Learning the Work with Sweat and Blisters

Monday was a holiday, so we did not start any clinic work until Tuesday. One thing that separates Ghanaian culture from Americans, is that they are in no rush to do anything. In America, we thrive when we use schedules and plan out time with exactness. Here.....pretty much anything goes and people are content to wait around for those who are late. That being said, everyone wakes up sooooooo early. They are up with the sun. Anyway, back to Monday. We decided to visit downtown Accra. In-order to get there, we rode tro-tros (I have no idea how to spell any of the African words I have learned sorry!). Tro-Tros are vans that act like buses in a local area. There is usually a young man with his arm out the window yelling the destination and if you want to get on, all you have to do is make eye contact or raise your hand and they will stop right there in the road. It is very cheap, and you always meet very friendly people on the ride. The air conditioning is only the wind coming through the windows. Accra is so huge I cannot even begin to explain how many people there are. We saw all kinds of markets and vendors. My favorite, of course, are the people who walk around cars selling things from the buckets on their heads. I don't know how they keep things cold up there, but they even sell ice cream packets off their heads!

While we were trying to find the museum, a man walking beside us started to chat with Aldan. And somehow, he just decided to spend the day with us. He took us to the museum and we walked around the memorial park commemorating their independence. It has their first president's tomb in big strange building. It was the hottest day since we have been here, and the museum was air conditioned so that was nice. The guy with us, Yaw (pronounced yaw-oo), explained some of the history of Ghana to us. Then, we visited Independence Square which is were the President of Ghana gives speeches. But, it mostly looked like a big empty lot full of trash with a few loitering people. Right behind it was the ocean. We were walking around Accra all day and soon became very hot and tired. On our way home, we saw the president's house and a crazy lady who was yelling and taking her clothes off. That was very odd.

When we finally arrived back, we bought a few things that the store for Sydney's birthday because we wanted to have a little party for her that night. It was so fun! We had sodas and Kofi played us Ghanaian music called "hip life." It was very fun because we danced with the Ghanaian that work at the Telecentre. 

The houses looked like this in the camp

On Tuesday I started my first day of work. We visited a Liberian Refugee Camp. There was not much work to do there and was slow moving, but that was good for us to learn our stations. Kara and I helped people with Acuity Testing before they went to see the doctor. It is just a simple screening of both eyes using a chart with the letter "E" facing different directions. They do this because some people cannot read and don't know other letters, but sometimes that confuses people who can read because sometimes they say. "those are all E's." Anyway, It was really nice to be able to work with people up close. I have never interacted with Muslims before, and I got to meet lots of them. I helped a cute Muslim girl who looked about six or seven. One of her eyes was very bad. 

What they say about Ghanaian talking on the phone is true. Everyone asks for my number and wants to call me. People loooove to call their friends to chat and they all want to call me. One lady asked me to play with her three year old. It was very odd because the girl was afraid of me, but the mom just handed her to me. Later, the girl wanted to hold my hand for a long time. I also talked with a boy who was 20 named Abraham. He was able to translate for me which was great because a lot of the Ghanaian did not understand the directions of the test and the language barrier makes things difficult for me. Abrahama asked me to sing with him so we sang "twinkle twinkle little star," and "amazing grace," together. That was very fun. The people in Ghana are the least judgmental people I have ever been around.

Empasi Kontamarie

Last night after the camp, we played games with Jon our driver and then we ate Ghanaian food that Mami Margaret made for us. She runs the hotel, and we paid her for a nice meal. She made something called "Empasi Kontamarie." It is a boiled white yam with a blend of spinach and fish. She also had fried bananas. Now, those that know me understand I do not like fish....but of course, I had to eat it because she served it to me. Here, they call all fish 'salmon,' but it is not really salmon. After a few bites, I actually liked it! I realized that I liked it because I was starving. I had not eaten a real meal in like 4 days and the yam tasted semi-familiar. I ate two plates and Mami Margaret was very proud of me liking Ghanaian food.

Today, we went to a different town. To be honest, I cannot remember the name right now. But I will tell you later if you remind me. It was two hours from Achimota where I am staying. We passed through all of Accra, and then passed like a thousand mango trees. There, we saw so much fruit growing and a "mountain," that just looks a big hill covered in green. The roads were much less bumpy then the ones we took Tuesday. When we arrived, there was a huge crowd already waiting for us. Jon walked to the from of the group and started singing. They all sang together for a while and then Jon spoke in another language I did not recognize. He spoke for almost an hour teaching the people how to take care of glasses and not scratch them, how to use eye drops, and some basic health for taking care of your eyes everyday. Of course, I don't know exactly what he said, but I have become really good at reading body language recently :) Then, I did Acuity testing again. On the way home I bought some local avocados from a woman on the side of the road. I got 5 for 5 cidis. That is about $1.25! The avocados here are bigger with thinner skins and pits that rattle inside. They call them pears here. The rest of the night was very relaxing. I tried to hand wash my clothes for the first time......I don't think I did it right to be honest. And it took forever. Everyone go hug your washers and appreciate them. 

The only bad news I have is that I started getting heat rash today which makes me scared I will get sun poising soon....I am just exposed way more sun than my skin likes. The weather was nice today and I felt less hot, though I did sweat constantly. Also, I have a huge blister on my foot. But tomorrow I am working in the clinic which is air conditioned and I get to sit for most of it! Good timing for me. That's all for now, much love!