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Page 6 of Kirk and Christine Travel Blog Posts
March 13th 2008
English is the national language of Ghana. Though the school system is suppose to function in English most often, especially in rural schools, this is not adhered to. Our students grasp a main understanding and ability to speak English while still in kindergarten. As we discussed the pros and cons of admission during this last semester of the school year, Freda began crying when we mentioned her school in another village. She simply does not want to return to that school. She seemed serious and agreeable to the stipulations put on her. Due to her limited understanding of the English language we set her back to kindergarten (KG) level. We handled Cynthia in the same manner a year ago. Cynthia (14yrs old) joined our KG class in December 06. She has since moved right up to ... read more
February 29th 2008
Blank stares, a teachers queue that “they're not getting it”. While referring to a common body thermometer, I received a room full of blank stares from the 3rd & 4th graders. After several questions I found that not a single one of these kids have ever been to the doctor! They’ve never had their body temperature taken! They’ve never seen a doctor’s office! I just laughed and laughed in amazement. When our laughter subsided I questioned the other grades. I also found that they know absolutely NOTHING about the dentist! They had no idea that there is a doctor specifically for your teeth. At the same time I think this shouldn’t surprise me quite as much as it does. Last year Ophilia, the schools top student, was under the impression that animals visit the same doctor ... read more
February 24th 2008
I know you just heard from me a few days ago. I’m really not trying to clog your mail box with these postings. When I was in town last weekend I was not able to get a good connection to the internet. Due to the heavy harmatan dust in the atmosphere, phone lines, satellite itself or maybe even all of the above, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t get out there. I came back to town the end of the week and was able to connect. This past week Lewis Roberts spent three days with us teaching. Kirk also spent three consecutive days in the classroom. Wow! What a dream it was. All of the students were quiet and occupied. It was an enjoyable teaching and learning environment for all of us. I dream of what ... read more
February 21st 2008
The calendars are arriving! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I hear more are still on the way. That’s Great! We have 2-3 in each classroom, all hung at levels the students can access them and glance through the pictures during free times. Last week I dug out the large, multi colored world map I have on fabric. In addition to the small globe, that was sent to us several months ago, I was able to find a nice sized world globe in a department store so I grabbed it. Now with the wonderful and wide assortment of calendars we are having a type of geography lesson. Using the calendars we are traveling the world, seeing the sights and animals according to the pictures. These kids have never seen a picture of a tiger! Now they ... read more
February 10th 2008
I write you from our peaceful abode in the village of Fenaso. It’s now Saturday afternoon. I’ve spent the morning with Praise on the couch while he drank his warm milk - his morning coffee I suppose. Then after breakfast I trimmed Praises nails, my nails, my hair, plucked my eyebrows, washed the three dogs, fixed bike tires and tried to teach Praise how to blow bubbles with his bubble gum. He needs more practice. It’s been a very enjoyable morning. This is really the only time during the week that we are all together. Makes us all appreciate each others company. Kirk is a part time teacher this term. He is handling the 6th graders trying to prepare them for school outside of their little village of only 20 houses. He teaches every Monday adding ... read more
January 20th 2008
Ahh … the beach … Just the right mix of people. Our oldest, Agnes, and I laughed and laughed. All “the boys” played and played. It was great! A time we will surely all remember and we all needed. School reopened this past week. We are hoping for two part time teachers to join us this semester. Now for the exciting news; the new school building is complete! We had all hope it would be complete by … January, and it is! Construction began during your Fall Season of 2006. The original time estimated to complete the project was … well … that doesn’t really matter anymore. Now built, it only needs a little “make up”. Money has already been donated for paint. We have a painter in mind but no way to contact him. “Peter ... read more
January 12th 2008
Christmas 2007 You may be familiar with bible story (Luke 14:16-21) of a rich man who prepares a banquet. He sends out an invitation to all of the prominent people around town. Sadly nobody has the time to attend. In the end people from the highways and byways, the crippled, blind and lame, those that society has forgotten are invited and enjoy the bountiful banquet. That is the illustration that comes to mind when comparing the last two Christmas parties I’ve prepared for. Annie, we did the Christmas Party of ’06 all wrong girl! Christmas ’07 I left the town people out and invited all of the students to our house for two days and a night. Oh boy, what fun we had! We hung ropes in the trees to be used as swings; we played ... read more
January 7th 2008
It would come as no surprise to you if I said, we have a rather Short winter season here in Ghana. In our minds the word alone conjures up images of snow, ice and a lot of cold air. According to Webster winter is simply, “the coldest season of the year”. Ghana will soon enter the hottest time of year. But this is always preceded by a period of very dry, dusty days and cold nights. It’s called “The Harmattan”. The Harmattan is a dry and dusty W. African trade wind. At this time of year it blows south from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea. On its passage over the desert it picks up fine dust particles. It looks like fog, but it’s actually dust. When the Harmattan blows hard, it can push dust ... read more
December 30th 2007
The atmosphere this Christmas season in Ghana is ... quite. You may remember last July Ghana changed its currency. It has been an amazingly smooth transition. For the past 6 months both currencies have been in circulation. January 1, 2008 the “old currency” will no longer be legal tender. With the rising cost of oil our fuel prices have been steadily on the rise the entire year. Since last summer our gas has been selling at $5 per gallon. In Ghana “what goes up, does not necessarily come down”. The high cost of fuel and transportation helped boost the inflation to 25-30%. Ouch! I believe this is much of the reason for this years “quiet Christmas”. What does Christmas in Ghana look like? The Ghanaians follow the British tradition of celebrating “Boxing Day”. As I understand ... read more
December 2nd 2007
A gift that keeps on giving: Calendars. We need calendars (18months are best). Ghana has changed so very much since we arrived in 1995. But calendars are still hard to come by. Do to the climate and elements here they need to be made with quality paper if they are going to survive the year. As I will hang them in the classrooms they should not be smaller then 9X9 and have pictures that will somehow educate or introduce the students to life outside of their village. For example; large lakes, mountains, scenery or animals from around the world, etc. When the year is over we will use the pictures to decorate! Plastic covered pocket calendars are also great gifts. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I’m sure America, as well as much of the ... read more
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