Blogs from Tamale, Northern, Ghana, Africa - page 6

Hey Everyone… Sorry it has taken so long to send a proper update. My old standby Kodakgallery doesn't work from here so I'm hoping this will work as a way for me to stay in touch! I am now settling in at Justice FM in Tamale. I feel like I’m a newborn learning everything for the first time. I’m learning the culture, local language, food, as well as how different things are like politics and the media. I’m living with a family - it has been interesting. It has helped me learn about the food - and just some basics about the dynamics of a family and the roles everyone is expected to take on. My family is Muslim so I am learning a bit more about Islam. Here in the north - the majority of ... read more

This morning I woke up after a wonderful night’s rest, did some yoga with the girls, and had a light breakfast. Today was a travel day to get from the south coastal part of Ghana to the northern part. We arrived at the Accra airport, of which the domestic flight terminal was mmm much smaller than the international one. We checked in, I was handed my plane ticket (which had my name handwritten and misspelled), and we sat and waited until the plane was to take off. After following Thomas’ wonderful advice, we arrived a bit later than someone from the US would normally, since Thomas’ knew that it would be late. The plane was only a little bit late, and security to get on was no where near as intense as the US, or the ... read more

This is the first opportunity I have had to update my blog. I have moved to the Northern district of Saboba/Chereponi. The environment is savanah with each rains resulting in a greener environment. I have had the opportunity to see some of the district and have thoroughly explored the town of Saboba which has a population of about 3000. The main language is Likipapong (Which I am slowly learning) and there is a mixture of other languages and also French and English widely being spoken. I have also moved in with a family. The head of the house hold's father had three wives and as such a large extended family with which I live. The housing is arranged with many small rooms leading to a central court yard. The family are also part of the Royal ... read more

23 days now until i leave. I can’t believe it… I still haven’t gotten my exact placement (ie. details as to what NGO i’m partnered with, etc.), and while that sort of stuff is definetly stressing me out, i’m trying to focus on other ‘more positive’ things, like my own personal ethics, and approach to development. I think it’s important to identify both how I define development, and also how that will impact my goals while in Ghana. At the under-graduate university level, international development courses usually are guided by an “anti-colonialist, social justice, or transformative ethic” and I have personally internalized this to come up with various aspects that shape my own world view. Historically international development has been a series of programs and financial aid targeted at Majority World countries intended to ‘bring ... read more

Photographs from Ghana.... read more