Onwards

I cannot believe that our time in this village is almost up.  We leave on Friday morning, and I have just gotten used to living here.  The quiet streets that I can walk on without worry of cars passing by with inches of room, the simple mattress on the cement that constitues my room, the kids and adults greeting us everywhere we walk.  The constant greeting is at times frustrating because when you are so hot and exhausted that you want to lie down with a cold ice-pack on your forehead (impossible because the water gets warm within 10 seconds), the last thing you want to do is be followed by a million children.  However, not having this will be strange and I will most likely miss so many aspects of a more simple but difficult life that is lived by those in the rural village. 
After working with Herbalists for my mini-Independent Study Project, I have had some major realizations that have aided me on my path for my larger Independent Study Project.  Working with Herbalists, I realized that if I decided to work with individual Priests and Priestesses who practice Traditional African Religion, I may encounter some frustrations.  First and foremost is the issue of relying on one person (or a few people) as a mentor.  I did not enjoy having to be on someone else's schedule at all times just to gain access to the knowledge I was interested in seeking.  Secondly, after teaching in the village school in Ntinanko, I realized that if I am working on a project for a month, I need to be working in a setting that is hands on  as opposed to simply observing.  Thirdly, if I am working on a project for a month, I need to feel that I am making a difference in the community in which I am living and studying.  Simply studying with Priests and Priestesses would not achieve any of these three goals.  However, working within the educational system here in Ghana, particulary in the village schools that are underserved, seems like a more meaningful project that will allow me to sustain my involvement beyond my time here in Ghana. Additionally, because all teachers in Ghana have been on strike since Tuesday (although the teachers have been happy that we have offered to teach their students for them during this strike), it seems an opportune time to study the Ghanaian educational system.  My passion for teaching will carry me through this project as well.
When I told my teacher Yemi about my new ideas for my project, he was so excited that I saw this as an opportunity rather than a challenge to study education during a turbulent time in the educational system.  He gave me a few ideas, including the study of female education and the issues regarding the lack of knowledge on sex and sexual health, especially for female students.  The classes are dominated by males, and many females are either told to stay home to take care of the house, the farm, or get pregnant at a young age and cannot continue their schooling.  My teacher already has an advisor at the University of Ghana, Legon regarding education and women's issues, and I think that teaching, discussing these issues within the classroom, and even attempting to implement a sexual education class and/or discussion would be so incredible.  I would love feedback from anyone at home! Additionally, my friend Tess and I (after teaching English and Social Studies) had a discussion with the class asking what the students felt they needed in order to learn more easily.  Then today, we all put together some money to buy the school protractors, pens, pencils, chalk for the blackboards, paper, colored pencils.  When I get home I hope to run a book drive and send the books to the school, because all of the students want to have a library so badly. 
Anyway, I am sad to leave this beautiful village, but I am quite sure I will return to teach in the village school and compare this government-funded schooling with private schooling in the city of Kumasi. Also, I am loving life! I hope you are all loving your lives as well. Laughter is currently the music of my soul!