GO Ghana!!!

Anniwula! {your response: naaa.} Ka di be wula? {your response: Alaafee}
Congrats, you've just had a lesson in Dagbani! Basically I just said good evening and asked how you were doing, which is just a tiny portion of what I've been learning. Our language training is as intense as ever, and though most days I feel like I am just getting 6 hours of new information thrown at me, I'm starting to retain a little bit and things are really starting to click! I am getting very excited to leave for my site visit, which will start on Tuesday of next week. I will be at my site for about a week, then the rest of the WATSAN volunteers will be meeting me at my site because it is the location of our technical training, which will last for another two weeks. So basically, I will be leaving to go up to Gushie, where I'll be able to practice my language, check out my site, meet the chief, talk with community members, and start to gather a picture of what my life will really be like for the next 2 years... My homestay family is sad that I'll be leaving them for a few weeks, and as much as I will miss them while I'm gone, it will be great to have a change of pace for the next few weeks. However, during this time, I probably won't have any internet access, you can expect to (hopefully) hear back from me at the end of July. As always, I am desperate for letters, so send those if you find time!!!

Not a lot has changed since my last post... I've been watching A LOT of football (soccer) basically every evening with my family, and they definitely gave me a hard time after Ghana beat the US (I thought I'd cheer on the US, but I ended up cheering for Ghana...I can't help but root for Africa!). Tonight I am gathering with many other volunteers to watch the Ghana vs. Uruguay game at a gas station (strange place to go, I know, but this country can be a little quirky sometimes), so undoubtedly our Ghanaian friends will be thrilled to see so many Obronis cheering for their home country...

As usual, the food is amazing, my homestay family is always entertaining, and training is long and sometimes exhausting (but fun too). I think I'm starting to realize why current volunteers told us trainees that if we could get through training, our next two years will feel like a breeze! The phrase "hurry up and wait" has taken on a whole new meaning, but I must say I'm starting to really adapt to the laid back attitude here... I like taking things slowly and not feeling pressured for time or deadlines. I also love greeting everyone and really taking time to talk to people wherever I go. Just walking from my home to class in the morning is a social event, because I have to greet everyone I pass and talk to them. My concept of community has exploded-it's like I never understood what it meant to be live communally until I got here. They fully understand the need for humans to connect to one another, which is incredibly refreshing, though at times exhausting!

I am also starting to understand a lot about living simply and the fact that I have SO MUCH MORE than I need. The other day, my homestay father asked me to show him pictures of my house at home, but even as I pulled out the pictures to shown him, I felt a pang of embarrassment. It might sound strange, but I was actually slightly embarrassed to show him my pictures from home, because I realized in that moment how much EXCESS I have in my life back in the states. I showed him a picture of my kitchen and thought about all of the pots, pans, tupperware, food, etc... that we have at home, then I thought about the small fire that my sister makes 3 times a day, and the one pot that she uses for every meal she cooks for me, and the fact that they must save up money to buy a small package of smoked fish from the market as a treat. And although they have fewer possessions than I do, I was the one who felt embarrassed and jealous in that moment, because my family is so joyful with what they have, however simple it may be. So today when you eat dinner, take a minute to think about my family here, who cuts down their own vegetables from the bush, spends hours grinding the kasava into edible dough, and must allot at least 2 hours to walk and fetch a few days' worth of water. Just think of us. I will be thinking of you as I take my dinner tonight, too.

My homestay father sends his love, and my sister says that she wishes that God would bless you all. I pass these on with the same wishes for you in my heart. I miss you all very much-you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Katie

PS: Have a WONDERFUL 4th of July!! I'll be thinking of home and missing everyone, I'm sure. All of us trainees are gathering at a local spot for hot dogs and celebrations, which are being purchased especially for us, so that will be a nice taste of home :)