Re: Ads I just hope the two things are not related. And for the record, this blog does not sponsor dating, famines, dating in famines, or famines for dating.
Seriously though, I'll ask about the Famine Warning System, but I don't really know if it's much of a problem here, although possibly way up near the northern border. This country's got its problems, but I feel like they are not too susceptible to that, as compared to Niger or Mali, etc.
Ads. one more thing...at the top of your blog there is an advertisement for "African Women for Dating". is that a pretty reliable service? sounds pretty tempting to me.
F.E.W.S I was curious if the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) operated in this region. it is a composite of climate modelers, mostly from the UK, who predict drought across africa and administer the drought predictions so the farmers can prepare. it has been only mildly successful but has great potential as climate predictions improve.
the score is .... The score is Rafe 11 Google Earth 9. Nkoranza and Chiraaa are NOT inside Google Earth yet. I figure it is a GOOD thing that the the Ghanan landscape is still a bit fuzzy as compared say to downtown Terhan. A sign that your fair country is not under threat by the Bush administration just yet.
When you stand back and look at it from a distance, your travel is pretty impresive, Rafe. I'll send you a screenshot.
rafe it's so fun hearing you refer to terms that i was once familiar with, so many years ago --- i'm remembering walking down ghanian roads and having dusty darling little kids run out excitedly calling "bruni! bruni! bruni!", wanting to touch my hair or my clothes; eating fufu and all those interminable peanuts, everywhere; being baffled at the twi language -- and then delighted when able to spit out a "thank you" or "hello"; the beautiful eyes and faces, hearts and souls of the african people. i had forgotten all this and am loving the remembering. what an incredible journey you're on!
You're wonderful! Oh Rafe, this are truly wonderful stories and reflections. I'm so glad you are having a great time and learning and doing so much! As you're Dad said, I hope you are taking photos over there because we'd love to see what these places and people look like. Can't wait to see you in a two months to hear about these stories firsthand. We're having such different experiences this summer that it's almost comic! P xox
Taking distance Rafe, I am impressed with this entry on many levels. Your cleverness in giving the guy some rope with which to hang himself ... but even more so your ability to stand back from the situation, not take it personally, and place it in the context of broader things you value about the work and the mission. And then to get on with it. All good leadership qualities.
Had dinner with your Mom last night at Mediterranean. Great to see her and wish her well on her Scripps "camp" adventure.
great blog! I'd be interested to hear what ideas you generate out of the focus groups. very warm and humid here--the growth in flowers and vegatables just in the last week has been amazing. dad
Fire up the Google Earth You are giving my Google Earth a run for its money, Rafe. So much fun to fire it up and zero in on the Ghanan interior. Can't wait to hear about the monkey preserve. "Flanny and Rafe went to a monkey preserve ..." sounds like the opening line to a bad joke.
Keep those posts comin' when you can.
Leslie
So what mischief are you and flanny cooking up? A three on three tour of the villages, picking up a villager (quick point guard) to round it out, taking on all commers for a six pack of the local brew?Your blog is great! I wish I were there to drink in some of the local scene. I hope you are taking some photos. I bet flanny is. Everything is great here. Real summer weather. I just cut milton's grass and am sweating like a mazer in a church pew. Aidan will be taking your and flanny's spot on the crew putting in about an hour a day.....productivity should be up. I'll call soon when I find out what kind of coin my last phone call costs...but with all my savings from etrade I should be able to talk to you or at least rent a clown. dad
So what mischief are you and flanny cooking up? A three on three tour of the villages, picking up a villager (quick point guard) to round it out, taking on all commers for a six pack of the local brew?Your blog is great! I wish I were there to drink in some of the local scene. I hope you are taking some photos. I bet flanny is. Everything is great here. Real summer weather. I just cut milton's grass and am sweating like a mazer in a church pew. Aidan will be taking your and flanny's spot on the crew putting in about an hour a day.....productivity should be up. I'll call soon when I find out what kind of coin my last phone call costs...but with all my savings from etrade I should be able to talk to you or at least rent a clown. dad
you and flanny monkeys and kids! wow, i am glad that you are there to hold the mic and get the biscuits. and that you can use your "baby magic" to charm the local kidlets. Yes, nothing like being out and about doing "work" to make your spirits soar. You and Flanny also happen to be SUPER tall Obruni which i am sure makes you very exciting. Much much love to you and Flan.
