Status Update

Yes, its been a while since I wrote in my blog. Shame on me – especially since I was keeping the blog more for myself…. Well, things have been happening left, right and center, and I’ve got a bunch of status updates that took part in my service.

First, and foremost, I got promoted. I became a volunteer leader (or a PCVL in a peace Corps lingo), and will start my duties in June. Basically, I will be a den mother for other volunteers and will look after our regional office in the city of Kumasi (Ashanti Region). My service will be extended until December 2017 (I know, seems like an eternity from now, but it is only one extra year)…  Besides, what am I going to do in America anyway? As far as I can tell, the elections are a big mess, and who know who will get elected – so let’s just stay put to be on a safe side.

Being a PCVL will have its perks too – I will live at our regional office with running water, fridge, air conditioning and other advanced products of civilization. Plus, Kumasi is halfway from Accra and Tamale. Besides, I will be traveling on a special Peace Corps vehicle for business (I remember complaining about a peace Corps bus which took us everywhere during training; well, let’s just stay that I’m very nostalgic about those good old days now every time I ride an overheated tro crammed with sweaty people).

Buh-bye, good old blue latrine. You will be missed. Sometimes.

Second, I am finally figuring out my meaningful work – basically, projects that I’m most interested in. Peace Corps is one big improvisation, there is no clear job description. You’re just thrown into this one community and gradually figure out what makes you happy and what your community needs your help with. Well, I am happy to report that throughout the last year I found my happy place. Or, more like, places.

1. I’ve been teaching GrassRootSoccer activities to local schools. It is an HIV- and malaria-prevention program originated in South Africa, which, to me, is a perfect project for any Peace Corps volunteer. I’ve reached out to four schools and taught some 200+ shy but scrappy teenagers about causes of HIV, the correct way to use a condom, and other interesting things (e.g. reasons why the US government allows gay marriages, or an origin of Groundhog Day).

Learning team work and dangers of malaria.

This project brought good memories of my own high school days and our celebration of a World AIDS Day where I played a call girl who sang (in an Alla Pugacheva’s fashion) on how you can get HIV through a kiss with elements of sadism (read: biting).

Beating HIV one football at a time.

We did it!

2.       I’ve taught many people how to make batik and tie-dye. It may sound like something silly, but it’s been super-fun, creative and educational. Every time you do batik or tie-dye, you get different results – and most of the time, they are pretty good J). I’ve taught students, tailors, farmers and their wives, and my village neighbors even urban expats. Definitely a success story (see some photos). 

My little criminals at their creative best.

Teaching local Presbyterian church members.

3.
       I collaborated with Eyes on Africa, a non-profit organization, which sends free reading glasses to Africa. We did three distributions, and now over 300 people in Western region of Ghana can read their Bibles or check students’ homework without too much strain on their eyesight. I also connected other volunteers with this organization, and now they are also keeping busy with helping their villagers. Hooray!

Lovely farmer ladies with their new specs.

So, here we are. Comparing to some other super-volunteers who are building schools, latrines and borehole in their communities, it is not much.  But I’m proud of what I’ve done. Every person experiences Peace Corps differently. For some it is a good opportunity to figure out if development work is for them. For others, it is a chance to escape a daily grind of American corporate life; to see the world; to live outside one’s comfort zone; to experience something different. And to have fun while traveling on a rusty tro, of course.

Well, this one is not too rusty...