Random Updates

Hello and Happy Friday!!!

I hope you all had a great week back in the US, India, or wherever you may be reading this from. I did just post on Tuesday so there isn't too much to say, but I would like to give you at least a short update. I am writing to you from the living room of the main staff house in Accra. Half of our volunteers are on a 5 day trip to Malay for an African safari. Sounds cool but 5 days away from the kids and 32 hours of traveling makes it sound a lot less appealing. A few of us decided to hang back to spend some extra time with the kids. Becky and I did plan a short trip to Accra to get away for a night. Today we went to the Accra Mall. It felt like heaven on earth. We got to walk in air conditioning, use a flushing toilet, and eat an ice cream sundae after we chowed on some pizza. I had no idea that I loved cheese until today.

We are staying at the staff house tonight with a few girls that are leaving tomorrow to go back to America. Tomorrow morning we will have breakfast (we are secretly hoping for pancakes) before we all head out to the cultural markets. That afternoon we will head back to Somanya to spend time with the kids!

As our trip enters the final week I am beginning to realize the meaning of "going home". It is such a mix of emotions. I am ready to be back in the States and some things I will not have a problem adjusting to like air conditioning, my bed, no mosquito nets, variety of food, etc. However, I know that I am going to miss these kids. They have stolen my heart. One of my favorite moments of the day is when Annesty gets back from school, I pick her up and set her down on the railing of the front porch. We just sit together making faces, laughing and giving countless hugs. Then Bella takes me, asks for my brush and does my hair while about 5 other girls gather around and start to braid my hair. The whole time we are laughing at all of the kids playing and talking about life.

Yesterday I got about 15 random hugs from kids that I didn't even think knew my name. The love that they give is so constant and unconditional. They could be ticked at you in the morning because you make them shower in the cold, but then after school they are right back to running into your arms and jumping on your back. The boys are crazy. The girls are total divas. Tickle fights are common. Fights over candy break out constantly. Someone is always asking for more crayons. Then we end play time with a game of Spud or Ogem as the kids call it. (Ogem is the word for "out" in Krobo which is the local language in Somanya)


The goats are as annoying as ever and the roosters crow more than once. Childhood stories really do give you a false expectation of roosters. I thought they did the whole cock-a-doodle-do thing once to wake people up then they were done. Not so. Last night our rowdy neighbors were drumming and chanting at 2:20 am. The goats have whole conversations outside of our window. Those are some of the things I will not miss when I go back to the States. The list of things that I will miss should come in a later post.


Enjoy your weekend everyone! At this time next week I will be packing and heading to bed for the last time in Somanya. It is hard to believe and I don't really want to think about it quite yet. I'm heading into a period of denial regarding the fact that I will be leaving Ghana in 9 days. For now, that's it! Many prayers still be send up to the Big Guy for all of you in thanksgiving for your support and love. 


With mixed emotions and great satisfaction after eating that pizza,
Steph