7/31/2015
Everyone has arrived and are ready for an amazing program!
8/2/2015
So far, our experience here in Ghana has been amazing and unlike any other. In only two days, we have witnessed an infinite amount of culture, from playing with children every afternoon in the park to spending our Sunday morning in a traditional Ghanaian church. We have also learned some of the Krobo language from our host families. We have seen so many differences between life here and life back home, such as groups of kids running barefoot with babies swaddled to their backs and little boys making toy cars out of bottle caps and sardine cans. At the Saturday market, our group shopped for fabrics and got to experience bartering with the locals. The market also gave us the opportunity to see what behind-the-scenes life is like in Krobo, rather than the topical view. At home base, things have been flowing just as smoothly. As a group, we are getting used to the cold showers and not having air conditioning, as well as being served meals that, while delicious, are not what our bodies are accustomed to. As a group of open-minded girls, we are loving getting to know one another and bonding over the shared experience. After only two days, we are starting to get the hang of things and feel more and more comfortable. Overall, this trip is going extremely well and we can already tell that it is going to be a trip we will remember for a lifetime!
– Jenny and Delaney
8/4/2015
Today was our first day of service. We built cement bricks for a library and taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade class at the local school in Krobo. The process of mixing and building the bricks was long and tiresome, and we only made twelve. However, the typical brick maker makes a lot more bricks and only gets paid around ten American dollars a day. Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun getting dirty and the kids from school came to encourage us. After making the bricks, we headed to the classrooms and began teaching. We started off with some math problems, which they quickly solved. All of the students were extremely excited to learn from us and the knowledge we have from America. After some academic activities, all of the classes came together outside to learn a few American dances, and they also taught us a few of their own dances. We were extremely humbled to have partaken in this experience.
As usual, in the afternoon we headed to the park to play with the local kids. We played some soccer with the boys and the younger kids enjoyed blowing bubbles. By the end of the day, our arms and legs were all sore from holding so many of the smaller children. With each experience, we learn more and more about their everyday lives and become more grateful for what we have back home in the United States.
– Michelle and Alden
8/6/2015
Weather: Hot and humid, about 89 ̊F
Location: Krobo, Ghana
Haley and Kaiden
Today we were able to sleep in until eight. For breakfast we had buttery toast and juicy oranges. After breakfast we met the children at the bottom of the driveway and they walked us to school. In the classroom we started our lessons including Math and English. During free time at school we played ‘Freeze Dance’, a dancing game with the students. When school finished for the day, the children walked us back to home base for lunch. We ate a delicious peanut butter soup, and rice, with a side of fresh watermelon. After lunch, a local guest speaker came to tell us the history of Krobo and Ghana. Later in the afternoon we went to the park to play with the children. They played soccer, blew bubbles, and rode their bikes. After a long day of learning and games we came home for dinner. We ate pasta, more oranges, and the fried plantains everyone loves so much. When everyone was finished with their meals we awaited for Queen Mother to arrive. We finished our traditional ceremony and we graduated as Krobo women. For the ceremony we dressed in traditional clothing such as a head scarf and a dress that we were able to keep. The Queen Mother taught us a dance that the “dipos” dance, as well as the reasoning for wearing beads around their waist (which is to attract men). We finished the night together as official Krobo women.
8/11/2015
Odumase Krobo, Ghana
– Ailina and Nicole
This past weekend we had several adventures. On Saturday we hiked 5 miles to Umbrella Rock where we saw an amazing view. From there we toured a rural village where the local people have to hike the long trail every time they need something. After this we got to go down to the Boti Falls, which was absolutely gorgeous. We wanted to swim in the water but our directors informed us that the water was full of terrible diseases. On the way home we stopped on the side of the road to buy Fan-ice from a local village girl. On Sunday we ventured over to the beautiful Sajuna Beach Club for swimming, boating, volleyball, and ping pong. There we were able to eat real ice cream again! On our boat ride, we saw the only suspended bridge In Ghana. This bridge connects the Eastern region to the Volta region so it is very important to the people. On the way home we stopped in a local village to buy some beads. There were a ton of different colors and designs to choose from at a fabulous price. Now we are getting ready to leave. We have said our goodbyes to the children, our bags are packed, and we are already missing the kids. All of us are leaving Ghana a different person than when we came. We have learned to appreciate the convenience of running water, electricity, and all the things we took for granted back home. We have seen how living a simple life can be a happy life. Ghana was a prime example of the quote “money doesn’t buy happiness.” Something we will never forget is walking to the park or school and having a ton of children running to hold our hands or be in our arms. We all fell in love with the Krobo community and they will always have a special place in our hearts.
