How To Do It Yourself in Ghana

My book's title: How To Do It Yourself in Ghana.

Last night, I gave myself a hair cut. It's the second such cut I've had since coming to Ghana 4 months ago. My roommate giggled histerically as I sat indian style on the floor, looking into a broken mirror and snipping off uneven sections of my hair. I know my mother is cringing right now. I thought about cutting it really short because I've never had short hair before, but ultimately decided against it. I need to at least be able to put my hair in a pony tail.

Then, today I hand washed my clothes. This is something I haven't done since my first week here. I decided early on that it would be a better idea for me to just take my clothes over to ISH 2 and have Seth (the laundry boy) wash them in the machine. But today, due to a little insufficient money scare, I decided to hand wash my clothes. Once again, Cassandra appeared with a camera, laughing hysterically as I scrubbed filthy socks and wash cloths. I don't know what she'll do in a couple of weeks when she doesn't have a silly obruni around to entertain her...

bucket baths and babies.

I think this bike is too big for me...

Blessing is back at the orphanage!

I went to the orphanage today and got to see baby Blessing. I also met Emily for the first time. She is a 19 year old volunteer from the UK who has spent a great deal of time in Ghana over the last year. Her family is actually in the process of adopting Adom, one of the little boys at Peace and Love. Last time she was in Ghana was about a month ago and it seemed like every time I got to the orphanage, she had just left. So we had heard a lot about each other, but had never actually met. Very sweet girl, wish I would have met her sooner.

Today I purchased floor tiles that will cover the floor in the main living area. This totaled to 440.00. I need to purchase the concrete and mixer tomorrow, as well as pay the mason for the labor. I also purchased tin roofing that will replace the ceiling over the same living area. This totaled to 110.00. There is so much that I want to do here, and clearly not enough time or funding. I'm hoping to be able to come out here next summer with a more substantial amount of money and really be able to do something. I will work my hardest to make this a possibility. So if anyone didn't get to donate money this time, put a little aside for next year. I'm not positive that I will be able to come out here, but I really would like to. I don't want it to sound like the money everyone donated for this fundraiser was not substantial...it definitely was and I have been able to do a lot to improve this orphanage thanks to your generosity and compassion!

Other good news...Emily will be meeting with some sort of adoption agency this week (I'm guessing it is in regards to her family's adopting of Adom), and she will be finding out a lot of information for me on how to adopt. No, I'm not adopting a baby (as much as I would love to!). But there is a student at ETSU who has volunteered to help me make Peace and Love a website. On this website will be all of the information anyone could need in order to adopt a baby from there. The process is very long unfortunately. Even baby Blessing...if someone were to adopt him, it would take 1-2 years for them to be able to bring him home. Emily's family is hoping to have Adom "home" in England by Christmas, but it's looking like that won't happen till January or February. The system is set up to weed out the people who wouldn't make suitable parents. Unfortunately it takes time for this. I'm hoping to find Blessing a home as soon as possible though. He's a beautiful baby boy who does not need to grow up in an orphanage in Africa. Any takers?!?!

Aside from the orphanage project, I've just been studying for finals and hanging out in Legon. I cooked mashed potatoes tonight for my roommate who has never had them before. Mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and sweet tea...doesn't get anymore Southern than that. I will admit that the mashed potatoes weren't exactly delectable, but they were edible and I was pretty excited to eat them. I had to make them with powdered milk and laughing cow. Oh...and the sweet tea was really just a tea bag dropped in a cup filled with room-temperature "pure water" and a couple of sugar cubes. It wasn't that bad though.

My friend Katie (who will be my travel buddy in Europe) was in here a few minutes ago. I was filling the rice cooker with water so that I can take a warm bucket bath. We were laughing at how much our standards have lowered by living here. I was actually excited about warm water. My body has definitely adjusted to the heat. I went to Max Mart in Osu the other day, which is a Lebanese grocery store/coffee shop. I was sitting upstairs in the coffee shop studying and I honest-to-goodness left because they had air conditioning. I was so cold I could not concentrate.

Side note to my mom: Please don't turn the AC in the car on full blast when you pick me up from the airport.

