Homestay (6/18)

It’s a hot night. I’ve finally taken off my proper Ghanaian wear; long khaki pants, a button down shirt, and the old fan in my room feels amazing. My undershirt is wet with sweat and I smell less than refreshing.

Today was a day full of emotions. We finally found out our site announcements and I finally got really excited. In a way I have not, till just now, really accepted my situation in my heart, and it made me really happy to know where I was going and what my situation is going to look like. During our interviews earlier this week I strongly made it clear to Joe-B (my APCD Assistant Peacecorps Country Director) that he could put me wherever with whatever conditions but I had to have my own place. About 50% of the teachers will be living in a teacher compound, with their private rooms but sharing kitchen/bathroom space. I know myself and I’m going to passionately give all I have to this job, and so I’m going to need a place to get away and recharge my batteries on the days it feels like it’s too much.

I cant post specifics on my assignment location due to PC security regulations. I can tell you that I’ll be in the Northern Region of Ghana, near Tamale (TAH-mah-ley). If you email me I can tell you exactly what city I’ll be in. The language spoken there, which I will be learning is Dagbani. I’ll have my own bungalow (house.. score..) and I’ll be teaching math/science at a Junior High School (JHS). My school has 125 students.

The announcing ceremony was very nice, with a map of Ghana drawn on the floor and as people’s sites were announced you ran to your region. The energy in the room was palpable. You could see it radiating off of people as they nervously shifted in their seats, and whispered to one another which of the chalk outlines could be their spot. My anticipation boiled up to a level it has not in the entire course of my peace corps experience. I will be placed close to Julie, Kim (who I met in Philly), and Beth. I been hangin out with Julie a lot and it’s nice to have someone nearby and training with that I get along well with. As she said while we were awaiting the announcements "I’m scared to see who my forced regional friends will be." I am quite sure that no matter who was placed near me I’d see them at least semi-often simply due to the fact that they were American and it’s nice to see another American. It’s great that the people near me are people I’d actually like to be around.

The Map

First one up! Georgette go to your region!

Map - Full

Shortly after this ceremony we were introduced to our homestay families. My homestay mother is calm and affectionate. Her grandson is 23 yrs old and very chill. I’ve noted a strong western influence on both him and his friends. Clothes, slang, desire to depart from Ghanaian culture in favor of the "cooler" US culture. For example they only wear Ghanaian clothes on Friday (traditional day), and "white man’s clothes" the rest of the week. I really believe that country pride is important and so aside from the fact that I love the African prints, I’m going to set what example I can, and exert any lead-by-example influence I may have on these kids and wear Ghanaian clothes as often as possible.

Kofi, his younger brother, and me

The emotions only really shifted when it came time for dinner. The culture here is that the guests are given their privacy and respect while they eat and so as I was warned about before, I was served and ate in a different room, alone, separate from the entire family. It was very lonely and for the first time since I got here I felt very alone. Also the culture says if your guest eats all his food, you’re a bad host, because you didn’t make enough. The worst thing that can happen is if a guest asks for more food, because you didn’t prepare enough and don’t care enough about them for them to be strong. So the result is me being served a retardedly huge amount of Ampasi (and it was AMAZING.) I left what I couldn’t eat and thanked them for the great food. The family helped setup my mosquito net, I hung my maps and my Uruguayan flag, I showed Kofi/Prince (the 23 yr old) some pictures and videos from the road trip w fed and kyle, and here I am. I’ve been in country for about 2 weeks and I’m finally now truly arriving.