Ann Elise's Ghanaian Adventure!: January 2013 and lots of pictures!

It's 2013 and change is in the air!

In December I spent two weeks studying for and taking end-of-term exams at school. I'm now officially done with school and starting teaching! It was sad leaving all of my friends at school (I'm so grateful for their kindness), but I am excited to move forward to the next thing. I will be teaching at an after school program called BASICS from 1-7 pm Monday through Friday. More information on BASICS can be found here: http://www.basicsinternational.org/?page_id=22 . It's strange to make such a big change right when I was really settled into my old routine, but change is good. Luckily, BASICS is located just a short walk and tro tro ride from my house (its right next to the beach!). I'm looking forward to my new routine and all that I'm going to learn at BASICS. I've visited twice and the other teachers and students seem awesome. I'll share more about it once I officially start next Monday.

From December 21 until now I have been on break, with no school or teaching to do. It has been so nice! I was nervous about feeling bored, but I haven't experienced that at all. It seems everyday brought a random adventure. A few of the things I did: played lots and lots of soccer with my host brothers and neighbors, bought and carried a live chicken back to our house on Christmas Eve, observed my aunt baking seemingly hundreds of cakes, went to the beach several times, went to a Christmas carol service (complete with British snacks and mulled wine) at my church, visited my host family's home village for the unveiling of a new corn mill there, visited Aburi botanical gardens, wandered around different areas of Accra, went to the mosque every Friday, had drumming lessons, spent many fun nights out in Accra with my host siblings and friends, got to know my host family's old exchange student who visited for a week, had lunch at a swanky hotel, and much more!

Now it's on to teaching and other fun stuff. At the end of the month we will have an AFS trip to the Volta Region, which should be just as awesome as our trip to the Northern Region in November (one of the best weeks of my life). In early March my dad is coming to visit (so, so excited about that!). At the end of March my host family's old exchange student is coming back and I am planning a trip with her and some other friends. Then in the first week of April a group of high school students from Montana is coming to work in my host family's home village through my family's NGO, It Takes a Village. At the end of April my mom may be coming (yipee!). I am so fortunate.

As many big things that happen, I value the small moments the most. Some of my favorite moments (all just from the past couple weeks) were:

Watching my little host cousin Kofi scream with delight as he met the new pet goat that his daddy brought home.
Seeing the queen mothers of Ekufi Attakwa clap and cheer as their new corn mill whizzed to a start for the first time ever.
Climbing with my younger host brother to the very top of the tree in our front yard and looking out over our neighborhood.
Tasting algontoguin (sweet apple) for the first time. It's so rare (except when you're a little kid) to discover a food that you've never even heard of before, and it was a good reminder that just when it seems like I'm getting a grasp on the world, there's always more to discover.
Watching a group of completely naked kids playing ping pong on a table they had set up right by the side of the road. So random!
Having a whole three minute conversation in Twi.
Getting dressed up and feeling classy on New Years.
Walking down the street and knowing every single person. My host family is amazed that everybody knows me by name, even people they've never met!
Bottle feeding our new six-week old puppy.
Learning my way around a different tro tro station than I normally pass through, which will greatly expand my options for how I get to places in Accra.
Playing a soccer game on the beach with people from six different countries.
Going far, far out in the Gulf of Guinea on an old fishing boat.

Every time one of these moments happens, I try to close my eyes and lock it away so I'll remember it forever. The truth is that a year from now, as I'm rushing around the snowy University of Wisconsin campus, I probably won't remember even half of these things. But I hope they will still be with me, somehow. It's a precarious balance trying to live in the moment and plan so many things ahead, but I've arrived at the point where I no longer have to consciously remind myself to be here now. I am here, and I love it.

Some photo credits to Callie and Jeneni: