Whoa! So this past week I experienced my first Ghanaian virus'... and I was a little scared! As I fill you in, you will see why! :)
Symptoms:
Upset stomach - from worrying about the outcome of the virus
Nauseous that the virus could potentially not be cured
Complete debilitation - I couldn't manage to get anything to work!
Prognosis:
"A very, very strong virus."
Remedy:
3 hours with lab technician
Ok, so you may be wondering what I have come down with...
But actually, it was my camera and my flash drive that had the virus! Not good when you have two and a half weeks worth of pictures on the camera cards and important documents that would not be good if I lost them, on the flash drive!
On Tuesday, I was getting really fast Internet connection so I decided to try to upload a few pictures, so you could all get a small glimpse of my activities. The upload didn't even work... lol. It wasn't until later though that I realized something was wrong.
But not before I inserted my flash drive into the computer because I needed to send someone a file from it.
After my camera completely stopped taking pictures and had a red and blue error screen on the next day, I started to worry.
I could have kicked myself for not backing up the info on my flash drive before I left, but I didn't really think I would get a virus... I mean, it's never happened in the U.S. LOL
So... It was really frustrating to think I could be losing all of that!
But today I went to the mall to see if they could help me out. There was a small camera shop there. And thankfully! They were able to! The guy was able to recover all the pictures and documents and I had him burn them to a CD for a back up copy. He was able to get rid of the virus, and I have learned my lesson. DO NOT insert anything into these computers!
You will all just have to wait until I get home! I'm not risking it anymore!
Love ya!
Mel
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
- Planting Technology -
Yesterday (Wednesday) was an awesome day!
A girl from ISEP, Mallory, had been in contact with a girl from California who started her own non-profit organization which operates in Ghana, called Planting Technology (PT). The company gets computers donated from companies in the US and then donates them to schools in small, rural villages/communities who don't have computer labs, etc.
So yesterday, the three of us along with two Ghanaians working with (PT) went to two high schools to evaluate the schools needs and create a community profile.
The first school was in Agogo and had about 600 students in the high school. There was ONE operating computer for all of the students to use.
The next school was in Somanya and there were about 10 working computers for 2000 students. The class sizes were so big for the computer class though, that six students were sitting behind one computer trying to learn computing skills.
Computer education is now "required" in Ghanaian high schools, so most of the time teachers will draw pictures on the board and teach them like that. The first time these students ever touch a computer is in high school, where Americans begin in kindergarten and before.
The schools obviously didn't have Internet access.. they didn't even have running water.
Mallory and I will be working with PT this semester as "interns". We will be writing reports and going back to the communities on our own to do more assessments for their board members. Andrea was excited after I told her my major and said she would let me write the press releases and take care of the media aspect as much as possible.
Andrea is such and amazing person! She studied abroad in Ghana while she was in college, and has now returned with her own Non profit organization. She is also an amazing resource. She has a Ghanaian friend who works at MetroTV in Ghana, and she gave me his phone number, so soon I will give him a call and hopefully shadow him in order to see how the media works in Ghana. Something interesting about the media though is that in order for Andrea's events to be published in the newspaper or broadcast in the news, she must PAY them! It's not a public service so much as a lucrative business for the reporter and photographer.
Ok. Well, that's enough for now. I will keep everyone posted.
Mel
A girl from ISEP, Mallory, had been in contact with a girl from California who started her own non-profit organization which operates in Ghana, called Planting Technology (PT). The company gets computers donated from companies in the US and then donates them to schools in small, rural villages/communities who don't have computer labs, etc.
So yesterday, the three of us along with two Ghanaians working with (PT) went to two high schools to evaluate the schools needs and create a community profile.
The first school was in Agogo and had about 600 students in the high school. There was ONE operating computer for all of the students to use.
The next school was in Somanya and there were about 10 working computers for 2000 students. The class sizes were so big for the computer class though, that six students were sitting behind one computer trying to learn computing skills.
