On
December 18th, after 10 weeks of intensive language and technical
training, after staying at various accommodations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale,
Koforidua and at our homestay village, 31 trainees from all over the U.S. and
all walks of life became Peace Corps volunteers to serve in Ghana’s agriculture
sector.
We
were greeted by the U.S. Ambassador, our PC acting directors and an official
representative from Eastern Region. We were given certificates and seeds to
plant in our future gardens. We took the oath and danced the traditional dance
which we practiced for weeks. We celebrated with our homestay families, who not
only made us matching outfits and fed us joloff rice and red-red, but were our
families away from home. We also celebrated within our own circles and said goodbyes
as we all left for our sites scattered all over Ghana.
I must
say that the induction ceremony and even the good-byes were not the most
emotional moments for me. The moment where I teared up and really felt the
importance of my decision to become a PC volunteer was the day before the
ceremony where we read and acknowledged the 10 Core Expectations. I would
like to post them here, and I would like to follow them throughout my service:
Core Expectations For Peace Corps
Volunteers
In working toward fulfilling the
Peace Corps Mission of promoting world peace
and friendship, as a trainee and
Volunteer, you are expected to:
1. Prepare
your personal and professional life to make a commitment
to serve abroad for a full term
of 27 months
2. Commit
to improving the quality of life of the people with whom
you live and work; and, in doing
so, share your skills, adapt them,
and learn new skills as needed
3. Serve
where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of
hardship, if necessary, and with
the flexibility needed for effective
service
4. Recognize
that your successful and sustainable development work
is based on the local trust and
confidence you build by living in,
and respectfully integrating
yourself into, your host community
and culture
5. Recognize
that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
for your personal conduct and
professional performance
6. Engage
with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual
learning, and respect
7. Work
within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local
and national laws of the country
where you serve
8. Exercise
judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health,
safety, and well-being and that
of others
9. Recognize
that you will be perceived, in your host country and
community, as a representative of
the people, cultures, values, and
traditions of the United States
of America
10. Represent
responsibly the people, cultures, values, and traditions of
your host country and community
to people in the United States both
during
and following your service
On
another note, I would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year! С
Новым Годом! Efishya paa!
Dancing party during my official greeting to the village chiefs and other local officials. I sang "Silent Night", and the MC recorded it! Then he blasted my voice through enormous speakers, and my song was heard through the entire village. What can I say - the music industry follows me around.
A holiday service at a Catholic church. The village has 4 churhces: Catholic, Methodist, 7th Day Adventist and Divine Faith. Churches and mosques in Ghana are pillars of communities where you can make friends, help with projects and learn a couple of songs.
Snowflake workshop on my verandah. We bring snow to Africa!
The party continues. Azonto dance is very popular all over Ghana.