Anyway...now to that bucket bath.

17 days to go...

Blessing it now out of the hospital and doing just fine. His medical bills only amounted to 50 cedis. Not quite like the states huh! I also donated 50 cedis to the Osu Orphanage via Latoya Egbert who has been volunteering there. She said they really needed some things and wasn't able to raise a lot of money back home. I'm meeting up with Madame Sela (I've been spelling her name wrong all along) at the orphanage tomorrow and we will be picking up tile so that we can tile the main living room area. I was going to fix some plumbing in the bathroom, but there is curently another bathroom under construction and once it is built they will not be using the old one anymore. So instead we're going to tile the main living room. Right now it has concrete floors and minimal seating. The children are always sprawled across the dirty concrete as they watch the television. There is another volunteer from the UK who is apparently also working on improving the living conditions at the orphanage, so I'm going to e-mail her and figure out what all she is doing. I will also be purchasing some seal-tight containers to place their food in because the kitchen is infested with large cock roaches and rats. A lot of work...not a lot of time. But I'll get it done. Thanks again to everyone who has donated...it means so much!

As my time in Ghana is quickly coming to a close, I'm having very mixed emotions about leaving. In just 17 short days, I will be boarding a plane for Europe. I'm very excited about coming home and spending time with my family, boyfriend, and friends...but I will be very sad to leave as well. Living in Ghana has opened my eyes to a lot of problems the people here face. My roommate asked me one day if I think Africa will ever develop. There are a lot of theories claiming that so long as Europe and the Americas are prosperous, Africa will not be. My general impression is that Africa could potentially develop, but not without a lot of effort on its own behalf.

Living here has also shown me that the American perception of Africa is very exaggerated and incorrect. Africa is a very large continent with a lot of great people and a vast, wonderful culture. The people here may not all be as wealthy as Europeans or Americans, but this does not make them inferior or even less culturally advanced. As I recently wrote in the East Tennessean, our differences are only skin deep.

Furthermore, I would like to officially announce that I am in the beginning stages of writing a book about my experiences living in Ghana. I am hoping that this book will help raise awareness about the need for volunteers in African orphanages, as well as help to erase the African misconception that most of the developed world believes. If I am able to get this book published, I will be using the proceeds toward traveling back here and building/helping orphanages.

I'm taken.

"Ghana Maybe Time", it's the name we affectionately call Ghana's time zone, GMT. I don't know if I've mentioned it before...but Ghanaians are NEVER in a hurry. We Americans around campus are so easy to spot, not just because of our pale skin and awkward apparel, but because we are always running. I feel like I should pass over a baton to the exchange students I'm running past on my way to class. I'm getting used to waiting on the slower-paced, laid-back Ghanaians. When you order food in a restaurant, you should expect to wait at least 2 hours, if not more. Today I was supposed to take my piano exam. I was told to be there at 9. Then 12:30. Then 2:30. Now 4:30. So in 20 minutes I'm going to walk down to the music department AGAIN and hopefully be able to play my Bach and Chopin pieces in front of a jury.

Earlier (after leaving the music department at 2:30 without having taken my test), I was approached by a Ghanaian guy.

"Hello...hello?" he said as he tried to catch up to me. I was walking like an obruni. I glanced slightly to my left as he introduced himself. He was wearing a very nice blue suit and shiny, polished black shoes.

"Please, are you going to the International Hostel?" he asked. "I'm trying to find the place and I don't know where it is. I'm working for the parliament here in Accra."

Wait, oh--he isn't trying to get my number. I glance up at his face this time, allowing eye-contact, which is rare. Oh no--he is trying to get my number. He has that obnoxious look on his face. I point him the direction of ISH and keep on walking.

"Please madam, I have grown fond of your face so soon," he says.

I laugh. "I want to take you," he says, and by this he means that he wants to marry me, of course. I flash my left-hand ring and tell him that I'm already "taken."

"Ooohh--but that doesn't mean anything," he says. I tell him that it does.

"Ehh, it is not your place to say that. I am proposing to you," he says.

