http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Ghana , Northern , Tamale en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:15:06 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:15:06 +0000 Hey AllSorry for the long delay the internet here at times can be such a pain Anyway... with my batteries recharged it was time for another high flying adventure. And this time I pulled out all the stops. The destinations Mole National Park the largest wildlife refuge in country and The Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. The team Loren Bethany Melissa and myself. This trip was so big I http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-384014.html Well this past week I had quite the African adventure so I will have to split this blog up into pieces for your own sake. We finally found our way up north to Mole National Park and Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. Its all the way in the upper west corner of Ghana so itrsquos a long trip anyways but then throw in public transportation and yoursquove got yourself some storiesI guess plan A http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-383320.html Thanks for the words of encouragement and prayers. The Man Upstairs heard them and I'm feeling better. Health is back to normal I think I had malaria at least I was treated for it but I didn't want to write that for fear of worrying Mom Dad and the Gparents. But not to worry all is good now.The last two nights I cooked my own dinner spaghetti and sauce made out of tomato paste and wa http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-304308.html so the last blog i said we were leaving and going to be driving for 4 hours...i lied the professors lied. we were in the car for 21 hours driving to the mole game reserve. i kid you not 21 hours. it was awful. we were on only 2 or 3 main dirt roads for most of the trip. it felt like we were getting no where. not to mention the headlights went out and we were basically driving by the moonli http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-303293.html ...when I said rejuvenated and ready to go.Been sick the last three days with a slew of different things. Feeling better but don't have much of an appetite so all I can stomach right now is Ramentype noodles the supermarkets don't have chicken noodle soup So just want to ask for some extra prayers that I make it through this last week with a positive attitude and good health. Kind of ready http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-303209.html This week I worked with Shekinahrsquos food program where they make different food every day and then drive around Tamale for about 3 hours delivering the food to the 2 Shekinah clinics the homeless blind people and the poorest of the poor.Itrsquos a great program that follows the tenets of the Shekinah clinic read blog entry about CRS and the women who make the food are extremely dedica http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-301448.html Greetings from Tamale which unfortunately lacks any Mexican food despite it's name. Have I mentioned how much I am missing a nice big bean burrito these days We are heading over to Larabanga this afternoon and then on to Mole National Park for a few days of animal watchingelephants baboons hyenas etc. It is nice to get out of Accra once again. Speaking of Accra...Quick anecdote Quite freq http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-301357.html Irsquove spent this week in the Catholic Relief Services CRS office. I was able to speak with several of the Heads of different propongrams Education Water Sanitation and Health and get a better feel for what they do. On Monday and Tuesday I went with the group of Americans and Thomas to see a few of the different programs.Education The main coment of this sector is the school feeding http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-297413.html So far I've enjoyed my first week in the north of Ghana with my new family. I met Thomas when he was touring the US talking about his experience growing up and his work with Catholic Relief Services CRS. Long story short we kept in touch and he told me I could stay with his family. He's actually traveling with a group of American Catholic high school teachers and people from the CRS Headquart http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-297409.html I want to give my most sincere apologies to anyone who I offended when I said Africans are a lot cooler than Americans. In no way did I mean that Africans are better than Americans or even really that they're cooler people. I think all people are cool and equal and all that good stuff The other volunteers in Uganda and I had a joke and kept a running tally of all the ways that Africans are c http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-295208.html I just got back from my vision quest in Daboya. It was amazing. There is so much to tell you. I travelled with a fellow trainee Vicky for my vision quest. Don't worry she is one of the 50 year old volunteers so settle down Jenny. It took 2 hours in a bus on a dirt road to get to the end of the line. To get to Daboya you must cross a river in a larg flat bottom canoe. As we arrived to me http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-288565.html It's taken a little longer than I hoped to get internet access but I finally do The flights were fine. The flight from Amsterdam to Accra was much more comfortable than the first leg from Newark to Amsterdam. Our first day in Ghana we were treated like royalty. We got a police escort from the airport to our lodging at a near by college. The next day we met the Ghana Minister of Education. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-287371.html Ghana Top TenBy Nichole HuckTamale Northern GhanaMy time in Ghana is drawing to a close and now itrsquos a time of reflection. I know that the mark Africa has left on me is far greater than the mark I have left on her. I have learned a lot about journalism relationships hardship religion generosity and myself. There are some things Irsquom happy to leave but there are far more things tha http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-280294.html In my first days in Ghana I was exposed to the staples of the diet. Fufu Banku and TZ. They are all starches shaped into balls and dipped into a soup or sauce. They all take a lot of hard work to prepare all so that the food will slip down your throat without the hassle of chewing. Imagine the surprise of my coworker Jamilla when she discovered that in 8 months I had never actually prepared http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-279727.html Paying it ForwardBy Nichole HuckEveryone needs a little help sometimes. Friends family churches even benevolent strangers came together to help get me to Africa. It is truly amazing to know that people would selflessly give to you without expecting anything in return. I know I will never be able to pay these people back for their kindness I can only hope to pay it forward.In my eight months i http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-278261.html Work Like You Donrsquot Need the Money Volunteering in GhanaGhana is full of volunteers. Some come from other countries mostly large packs of girls fresh out of high school looking for a meaningful travel experience before starting University. They fill the orphanages in the mornings and fill the internet cafes and swimming pool in the afternoon. These volunteers are completely unpaid some http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-274418.html This is a series of stories I wrote for the JHR website www.jhr.ca. They are exploring the relationship between sex and power. They are about sexual harrassment in the workplace and sugar daddies. Nichole When No doesnrsquot mean No. By Nichole HuckGrowing up I was taught that lsquonorsquo means lsquonorsquo. In junior high the boys would snap our bras or make comments about the gir http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-266455.html Irsquom sitting in an internet Cafe in Tamale less than 12 hours after arriving on the STC bus. In the few hours Irsquove been back my skin has managed to break into a heat rash I believe it is protesting my leaving the beaches of Ghana for the dry and dusty Savannah that I now call home. For Easter a group of us volunteer types from Tamale made a break for the coast. After a series of lon http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-260936.html Are Old Folks Homes the Witch Camps of CanadaBy Nichole HuckldquoWould you send your mother to a witch camprdquo Thatrsquos the question I righteously asked a caller on a human rights call in show who said lsquothe whites are just trying to destroy African culture by bringing in ideas about human rights.rsquoA reporter from Radio Justice and I recently returned from visiting three witc http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-257427.html Life in a Witch Camp The Exile of Women in Northern GhanaTamale Northern GhanaBy Nichole Huck We fear what we donrsquot understand. A child falls sick and dies without reason. Who do we blame Is it Godrsquos will or is there some other force at work Most people feel better having something or someone to blame for lifersquos misfortunes and in Northern Ghana that blame often falls on e http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-255010.html