Computer education is now "required" in Ghanaian high schools, so most of the time teachers will draw pictures on the board and teach them like that. The first time these students ever touch a computer is in high school, where Americans begin in kindergarten and before.
The schools obviously didn't have Internet access.. they didn't even have running water.
Mallory and I will be working with PT this semester as "interns". We will be writing reports and going back to the communities on our own to do more assessments for their board members. Andrea was excited after I told her my major and said she would let me write the press releases and take care of the media aspect as much as possible.
Andrea is such and amazing person! She studied abroad in Ghana while she was in college, and has now returned with her own Non profit organization. She is also an amazing resource. She has a Ghanaian friend who works at MetroTV in Ghana, and she gave me his phone number, so soon I will give him a call and hopefully shadow him in order to see how the media works in Ghana. Something interesting about the media though is that in order for Andrea's events to be published in the newspaper or broadcast in the news, she must PAY them! It's not a public service so much as a lucrative business for the reporter and photographer.
Ok. Well, that's enough for now. I will keep everyone posted.
Mel
School Daze
This past weekend I was anxiously awaiting my first classes at the University of Ghana to begin. I was ready to get in the swing of things and figure out a routine.
Not sure exactly of what classes I wanted to take, I went to all the ones that I was interested in to "audit" them before registering.
My first classes caught me by surprise by the teaching style and classroom environment, but I have come to realize that's just how they do it here.
My first class was a political science course called Ghana's Foreign Policy. While the lecturer was actually on time (always a plus in Ghana, and at times a rarity) the lecture hall was huge. I would estimate more than 300 people. There was a disarray of chairs scatterer across the room. Plastic, wooden, steel, some with writing tables, some without. Students just started moving the chairs around, I guess so they could get the chair and position they wanted...
The lecturer used a microphone, which was cutting in and out and was static-y for half the class, so it was hard to understand him at times. What really took me by surprise was the "teaching" that took place. The lecturer stood at the front of the class and literally read from a piece of paper while we copied down word for word what he said. There was absolutely no discussion or analysis of the material presented. There was no powerpoint or hand out so we could visually see the info presented. To me, it really didn't seem effective at all...Just two straight hours of note taking, without any comprehension.
The next class I went to -Conflict and Society in Africa - the professor didn't show up... for the second week in a row. So after a half hour, nearly 300 students left the lecture hall. I was hoping the lecturer would come though because it seemed like an interesting class... There's always next week I guess.. LOL.
My third class for the day was the Media and Society class. This class was definitely more rowdy than the first class. At times it seemed like the professor lost control of the class... so I just sat back and laughed to myself.
A cultural thing here in Ghana is that to get someone's attention a person will hiss at you. So the professor kept doing this... over the microphone. I quickly realized that being hissed at is not something I enjoy. Everyone does it though... so I better get use to it. Another way to get a person's attention is to make the smooching noise with your mouth. A simple, Hey would be just fine, thanks! Haha.
On Tuesday I went to 10 hours of class with only a 2 hour break in between. It was a lot! But every Tuesday won't be like that. I was just seeing a lot of classes. Classes are normally held once a week for two hours at a time.
Next week sometime I need to decide and register for my final two classes I want to take.
This weekend ISEP has a planned trip to Cape Coast and the Kakum Rainforest, so I will make sure to fill everyone in on that!
Have a good weekend!
Mel
Not sure exactly of what classes I wanted to take, I went to all the ones that I was interested in to "audit" them before registering.
My first classes caught me by surprise by the teaching style and classroom environment, but I have come to realize that's just how they do it here.
My first class was a political science course called Ghana's Foreign Policy. While the lecturer was actually on time (always a plus in Ghana, and at times a rarity) the lecture hall was huge. I would estimate more than 300 people. There was a disarray of chairs scatterer across the room. Plastic, wooden, steel, some with writing tables, some without. Students just started moving the chairs around, I guess so they could get the chair and position they wanted...