"And I am declining your proposal," I said, still walking at my obruni pace (if not a little faster).

"Ehhh, but I have grown so fond of your face," he says again. At this I have had it, but I'm in a more amused mood than usual and so I decide to continue our conversation further.

I throw my hands into the air..."Do you honest-to-goodness think that this pathetic attempt is going to work?? Do you really think that I'm going to say 'Oh YES...please marry me! Take me home with you right this minute!"

He looks shocked. The Ghanaian men I've met haven't been very good at taking rejection. "But this opportunity doesn't just come along every day, and your fiance isn't right for you," he informs me.

"I will take you."

"No you won't."

"Yes, I will."

"No...you won't."

More childish, sibling-like bickering continued until he ran into one of his friends. My escape route finally. He turns to introduce me...but I'm gone like the wind baby. Hiding in the night market and purchasing some boiled yams and cabbage stew. The cabbage stew had a little sardine surprise in it by the way. It's a good day.

conquering the fish!

I'll be submitting my application to Fear Factor as soon as I get home...don't worry.

no water...no picture

The dorm right next to mine, Jubilee Hall, has had no water for 2 weeks. This morning I was walking back from my piano practice and heard a horrible racket inside Jubilee. There were horns, trumpets, whistles, and people screaming while jumping around inside. Apparently this is how Ghanaians protest. So being the curious, aspiring journalist that I am, I wandered out onto my porch to take a picture of this madness. All of a sudden, this girl looked up and saw me. She pointed up to me and everyone turned their head and started screaming at me. "Hey hey hey you!....[more mumbling in Twi]." I guess it's not a good idea to take a picture of a riot. I immediately deleted the picture because I was afraid the angry men were going to come up to my room and demand to have my camera. They haven't been up here yet.

Blessing is still in the hospital. I went to pick him up yesterday but the nurses needed to see the results from his bloodwork. So we went over to the lab to pick it up, and the lab informed us that they lost his sample. So today Blessing will getting his blood drawn again (poor little guy!). He won't be discharged until Friday.

I'm about to go meet up with some friends at the beach. I'll be bringing my history notes to study. I've got to say, I'm really nervous about this exam. There are no tests and quizzes throughout the semester...just one cumulative exam. The exam will have a few questions for me to choose from, I have to pick 3. I will then have to write a 3 page essay on each topic. That's 9 pages in two hours...and I have to remember all the dates and everything. Needless to say, I can't wait to get back to the American education system.

Oh and we're out of water too now. I found out that would happen early this morning and so I filled a bucket so I can bucket bathe later. Fun stuff.

Baby Unit adventures.

"Baby Unit: Mothers and Father's only." I guess I'll have to do, after all I am listed as "next of kin" on his medical records. Right next to his made-up name and religion. Yes, I said religion. "Christian or Muslim?" the man behind the counter is asking me. I'm standing here holding the tiny 2 week-old baby in my arms. "Can't he decide for himself?" I ask. He looks confused. "Christian or Muslim?" he repeats. The papers say "Christian". This is right before he informs me that he is going to get my phone number off Blessing's information and give me a call. "No you're not," I say. He notices my last name. Foli. It's a common Ghanaian name. "Is your husband Ghanaian?" he asks. I say no. "My husband is Italian." This isn't the first time I've lied about being married.

An hour or so later, Bertha (the orphanage nurse) and I are ushered into a room filled with hospital beds occupied by babies and their mothers. These words: "Attention: The time of collection of all dead bodies must be recorded in the death book" is scribbled on ripped off notebook paper and taped to the wall. Mother's cradle sick children in their arms as they suckle on unabashedly exposed breasts. Sweat is trickling down my forehead. We are now being ushered into yet another room so that the doctor (who is wearing jeans and a t-shirt) can get a blood sample. Maybe this is where my maternal instinct kicks in, I'm not really sure...but I'm light-headed. And this is coming from a girl who can watch open-heart surgery on the discovery channel, while eating dinner. My stomach feels like it is floating in my abdomen and all I can do is hold his tiny little hand in mine as he screams bloody murder. I've never even heard him cry before. The doctor's face remains expressionless, even while Blessing makes cat-like shrieks.