One of few computer things Nana wants to see I find this fascinating. Thanks for sharing. Have been attempting to get Nana interested in computer world, but not until I showed her your blog did she spark an interest... can't wait for photos...
Like the unlimited funds code from SimCity MazeCo,
So Flanny has to leave the country every September-October and now you have to leave every May-June. It would be nice to have a local sports team win it all without a close friend in exile, but if that’s the price that must be paid so be it.
Keep up the blog. I love hearing about your international shenanigans.
Btw: A buddy of mine from the EPA who specializes in Environmental Justice is a native of Ghana. A friend of his, a student at the London School of Economics, is working on a micro-finance initiative in Ghana this summer. Look for his contact info in your email in the next few days.
Lay off the FuFu.
Allah ka nogoya ke First I'm catching up with the blog. Definite improvement over the "newsletters" I inadvertently found my letters home from West Africa becoming. Boy though "la plus ca change, la plus ca rest la meme" Love the insights, all too familiar. Before you write it off as a tourist spot try to get out of the cities while you're there, THAT is where life and reality begin as you know from your time in South America. Wish I had a chance to talk with you about the structure of this enterprise you are embarking on. Sounds like low interest loans of some sort for housing. If so hats off to SUSTAINABLE development. I'm sure you've seen quite a few "white elephants" from well-meanor simply ego driven NGO's. Buena suerta con todo!
I'm with ya Rafer,
Please keep running strong. It's interesting, I find your question to be one of the greatest mysteries in life which can often be answered by looking inside of yourself, or as Micheal Jackson put it, "...at the man in the mirror". When I played puck, I often found myself asking your same question. Is anyone listening? Or, is anyone out there? Or, does anyone care? But what is so intriguing to me, is that often times most of your friends and family are walking, or skating, the same path and you don't even know it. So the answer to your question is, "yes, we're here and listening." I'm here with you buddy, I wear the jeans on casual Fridays and live in the Ghanian culture through your witty and entertaining blog. I Love it! You never stop amazing me, and to think I used to be your teammate on the WT Town Hall B-ball courts. You're an inspiration. But, don't let this make your New Era 59fifty cap size enlarge from a 8 3/4" to a 9" (probably still too small, man you have a melon!) as I know it will not, I just wanted to let you know we are all watching you and the masterpiece of your life.
-W
17 Raffe,
great entry, based on the some of the horror stories about prevention pills you wonder if it is worth it. Anyways, sounds like things are monving along well, sort of like a class case study. To make your entries more like a case study I would suggest starting out with an action or conflict thought you had and then rehash the events leading up to it, such as "I never thought I would have to make this decision in the next 30 minutes..." and then explain how you came to that point. You are familiar with the format.
On another note, according to world wide web media sources, the Celtics had a parade to celebrate their 17th championship. Big Baby removed his shirt on one of the duck boats...
cultural eyes of hiring Rafe, I love hiring people in different countries. Sounds like you do, too. It is a sweet glimpse into the cultural differences you are experiencing, while we continue to hold onto our values and know when someone's the right one, no matter what background we come from. So insightful and powerful.
Thanks for the posts, I'm reading and living vicariously through you, and ditto Laurie's comment about the photos. I want to see that Kejetia Market and the colors of local garb.
Saludos and be safe. Abrazos.
rkm
rkm
Re: Ads
I just hope the two things are not related. And for the record, this blog does not sponsor dating, famines, dating in famines, or famines for dating. Seriously though, I'll ask about the Famine Warning System, but I don't really know if it's much of a problem here, although possibly way up near the northern border. This country's got its problems, but I feel like they are not too susceptible to that, as compared to Niger or Mali, etc.