Erica: Soaked in Yellow Paint with Flying Termites

Dear World~

Today was a relatively relaxed day. All of us slept until about noon today, not realizing how tired we were from the hectic nature from the past few days of traveling. While trying to get up, Jen stated "I feel like a snail", which sums up all of our feelings at the time. Throughout the night, all of us were tossing and turning in our sleep, because of the heavy rain shower that drenched the entire building and the group of roosters crowing in the distance. We could hear the individual raindrops hitting the roof like a bunch of marbles hitting a metal plate.

All of us had lunch together, consisting of rice and black-eyed peas, some DELICIOUS fish, all tied together with a chili-based sauce (courtesy of Alberta's amazing cooking). All of us agreed that the fish was more delicious than most restaurants back in the US, although there was no flavoring or sauce of any shape or form.

We then agreed to head on over to a local school to paint the walls a sunny yellow color. We headed into the marketplace of Ho, looking for some paint. After some bargaining, we purchased two large buckets of yellow paint. We then proceeded to carry the paint to a taxi station. None of us realized how awkward carrying the bucket of paint was, since it was heavy, cylindrical, and bulky in general. Despite a bit of difficulty, we managed to drag the buckets to the school.

The headmaster of the school came out to greet us, along with several of the local children. They all yelled at us "YEVU YEVU!!!" Yevu is the Ewe word for "foreigner", or more specifically, "white person". No matter what ethnicity we are, they all referred to us as yevu. The winning smiles and the enthusiasm that they had for our presence were simply priceless. Two of the older boys, about ten years old, brought over two large buckets of clear water to thin the paint with. We mixed the paint and water together with our hands. And then...the paint began.

Painting the walls of the school was both tiring and very very fun. Emily and some of the members of the organization grabbed rollers and started to paint the bulk of the walls. Chandler, Jen, Linh, and I grabbed smaller brushed and touched up corners. Four hours later, we were faced with a layer of yellow paint on the walls, on our hands, and speckled on our hair. But the job was well done and we were all happy that we managed to accomplish something.

The headmaster then treated us for some soda nearby. All of us forgot that soda was in glass bottles (everything tastes a lot better in a glass bottle). However, I was craving an Alvaro, which is a fruit-flavored malt-based soda. So we then caught a taxi, bade the headmaster and the adorable children goodbye for the day, and headed off to a hotel on the top of a large hill for an Alvaro.

A short taxi drive later, we arrived, and could only gasp at the staggering beauty of the town below us. The lights were on, and we stared for a good two minutes straight. The way to the inside of the hotel had a large edge that we proceeded to take pictures on. We then all had our first pear-flavored Alvaros, after which we felt full of carbon dioxide and thoroughly satisfied.

After driving home and grabbing a quick french fry (or chip in British English) dinner, we noticed FLYING TERMITES in outside courtyard. Yes. Flying Termites. According to the Ghanaians, the flying termites come out at night after a large rainstorm. Thousands of them swarmed next to the street lamps outside, convening for a major gathering.

We then headed out for a night of dancing and drumming in town, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

Well then--considering that it is now 1 in the morning, better get some sleep :)

More pictures of painting are below!!!!

Talk tomorrow~

Erica

Erica: Arrival and Street Vendors

(all photocredits to Chandler)

Today's post will be relatively concise. We arrived, safe and sound in one piece to Ghana and met with Blue-Med representatives. We dragged our pile of luggage from the airport, into two tiny taxis, and made our way to Accra Mall, one of the few of its kind in Africa. Taking turns pulling the luggage and making sure that no one lost anything was more of a hassle than any of us expected! All of us worked up a sweat.

After grabbing a bit of chicken to eat and exchanging currency, we made our way to an old van, which would take us to Ho, the town we would be staying in. All of us were terrified that the van would completely turn over itself, but luckily that did not happen on our five hour car trip there.

Many of us noted that street vendors would actually come up to cars in traffic jams and attempt to sell passengers everything, from a new pair of jeans to a clock to a bag of pure water (yes, BAGS of water). The amount of effort that many of these vendors took to sell their products was astounding. Not only did you have to avoid being accidentally hit by a car, but you had to balance the products on your heads and pick up cash at the same time.

After exiting the city, the roads became a lot more scenic. Only a few hours later, we were faced with the wonderful sight of the Lake Volta, the largest man-made reservoir in the world. The sight was breathtaking. Simply breathtaking.

Finally, at eight in the evening, we finally arrived at the house, groggy and exhausted, but ready to get started with work in the morning.

Night world!

Erica

Erica: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Dear World,

So that day has come. The day that we've been preparing for the past 8 months. We're leaving for Ghana in a mere couple of hours.

This is my second trip back to Ghana (the first bringing friends from Lawrenceville along with me). I'm really anxious, yet I'm excited. We have two weeks to try to make a difference in the world. We'll do our best.

This blog will detail the 2012 L'ville 4 UNICEF Ghana Trip with the Ghanaian NGO Blue-Med Africa (www.bluemedafrica.org). This organization, though small, has the mission of "[supporting] the reduction of morbidity and mortality among the youth, women, and society at large through education, advocacy, provision of self-supporting skills education about HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Malaria and Tuberculosis which are on rise in the country." The organization sticks to this mission by providing care through hospital work, orphanage work, medical outreach to local villages and clinics, and teaching at local schools.


During my last trip with this wonderful organization, I had no idea what to expect in the very least, especially because I was traveling by myself. No Parents. No Friends. Literally dropping into the unexpected. I worked mainly in the orphanage, teaching children English and mathematics, and in the local hospital (Ho Municipal Hospital), caring for severely ill young boys and girls in the Children's Ward. I also helped build a vegetable garden in the orphanage, which is now filled with food for the children to eat. That trip has been the most rewarding experience of my life. It was not the hours I put in, but the laughs, smiles, and sweat used in those many hours that I remember.

By going on this second trip, I hope I can bring a world perspective to my peers. Not just the commonplace "people are starving and sick and we should do something about it", but rather the understanding of individuals, who they are, and what they fight for daily.

Though I am the one leading this trip as President of my club, L'ville 4 UNICEF (associated with the Lawrenceville School near Princeton, NJ), other members of the group will post in the very near future. Look out for future postings!

Enclosed on this post are a few pictures of the packing of donation items. More are on the way.

Akbe (thank you in the local language of Ewe) for reading this post!

Erica Lee

Club President & Trip Leader, L'ville4UNICEF #yolo