....

Hey. This is going to be short. Just wanted to let you all know things are going pretty well. Site visit was good; perhaps a bit overwhelming. I'll write more in detail later...well maybe I will. I don't know. Really I'm just trying to upload some pictures but I've only been able to get one. One is apparently the limit.
that's me up there. In case you forgot. I'm in a church in Forikrom where I've been staying with my family.

Bye for now.

Such is life...

“True grace is in forgetting; yet if pride could die in us, the supreme grace would be to love oneself in all simplicity as one would love any member of the body of Christ. Does it really matter? Grace is everywhere.”
-George Bernanos

10/24/07

Field trip.

Amazing.

That’s really the only word I can use to describe it. Actually, I can use many words: serene, beautiful, comforting…really I could go on but there’s no way words could justify. What is field trip? Basically it was just another chance to visit an existing health volunteer and experience day to day life along with various other activities. We left last Saturday for a town called Brekamonso. We arrived in the evening time and ate dinner and then proceeded to go to our place of residence for the next 5 days. We knew we were going to stay at a bed and breakfast type place but I’m not sure any of us were prepared for what was to come. We had to walk about half a mile to the actually residence because it was hidden in the mountains. We arrived in the main open aired bungalow that would come to be our place of hang out and saw hammocks, a wooden table, drums, and all lit up by lantern. The shelter looked out into the lushness of Ghana and the sound of waterfalls was a constant compliment. Because we were somewhat elevated the view was breathtaking, the breeze new and the stars were like I’ve never seen before. We all stayed in circular bungalows that were surrounded by vineyard flowers and palm trees and each night we sat by lantern and played drums with the couple who owned the bed and breakfast. It was not a big place, in fact, the ten of us filled it up and because there was no electricity we took showers by moonlight every night. It felt like something out of a movie, only we were really there. Our time in Brekamonso consisted of playing soccer against the village soccer team, teaching about malaria, visiting the clinic, planning lessons to teach at the school, eating orange marmalade, falling down waterfalls, good conversation, and for the first time it seems, actually being completely in Ghana.

10/29/07

Now we are back in everyday training. I’ve been a little more motivated in my language sessions and my family is having me do much more around the house, which is good to learn. It’s crazy that training is already half over. There is a project called SCOP that we’re all having to work on. Basically is it an event that small groups plan to help the community in which we’re staying. My partners are Alicia and Niall and for our project we are doing a play promoting acceptance for those living with HIV. The play is an adaptation of “The Point” by Henry Nielsen that Alicia came up with. Despite my hesitance, everything has gone incredibly well. Most of those who are involved in the play are JSS 2 kids, which are about 14-16 years old. They understand so much and are incredibly willing to try new things.

And they can dance.

Very well.

Needless to say, working on the play has definitely been a highlight.

Our next big event is site visit, which I believe comes up in about a week in a half. On this trip our counter parts (a person from our future village who is essentially assigned to work with us for the next two years) will travel to pick us up, and then take us back to our almost sites. It’s a very exciting time because most of us have not seen where we will be living; we’ve only heard small.

Small small.

Akrakakra.

Only a little.

Just a side note, English is fleeting here. Especially the English we speak in America. In a lot of ways it’s incredibly more correct and proper yet on the other it’s a little quirky and quite foreign. There is a certain accent one must obtain in order to be understood by a local and sometimes this “broken English” carries over to two Americans talking, which is quite funny. I write this only to pre-apologize for any future phone conversations in which you and I may have. I’m sorry for this.

11/1/07

Halloween was yesterday.
I feel that this is how holidays (if you can consider Halloween a holiday?) are going to go overseas. I’m going to sit down to write or perhaps look at the date on my phone and some little twinge will remind me that this used to be a day that at one point in my life…I celebrated something.

