First Day of Class!

Imagine this, we woke up this morning and it was COLD. Well. Chilly. But enough to make me put on lulu’s and a t-shirt to venture outside! Wonderful.

We decided that after watching woman after woman walk down the streets carrying items that weigh astronomical amounts on their HEADS, that we should give it a try. Needless to say, we didn’t do so well...but it was so much fun trying. We filled buckets halfway with water, and Yaa rolled up cloth for our heads to support them. It is much harder than African women make it look! Either that or I have horrible balance, but it was hard! Yaa showed off afterwards and started dancing with the bucket on her head, proving to us how good she was. (She is the woman who carried our 50lb suitcase on her head when we arrived!)

Talent.

Petra and I spent the afternoon going over lesson plans, and figuring out a schedule for our classes and when the final graduation ceremony will be so that the students can invite their friends and family.

Today was the first day of class. It went much better than I expected! It was slow to start; at 3pm Petra and I arrived at the school. Uncle Ernest didn’t show up until 3:30pm. By 4, we had two women and I was getting a little disappointed. Uncle Ernest and Kujo kept saying, “They will come! They will come!” ... I guess I just figured, how long do we wait for more people when it’s an hour after you said you would start?

While we were waiting, a whole bunch of children from the hillside came down to the school to see us. Again, they thought we were Melissa and were VERY excited to see us. Kujo helped explain to them in Twi that we were Melissa’s friends, and told them our names.

I had the kids repeat my name over and over and know they definitely know it. They kept shouting through the school windows “Calolyn! Calolyn!” (That’s how they pronounce it). We had them recite their alphabet for us and we gave them colouring pages and crayons to use while we were waiting for more women to show up.

By about 20 after 4, we had 6 women; more than we had on registration day!! That was exciting! Apparently they have more coming next week too! We split the women up into level 1 and level 2, based on how much education they have had and how well they know English.

Uncle Ernest led the level 2 group, and since Auntie Julie hadn’t shown up, Petra and I led the level 1 group. We talked about our names, our jobs, where we come from, how old we are, our birthdays...lots of little questions to get to know each other. We had the women ask each other the questions out loud so that they could practice pronouncing the words. It is very difficult for them to understand us when we speak because of our “accent” so it is really important for us to go slow, and help them visualize the words and practice speaking as much as possible.

About halfway through the lesson, Cynthia came in. Oh, Cynthia. I love her already. She passed level 2 with Melissa in December and knows SO much English; she sells fruits in the market. I am already so proud of her. She is going to be one of my few business students, and I am so so excited to get started with her! We have already picked a day for her to come to the house to get started.

A quote that she said herself, “I love to learn. You are never too old to learn and it will help me communicate and express myself better.” She is so eager to start and she is definitely the boost of encouragement that I needed!

Today’s class has made me feel much better about things, and it has gotten me ready to start!

Other random stuff:

-A lizard almost ran on top of my barefoot today when we were sitting outside. I was reading my book and wasn’t paying attention; scared the crap outa me. Petra just started laughing at me and said that Mummy had told her an old wise tale: “If a lizard falls on your foot, you will get pregnant.” Uh oh.

-Women paint their toe nails here too, but they keep their nails long. Not my thing, but at least I know that I am not required to maintain my own...

-Hairy legs are sexy legs here. Who knew? I can be lazy and sexy here at the same time!

-Auntie Jo invited us to a valentine youth night where they have singers coming to perform. Auntie Jo said that it was because they didn’t want their youth going out on Valentine’s Day and “having unnecessary fun.” ...haha

-There are logging trucks that keep passing Auntie Jo’s place with HUGE tree trunks on them. Like literally HUGE. I have never seen a tree that big. They have two small chains holding them onto the truck bed...that, plus all the potholes in these roads = don’t drive behind them!

-The semi-final game in the Africa Cup was tonight; Ghana vs. Zambia. We lost...boo...everyone watches TV’s on the streets on game nights, and the game was finishing up just as we were walking home from the school today. We walked into someone’s house to watch the end with them...benefits of being white here...you can join people anywhere you like...