Intro to Ghana

I know many of you have wondered why you haven't heard from me. I did say I did not know what email communication would be like. I really did. No sooner than getting the unlocked iPhone I had been gifted by my friend Aram up and running, Peace Corps moved us to a town with so weak a signal that it could be called no signal. Little brick phones some of bought work okay there and I can call people in the states for dirt cheap. I think Peace Corps may have done this on purpose, ween everyone from home. 

We arrived in Kumasi, the seat of the old kingdom called Ashanti, on the Peace Corps bus from our training site in the Eastern Region. Kumasi is a big noisy city, so we are staying in a suburb at a Catholic run guest compound, more suited to our purpose. We meet our 'contact person" tomorrow and find out where the Peace Corps has placed us. Up until now we have only known the region we are headed for - mine is the Volta Region for which I am learning the Ewe language. 

We have just finished two weeks of teaching practicum

and soon to go on a visit to my future site and a shadow visit to full-fledged volunteer to see what it's like. Then we return to training and concentrate on language. English may be the official language, but Ghanaian English is, well, different. And we really do need to learn the native tongue. We'll be using it. I'm so slow compared to the young whippersnappers with me...

Sunday worship is amazing to hear. Most churches have drumming and dancing, even the Presbyterians and Pentacostal, which they call Presby and Penrtacost respectively.

It's pretty amazing all around. Animals everywhere, free ranging chickens, goats, sheep, and they all know where they live! When the rain starts to fall, before bursting from the sky in a tropical torrent, you see them running to their respective compounds. They sleep on ledges during the day.

The noise level in the training village is unbelievable. There is the town medicine "barker" who starts shouting over a loud speaker every morning at 5am. He can go on for two whole hours. There was a ban on all noise for two weeks when we arrived for a festival, but it was lifted last Wednesday and it was right back to the usual. The local spots play music until 10am. When is a soul to get a descent nights sleep around here? Most people get up early and nap in the afternoon, but Peace Corps has other ideas: tell them to integrate but keep them on an American training schedule!

And yes, it is hot and humid here!