We did, however, have a sort of cook off shindig. Throughout training we have certain things that we’re evaluated on; one of these things is our ability to cook with local ingredients and in a way that will be applicable when we go to our sites, such as being able to cook over fire. So my group decided to bring a little taste of America to the black star country. Our dish was called the magical mystery melt (not to be confused with the magical midget that frequents this little town of Forikrum…another story) which consisted of tuna, mayo, cheese, vegetables, and spices all grilled to a wondrous perfection between two toasted pieces of sweet bread. For our desert we made a fruit salad consisting of papaya, pineapple, bananas, and oranges with cinnamon and dare I say it…a la mode style.

We rocked it out.

The deprivation of familiar foods is something I think we’re slowly getting used to here but it’s days like yesterday when you remember the beauty of cheese or the simple style of a sandwich and you vow never to take such foods for granted again. It was a good day.

It’s crazy the other things I’m finding myself appreciating. I love music. I always have. I brought a lot of music from home and I’m finding that I like it even more in Africa. Andrew Peterson for instance, you can’t really get enough of him here. Anyways, the other day we were watching a video at a home for children with mental disabilities. The place was founded and ran by a Dutch woman and her Jewish husband who is a retired actor and musician from Chicago. It was a great place and very unique to a culture that tends to shun those suffering from mental disorders. I bring this up in the music aspect of my blog because accompanying this video was sort of a collage of jazz tunes. I can’t say that I’m learned on my jazz really at all; but sitting there listening to the jazz piano and bass brought on this feeling of almost euphoria. I realize it’s a little odd that I’m writing about this, but this is only one example of something that seems just a little bit better in Africa. Somehow things seem more possible here in Ghana. Things that I would never consider learning about or trying suddenly seem in reach and fascinating. Maybe it’s because no one really knows me here; the things that defined me in America no longer have to be my vices and those things I feared to try could suddenly be things that I love to do…and perhaps am even good at.

And really, send me jazz music. Please.


Be well.

Everyday life

“For he is not known by argument but by what we do and how we love”
-Richard Rollie














-Does charity involve feeling?
Maybe I fear for my soul
When all I long for is emotion.
I wonder why we were given such vices when assumed salvation
Lies in deprivation,
Or at least that’s what I read.
Perhaps it’s the path set for each,
Some solitude, others communal.
Although I anticipate the absolutes,
I wonder if some were meant for egos
Because I cannot deny the freedom that partakes me
When I stand under the rain
That is mercy.
So take away my feeling
And in that deprivation I will only feel more
Of what we all long for.
I do not believe in a heart absent of its palpates,
Nor a God void of tears.
For only love can so move humanity to vigilance
And a God to create such as that.-

Hello everyone. Or I should probably say Akwaaba (“You are welcome”) since I’ve been in Africa for three weeks now! Things are going well. Language classes have been intense but I’m thankful that our sweet instructor is patient with us. It’s also nice that my host family speaks the language that I am learning; they were right (whoever they are) when they said the best way to learn a language is to be submersed in it.

I suppose there’s not much to update although I feel like that explanation is inadequate. Many things have happened, I suppose I just don’t know where to start. Things have calmed down into pretty much an everyday routine, which is becoming normal for me, which is still no explanation to you. So I suppose I will take you through an average day here in the town of Forukrom where I reside.

Wake up: 5 am.
If you are ever thinking of coming to Africa you need not bring an alarm clock. The world wakes up here about 4:30 am, although the roosters usually rise around 2am. I can be awaken by a number of things: sweeping (yes, the sweeping of the dirt), the goats, the “where do you go” song my brother likes to listen to every morning, known also as the night at the Roxbury theme song, my mother (who stands at my door and yells my name, it usually comes out in a sort of one syllabal noise that sounds a little like “Brea!”), the clanking of pots and pans, chanting, the rain (my personal favorite), the churches singing, people yelling, or lastly, all of the above.

Contemplation: 5:10-5:30 am
This is when I lie in bed and decide what I should next. Do I run? Do I try and go back to sleep? Do I read? Study? Yoga (yeah right…but I think about it.), Laundry? Usually I decide to run. I’m not usually a great morning runner but I have a route I go that takes me directly into the sunrise, so it’s worth it.

