turns out. And sometimes you can find “Dead Obruni” stands, which sell Western clothes. The reasoning behind “Dead Obruni” is that someone would have to be dead to get rid of such nice clothes. A little morbid, but funny.

Entertainment- I’ve been doing things like I did back home, I guess. Reading, painting, listening to tunes, riding my bike, hanging out with friends, sleeping. The television here is plagued with advertisements, even more so than American TV, so I avoid it at all costs. I’ve discovered Arrested Development, which is hilarious. Everyone should Netflix it, if you’ve never seen it.

So, I’ve basically just been settling in this past month, and getting used to a new way of life. It’s starting to get a bit more stressful, but the difference is now I’m in my own space, so I have a haven to retreat to.

Feel free to post any new questions about life in Ghana!

I have finally seen my site! I hiked Mt. Afadjato, which was quite a hike. My legs still hurt! I visited the chief, and he gave me some local gin, called Apateshi. It's tradition to take a shot at special occasions, and to pour some out on the floor for the ancestors. After seeing the chief, my counterpart and I went to Tagbo Falls with a tourist group from Germany and Accra. We were sweating like crazy, because the alcohol, and the other tourists must have thought we were crazy, because the walk is not difficult at all.

My house is amazing, I have a bookcase, bed, and desk already. And I have access to the kitchen, which I found to be great after two months of not eating American food. Believe it or not, I really enjoyed cooking for myself this past week. You have to remember, I have had no say in the meals prepared for me in Maase. I figured out how to make onion rings, stir-fry, and one-pot-pasta.

I'm very excited to finally move in, the people are very friendly, and I am already getting excited about working on developing the tourism.

So I'm at my Counterpart Workshop, where the trainees meet someone from their villages who has been assigned to basically be our best friends for the next two years. We also met our supervisors. It's been busy and tedious, a lot of policies and Q&A. Here's the agenda:

Tomorrow: Site visit to Liati Wote! I finally get to see where I'll be living and working for the next two years!

Tonight: Girls night watching The Little Mermaid.

Yesterday: My counterpart is AWESOME!

(Everything here is consumed in plastic bags...)

Believe it or not, if you plan on eating in Ghana, then you must be prepared to bite into a baggie first.

In some cases the plastic bag idea is genius. Those cases usually involve gin and whiskey, which you can purchase as little sachets that equal about one shot. These only cost about 20 Pesewas, or less than a Quarter.

In a plastic bag, you can also buy chop, or fast food. In said bag, you usually find fried rice, a piece of chicken, and a hard boiled egg. The trick is to learn how to best go about eating this delicious meal... without silverware. The method I prefer is to open baggie, first eat the chicken, tie the bag back together. Next, bite a hole about the size of a dime in one corner of the bag. Squeeze the contents of the bag out of corner and into your mouth. Enjoy delicious Ghanaian McDonalds.

Another thing I constantly consume out of plastic is water, which is actually probably a bad thing, environmentally. Economically it's great, only costs about 5-10 Pesewas. Luckily a company called Trashy Bags recycles water sachets to prduce wallets and change purses.

Finally, the most glorious thing to come out of a plastic bag in Ghana is...

FANICE!!! FanIce is Ghana's ice cream substitute. It tastes like frozen vanilla frosting, and is basically the most wonderful thing ever. If you come to Ghana, see the waterfalls, mountains, monkeys, and hippos. But first be sure to experience FanIce, the REAL attraction in Ghana!

And the moral of the story? We seriously need FanIce in the US... oh and whiskey sachets for only 10 cents! ;)

Obama gave a farewell speech in Ghana, and we got to attend!

Unfortunately, I couldn't get to shake Obama's hand, but I did get to Michelle! I prefer her hand anyway.

The PCTs were lucky enough to attend as well as current PCVs and US employees in Ghana, such as embassy workers. You can see a few of the other PCTs in the pictures, but I couldn't find myself in there. It's not surprising because I was behind three tall guys. :(

Oh well, the speech was amazing, and I got to meet a lot of volunteers that aren't involved with training. Overall that weekend was very cool.

