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Page 2 of Sarah C Travel Blog Posts
Lights ON!!! (oh...and Match #1 of Africa Cup)
Published: January 24th 2008Africa » Ghana » Ashanti » Ejura
January 24th 2008
After 81 days without electricity, we are finally back on the grid!!!! The electricity came back on Saturday, while we were gone. I’m sure there was quite a celebration, judging from my reaction alone upon arriving to find that the lights had been restored. It is a strange feeling. It’s funny how used to the dark we had become. I still forget to turn the light on when I go into the bathroom. It’s strange to eat dinner with a light, too…as we had become accustomed to eating by candlelight. I have to say I prefer to shower by flashlight, as well, because then I can’t see all the bugs that keep me company. But, it’s so nice to have lights on at night in the room. Imagine…I can read a book now without holding a ... read more
January 15th 2008
Many of you know that when I initially signed up to volunteer in Ejura, I committed only through the first term, or the middle of December. I was nervous about spending the entire time in one place. I hit mid-December, and felt good about staying until April. Then we had our holiday break. I spent most of the past month traveling. I realized that there is so much more in Ghana that I want to see and do. I realized that village life can be very isolating. I realized that I am not required to stay in Ejura until the end of April. Then I realized that Katy (the volunteer from Texas) was feeling the exact same way. So... My time in Ejura is coming to a close. I will be staying here until the end ... read more
January 12th 2008
Finally, finally, finally!!! I think I have figured out how to post pictures so you could see them. I have really tried hard during the past four months. First, they were too big. Then my computer charger died. Finally I have my computer charger and I uploaded all onto my computer to compress them. Then, they were too small to post on this site. Then...I found snapfish and it worked (I think). The only annoying part is that you have to create an account to see the pics. Sorry. Also, I think they are all a bit fuzzy. (or maybe it's my eyes). I've posted 200 from the nearly 1000 I've taken so far. As I add more, I will create new albums so you don't have to look at them all again. The link for ... read more
January 6th 2008
Questions for Ms. Cockle and her students from Mrs. Caruso’s 1st and 2nd period class: 1. What does the food taste like? A lot of Ghanian food is starch-based. Lots of carbohydrates: white rice, boiled or fried yams, fried or boiled plantains (giant bananas), fu fu (pounded cassava, yam, or plantain that is about the consistency of raw bread dough). The starch foods are then covered in or dipped in a hot stew of meat and/or vegetables. There are other foods, too, like pineapple, apple, mango, banana, and watermelon. Typically, for breakfast, I eat bread with peanut butter (which is called "groundnut paste"), for lunch I eat white rice with beans or stew on top, and for dinner we eat either boiled yams and stew or spaghetti noodles and sauce. My favorite thing to eat here ... read more
January 6th 2008
So after the firecracker-full New Year's Eve and New Year's day on the beach with a man making Chinese Tea, we met up with Katy, who had accompanied her father back to the airport in Accra. He had been visiting from Texas. Katy also collected Nicole, the newest volunteer, a 22-year-old nurse from Michigan. On Wednesday night Aminu and his friends Atu and Francis arranged a cultural performance for us. Some of the members of a group called "Asanti Dance Theatre" performed traditional drumming and dancing. (You can visit their website at Asantidancegroup.com). The performance was what I had been waiting to see since I arrived in Ghana - traditional drums and shirtless men dancing! On Thursday Nicole headed to Accra to collect Klara, a new volunteer from Spain, while Maaike, Katy, and I headed to ... read more
January 2nd 2008
Happy New Year from Cape Coast!!! Ah...it's nice to be out of Ejura for a few days!!! My journey began on Saturday, when I headed for Koforidua to attend a wedding. Or what I thought was a wedding. After what turned out to be a six hour journey on one of the most uncomfortable tro tros yet (I sat behind the driver and also behind the engine...which heated my feet to unbelievably high temperatures. I honestly thought my sandals were going to melt). I stayed in the same hotel that I stayed in last time, although this time they had both running water and electricity (though never quite at the same time). Unfortunately, the pillow here also smelled like vomit, so I'm getting really good at sleeping without a pillow. So all my ideas about a ... read more
December 26th 2007
When you're in Ejura for several days in a row, there's not much else to do besides head to a neighboring town to hit up the internet. =) Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Today is day #3 of the Christmas celebration here in Ghana, but I can't quite determine exactly HOW the people celebrate. Kwabena told me that on Christmas Day (yesterday) everyone goes to the bars and drinks. Today, then, they all stay home and eat. But, I haven't seen evidence of either. Most of the shops are still open and everyone is out and about. Go figure. Our own celebration at the house was fairly low-key. Yesterday I lounged around until lunchtime. I read a book and relaxed in my room. There were several neighborhood boys over to utilize the ping pong ... read more
December 24th 2007
Merry Christmas Eve to you all!!! I promised a more exciting blog, so here you go! The trip last weekend to Nkoranza was a fun time and much enjoyed. The orphanage was beautiful and one of the nicest places I've stayed so far. There was a gift shop that sold chocolate chip cookies and wine. We sat out on the patio that evening and enjoyed a drink and the best cookies we've had in Ghana!!! Maaike has been suffering from intense mosquito bites that don't heal and have caused giant open wounds on her legs. On Monday, she decided to go to the Nkoranza hospital to see a doctor to get some medicine. We walked up to the hospital at about 9 am and noticed that there were about 100 people gathered outside. Upon further examination, ... read more
December 16th 2007
Greetings from Nkoranza! Katy, Maaike, and I are traveling this weekend. Nkoranza is a little town about an hour away from Ejura. We're staying at Operation Hand in Hand, a shelter for handicapped children in Ghana. It also has several guest rooms. The grounds are beautiful! There is a restaurant and a pool (for the children). We're staying in a suite, which contains an outdoor shower and toilet. (A real toilet. Outside). We walked into town to use the internet, which is also run by the same people, a Dutch doctor and her American husband. I will take plenty of pictures, of course. =) It's been a busy week. Nathan left on Thursday. It was a sad day. We all got up with him at 4 am and after his quick goodbyes to the boys and ... read more
December 12th 2007
Well, I suppose it's time for a little update. It's been a few weeks since I've written anything...not a whole lot has been going on. A lot of the same. But here are a few of the highlights: Day #42 without electricity. It's getting old now. Occasionally, the entire town loses electricity, as well, and that's even worse, because then the water goes out, also. Last week, I fetched my bathwater from the nearby river, and carried it back to the house in a bucket on my head. I actually did a pretty good job and only spilled about 1/4 of it down my back. Bucket showers are interesting...you have the water in the bucket and a cup. There's your shower. Yes, washing my hair can be tricky. Bucket showers themselves, aren't so bad, but I ... read more
I am a middle school social studies in Renton, Washington, U.S.A., where I teach 7th grade World Geography and Culture. I have taken a leave of absence and am currently volunteer teaching at the International Neo-Humanist School in Ejura, Ghana. I teach remedial English to struggling students in the P5 and P6 classes (equivalent to about 5th and 6th grade) and I teach English Grammar and Composition to the P4, P5, and P6 classes, as well as one class of Art.
I am living in a boys' home that houses eight boys between the ages of 9-20. An Indian monk, called "Dada" also lives there. He overs... full info
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