Bath: 6:30 am
So I wouldn’t normally talk about this but taking a bath here in Ghana is a bit different than in the United States and I get a lot of questions inquiring about the process. Basically you take a bucket, put water in it (and I have amazing sisters who heat up the water over the fire), take the bucket to the wash house, and then splash yourself. A lot. I’m sure there are other methods to this. I’ve heard of some lifting the bucket over their head and doing the pour method, although then you take the risk of dropping the bucket on your head and frankly, I’m not willing to go out that way. Others have a cup that they dip into the bucket, and then proceed to pour in smaller increments, I believe this is how most do it and I think it’s generally a good way to go about it. I don’t have a cup to use though. Which is fine. So I splash.

Then there’s breakfast…
Food in Ghana…now this is a whole other issue. The food itself has been great. The portions on the other hand are outrageous. People here can eat pots of rice, a whole chicken and perhaps an entire yam in one sitting. The only thing is that no one is fat here. Because they are able to accomplish this they think that white people should do the same. They feed me and feed me and when I can’t finish they take it so personally that I’ve begun to hide the food in my room to eat later. When they see that I’ve finished what they’ve given me they clap and clap and say “You have done well.” I like it when they tell me this. Breakfast is probably my favorite meal and where I eat the most. I usually have bread with this peanut butter like substance (not as sweet and sort of crunchy), carrots, an orange, and two hard boiled eggs. They have this stuff called milo here that tastes like hot ovaltine. I’m a big fan of this so they bring a thermos of it in the mornings.

School: 8-5
This consists of lots of things. Four hours of it goes to language, the other part goes to more technical lessons (pardon the lack of excitement). Good stuff, but I don’t really want to write about it. We either stay in our communities or we go to Techiman for this time.

Home time: 5-Bedtime
This is the really fun part. This could consist of anything from playing soccer, learning how to cook, dancing, hiking, or pretty much anything else one feels inclined to do. I find that my family and I usually have the best conversations right after dinner when we’re hanging out on the porch. I really like these times. Sometimes my father takes me around to greet people, and by people I mean everyone in the village. Sometimes we just remain in the courtyard. They have many questions about America and some are very hard to explain given the cultural differences. Last night we went into a discussion about divorce. My father asked me why anyone would divorce in America. I told him there were a lot of reasons but to put it as simply as I could I said “I guess they don’t love each other anymore”. My father was very troubled by this and my mother even more so. He thought about it for a long time and then looked at me and said

“But love doesn’t end.”

And these are the moments you wish others were around. Moments where the simplicity of translation describes in four words what authors and poets have been teasing for centuries. As much as I miss icecream and a decent pillow I'm learning to recognize other things that suffice and as much as surpass. Things like kindness and conversations, the breeze in the mornings and my family's greeting when I return home for the evening.



There are difficult things as well. Very difficult things that sometimes seem like the only reality. But again, it's sort of a day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute mindset that sustains sanity. I feel that I've talked enough for this blog. I hope all is well for you who are reading. I appreciate your encouragement so much, thoughts from home are amazing to read.



Be well

The same sky

-And maybe it does take time to realize 9.29.07
That this is life;
And everything else lay in the commentary of our perceptions,
As if those were important.
If only time were natural and the rain cleansed the depravity of this red dirt
A little more than the innate abundance of its competition.
So maybe perceptions are important
Because this could be the best day of my life
And yet all you see is sorrow in the surroundings.
Even if that be,
I will still see you
Fuller than I
Of the joy it takes to sustain this
that is life.-

I’ve arrived at my host family’s house. I’d have to say that the anticipation of meeting my host family was almost as bad as walking the green mile down the Wichita airport after saying goodbye to my family and friends. Today my host father, I call him father, walked me around the village and as we greeted those who lived in the town I couldn’t help but comment on the storm that was forming and the way it was making the sun illustrate the clouds. I told my father that they had a very nice sky over the village and he laughed and said “But you have the same one no?”

I like it here.

Today has truly been a day where I’ve tried all my emotions; perhaps I was just making sure they were all still intact. When I arrived in the town the only thing I wanted to do was cry. I’m not real sure why but it really seemed like the thing to do. And so I did. But the thing about being a new white person in an African village is that someone is always watching. They want to meet you and greet you and ask you all sorts of questions about America and why you are not married. There is no time for breakdowns when you’re trying to establish a reputation.