We're in another room now. Blessing is laying in a baby bed, that could easily be mistaken for a shopping cart at wal-mart. "Nikki", says Bertha. She calls me Nikki, even though I have repeatedly told her to call me Kimber, which is what all the kids call me. "You take Blessing home with you to 'Merica," she says, while laughing. It's one of those eye-twinkling, obnoxious village woman laughs. I'm laughing, but secretly I wish I could take him home with me. I would have to give him a different name though. Kids in America would definitely make fun of a kid named Blessing. I think they've given him the middle name, Kofi. That is the default name given to any male child born on Friday. There is a different name for every day of the week. My Ghanaian name is Ifia, "Friday-born." Anyway, Bertha is talking again. "Blessing Foli," then that obnoxious laugh again. I've got to get some fresh air. He needs formula, and this seems like a great task for me. So I wonder outside into the market and find some formula a lot faster than I would have liked. There's the man from the hospital. "I'll call you," he shouts from across the street. I just wave, muttering ugly words under my breath.

It's 6:30. I've now been here all day. Time to go. Blessing will stay the night here tonight. I hope the mosquito's don't get him. I'm going to find out if the hospital will take mosquito nets. If so, then I will bring some by. There are still tons and tons of them piled up in the ISEP office. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who has donated some of them. Bertha says that she will escort me back to Circle. "It's dangerous at night. A cab driver will kill you," she says as she runs her hand across her neck, simulating a knife.

I'm yawning, and still sweating. There is dirt caked on my skin and I'm dreading the cold shower that awaits me. I wouldn't dread it at all if it were still daylight. But the sun has gone down and it's chilly. Keep in mind that my definition of "chilly" has changed drastically over the last three months. I've been counting my cold chills. I'm at 9, and all of those were on the beach. Amazing goose-bumps. Anyway, time for that shower.

My purchases so far.

Before I run out the door to take Blessing to the hospital, I decided to post the prices for the items...as promised. If anyone wants to see the receipts, I've taken pictures of them. I will be happy to e-mail them to any doubtful person.

Cas Enterprise
Madina Old Rd. Market
May 16, 2008
Diapers 15.00
Toffees .80
Baby milk 18.90

Pills and Tabs Pharmacy (Blessing's meds)
May 16, 2008
medicine 10.67

DINPA Business House
Abeka-Accra
May 15, 2008
fan acces. 40.00

Josaampo Enterprise
May 15, 2008
5 fans 145.00

Thy Works Electricals & Trading Ent.
Madina-Accra
May 8, 2008
1 ceiling fan 49.80

Market purchases ( these places did not provide receipts, so I've been keeping my own tally)
Madina May 16, 2008
Baby things for Blessing and the smaller children(small bottles, soap, baby powder, bibs, small clothes, baby wipes, passies) 69.30

I also paid 50.00 to Kofi for installing the fans. It was 10 cedis per fan. There was also a 10 cedis cab fare from Accra. We had to take a cab because we had too many things to take a trotro. I also had to take a cab yesterday from Madina because I had 4 bags of baby things. That cab fare was 3 cedis.

This totals to 420.87.

Blessing

A new baby arrived at the orphanage this week. He is a little under 2 weeks old and was abandoned by his mother in Accra shortly after his birth. The police brought him to Peace and Love earlier in the week. Madame Cella has named him Blessing, and he definitely is. This pint-sized little guy had me running all over the Accra greater region today looking for medicine and pedialyte. He has jaundice and some sort of head infection. I found some medicine but still didn't feel very comfortable leaving him, so I took him to the hospital tonight. He's been doing fine the past few hours, but I still didn't feel good about leaving him. Unfortunately the hospital I went to didn't have the technology needed to help him. The nurse also told me that if I took him to another hospital, they probably wouldn't admit him because I didn't have papers from the orphanage. So tomorrow morning I will be heading out to the correct hospital with Madame Cella in tow. I hope no one is opposed to me using some of the fundraiser money toward his medical bills, if there are any.

