The following is a link to the Photo Gallery of my Trip to Johanessburg: http://travel.webshots.com/album/563761011BrZxkW ...And this is a link to the Photo Gallery of my Trip to Cape Town: http://travel.webshots.com/album/563682632YjCxCG [View Full Entry]

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With the information and research I've gathered during my experience in Ghana, I've decided to finally begin the NPO I've been dreaming of and talking about for so long. The name of the organization is Elisa Lanera Foundation (ELF), and our slogan is, "Proving that little can go a long way!" We are a community development organization focusing on education and HIV/AIDS awareness in the poor areas around Capetown and Johannesburg. We are based out of New York and planning to establish ourselves in South Africa in roughly 2 years. Right now we're still working on really getting things [View Full Entry]

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Looking back on my life changing experiences in Ghana, Africa, I remember each face, each smile and each unique quality that made me fall in love with the children in Abokobi and Accra. The extensive amount of education I was able to share with them was also an intense learning experience for me. Here is a list of all the fun teaching and learning experiences we shared together: 1. Created and implemented the first French curriculum for the school where I was teaching. -- I also began extra help classes after school for French and for Reading 2. Organized field trips [View Full Entry]

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God of Wonder is an NGO dedicated to rescuing dying babies in Ghana. I met Larry and Beki McConnell (founders) here in Ghana and visit them frequently. I have also met two of the AIDS babies they have rescued and are currently fostering. Anyone who is interested in helping them can send me money (give it to my father and he will deposit it into my account) and I will hand deliver it to them- I see them about once a week! " With the money I will buy supplies(crib, walker, formula, diapers, etc) and take pictures!" -Beki McConnell You can [View Full Entry]

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Today I received another note from one of my 5th grade students: Dear Aunty Jaymie, I love how you teach us. I love the french and it is also difficult to do. Please forgive me all my mistakes. Please I will not do that again from today. I love to learn it. I love the fun you spend with us especially the slip 'N' slide and the card games you make for us to learn sentences. If you go to your country I will miss you. I love love you, Aunty Jaymie, more than all the other volunteers. Yours sincerly Yours [View Full Entry]

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The slip n slide was a huge succes! The kids had a blast! We set up a diamond, did base running and sliding into home and then incorporated some real life situations. i am orchestrating some other activities 3 of which are taking place over the next couple weeks This Friday I organized a community service trip for the kids to go out into the village and help Ghana become cleaner by picking up trash. Next week we are going to begin painting and then we will paint a big murel on the side of the school with a quote about [View Full Entry]

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Its funny the things you say u could never get used to... And then do... The fly that buzzes around my head the entire first half of my walk to school no matter how clean or dirty I am. At first I used to swat it and run away- put it never failed to piss me off- so I just accepted it as part of my daily routine... Showering and sleeping with spiders -hey, at least they get the mosquitoes. Aunts crawling on your body, bed, and food. BEING DIRTY! Hippies aint got nothing on me over here! You're just always [View Full Entry]

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Today one of my 5th graders gave me a piece of folded index card with a picture of us playing vollyball that opens up to a note that he wrote to me on Monday when I was not at school. It says: 22nd february 2009 Dear Aunty Jaymie, I write you this letter because you teach us french and I love you because you are a nice woman. I will keep on writing you this letters. I hope by the grace of God you are fine. May God be wit you and Aunty Bethany . Thank you very much. And if [View Full Entry]

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Feb 13, 2009 Well now, there is not a whole lot goin on in my small little village of Abokobi and the nearest city where there is any type of night life is about a 1-2 hour trotro ride (which really isn't too bad). So after school on Tuesday, Bethany (the other white girl) and I had to go to the airport in Accra to pick-up a package that was sent to me from home and being held by customs. We get to the airport, asked like 100 diff people where we had to go who all gave us diff information, [View Full Entry]

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Reflecting upon my 2nd week here in Abokobi as it comes to an end, I'm so relieved that things have gotten so much better and that I'm finally starting to feel at home! My students not only listen and behave, but when I walk into the classroom., they all stand and say,"Bonjour Madame Jaymie"- its fantastic! For the most part, all my students (I've got a total of about 35-40) are really catching on nicely to this French stuff and they really seem to enjoy it as well! I rode the trotro with one of my 3rd graders the other day [View Full Entry]

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