Ghana, 2008 First Installment

Culture shock is running into things we don't expect. The first shock was trying to leave Richmond. The plane was delayed out of Richmond which meant waiting two more days for another direct JFK-Accra flight. It did mean another two days enjoying one of the prettiest falls we've had here. And it meant getting to know a cute Ghanaian-American two year old on the flight. My seat was the last one on the plane, so sleep was impossible and I arrived fairly brain dead at 8:30 AM Ghana time. But I took a shower, went to church, and out to lunch before a nap at our good friends, Joyce and Tim Crosby's lovely home in East Legon, Accra, Ghana.

The next day meant learning my way around the American International School and giving the first of two seminars on writing and using performance objectives in the classroom and with assessments. The teachers were very cordial and for the most part receptive. And the students in the Preschool – Grade 12 school were delightful. All the students, Christian, Moslem, or whatever, take Bible class and attend chapel once a week. American standards, textbooks and grading system are used in the small classes. For being only a little over two years old, the school is already building a fine reputation in the international community. The flags around the building represent each nationality attending – or teaching – at the school. A large outdoor pavilion serves as lunchroom, auditorium, and sometimes PE classroom. The lower grades, offices, and library are housed in the main building. An adjacent apartment building serves as the secondary building. And of course there are growing pains as the school has gone from 12 students to almost 150 in two years. A highly qualified special education teacher serves some of the students, and no student is admitted without taking a battery of placement tests. Missionary children receive their education at a greatly reduced price, while other children are charged tuition. Even so, many of the teachers must raise support at home to supplement their meager income.

The country itself reveals all of the poverty and infrastructure vagaries of Africa. The people are lovely and gracious, although there is always a fear of thievery. The large homes are surrounded by walls topped with razor wire or broken glass and have security guards. The electricity is erratic at best. Tim and Joyce are fortunate in having a solar power backup system, but it has to be managed as well. The internet is also very sporadic and makes communication something to be prized, not taken for granted. A backup source of water, such as a roof top cistern is a great idea! And the ditches… let’s just say that IF there are ditches, you would lose an axle if you accidentally went into one.

I didn’t get into the country side very much as I was busy at the school during the week. The rain forest is rapidly being replaced by farm land and fields. The chickens are everywhere, with eggs being one of their main sources of protein. A large rodent called a ‘grass cutter’ is one of the favorite foods and is threatened due to large amount of hunting. It is also being farmed by some to fill the demand. Fruits and vegetables are plentiful – pineapples sweeter than candy, papayas growing wild and of course bananas and some oranges. Tomatoes and cucumbers are available at roadside stands – well almost anything is available at the roadside stands including plumbing supplies. There is a mall in Accra with a ‘supermarket’, occasionally a movie theater, an ice cream store and various specialty shops. Don’t expect to find any of the big chain stores here, and McDonald’s and Starbucks have yet to find Ghana. We did enjoy some lovely meals at nice restaurants. Just be sure you ask if the water is filtered before they make the ice.

I'll update more later! I only took 383 pictures, so there is lots to tell.