brief hello

12/10/06

I can definitely feel a shift of things here. If ever going somewhere foreign to study and if it is at all possible I recommend staying there at least 6 months. I get the feeling that people are able to keep up a fairly decent front for about 3 months; I am sure even longer. Maybe the change is the presence of a man (Greg). I am sure that I was different to people when it was just Adom and I. I welcome his presence and feel that it was much needed. It has been wonderful for both Adom and me and Greg. Last week he had his official welcoming ceremony. Some guys that he met came and sang and basically did a little performance. It was some guys from the same village as King Agysoba (sp) he sings “I Want to See You My Father” maybe you could try to google him. He is a WONDERFULLY pure singer here. I love his music and so does Adom. The guys were from the Fra Fra tribe and they played this guitar made from a calabash…it was nice. Greg and I met with Adom’s principle and he said come what may he will move Adom to level 1 next term. (Adom was taking exams all last week) Greg and I have both observed that the transition from KG to level 1 will be a challenge for Adom but it is one that he somewhat needs. Academically he will adjust quickly but the children in level 1 actually go outside and they play ROUGH and they are actually playin….man it is serious. We had dinner with a lady who used to teach there and she gave us all the negative inside stuff about the school….she quit by the way. All things considered we may keep him at the school and Greg is planning on spending the first day of level one at the school with Adom. FYI caning is still an issue in Ghana … very much an issue. I don’t want him to have any SPECIAL attention but don’t want him to be beat either….well enough of my mother issues … the good Lord and everybody else knows that I can on all day on mother issues ;-) at any rate Saturday was really nice … Greg, Adom, and I took a nice walk to the Hare Krishna church in the village and we had a nice little tour and we all the questions that could come to our minds and then they gave us reading materials….it was really a nice experience and I have newfound respect for the Hare Krisna’s and honestly all of the other religions that I have studied since I have been here…. In my opinion the study of the religious practices that exist here in Ghana have a great deal to do with the study of the dances here… Which by the way my studies have definitely become intertwined with every day life …. I am somewhat disappointed with the line that I have drawn between work and life …. It’s a beautiful thing to have the two co-exist but also somewhat tricky. All the same it’s what I’ve prayed for so I am blessed. After we left the Hare Krisna church we walked to the next big village along a beautiful road…we passed about 2 small villages. It was really nice and quaint but definitely a long walk by all standards in the heat. I would guess it was about 6 to 8 miles there and the same back.

Today was my first day dancing since I came back from the north….man I was tired the WHOLE time….. I didn’t expect that… but it still felt good to dance…it really effects me when I don’t dance and not in good ways. Goodness the lights just went off AGAIN I must admit at first I was a real trooper but this light off situation is starting to get to me…it is so hot at night … I am up fanning Adom and making sure he does not get too hot ….

I hope I have not complained too much. Ghana is a beautiful place with wonderful people…


This one was short but I didn’t wait as long to write so I wanted to do a brief update
Laughin, lovin, livin, learnin
angel