The lecturer used a microphone, which was cutting in and out and was static-y for half the class, so it was hard to understand him at times. What really took me by surprise was the "teaching" that took place. The lecturer stood at the front of the class and literally read from a piece of paper while we copied down word for word what he said. There was absolutely no discussion or analysis of the material presented. There was no powerpoint or hand out so we could visually see the info presented. To me, it really didn't seem effective at all...Just two straight hours of note taking, without any comprehension.
The next class I went to -Conflict and Society in Africa - the professor didn't show up... for the second week in a row. So after a half hour, nearly 300 students left the lecture hall. I was hoping the lecturer would come though because it seemed like an interesting class... There's always next week I guess.. LOL.
My third class for the day was the Media and Society class. This class was definitely more rowdy than the first class. At times it seemed like the professor lost control of the class... so I just sat back and laughed to myself.
A cultural thing here in Ghana is that to get someone's attention a person will hiss at you. So the professor kept doing this... over the microphone. I quickly realized that being hissed at is not something I enjoy. Everyone does it though... so I better get use to it. Another way to get a person's attention is to make the smooching noise with your mouth. A simple, Hey would be just fine, thanks! Haha.
On Tuesday I went to 10 hours of class with only a 2 hour break in between. It was a lot! But every Tuesday won't be like that. I was just seeing a lot of classes. Classes are normally held once a week for two hours at a time.
Next week sometime I need to decide and register for my final two classes I want to take.
This weekend ISEP has a planned trip to Cape Coast and the Kakum Rainforest, so I will make sure to fill everyone in on that!
Have a good weekend!
Mel
Gourmet Ghana...kinda :)
So I've had a few requests to explain the food here in Ghana... and I've held off until I have been able to try a few more of the traditional dishes.
Rice is a main staple in many Ghanaian diets, so I guess it's convenient that there's a variety... There's jollof rice, fried rice, plain rice, chicken n rice, rice with sauce, and just about anything else you can think of... include rice, and whala.. it's a meal!
Red red is a traditional dish that I now enjoy. (The first time I ate it, I was a little skeptical, but maybe because I saw it being made! Haha! I've learned it's better to avoid see that process whenever possible!) It's a bean mixture, kind of like a bean soup... but thicker, served with a couple of fried plantains. They will add cornmeal and hot sauce to it also. The first time I ate it, it was hard to get it down, but on a second try, I added RICE to it, of course, and it was better.
The first time I ate it, the woman who was making it was also eating her own meal... with her hands, and then picked up the plantains with her hands and put them in. I've mentioned before the lack of sanitation there is, but hey, I guess whatever works.
Then yesterday, I had the opportunity to try fufu! My Twi professor told us that in Ghana there are only two foods. Fufu and then everything else. There was a lot of hype over this dish, as almost all Ghanaians rave about it, so I was excited to try it.
There is a dough ball, literally dough... not cooked or anything... so soft and mushy. It is pounded and can be made with casavah, kinda like a potato, or plantains. (I actually helped pound it yesterday! And it's a touch job! The guy was using one hand on a long wooded pounder... lol. I had to use two, and couldn't even get to the bottom of the bowl, like he was. Needless to say, he has great job security in this case. I won't be applying anytime soon! :) I got pictures of the pounding too, but unfortunately I really won't be able to put any pictures on until I get home.
So the fufu ball is put into soup. Yesterday we had a ground nut and palm oil soup, I think... with a piece of meat in in. Goat...
There is a water bowl at the table where you wash your hand, and then use your hand to tear off a piece of the fufu ball, dip it in soup, and then swallow it. Don't chew! Sadly to say, I'm not a big fan of fufu, and won't be ordering it for myself in the near future.
The locally grown pineapple is amazing... and usually a daily part of my diet. It's always readily available at the night market and a big hit.
Something else that is popular is egg sandwiches. Always nice when you need something "American". Haha.