After an amazing trip to the Volta region, we are now on our way back to Maase and back to work. Volta was amazing: beautiful mountains, green plants, and really chill people. The weather was cooler and, believe it or not, we went hiking to a waterfall. Yes, I went hiking... and I only fell like two or three times. My fellow trainees are discovering exactly how clumsy I am!

For the 4th of July, we convinced the hotel manager to build us a bonfire, so we sort of got improvised "fireworks."

Well, I hope everyone is having an excellent summer and I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July! Stay tuned for more updates, exciting things are coming. I think I'll finally meet my counterpart in a couple of weeks!

Peace, Katie

Every Wednesday, we are required to take our Methoquin pills which help prevent malaria. For this reason we always look forward to Wednesdays, because these pills have interesting side effects. Usually used for entertainment purposes, Methoquin can cause some pretty freaky dreams. For me, it usually results in nightmares, but, I even look forward to those, because, let's face it, it can be quite boring, sometimes.

In other entertainment news, us obrunis still tend to be the favored form of entertainment among the Ghanaians. They like to ask us where we are going, and they like to tell us when we are going to wrong way.

My favorite form of entertainment in Ghana has got to be watching Ghanaian movies. Last night I watched one about a pair of star-crossed lovers: She was blind and he loves her, but his family doesn't approve. It was classic Romeo and Juliet. They prayed about it, and finally got married. All was good until his ex-girlfriend appeared on the scene. I'm not going to spoil the ending for you, in case you ever get to see it. (Plus I couldn't finish the movie, it was that awesomely bad.)

Well, today for lunch I enjoyed some fried rice and chicken at a fast food stand. Ghana's form of a Big Mac, I suppose! ;)

At the internet cafe, an ABBA song just came on, "I have a dream." Can we say Mama Mia, anyone? Mom? Jodi?

Well, I have to say Goodbye for now, I may not get online again for about a week! But some good stories should be coming! Stay Tuned! ~Katie

Yesterday, the SED group went to Bunso Arboretum. It is located between Maase and Accra, and holy crap, it was so beautiful. We were finally learning about ecotourism and how it affects Ghanaian business. That was one lesson I couldn't sleep through.

After the lesson, we got a guided tour of the Arboretum by one of Ghana's finest tour guides - he won an award. We saw a ton of beautiful trees and plant life that I probably cannot really appreciate, since I am not botanist. But they were very cool. This is a picture of one of the trees that was all around the Arboretum:

We also saw a tree with its roots hanging from the treetops. Two guys in my group actually managed to climb up the roots. I, however, will not be climbing in the trees!

There are these berries that grow all over Ghana, that we tried in Bunso, called "Sweet Berries." They are freaking amazing. After you suck on it for a couple of minutes, the sweetness lingers in your mouth. The taste of the berries is so strong that everything you eat afterward also tastes sweet! We tried some oranges that weren't yet ripe, and after the berries the oranges tasted great!

Overall, yesterday was very very cool and refreshing.

Everyday is very busy with business classes in the morning and language classes in the afternoon. Sometimes they switch it up and we have language classes in the morning and business classes in the afternoon. In language I just feel confused and in business I feel bored, but I figure training always sucks, no matter what job it is. Next week we are about to head over to my part of the country: the Volta region on a field trip. I am especially excited to see Ho (mainly because I'm still immature enough to be amused by a city named "Ho") and the area I'll be living for the next two years.

Last week we played a game of American Football, which the Ghanaians found quite amusing. There has also been some kind of festival going on this past week, which involved us going to the Palace and greeting the major chiefs from this area. We had to bring them firewood, for some reason. I think they were going to slaughter a goat, but we, unfortunately, had to miss that part of the ceremony.

I still get a kick out of public transportation here. The other night we managed to cram seven people, including the driver into one taxi.

We are working on several projects for the town, including individual internships and helping out with a palm oil production facility. We also visited a vocational school nearby to analyze how we could improve the program and increase enrollment.