Before I went to the orphanage today, I stopped in Madina and purchased a lot of things they need. My friend Grace came with me to help out. I'll post all the prices tomorrow. Too tired to get out all the receipts and add everything up right now. Also, the electrician was there today installing the fans! There are now 2 fans in both of the girls rooms, 1 fan in the nursery, and soon-to-be 2 fans in the boys room! I asked Mameya, an 8 year old girl who lives there, if she was excited about the fans. She nodded her head and smiled from ear-to-ear as she skipped around her room. So thank you everyone who contribuated to the fundraiser!!

I'll update on here tomorrow after I get back from the hospital with Blessing.

thunderstorms and soul food on Sunday.

Today I went to breakfast in Osu with a bunch of friends. After eating a delicious breakfast (that included bacon!), Stephanie, Michelle, and I decided to go back to Legon instead of the grocery store with the rest. We walked around Osu looking for a trotro that was heading toward Legon, but isntead we found an awesome 70's style, straight-up hippy looking trotro that was going to Accra. So we got on, without even knowing where the trotro was headed. It dropped us off at Tema station, and from there we got on the correct trotro to Legon. We walked through the construction field to ISH, sweating bullets under the hot mid-day sun. I walked into my room and immediately shed my sweat-damped clothes and sat down to check my e-mails and call home for Mother's Day. About 20 minutes after I walked through the door, I felt a gust of wind through the window. I looked up and saw that the sky was black. The weather in Africa is so strange...perfectly sunny one minute and then hurricane force winds and rain the next.

In the afternoon, after the storm subsided, our ISEP group went over to the program director, Theresa's, house for dinner. Auntie Theresa, being African-American, cooked us some delicious soul food. We had chicken, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, fish, cabbage something-or-other, and some fish-ball-things. Everyone ate the large mounds of food on their plate like ravenous animals. Delicious. We all gorged ourselves until we thought we would explode. Then she served us cake and ice cream. I think I'm going to fruit fast for a few days to cleanse my body after all of that.

Anyway, that's it for now. = )

Journal entry from Kokrobite

For a change of pace, I decided to post some stuff straight from my personal journal:

Kokrobite, Ghana
May 10th, 2008
Saturday

Big Milly's again, in Kokrobite. Baking in the sun. Three naked children with skin as dark as night are running in and out of the ocean, the water on their backs glistening in the sun. It's about noon time with the sun directly overhead. Spent a good part of the morning in Stephon's shop learning to play the big wooden bass drum. He's a 29 year old Togolese man who moved here 2 years ago. A very patient drum instructor. My sweat is spoiling this page.

Later:
Still baking on the beach. My skin turning more red by the minute, but not burnt. I'd never admit to that. We tried to find out if we could stay another night, but the loft is full and there is only one tent (with holes) left. Not to mention that I only have 5 cedis left. I owe 1.50 to a man I bought jewelry from, and about 2 to get home. There are many annoying men on the beach today. [Don't make eye contact.] Little girls with heavy baskets of fruit on their heads walk by me trying to sell. They have this pigeon strut, gained by much practice at carrying the large baskets on their heads. They move their eyeballs skillfully from side-to-side, scanning the area for thirsty mouths that are craving the sweet juice inside the oranges and pineapples. A man just came over and asked if he could take my picture. I say no. He asks why, unable to take the rejection. I tell him that I don't know him and I don't want him taking my "Piktcha." "Oh, but you are nice," he says. "Go away," responds the born-and-raised New Yorker that has taken over my usual self.

Later:
The boy is slicing open coconuts. I really wish I didn't have to leave here today. There is a wonderful breeze from the ocean, effortlessly lifting my tangled hair into the air. My skin feels warm and crisp (but not burnt). I love when my skin feels this way. I really wish I wasn't out of money. Pasta aubergine sounds amazing right now. Guess I'll have to settle for a beef khebob and "pure water." Stephon is walking up, better sign out.

My patient drum teacher, Stephon, and I. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago.

