First pictures: the green house and the kids (well some of them)

We named it the Green House. It was so green you could see it from far away















The showers and bathrooms. I told you there was no running water. But bucket showers are fun. Plus it's so hot. Taking a shower outside it's actually a nice change...at least for a few weeks. It seems basic but for most people here it's pretty luxurious

The kitchen, on the right.











Here are some of the kids who lived there or came to visit us all the time so we could play. We spent hours every night playing with them. When you spend the day at the hospitals, it's nice to see healthy kids when you get back home. They were really great great kids. They have no tv or video games so they spend the day outside inventing games. They're so funny.

The girls in their school uniforms. They love when you run after them. It just makes them laugh. Easy.

Simple games. They talked and talked and talked.











Keizia discovered my ipod.The only they wanted to listen to Michael Jackson...I tried Radiohead but they didn't like that...They know Rihanna but not the Beatles.Someone















Going to church: Rachel, Keizia and Obert. Yes, the suit is a little too big.

Priscilla laughs like a squirrel












Some of the orphans from the orphanage next door would come over to play as well. We bought a football so they would play all the time

Back Home...

I'm back from Ghana.I'm absolutely exhausted but pictures will follow soon.It's strange to be back.Some things seem trivial now, life seems too materialistic here.
Here nobody says hello on the street, everything is quite and structured, people are individualistic...it's a little puzzling at first.
I'm sure it will be okay in a few days though and I'll get back to my nice little Western life.
Also, when I left Ghana, there were 35C...here it's -20C.Haha.I have to get used to it.

Ghanaian crazes

For my last blog from Ghana I wanted to talk about some things Ghanaians are crazy about

Phones: If you come here, you're first taken aback by the poverty. People live in small shacks or small two bedroom homes. Yet EVERYBODY has a phone. At least everybody over the age of 15.Phones can be bought everywhere. Here you just buy a chip put it in the phone then you buy minutes. Those little stands are absolutely everywhere. In cities at least 2 meters. People on the road sell them. Everybody wants your phone number. It’s so strange in a way. Money spent on phones could be used for something else, especially food and school.

Facebook: Very few people have computers at home but they all know facebook. Whenever you go to an internet café you can be sure that half of the room will be on facebook. Because I’m a foreigner they obviously want to add me as their friend...

Football: The African Football (or Soccer for the American readers here) Cup is currently taking place. Ghana actually did pretty well. Better than in previous years so Ghanaians were very excited and proud. Most people don’t own a TV so people go to each others houses or to the bar. They watch TV from the outside so every time Ghana would score a goal you would hear a roar. Cars honking, people running in the streets. Men, women, kids…They are very proud of their team. Yesterday, Ghana arrived pretty far and was playing against Egypt. A lot of Ghanaians were sporting Ghana t-shirts, headbands and flags. It’s great to see. Life is not easy here. Not many people are proud of their politicians or current situation. They are proud of the people who fought for independence, are proud to have gained independence before other African nations but these things are difficult so football makes them happy.

Obama: Obama is still in his honeymoon period here. You can find the usual Obama t-shirts, posters, paintings etc but I’ve seen Obama jeans, Obama schools, Obama clocks, and everybody here loves the Obama cookies (when I get back, I’ll show you what they look like). Here, like for many Black people in the US, Obama represents hope. If one Black man can become president of the United States then no kid here can say things are impossible or that he can't fulfill his dreams. Obama like Mandela are symbols of hope for many kids.Even a 4 year old knows who he is.

Religion: Religion is always present. Church takes place in the open or inside but with all windows open. There are church services every day, especially at night during the week and then on Sunday mornings. Priests hop onto tro-tros and buses to pray for us or have a little service. Then everybody prays that we arrive to our destination alive (seeing how people drive here, I understand them)

Also, music is central in Ghana. But only rnb, gospel and hip hop. They know Rihanna and Jay-Z but have no clue who the Beatles are. Go figure.

On Ghanaian women

Today was my last work day.I said goodbye to everyone and went around the hospitals and clinic I worked at during the past few weeks.It has been such a fantastic experience.I learned more in one month than in a few months of school.Coming here was the best thing I could do.