My host sister, Erica, recently gave birth to a baby girl, who is named Brittany. So the family has been very very excited. I still haven't quite figured out my family, in Ghana everyone is your brother and sister, so it's hard to figure out who is actually related!

Today I did laundry, by hand. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be, because I usually have three or four experts looking over my should while I attempt to clean my clothes. Usually my host mom just gets exasperated and takes over!

Tonight I'll be watching the football game at my friend's house. I think I could really enjoy watching soccer!

More Fun Facts!

- Bars here are called "Spots." The PCTs have already become fixtures at the Spots around Maase. I'm only there because, Charlotte, who owns a spot, speaks Ewe. It's a LEARNING experience... really.

- I learned that 3% of Ghana has AIDs. I can tell you all about HIV and AIDs, and by next week I should be able to tell you all about malaria, too. Our PCMO (Peace Corps Medical Officer) keeps us well informed, and turns us into hypochondriacs.

- The best food, by consensus among us PCTs is Jollof Rice. So so so good!

- The worst food, by consensus is Fufu. Tastes like wallpaper paste.

- Cheese is a hot commodity. So if anyone wants to send me some Velveeta or something, I won't object.

- Ghanaians will say, "I'm coming" as they walk away. Ghanaian men like to hold hands with one another, and it's not seen as sexual at all. And the Ghanaian women will use a two yard (piece of fabric) for just about everything: towel, dress, sheets, to tie their baby to their back.

- I still haven't learned how to hold things on my head, but hopefully I'll be able to do by the time I leave.

It has been a crazy first few weeks in Ghana! Right now, I am staying with a host family in a town called Maase in the Eastern Region. I have only been with the family for a couple of days, so it’s still a new experience, and us obronis, or white people, are still a bit of a novelty in the town.

Okay, since I last wrote, I went on an expedition to the Northern region to a town called Fulfuso. It took about twelve hours on a bus to get there, but it was well worth the travel, because I got to see most of the country. There, I visited another PCV named Hannah, who was not a bearded fella, Theresa, but very, very nice. She works as a WATSAN, or water and sanitation, trying to reduce the number of guinea worm cases in the area. If you want to be thoroughly grossed out, google guinea worm in images.

And now for the big news… A couple of days ago I got my assignment!

I’ll be working in a town called Liati Wote in the Volta Region. It is right near Hoehoe and the border of Togo and Ghana. I’ll be working in Ecotourism there, because it is a very beautiful part of the country, with the highest mountain nearby and waterfalls. I’ll write more details when I find some out. I do know my living conditions, and in typical business fashion, us SED volunteers have the hookup. One guy actually has two houses and one woman has air conditioning in her office. I’m not as high maintenance as those two, though. I’ll be living in a compound that a local politician owns. He and his wife actually live in Accra and only come home for funerals. It has electricity and flush toilets.

As of now, all of the PCTs are in the surrounding area, divided up by sector. All of us business people are in Maase for training and language classes. I am learning a language called Ewe, which is interesting. The only frustrating thing is that Maase is a Twi speaking community, so I have to try not to confuse Ewe and Twi.

I don’t have much time here at the internet café, but I’ll post a few facts for y’all. I just heard the song What if God Was One of Us, which I found amusing for some reason.

Fun Facts Edition 3:

Ghanaians love Celine Dion.

It is common to bathe at least twice a day, if you don’t Ghanaians will be very confused by you. How do you bathe in Ghana? With a bucket. My host mom insists that I use hot water, though.

Food is consumed in mass quantities here. This morning for breakfast I was served six slices of bread, six cracker/cookies, and a heaping bowl of oatmeal. It was enough to feed four people, but luckily Ghanaians don’t waste anything, so I know some kids eat my leftovers.

Ghanaians find it hilarious when we scare the little kids who aren’t used to white people. Some little kids love white people and will yell “OBRONI,” and I have to say “Yenfreme obroni, Yefreme KATIE.” Now the kids yell “KATIE.” So either way, we always get attention.