Caught in a rainstorm

Money spent so far= 17 cedis, 50 pesewas. (For 8 packages of diapers)

Yesterday at the orphanage, I was planning on leaving before the rain came. But as the winds picked up, I realized there was no way I could make it back to the main road, let alone to Legon, before the rainstorm. It turned out alright though. It gave me some extra time to play with the kids. The children danced and played football in the rain. Their over-heated bodies reveled in the coolness of the water. Naked, worm-pregnant bellies were drenched by the gallon-sized raindrops. I tried to usher them inside, but it was a futile effort. The holes in the noisy tin roof made way for the drip-drip of water to the dirty, cement floor. Mameya and Essie stood below the holes and opened their mouths to quench their dry, swollen tongues with the surely filthy water. Grace, spoiled by the open arms of white volunteers, cried for me to hold her. So did Dadum, the newly-walking baby who has also recently learned how to smile. There is a certain happiness in freedom. I scolded the older boys for their bad language, and wanted to scold the house madams for not disciplining them more. Grace grew fussier and fussier by the minute, and her unhappiness seemed to spread like the bubonic plague. Before long Dadum's smile turned to a frown and Isaac also started crying. Then Rich began his cry fest too. I'm guessing that they never had their nap because they started fighting over who got to sit on my lap. A few minutes later, Adam wandered up to me (which is a rare occurrence) and started whimpering with these puppy dog eyes. I couldn't resist his need for affection, and so I picked him up and rocked him. Within minutes he was fast asleep and so I moved him to one of the bunk beds in the boys room where he remained until I left. The rain finally subsided and I was able to make my way back to Legon. I forgot to bring the kids chewing gum this time, and they definitely remembered. I'll be sure to bring it next time. Well, I better go. I'm in an internet cafe and I only have a couple minutes left until my time runs out!

Sexism in Ghana

This morning at breakfast I was talking to Amanda and Michelle about the cultural differences between American women and Ghanaian women. It is very interesting to live in a place where you are the minority, but it is even more interesting (and challenging) to live as a minority when you are a woman. Even though many Ghanaians deny that women are seen as inferior to men, this is a part of life that Americans (who would know what life is like otherwise) are very aware of. Apparently in the dance department, there are many girls who have been forced to have sex with their dance instructor's. These girls have been warned that if they don't, they will be given a failing grade in the class. What is even more maddening about this, is that evidently everyone knows about this problem and does nothing to stop it. One of the international student's here, who is a dancer, is taking this problem to the head of the International Office. I believe she already took it to the head of the dance department, but apparently he is also one of the offender's. Hopefully Suzi will be able to do something about this serious problem.

Last week, Commonwealth Hall (the men's dormitory) had their Power Night on campus. It's basically a big concert or party outside of their building. Amanda walked up to Commonwealth with a friend and when she got there she was ushered into a section set aside specifically for women. All of the men stood on stage and sang extremely sexually offensive songs directed toward the women sitting on the chairs below. Amanda was shocked and asked the girl sitting next to her why she even came. The girl just giggled and said that the boys were just joking around and it didn't mean anything. Whether or not these men were just joking, their actions were very offensive and should not be tolerated by anyone.

Personally, I've had to deal with some very strange situations with Ghanaian men myself. I juggled around the idea of writing about this on my blog, but since I said that I was going to write about my experiences here as honestly as possible, I guess I should. A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Volta Hall beach party near Kokrobite. Every year, the traditional halls on campus have a beach party that basically the entire school attends. There was live music, food and drinks, as well as football games on the beach. Around 7 or so at night, after the sun went down, I was walking around with my friend Stephanie. Stephanie really needed to use the restroom and so we wandered around everywhere looking for one. When we had no luck, she decided to just take a little "swim" in the ocean to relieve herself. So I walked down to the ocean with her and leaned up against a concrete slab while she went into the water. A Ghanaian guy walked over and sat on the slab right next to me. He started talking and all I heard was "bla bla bla". I've grown rather accustomed to ignoring the men here. After a minute or so of ignoring him, I finally turned around to tell him that I wasn't interested. When I did, I looked down to see his pants unzipped. This man was masterbating right in front of me. I immediately sprung off the wall and started yelling at him. He stood up to walk away and I punched him in the arm. It wasn't a very impressive punch that my brothers would be proud of, but I was afraid he would retaliate if I punched him in the face. Perhaps it wasn't wise of me to even yell at him, but my angriness toward his actions upset me very much and I felt that if I just walked away, I would be doing all of woman-kind an injustice. I felt that I wasn't in any real danger since Stephanie was walking up the beach toward me and there were about 10 or so people within close distance of me who would have definitely heard me scream if he tried to harm me.

