Life in Koforidua

My fourth week in Ghana marked my first week living in a dormitory as a single Obruni.  It was a big change for me, as I had grown quite accustomed to taking on daily activities with my partner in crime.  However, while this adjustment wasn't easy, it challenged me to push the boundaries of my comfort zone, jump into some solo adventures, and make more connections with the local community.

The last couple weeks of teaching have been really fun.  I have learned strategies to keep all the girls attentive.  Although this sometimes includes taking their books away if I see them working on other homework, I can usually keep them all engaged with high energy lectures mixed with fun activities.  Like kernels in a microwave, as soon as an interactive exercise is introduced, I can see the girls pop to life.

Last week, we were learning about cardiac health and heart rate.  It was a really wonderful class, because it became apparent that none of the girls had even learned to take their pulse.  They were so excited to feel their hearts pumping.  We did a couple activities, and on the board I graphed their counted heart rates at rest, after moderate exercise, and after hard exercise.  Seeing a visual representation of what was happening in their bodies really helped them grasp the new concepts, and I was very excited to teach them something new.

My Grade 10 Class

Heart Rate Graphs

The after school training has also become much more fun.  As I adjusted to working with such a big group, I found it easier to lead exercises and really enjoy myself.  With numbers upwards of 70 students, it can be tricky to include everyone.  I find that relays and circle games tend to work really well, and I ALWAYS have to give an example.  I learned this very quickly, after I introduced a tagging game.  The girls said they understood; however, within eight seconds, four girls were on the ground after very 'spirited' taggings.  I realized that with the language barriers- it is easier to show them what is expected.

Because we had been working towards the interhouse track meet, teaching the girls about specific events was very important.  Due to a lack of equipment, this task was trickier than I expected.  But with shotputs chipped out of rocks, a javelin whittled out of a broomstick, and a bit of chalk, it is pretty cool to see what can be done.  The girls are such great athletes.  It was a wake up call as to what is really important- expensive equipment is not needed in order to be exceptional.

Working on Javelin

Heading back to school after practise.

These kids come and watch almost every practise :)

Outside of school, I really got a chance to enjoy life in Koforidua. The African Cup was in full swing, and Ghana was a competitor to win this year- so everyone was very excited.  Soccer games literally brought the entire city to a stand still.  The energy in town reminded me of being amidst the Olympics fans in Vancouver.

For the semi final match, Annette and I made a variety of snacks including: plantain chips, fresh fruit, popcorn, and biscuits. The officiating in the match was incredibly unfair, and Ghana ended up losing.  It was a disappointing game, both the feast was delicious!

On a weekend in, I was given a cooking lesson by Naomi.  After the disastrous attempt Justine and I made to cook jellof rice by ourselves, I was happy to take some direction.  We made a stew called redred, which goes over rice.  Cooking in Ghana is not done with ovens or appliances, but over a flame.  While many families actually light a fire in the yard, we are lucky to have a small camping stove.  Yet another reminder that you do not need fancy things to enjoy yourself.  The meal turned out great!

After we finished cooking, Naomi's adorable son, Yao, came over for a visit. The two of us had a lot of fun inventing games and playing tag.  Weekends staying in Kof are nice and relaxing!

I also got a chance to travel again with the girls' soccer team and do a little coaching.  The field was uneven and muddy, but the team played really great.  The girls are so skilled, but what really shines through in their playing is their love for the game.  Although they didn't win, it was nice to watch.

Last Wednesday, we hosted  track and field competition that my students have been training for.  It was an amazing day.  it was held at a nearby school that had equipment, and the girls worked really hard.  It was so much fun to see them in action.

400 m race

Shotput

Time Keepers

One of the most wonderful things about Ghana is the music here.  Music is a part of everyday life, and it is not uncommon to hear many rivalling beats on a walk down the street. At the field, they had set up huge speakers and played upbeat tunes for the entire competition.  Although many of the girls complained about being too tired to run, they were never too tired to dance.  They are great dancers and an absolute joy to watch.  They even got the Obruni coach to bust a move.