But I still cried.

I missed home and I missed being normal and I missed having a conversation where I could say more than “Good afternoon” and “how are you?” So in the words of Anne Lamott, I prayed the deepest, most profound prayer that one could utter:

help.

And he did.

And for the next ten weeks I will be a part of this family. I have brothers and sisters and a father and a mother and they will teach me how to cook, clean, socialize, and in essence, become an African. They are very protective of me and I think it’s funny that they worry so much. The thing about being white in Ghana is that they assume you are rich, and that because you are rich you don’t do things like walk or lift heavy objects or cook or anything else back home. They worry if I go out and want to know when they should expect me back and they are very concerned that I eat well and fully.

Right now I’m sitting in the dark listening to the rain fall outside my window. There are bugs crawling up and down my computer screen and I can hear the children in the room next to me laughing. The amazing thing about grace is it’s comparison to the sky. Completely vast and seemingly tangible but when it is reached for we're somehow surprised that it is too big. And so we stand under it and marvel at all the ways it chooses to inspire us.

I love and miss you all.

10.1.07

Last night I finally broke out the guitar for the kids while we were sitting outside looking at the stars. They kept wanting to see what was inside that crazy box and so I played them a song. I told them that if I played they had to dance. And they did. Even my mother who speaks no english got up and started dancing around. I was playing a rendition of your love is extravegant and they wanted to know the words. So I told them and then we translated it to Twi so that the mother could sing too. It translated to "God's love is go good." It was awesome.

The kids are amazing here. They are all very intelligent and most speak english. Most of the time one of the children are translating between me and my mother. They are so fun to be around and I'm thankful for my brothers and sisters.

I'm going to get off of here and head back home. I should let you know that I will be in the Volta region for my pernament placement, the very north end of it. It's called the Nkwanta District in a village called Sibi Hill toop. It's somewhat isolated because the roads are pretty bad, most people travel around by bike.

Talk to you soon.

-Brenna

What day is it?

"But I would ask whether God demands of us anythig but that we should love and know him since we are naturally capable of love and knowledge. There is no doubt that we know at least we exist and love something." -Blaise Pascal

I'm really sorry that I'm not emailing you guys individually yet. I only have about ten minutes left on the computer. Things are...a little crazy. There's no way to describe it. Really. But I really want to to encourage anyone who is thinking of visiting. I wish that someone from home could experience this as well. Each day is different but for the last few I've been staying in a small village in the Volta region (sort of southeast). They call this portion "vision quest" where you travel (first time to travel in africa by myself) to a site where there's already a pre-existing peace corps volunteer. It's been a lot of fun and everyone in the village is extremely friendly and to my surprise there's also an amazing sky over Ghana as well. On Wednesday we go to Techiman for the start of training. Everything to this point has been a crash course. Pretty much you're kind of thrown into things and you figure it out as you go, which really is working great. The food is taking some adjusting to. They have a "I crapped my pants in Ghana" club and they say that everyone joins it usually in the first year of their service. Haven't joined that one yet but I wouldn't put it past me:) It really has been amazing so far, hopefully I will get a phone soon and I can call for my personal updates.. I appreciate your prayers so much. I miss you all.

Until next time,
Brenna

Africa Tomorrow

Hey everyone. Just wanted to say thanks for all of you who endured IHOP at 3:30 am to make my last few hours in Kansas amazing. We leave for Africa tomorrow and we'll arrive in the after noon on Tuesday. Yesterday was really, really long but today I think it finally hit that I'm actually going. I tried taking things day by day but I'm learning that I have to go hour by hour, and sometimes minute by minute. I won't have internet for a few weeks but the Peace Corps tells us to tell you that no news is good news. Love you guys.

Preparing

So I'm leaving in three days.

Preparations are a bit...slow. Really I feel it's more important to spend time with people I care about rather than packing and doing other grown up things.

But at least I got to ride a mechanical bull before I left.

Thanks mom.