That's all for now. I will continue to fill you in on my food adventures, as there are many more traditional dishes that I still have to try... but I will have a back-up just in case it's like the fufu. Haha.
Have a good day!
Mel
Rice is a main staple in many Ghanaian diets, so I guess it's convenient that there's a variety... There's jollof rice, fried rice, plain rice, chicken n rice, rice with sauce, and just about anything else you can think of... include rice, and whala.. it's a meal!
Red red is a traditional dish that I now enjoy. (The first time I ate it, I was a little skeptical, but maybe because I saw it being made! Haha! I've learned it's better to avoid see that process whenever possible!) It's a bean mixture, kind of like a bean soup... but thicker, served with a couple of fried plantains. They will add cornmeal and hot sauce to it also. The first time I ate it, it was hard to get it down, but on a second try, I added RICE to it, of course, and it was better.
The first time I ate it, the woman who was making it was also eating her own meal... with her hands, and then picked up the plantains with her hands and put them in. I've mentioned before the lack of sanitation there is, but hey, I guess whatever works.
Then yesterday, I had the opportunity to try fufu! My Twi professor told us that in Ghana there are only two foods. Fufu and then everything else. There was a lot of hype over this dish, as almost all Ghanaians rave about it, so I was excited to try it.
There is a dough ball, literally dough... not cooked or anything... so soft and mushy. It is pounded and can be made with casavah, kinda like a potato, or plantains. (I actually helped pound it yesterday! And it's a touch job! The guy was using one hand on a long wooded pounder... lol. I had to use two, and couldn't even get to the bottom of the bowl, like he was. Needless to say, he has great job security in this case. I won't be applying anytime soon! :) I got pictures of the pounding too, but unfortunately I really won't be able to put any pictures on until I get home.
So the fufu ball is put into soup. Yesterday we had a ground nut and palm oil soup, I think... with a piece of meat in in. Goat...
There is a water bowl at the table where you wash your hand, and then use your hand to tear off a piece of the fufu ball, dip it in soup, and then swallow it. Don't chew! Sadly to say, I'm not a big fan of fufu, and won't be ordering it for myself in the near future.
The locally grown pineapple is amazing... and usually a daily part of my diet. It's always readily available at the night market and a big hit.
Something else that is popular is egg sandwiches. Always nice when you need something "American". Haha.
That's all for now. I will continue to fill you in on my food adventures, as there are many more traditional dishes that I still have to try... but I will have a back-up just in case it's like the fufu. Haha.
Have a good day!
Mel
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Always an adventure in Africa
On Friday, a big group of us got up early to go hiking. At 7 in the morning, we set off. After an hour tro-tro ride to a town called Aburi, we were set for our 8 1/2 mile hike through the "jungles" of Africa. (I'm not really sure it was technically a jungle, but there were trees everywhere, with narrow paths that we followed. Very few human inhabitants, but I will get to that in a sec.)
It was a beautiful day. A little chilly in the morning, but it warmed up with sunshine all day. In order to get to the trail we would be taking, we walked through a small town, called Aburi, where it literally felt like we were on parade. The people were all out in the streets, and we waved to everyone as they walked by, because they were amazed to see that many "obrunis" together. We waved to everyone, and said hello to the Ghanaians countless times. I felt like Miss America... but I sure didn't look like her, with my hiking boots and back pack and all! :)
The children were so happy to see us. Some would run up to us while others would smile shyly and wave from a distance. Even the smallest toddlers would call out the word, obruni. How they learn this at such a small age, I will never know.
Walking through this small town, outside of the capital area where we have been the most, it again gave me a better look at the country, and the poverty in Ghana.
It was amazing because throughout the hike, miles from any main roads were the occasional house / shack with an entire family living there. One family was outside doing chores and what not, and we all immediately started taking pictures, until she told us we had to pay to take their picture. One lady yelled at us, and told us to stop what we were doing, and seemed offended that we would want a picture of the way they lived on a daily basis.