I was so happy the track meet was a success.  After working towards it for so long, it felt really great to see our hard work paying off.  It was also nice to spend some time with the girls outside of school.  They are such cool people, and really fun to be around.  All-in-all, it was a fantastic day.

I have been in Ghana for six weeks now and time has just flown by.  I can't imagine the days improving, yet I am continually surprised as everyday seems to get a little better. On my walk to school, there are now about six different people that call me by name "Sister Kate" or "Abena," and I find myself being able to have longer conversations in Twi, the local language.  It's really exciting to begin to feel at home.   

Week Three!

It's hard to believe that I can already be writing in past tense about my third week living in Koforidua- time flies by so quickly!  After an eventful weekend, I was ready to get back to teaching and training with the girls.  It felt really good to go to the school with a clear idea about what was expected of me, and it was nice to teach with lessons pre-planned.

Because I am teaching three different grades the same subject, I get a little more confident with each class (poor grade 10's are always the guinea pigs for lessons).  By the end of the week, I found that was able to maintain control while also having a lot of fun with the girls.

We were discussing the benefit of participation in physical activity- a topic especially important as the school's physical education department is just beginning to grow and many parents oppose the idea of sport, worrying about it distracting their daughters from academics. 

Although I was informed that my students may have preconceived hesitations about participating in sports, I was excited to hear about what kind of knowledge the classes already had.  It was a pleasant surprise to hear ideas like stress reduction, physical, mental and social health, strong bones and muscles, and good opportunities being discussed; however, other questions served as a reminder that the education system in Ghana is still developing: "Madam Katie, does physical activity reduce the risk of pregnancy?"

Now that classes are in full swing, training is also starting to get serious.  The practices are mostly focusing on conditioning right now- but, I always try and throw a couple games in each session so that the students enjoy the work outs.  The girls are working towards doing a school track meet in the next couple weeks to determine talent and select athletes for the interschool competitions at the end of February.  Although we are practicing for these events, the school does not have any track and field equipment or facilities- so I have to be quite creative. Although it is challenging, it is also really fun. 

On the weekend, we headed up to Shai Hills in hopes to see some animals.  We took a relatively smooth tro-tro for about 3 hours, and then arrived at the park where we opted for a walking tour.  Within five minutes, we were face to face with a small flock of Ostriches!

We had a hard time processing how big the birds were.  Along with their shocking size, they tended to be a little temperamental and nippy.  Needless to say, we didn't hang out for too long- but it was very cool to see the birds (who, fun fact, can run at 70 km/hr! So nutty!)

After moving on from the birds, we walked up to a baboon-inhabited part of the forest.  Armed with a loaf of bread, we were ready to offer the monkeys lunch.  It was such a cool experience.  The curious baboons stepped out towards us, and accepted the carb-load with tiny little fingers.  

Once the baboons were well-fed, we were able to explore the park.  We trekked through the long grass, sat by a crocodile pond, and enjoyed the sun.

After an enjoyable day at Shai Hills, we walked back to the road to pick up a tro-tro home; but, ended up roadside-sitting for over an hour with full vehicles passing us much too often.  With a stroke of luck, one of cars passing was an acquaintance of Fred's- so, we were finally on our way home to Koforidua.

Saturday marked Justine's last day in Africa :( We decided to spend it relaxing by the poolside. As we were walking home after a lot of swimming, the sky opened up and it started to pour.  Forget about cats and dogs, it was raining rhinos and elephants! I've never seen anything like it.  Since we were already in our bathing suits-we dropped our dresses, embraced the showers, and ran around the compound; it was so surreal to be in the middle of a tropical rain storm.  After our extreme puddle jumping, Justine had to pack and it was pretty hard to say goodbye (it's amazing how close you can get in a couple weeks).

On Sunday, I was invited to work with a girls soccer team.  They had a game in a nearby town- so I hopped on the bus and went to watch.  Once we arrived, the coach asked me to give some words of encouragement- so I talked to the girls a little and they were off to start the game.  It was really fun to watch the game; the girls played hard, but with finesse- definitely a treat to cheer for them.

It is hard to believe how quickly time passes here; every week is filled with new challenges and adventures.  My third week marked the time when I started to feel more at home, got more comfortable in my teaching position, and got to have a lot of fun!