I’ve been proposed to about seven times as of now. They love to joke about marriage here, too.

Well, I love and miss you guys! I'll be able to post more often now, because we are settled in this community for the next two months. Feel free to Email me if you have any questions/concerns! Love, Katie

Well, guys... I finally made it to Ghana! It's been three days, and I'm already amazed by what all we've done. After that horrible eleven hour plane ride, which I have officially erased from my memory, my days with the Peace Corps have been very busy. In fact, this is the first time I've gotten away to use the Internet!

Anyway, right now I'm in an Internet Cafe' in Accra. We are staying for a couple of days in the suburbs of Accra at a college called Valley View. Today, they split us into groups, gave us about 5 GH Cedis (about $5) each, and sent us into the city to fend for ourselves. We had to hail a tro-tro (a van used for public transportation) and navigate our way to different places by asking locals. We went to the beach, "Independence Square," the football stadium, and through different markets.

Soon, I'll head out on my Vision Quest. This means, from what I've gathered, that I'll be sent out to find an acting PCV at his or her site. This could be anywhere in Ghana. I'll stay with this person for a few days and see what it's like working and living at that site.

My Twi lessons are fun, this guy Moses has been my teacher. I learned Maa-chi (Good morning), Akwabba (Welcome), and the basics like "how are you" and "what is your name." I'll learn more of the language I'll use once I get my assignment, because I may be living in a place that doesn't use Twi, but one of the other seventy languages.

Fun Facts, Edition 2:

- The names of businesses are very religious and over the top. My favorites have been: Virgin Hair, The Blood of Jesus Plumbing, and God is Great taxis.

- The Ghanians, and especially the children, are very friendly and love it when you say "Hello" or wave to them. On the other hand, they get offended if you don't greet/wave at them.

- The landscape is absolutely beautiful, with very vivid colors.

- In Ghana, they have Pizza, Meatball subs, Coke products, Corn Flakes, and Lollipops, but I don't know if you can get these items outside the city.

- Mangoes look like ornaments in the trees, and the termites here have castle-like mounds.

- Buildings here are half-finished because instead of waiting for the total sum of money it would cost to build something, in Ghana they start work as soon as they have some money and wait for the rest to continue building. At first it looked like there were a lot of abandoned buildings, but another acting PCV explained this to us.

- Everyone, it seems, has a cell phone.

- Ghanians consider it to be good to help people out. They don't expect to be tipped or any kind of retribution. And if you get lost, someone will usually take you, or tell you where to go.

Sorry for they delayed post, and I hope to write about once a week, but that will depend on where I am in relation to an Internet Cafe.' Well, my hour is about up, so I have to go back to the streets to flag down a tro-tro. Wish me Luck!

- Katie

Well I am here in Philadelphia right about now, exhausted and happy. After Registration, we had about five hours to meet each other, review general information about the Peace Crops, discuss our aspirations and anxieties, work in groups, and act out fun skits. I am definitely working with a group that has a good sense of humor! I don't think I've ever laughed so much at a job before.

Tomorrow we get to check out of the hotel at 6:00 AM, oh joy! And then we get to receive all kinds of fun vaccines! And the best part is... the 11 hours on the plane! Needless to say, tomorrow probably won't be that great. However the next day, June 4, 2009, at about 8:30 AM... I'll finally be in Ghana! I can't wait to write my next blog, and until then, I love and already miss y'all!

I am going over my to-do list for my last two days in Greensboro. Feel free to leave me comments with suggestions of things to do while still in the U.S.!

1. Go to a movie

2. Eat a family dinner

3. Watch trashy T.V.

4. Finish reading books

5. Go to Country Park

6. Drink Starbucks Coffee

7. Download Music

8. Acquire Friend's and Family's E-Mail addresses

9. Visit with Friends

10. Eat Mexican Food

And I guess the most important thing:

11. PACK!!!

I have three more days left in Greensboro! It's bitter-sweet because I have been waiting for about six months now to get started with the Peace Corps. But at the same time, I have to say goodbye to my friends and my family. Right now, Jodi is visiting me and we hung out with some friends last night. Today, I expect to see some other people and maybe a few local bands.