Giselle, (one of the ISEP students who was here last semester) had been on this hike before and was leading the way, until we came upon these two men who said we were going in the wrong direction, and then guided us to a different path. The men were under a little shack with barely any clothes on, and what they did have on were filthy. Before we left though, one insisted that he play us a song on his guitar. It was pretty bad.
But anyway, after we were heading down our new path, Giselle informed us that we were going the right way the first time, but that the men were "rasfatarians" and the reason they didn't want us hiking the way we were going is because they were most likely (pretty much positively) growing drugs back that way and they didn't want us to see, or step on it for that matter. Wow!
The hike was awesome though. About half way in there was a restaurant that we stopped at for lunch. It was great getting off campus and traveling to a town we had never been to before.
Well, hope everyone is having a good day today! And I think about you all often and wish you were here to experience the amazing adventures with me!
Love you all,
Melissa
It was a beautiful day. A little chilly in the morning, but it warmed up with sunshine all day. In order to get to the trail we would be taking, we walked through a small town, called Aburi, where it literally felt like we were on parade. The people were all out in the streets, and we waved to everyone as they walked by, because they were amazed to see that many "obrunis" together. We waved to everyone, and said hello to the Ghanaians countless times. I felt like Miss America... but I sure didn't look like her, with my hiking boots and back pack and all! :)
The children were so happy to see us. Some would run up to us while others would smile shyly and wave from a distance. Even the smallest toddlers would call out the word, obruni. How they learn this at such a small age, I will never know.
Walking through this small town, outside of the capital area where we have been the most, it again gave me a better look at the country, and the poverty in Ghana.
It was amazing because throughout the hike, miles from any main roads were the occasional house / shack with an entire family living there. One family was outside doing chores and what not, and we all immediately started taking pictures, until she told us we had to pay to take their picture. One lady yelled at us, and told us to stop what we were doing, and seemed offended that we would want a picture of the way they lived on a daily basis.
Giselle, (one of the ISEP students who was here last semester) had been on this hike before and was leading the way, until we came upon these two men who said we were going in the wrong direction, and then guided us to a different path. The men were under a little shack with barely any clothes on, and what they did have on were filthy. Before we left though, one insisted that he play us a song on his guitar. It was pretty bad.
But anyway, after we were heading down our new path, Giselle informed us that we were going the right way the first time, but that the men were "rasfatarians" and the reason they didn't want us hiking the way we were going is because they were most likely (pretty much positively) growing drugs back that way and they didn't want us to see, or step on it for that matter. Wow!
The hike was awesome though. About half way in there was a restaurant that we stopped at for lunch. It was great getting off campus and traveling to a town we had never been to before.
Well, hope everyone is having a good day today! And I think about you all often and wish you were here to experience the amazing adventures with me!
Love you all,
Melissa
Just call me Maytag! :)
Yep, that's right. My clothes are hanging on the line outside to dry as we speak!
Today I washed my clothes by hand for the first time! Such an accomplishment.
My mom doesn't even think I know how to push a few buttons on a washing machine, but heck, I was efficient! :)
Whether they will be clean or not... now that's a different story.
I'm kinda nervous to say that it really wasn't that bad!
In ISH II they do have laundry facilities which cost one cedi per kilo, so if I ever get desperate, than at least there is another option.
- - -
Today we are all going to a "durbar" hosted by the university for all the international students. From what I understand, it is a kind of festival to kick off the school year.
This morning I went to EcoBank which is near campus and set up a bank account! I felt so independent! LOL Which is good, since I'm half way across the world, and can't call Mom to ask all the banking questions I have.
Today is Saturday... so that means I will be calling home today! So talk to ya soon, fam. I'll wait a little while though, because I'm sure you don't want to be woken up at 7 in the morning on your day off to chat on the phone with me! :)
Love you all,
Mel
Today I washed my clothes by hand for the first time! Such an accomplishment.
