The Sun Also Rises

Wednesday, July 30. It's been a rainy afternoon. 2 days from now I'll be on a plane across the Atlantic heading into the concrete jungle that the city of New York is. I daresay even the thought of it seems quite disconcerting indeed. Since I last updated my blog a week or so ago, I.... for the first time ever witnessed a live birth in the labor ward of a local hospital, danced in the rain along with fellow travelers to distinct African beats on the sidewalks of Accra, spent a night on a Rastafarian beach listening to live reggae, climbed up the tallest mountain in West Africa, played and fed bananas to monkeys in the rainforest, played 3 straight nights of poker, taught English, Math, Hop-Skotch and Jack & Jill to 2-4 yr olds, went for a morning run and almost reached the border of neighbouring Togo, and yes I think I did manage to read a few more pages of A Farewell To Arms :)

Things have been great thus far and everyday is just such a wonderful experience in itself.. I seriously do not know how to describe it in words - the lifestyle, people and atmosphere are just so soothing and comforting. Watching a live birth at the local district hospital has to rank as one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life. It was just precious. A moment in time. Men - you will never be able to appreciate the sheer pain and intensity that a woman goes through during childbirth until you actually see one. It truly is a humbling experience.

Yesterday, a few of us hiked up to the top of Mt. Afadjato which is the highest point in Ghana. The views were gorgeous. Tomorrow we are planning on exploring some caves and hope to do some rock climbing there. Tonight I'm planning on going to a shop where they teach you how to make drums, how to play them and then maybe I'll be able to bring a small one back to New York. Most of us have really fallen in love with this place and don't want to leave. I can't believe my stay has almost come to an end.

My time at the orphanage this past 2 1/2 weeks has been wonderful. I feel like I've really begun to understand, appreciate and love the kids and it is so sad that I'll be leaving them so soon. I've learnt a lot though after my first few days here. Initially I was trying too hard to make sure that every child was learning the alphabet, math, etc. without stopping to get to know them, play with them and build a relationship with them. I gradually started to explain the story behind various nursery rhymes through pictures, drawing on the board, getting them to role-play, etc. and they love it! I feel like the repeated memorization patterns they have will slowly make way into concept-based learning.. On Monday I taught them different verbs like run, jump, play, fight, dance, etc. and had them act out various actions along with me and do drawings on the board. It was so much fun! Today being my penultimate day at Christ Orphanage, I took my guitar along and the kids were incredibly excited.. I taught them about what music means and how singing is complemented by musical instruments. They were so excited when I let them sit on my lap and strum the guitar while I held the chords :)) And then to mix things up I taught them how to play hop-skotch using chalk markings on the floor. All in all, it's been absolutely outstanding. It's going to be a very sad day tomorrow when I leave. Maybe a tear or two. I think I'm going to get them some candy.

I hope you are all enjoying the summer (or winter, if you're down south!)

Take care,

-Ronnie