Jody IWMI

Hello all in the great white north!!! Happy December 1st. The countdown is officially on until Christmas!!! This morning I was walking down my street to catch my tro-tro to work and as I came to the corner I was watching all of the cute kids getting dropped off at primary school in their adorable checkered uniforms, with their packed lunches and tiny backpacks. Then as I approached the corner (where the school is), I heard this tune...."Frosty the Snow Man." It was a bizarre moment as it was 7:30 AM and I was already dripping in sweat...it brought me back to the reality of what time of year it really is...I hope everyone manages to have a stress-free December (nearly impossible I am sure). I wish you all a month full of indulging in great ... read more

Oops. So I have just realized that it ihas been 75 days since I last wrote in my blog! I have had e-mail correspondence with some of you...sorry to the rest!!! There is obviously alot to fill you in on, but I will give a summary of what I have been upto (if I can remember it all!!!) The days seem to pass by so quickly as I leave the house (I have moved from Dansoman, living with the family to Labadi, which I now share a house with other expats) between 7:30 and 8:00 AM and get home after work around 6:30 if I do not go out for dinner, or to other activities around the city. Work has become much more exciting as I have several projects to work on, not to mention I ... read more

The other day as I was out with Yaw, I learned some interesting things about Ghana, the government, the schooling system, and the workforce. Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned in this conversation is that upon finishing university/college, each graduate has to complete one year of National Service. Now the first thing that might come to your head is conscription/military stuff...but no. Each person has to go and work as a teacher, or for an organization, in a hospital, etc to better their country. During this time, they are paid by the government (enough to get by). This not only provides work experience for the graduate, but also provides help to the company, school, organization, etc to develop. Once they have completed this service, the volunteer/worker receives a certificate. Without this certificate, no Ghanaian professional ... read more

So I mentioned in my last blog that I would tell you all about the "things" people manage to sell by walking through traffic and the streets by carrying in a basket, box, laundry hamper, suitcase, plexiglass box, etc. It is truely amazing to watch, and before the end of the week I am going to attempt to carry something on my head. You can buy: pencils, chocolate bars (the best chocolate in the world might I add...that DOESN'T MELT?!), water, toilet paper (regular, or with mandarin scent -- the mandarin is cheaper), fruit (bags of apples, bananas, mango, etc), shoes, hankies (which are extremely useful for tro-tro rides...it gets pretty hot in there), note books, little candies, gum, water sacks, car parts, bread, have your windows washed, puppies (I asked how old they were...apparently 2 ... read more

So after a long 2 days of travelling, I have arrived in Accra. I was greeted at the airport by my "Aunt" Agnes, the mother of all who has a national womb (she takes in foreigners and distant relatives who are from the country and wish to attend school) and her one of her natural born sons, Daniel, who's real name I have since learned is Kweku. Comfort lives in the house with us (she is Agnes' niece) and Emanuel who is Agnes' "grandchild" but Agnes is technically his great aunt. Agnes is a retired nurse whose husband passed away several years ago. I have made many "friends" who I have met passing by or asking a question in my neighbourhood....you make "friends" fast but they are likely not people I will call up to hang ... read more