My mom doesn't even think I know how to push a few buttons on a washing machine, but heck, I was efficient! :)
Whether they will be clean or not... now that's a different story.
I'm kinda nervous to say that it really wasn't that bad!
In ISH II they do have laundry facilities which cost one cedi per kilo, so if I ever get desperate, than at least there is another option.
- - -
Today we are all going to a "durbar" hosted by the university for all the international students. From what I understand, it is a kind of festival to kick off the school year.
This morning I went to EcoBank which is near campus and set up a bank account! I felt so independent! LOL Which is good, since I'm half way across the world, and can't call Mom to ask all the banking questions I have.
Today is Saturday... so that means I will be calling home today! So talk to ya soon, fam. I'll wait a little while though, because I'm sure you don't want to be woken up at 7 in the morning on your day off to chat on the phone with me! :)
Love you all,
Mel
Thursday, January 22, 2009
University of Ghana... Education Redefined!?
So today is Thursday.
Classes were suppose to start on Monday.
I have been to one class.
An African drumming class! Haha
- - -
Choosing and registering for classes here is done very differently than in the United States.
Each department posts their class listings and the times for the classes outside their department buildings individually.
Classes were suppose to start on Monday, and some of the departments didn't even have the time tables up yet...
Then, when people did go to class, 4 out of 5 times, the professor wouldn't even show up. It's kind of an accepted fact for the Ghanaians, but a little hard to grasp for the Americans who are expected to show up and be ready to take notes and get their first homework assignment on the first day!
Another thing, just because the course is in the handbook doesn't mean that the class will be offered... so that made me reconsider the classes I wanted to take.
- - -
So far I have registered for two classes. An African drumming class for the international students, which actually met, and I've already learned some beats, (can't wait to share my new found talents with everyone when I get home), and a Media and Society class. I'm really excited about the media class and am hoping it will be interesting and beneficial.
I have a few other classes picked out, but people suggest going to the class at least once before registering for it, because sometimes what the course description says and what the class is about are two completely different things.
So far, I don't have classes scheduled on Wednesdays, because I want to keep that day open to volunteer, and I don't have classes on Fridays, which will help when I start traveling.
But that could all change!
When I registered for those two classes, there was no luxury of online course registration. I walked to the different departments and then filled out a paper, signed my name in a book, and attached a passport sized picture.
Although it seems so different than the American system, it gets the job done, and is obviously working for the university, as this is how they've done it for years.
That's all for now!
Mel
Classes were suppose to start on Monday.
I have been to one class.
An African drumming class! Haha
- - -
Choosing and registering for classes here is done very differently than in the United States.
Each department posts their class listings and the times for the classes outside their department buildings individually.
Classes were suppose to start on Monday, and some of the departments didn't even have the time tables up yet...
Then, when people did go to class, 4 out of 5 times, the professor wouldn't even show up. It's kind of an accepted fact for the Ghanaians, but a little hard to grasp for the Americans who are expected to show up and be ready to take notes and get their first homework assignment on the first day!
Another thing, just because the course is in the handbook doesn't mean that the class will be offered... so that made me reconsider the classes I wanted to take.
- - -
So far I have registered for two classes. An African drumming class for the international students, which actually met, and I've already learned some beats, (can't wait to share my new found talents with everyone when I get home), and a Media and Society class. I'm really excited about the media class and am hoping it will be interesting and beneficial.
I have a few other classes picked out, but people suggest going to the class at least once before registering for it, because sometimes what the course description says and what the class is about are two completely different things.
So far, I don't have classes scheduled on Wednesdays, because I want to keep that day open to volunteer, and I don't have classes on Fridays, which will help when I start traveling.
But that could all change!
When I registered for those two classes, there was no luxury of online course registration. I walked to the different departments and then filled out a paper, signed my name in a book, and attached a passport sized picture.
Although it seems so different than the American system, it gets the job done, and is obviously working for the university, as this is how they've done it for years.
That's all for now!
Mel
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