Anyway, I promised Washington D.C. pictures, and here they are:

Stephanie's Yard:

Georgetown:

The National Gallery of Art:

(This is an awesome tunnel with lights flashing by in the museum. I swear, Stephanie and I were more excited about this than the paintings!)

Paintings from the National Gallery of Art:

Monuments:

Today, Jodi and I are going to hang out in Greensboro! Look out!

My first twenty-four hours in D.C. have certainly been eventful. Let me just say, from what I've seen, this city is absolutely beautiful! I recognize I may be a little biased, seeing as how Stephanie lives in Georgetown. The public transportation, aside from one minor incident (come on, when do I not have minor incidents with weirdos?!), is, surprisingly, very nice.

Last night, we went to see Sixteen Candles in Gateway Park. They had a huge screen set up, and the park was completely full. But it was fun, especially when the crowd would clap and cheer when Sam and Jake finally got together. It kinda reminded me of an outdoor concert, but with a cool movie. :)

I couldn't believe this, but Stephanie hadn't seen Sixteen Candles! Anyway, today we went to the National Gallery of Art. I was in hog heaven, to say the least. I don't mean to name-drop here, but we saw paintings by Monet, van Gogh, Manet, da Vinci, and, my favorite, Cezanne. Pictures to come, once I get back to Greensboro.

Well, now, we're heading out to paint the town- Adams Morgan, to be exact! Hopefully, I'll get to meet some of Stephanie's hip friends! ;D

Listening to: "Paper Gangsta" by Lady Gaga

First Edition

~Located in West Africa, Ghana was the first country the Peace Corps Volunteers served in 1961.

~Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, extends through large portions of eastern Ghana.

~Located a few degrees north of the Equator, with the Greenwich Meridian passing through the country, Ghana is geographically closer to the "center" of the world than any other country.

~More than 250 languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana. Twi is the language that I am expected to learn whilst in training. It is mostly spoken in rural areas, and English is mostly spoken in urban areas.

~The capital city is Accra, and has over 2 million people. This is where I'll be spending the first three months of training with the Peace Corps. The population of the whole country is about 21 million.

~Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. The main exports are gold, timber, cocoa, diamond, bauxite, and manganese. The exchange rate of the Ghana Cedi is $1 USD =Gh¢ 0.93.

~Ghana has a parliamentary form of representation. The current President is J.A. Kufuor. There is open debate and a positive political climate in Ghana.

~Internet access and telephone agencies are located in all major cities and most towns. Letters and packages are always welcome and below is the address that I can be reached while in Pre-Service Training (PST) until August 30.

Katie Caldwell, PCT

Peace Corps/Ghana

P.O. Box 5796

Accra-North, Ghana

West Africa

So today my dad, Jennifer, and I climbed to the top of a mountain to "Lover's Leap" on the Appalachian Trail. This is in Hot Springs, North Carolina. We almost got hit by large vehicles trying to find the trail. And I learned that if you need to catch up on your Bible reading, just check out the public restrooms, which I found amusing.

I've been hitting up different places, since I won't be around for two years. I spent the past couple of days visiting my grandma in Asheville, before seing Jennifer off to summer camp (she'll be working as a counsler). This weekend, I'll be in D.C. with Stephanie. Updates to come!

I have been invited to Ghana!!!

Program: Small Enterprise Development

Job Title: Business Advisor

Dates: June 2009 - August 2011

Whoa, I need to catch my breath! It's been quite a wait, but I am relieved to finally have more information! At first the Peace Corps was telling me that I would probably be going to Eastern Europe or Asia. Then they told me the Caribbean. And sure enough, I'll be going to Africa!

Anyway, now that I have a little more information, and several more months to wait, I do plan on updating my blog frequently. And as always, feel free to call or E-Mail me with questions or comments!

Thanks for reading! ~Katie