The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The New Volunteer at the President of Ghana's official residence
The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A Volunteer
The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
On August 30, 2011, I was swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer by the US Ambassador to Ghana. The completion of my three months of fast paced training was a relief and now the marathon of 24 months of work begins. I am looking forward to this period and am now located at my assigned site in Brong Ahafo Region. School will begin on September 13, but still not sure what subject I will be teaching. Maths is the most likely.
I am finding it much different than training as I am the only Volunteer in the area and that situation is the one thing that the training program has difficulty preparing you for. I believe it will take some time and effort on my part to make new relationships with the many Ghanians that show an interest in the new resident of my village.
August 30, 2011 was also the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps program. The very first PC Volunteers came to Ghana and arrived August 30, 1961. For that reason our group of volunteers were invited to meet the President of Ghana and make an identical picture of that first group being welcomed by the then President of Ghana. A nice opportunity to meet the President and see his official residence and work place. It is of interest to me as in 1962 when I graduated from U. of Florida I went to an interview to join the Peace Corps. I joined the US Navy instead.
I continued to be in good health and look forward to this assignment.
I am finding it much different than training as I am the only Volunteer in the area and that situation is the one thing that the training program has difficulty preparing you for. I believe it will take some time and effort on my part to make new relationships with the many Ghanians that show an interest in the new resident of my village.
August 30, 2011 was also the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps program. The very first PC Volunteers came to Ghana and arrived August 30, 1961. For that reason our group of volunteers were invited to meet the President of Ghana and make an identical picture of that first group being welcomed by the then President of Ghana. A nice opportunity to meet the President and see his official residence and work place. It is of interest to me as in 1962 when I graduated from U. of Florida I went to an interview to join the Peace Corps. I joined the US Navy instead.
I continued to be in good health and look forward to this assignment.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ten Days to complete training
The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
In ten days I will complete the three months of training and be designated as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It has been a demanding time physically and other wise as I deal with a very different culture, different language and very different social structure. Attempting to reach some level of ability in the language has been a challenge. I will know in a few days if I have reached an acceptable level or will need some more training. I certainly will get more training opportunities as I get to my permanent site in a small village in the Brong Ahafo Region. I have a very good map and the village is not showing. However, I am ready to go, set up my two room home and get started with living and teaching there.
I am told this is the time trainees start the list of things they miss. Here are some of mine so far: My children, my family, my comfortable home, driving, the variety of foods available, something sweet, cooking for my self, controlling more of the days events, no roosters within a mile of my bedroom, a choice to sleep in, up to date news, the ocean, others to come.
Next week is likely to be a big event for the Peace Corps as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Ghana was the first deployment site for volunteers, so the ceremony to officially recognize this group will be a little bigger than usual. I will attempt to get some pictures.
I am feeling fine and ready to get started with the next two years.
In ten days I will complete the three months of training and be designated as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It has been a demanding time physically and other wise as I deal with a very different culture, different language and very different social structure. Attempting to reach some level of ability in the language has been a challenge. I will know in a few days if I have reached an acceptable level or will need some more training. I certainly will get more training opportunities as I get to my permanent site in a small village in the Brong Ahafo Region. I have a very good map and the village is not showing. However, I am ready to go, set up my two room home and get started with living and teaching there.
I am told this is the time trainees start the list of things they miss. Here are some of mine so far: My children, my family, my comfortable home, driving, the variety of foods available, something sweet, cooking for my self, controlling more of the days events, no roosters within a mile of my bedroom, a choice to sleep in, up to date news, the ocean, others to come.
Next week is likely to be a big event for the Peace Corps as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Ghana was the first deployment site for volunteers, so the ceremony to officially recognize this group will be a little bigger than usual. I will attempt to get some pictures.
I am feeling fine and ready to get started with the next two years.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Week Eight
The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
I am well into the training program with about a month left until I am recognized as a Peace Corps volunteer and not a trainee. The most difficult portion is ahead for me, the continuation of language training and the final language proficiency examination. I will interviewed by a native speaker and respond at an intermediate level of proficiency. It is difficult comparing my progress to the young trainees that just seem to have the memory to make things stick. This is all part of the deal and I intend to do my best.
I am visiting my expected assignment location in the Region of Brong Ahafo, almost in the center of the country. I will be near a large market city and have come here to find an inter net cafe. Once I get permanently to my new home, I will be able to use this site more frequently to access the internet. No internet in my school or the small village where I will live for the next two years.
I am still comfortable with my decision and most grateful for my children who I love and trust to take care of themselves as well as each other even while I am gone.
I invite you to share this blogg site with others.
Thanks again for your interest in what I am doing in Ghana.
I am well into the training program with about a month left until I am recognized as a Peace Corps volunteer and not a trainee. The most difficult portion is ahead for me, the continuation of language training and the final language proficiency examination. I will interviewed by a native speaker and respond at an intermediate level of proficiency. It is difficult comparing my progress to the young trainees that just seem to have the memory to make things stick. This is all part of the deal and I intend to do my best.
I am visiting my expected assignment location in the Region of Brong Ahafo, almost in the center of the country. I will be near a large market city and have come here to find an inter net cafe. Once I get permanently to my new home, I will be able to use this site more frequently to access the internet. No internet in my school or the small village where I will live for the next two years.
I am still comfortable with my decision and most grateful for my children who I love and trust to take care of themselves as well as each other even while I am gone.
I invite you to share this blogg site with others.
Thanks again for your interest in what I am doing in Ghana.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Starting Week four in Ghana
The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
It has been three weeks since I became a Peace Corps Volunteer. After departing Washington DC on June 8, I am now in the country of Ghana. After three days of adjustment in the city of Accra, we have moved to a training site some distance to the north, Kukurantumi. I am practice teaching maths and science in a local Junior High School, learning about methods and conditions for teaching in Ghana. They are different. The language of the education system is thankfully English, but in another week the intensive language training begins for six weeks. I feel the anxiety building. I have received my assigned teaching site for the two years. It is almost in the center of the country near a town called Thieman, in the region of Brong- Ahafo. I will teach maths and maybe science at a small Catholic Junior High. Living conditions sound spartan, but certainly adequate. You are invited for a visit. Not sure when I will get in front of a computer again as this one is at a cafe a 15 minute taxi ride away and time is taken up six days a week with Peace Corps training. I certainly feel completely in God's capable hands as I work all this out. To the small children we are known as Obroni, the man from over the horizon or just the white person. All the best from Ghana.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Departure Day
I am now a Peace Corps Trainee and will not be an official Volunteer until I successfully complete the three months of training in Ghana. I am scheduled to depart from Dulles International Airport outside of Washington DC this evening on a direct, 10 and 1/2 hours flight to Accra, Ghana. The experience of preparing for this new career has been full of wonderful times with my family and exhausting times preparing my home and life for 27 months in a much different location and environment. I am ready to go.
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