During the past few weeks I observed how life works here.Working in hospitals and maternity clinic and therefore being surrounded by women made me realize how much they work here.Much more than most men.They are basically responsible for everything: children, food, housework, work, taking care of the husband, cooking.....They often wake up around 4.30 or 5 am and don't go to bed until late.They are everywhere: at the market, on the road selling products or carrying water and other loads.Meanwhile most men can be seen sitting under a tree sleeping, hanging around or playing cards.Not all of them but many.
Women (and even some men) here are very much aware of the situation.Every time you talk to them they will tell you men are lazy.Women carry all the burden but men control the money.A pregnant woman at the clinic has anaemia and a very high blood pressure as a result of all the pressure put on her everyday as well as lack of proper food.In order to know her blood type lab tests must be made.Yet the husband won't give her money although.He spends money on baby clothe for the future child but won't make sure his wife or the baby are alright.
Gender-violence is also exists.Poverty leads several men to abuse their wives.Many men do not have jobs while women can more easily be traders at the market.Because men are desperate for money and job they turn against women.
Several husbands also work far away and only come back on the weekends.Sometimes this means that some of them also have a second family or girlfriend at their work place...which can increase the risk of HIV.
Not all men are like that here, but women do suffer a lot.The health risks are numerous.Today I saw a list of all the major cases women's clinics receive: besides minor diseases anemia, typhoid, abdominal pains, STDs, HIV and respiratory problems are the most common.Teenage pregnancy are also common as young women whose parents are poor find a boyfriend who will take of her.But many of the men are exactly looking for a wife yet and certainly do not want a child.
I heard so many stories....Women here are very much aware of the rights they have but do not enjoy.I admire them very much.

In a happier subject, his weekend I'm going to the Shai Hills and Aburi, in the Central Region.Monday: time to pack as I'm leaving on Tuesday morning....

The trip to Cape Coast was amazing.It's nice to get out of the city.On Saturday we went to the rain forest.We walked on a canopy walk through the trees.Kind of scary. Then we went to beach where we had a bonfire and the next visited Cape Coast castle, which is where all the slaves were sent from.Obama made a speech here when he visited Ghana last year. There are posters of him and Ghanaian President Atta Mills all around the city.They love him over here.

This week I'll be visiting different hospitals and health projects. Yesterday and today I worked at a maternity and women's clinic which receives a lot of malaria, anaemia and HIV cases.They also try to push family planning, which Ghanaians are often very suspicious of.They believe it will harm them.Yet having 34 or more children often means that not all of them will receive education or they won't get enough food.

It's a small rural clinic yet they are very good at what they do and they have very straightforward views on what is good for the local community and for families.HIV tests can be done on the ground and HIV pre- and post- counseling is available as well.HIV-positive patients are then referred to bigger hospitals in Accra where they can get proper treatment.The midwives here try to encourage women to take the HIV test to make sure the child is going to be healthy.The head nurse also tries to go around the community to tell them about HIV risks as well as the need for family planning.She really tries her best because she knows the consequences.

As I already told you last week, working in hospitals is one of the best and saddest way to experience the poverty here in Ghana.yesterday I young pregnant women was rushed to the hospital with anaemia.She needs blood in order for her and the baby to be healthy yet she can't afford to buy blood.Maternal deaths can be frequent here so I hope someone will find a solution.
The clinic also often experiences power cuts.When this happens at night, they have to work by candlelight or car is driven is front of the window so the headlights can be used.It sounds pretty crazy but it's all they have right now.Everybody here tells me that poverty is getting worse.Doctors experience it every day as patience cannot pay for treatment.What also sometimes happens is that pregnant women cannot afford transport to the clinic.However, the community here has organized a taxi system that brings pregnant women to the hospitals.

Africa through hospitals

Working at hospitals is one of the best ways to learn about some of the country's and the continent's problems.You see everything about malnutrition, poverty, HIV/AIDS, self-abortions, refugees etc..Doctors and patients take the time to talk about Ghana's problems or what they see everyday.Poverty and HIV seem to be the biggest problems and seem to be at the root of a lot of other issues.All week I experienced women being disappointed when they were told they were pregnant.Very few people also know about their HIV status and when you ask them about it they look a little taken aback if not appalled by the question.But then I saw several HIV tests being done here (it is encouraged if the woman is pregnant) and one turned out to be positive.Then comes the huge problem of what to do with the baby since mother-to-child transmission is possible.At the malnutrition ward last week, 2 year-old Lucy was infected through mother-child transmission.

Hospitals have little money, especially rural clinics.Today, one of the nurses had to take stitches
out but didn't have enough light.Because she didn't have anything else, she simply took her cellphone out and asked the patient to hold it and simply used the phone's light.Somehow it was both funny and sad.They also safe everything they can.Not needles obviously but band aid etc.