I'm not saying that all Ghanaian men are perverted pigs, however. I have met many guys here who are very respectable and caring men. Some of which I'm sure I will maintain contact with for many years to come. I don't think the mindset of Ghanaian men is necessarily any different from American men either. I think they are just more direct and blunt with their requests. My roommate said it isn't too outlandish for a Ghanaian guy to wak up to an obruni and ask for sex. Basically, the guys here have no game whatsoever. Even the harmless ones ask you for your number before asking for your name. I have continuously used the "I don't have a phone" excuse, and it works pretty well. I also always tell them that I have a boyfriend, but that never seems to stop them. "I want to be your friend here," is what they reply. This is one aspect of Ghana that I won't miss when I'm back in America. I can't wait to walk down the street without hearing cat calls and having men grab onto my hand and try to pull me to them as I walk by. "Obruni, I'm trying to talk to you," they say. I think I've developed somewhat of a New York attitude here. I have no tolerance for these pushy men whatsoever.

On a lighter note, I'm about to go into the market in Madina to purchase diapers...then I'm going to the orphanage. I'll be sure to bring my camera with me to take pictures! Our water on campus has been off all day and so I'm hoping it comes back on before I get home tonight. Otherwise I will be a hot, sweaty mess after working at the orphanage. Anyway, better run!

Thank you!

Just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who helped out with my fundraiser. Thanks to Travis for doing a fundraiser at ETSU and also to the Kappa Sigma's who helped him. It really means a lot to me! Thank you also to my dad who raised money in Columbus. I'd also like to thank the academy for making this possible...okay, anyway. THANK YOU!

I'm not posting the total yet because money is still slowly coming in. The more I can raise, the better.

Today I went to the orphanage and hung out with the kids for the first time in a couple of weeks. I've been sick with a cold and so I've been avoiding the orphanage so I wouldn't spread my sickness to all the kids. Today I brought a big bag of bubble gum with me. They went crazy over the bubble gum! I talked with Madame Cella and had her make appointments with an electrician and a plumber to come in and give me an estimate to fix the broken fan in the girls room and the malfunctioning faucet in the bathroom. They are going to come give her the estimate first so that I don't get quoted the "Obruni price," but I will be present to personally pay both men for their services. I'm also going to see about adding a few more fans in the rooms, depending on how much money I can raise. Madame said she needs diapers, so I will purchase some on Monday and bring them to her, using the first bit of the fundraiser money. Anyway, it felt great to hang out with the kids again. I promised them that I would bring them more bubble gum on Monday.

Well, it's May 2nd, and I'm finally starting to get used to Africa. In fact, I think the culture shock when I get back to the states will be more intense than when I first arrived in Ghana. I'll be home in 52 days, but who's counting. I'm lucky to know what day it is here. Tomorrow I'm possibly going to Winneba for one of the largest festivals of the year. Two tribes come together for a deer hunt, and whoever catches the first deer with his bare hands has to sacrifice it the next morning. I think that's how it goes anyway. I don't think I'll be around for the sacrificing part, but it will be interesting to watch the two tribes come together for the hunt. Anyway, I'm still dirty from the orphanage so I'm going to shower before I meet up with some friends for falafels at Max Mart (one of the few very westernized restaurants in the area). Thanks once again to everyone who helped...and don't forget that the fundraiser isn't over yet! If you didn't get to stop by the Kappa Sigma table on Tuesday, it isn't too late! Just mail me a check to my mom's house. Make sure the checks are made out to me, as my mom will be putting the money in my account. Thanks so much!

Kimberly Foli
525 Timberline Dr.
Lenoir City, TN 37772