Today I met I Liberian refugee who is now a midwife at the maternity clinic.She earns very little.Her husband was killed during the war so she and her children fled to Ghana.She told me she was making dinner when the soldiers attacked her family.They killed the husband and threw
boiling water on her 1 year old son.He survived but is obviously badly scarred.Now she has a job here but still the money is barely enough (50 Ghana Cedis, which pays for rent and some food, though hardly if you have children.Rent is usually 30 Cedis for a 2 room shack.Transport can be expensive for them and few people can afford a car).All the Liberian refugees here are trying to get to North America and Europe.One of the nurses actually presented me to her son and she really wants me to be his wife.

You also learn about beliefs and traditions, including witchcraft (which quite a few people still belief in. I've seen a couple of so-called witch catchers).Religion plays a HUGE role here.Every morning, when hospitals open, all patients and staff pray together.At least three times a week, there is a church service on the main square.People dance and sing until 10 pm.It is frowned upon not to go to church on Sundays.

This weekend I'm going to Cape Coast and Kankum National Park.It's always nice to get out.Work is fantastic but it's not always easy.I also can't believe I only have ten days left.The first week was slow because you get adjusted to everything but the last two weeks have gone by so fast.Now I do things on my own, have a morning run through the countryside, go to the market.It's a small community here so a lot of people now us obrunis.Now whenever I go for a walk or to the market people wave because they know me not just because I'm white.

Oh and the food here is very good.Heavy for good.You need a lot of energy to get through the very hot days.I don't know what cold is anymore.

Eventful few days

I'm back from Kumasi.Two volunteers and I spent the weekend in this old Ashanti city, which is now Ghana's second biggest city.It's more cultural than Accra as Ashanti people are very proud of their history and really try to preserve it.We visited the Ashanti king's palace (yes, they still have a king) as well the Kumasi market, one of the biggest markets in West Africa.It's very busy and everything is sold here.We also visited the Ghana Cultural Center where everything from drums, statues and paintings can be bought.

The ride to Kumasi was beautiful even though buses are uncomfortable, crowded and hot.Imagine lush green landscapes.Although it rarelly rains here (we had the first rainfall in two weeks on Friday...and what a rainfall.Kids here take showers outside when it rains and have water fights because it's the only time they can play with water without wasting it).The countryside is amazing.

On our way back from Kumasi we had a small tro-tro accident but nothing major and nobody was hurt.Drivers are crazy but they know what they are doing.We jumped onto another tro-tro and five minutes latert it ran out of gas, meaning we had to find another one.Eventful drive back home indeed.

The night following the trip was a strange one.Around 3 am, our neighbours came banging on our door saying that everyone should get out because there had been an earthquake warning.Earthquake in Ghana.So imagine everyone at 3 am sitting outside for an hour.It was both scary, amusing and ridiculous.Especially since it turned to be a false alrm.Apparently someone in Ghana (I don't know where) prtetended there was going to be earthquake.He phoned a friend who phoned a friend who phoned a friend.Richard, our coordinator, actually heard it from someone living in Cape Coast, 200 km from Accra.Eventful night.Ghanaians call each other so much and have such a great sense of community that the whole coastline found itself on the street at 3 am waiting for an earthquake.The Haiti tragedy only made things worse.

On Monday, I started work at the Maternity Clinic....and was allowed to watch a mother give birth to a baby boy.It was absolutely amazing...and nothing like I had imagined.They have no drugs here so it looked VERY painfu.I was allowed to hold to child after.The first time he opens his eyes is absolutely beautiful.
There is a lot to do here.The Margo Maternity Clinic is a small rural hospital.Chickens and cats roam around and the clinic is made out of little shacks.A lot of people come everyuday so I help with the pulse taking, temperature, questionnaires, injections...They taught me so much.Bacxk home you would need a degree for this but here they just learn opn the ground.

It is interesting to watch a woman's reaction here when you tell them they are gonna have a child. Out of the 4 women I talked to only one was truly happy.It was her first child.But the others already had a few and the prospect of another one means the family will struggle to make ends meet.After seeing what happens at the maltrunition ward, I can understand that they worry.A young woman today ate herbs on purpose so she could lose the child.She was 7 months pregnant.Poverty leads to terrible acts.I've heard a lot of similar stories since I've been here.Ghana is still very poor.

I told you the last few dfays had been eventful...

On another subject, I tried to upload pictures onto the website and it takes FOREVER and the computer crashes.Internet is very slow here.