Concerning Karimenga and kids

Proof that time flies: this blog. When I left for Ghana, I had the intention to blog AT LEAST once a week, preferably more, not only to annoy you all to death, but also to chronicle this adventure for myself. Anyway, it's been more than a week since I blogged, so far so good for plans in Ghana!

What have I been doing past week? The male ward proved to be a little more boring than expected, at a certain moment we had 5 patients, and 10 staff members, so two staff members were appointed 1 patient to take care of the entire day. Unfortunately for me, my patient left at 9:30 to have an ultrasound of his abdomen made, and only returned at 1:15 - 15 minutes before handing over to the afternoon nurses. I hate doing nothing while I'm supposedly "working", so this was quite a test of my patience. I withstood it pretty well, though, don't worry. And whenever things threatened to get really, really boring, there was always the need for Kuse among nurses, and I was the ever-eager volunteer to get the Kuse (pronounced as Co-see), which meant half an hour of other surroundings than concrete walls and the smell of pee around me. I made a good friend there, though, and they taught me some things, so it wasn't as negative as I now make it out to be.

Friday we said goodbye to two of the volunteers, with a dinner at Swap's, which meant pizza! I really like the food at my hostfamily's, but sometimes I also want some Western food, and pizza is perfect for that.

The next day, Saturday, Berte and I went to Karimenga. Two weeks ago an eco-tourism project opened there, and we were one of the first guests. Everything did not yet go as smooth as it could, since we're talking about Ghanaians and a BIG project, but in a way that made it all the more fun to be there. I don't have a traditional home at my host family, so now I finally had the chance to sleep in a tradition hut. The huts were built in a circle, and in the compound created like that, there was also a thatch-roofed building, with chairs, which I sat under and in almost the entire Saturday afternoon. We also had a short demonstration of basket weaving, which is a lot harder than I thought. AND they taught us how to make rice balls, and since my hostmother is going to teach me how to make Groundnut Soup, I'll be able to eat that back in the Netherlands. Yay! You're invited - as the Ghanaians love to say (they're always disappointed I actually like the food, because they love nothing more than laughing at a Solemia). That "night" (more like evening, since I went to bed at 10) we sat on the flat roof of the reception, cup of tea in our hands, looking up at the gorgeous starry sky - for me, that's the ultimate holiday feeling: seeing the milky way.

The following morning we had a Herbal Tour by bicycle, which was very interesting. The most interesting part was seeing another community, though. They have a whole different lifestyle, more like nomads, and they look completely different, too (except for the skin color, but I don't think white Ghanaians exist). AND they had a couple of newborn babies, they were super cute.

Getting back to Bolga on a Sunday proved to be a little harder than expected, but after we called a taxi, we managed to get back pretty soon. However much I feel the need to be away from my hostfamily sometimes, I really do want to go back after some traveling as well. My hostbrother has really warmed up to me (at first I was scary), and now he continuously comes up to my room, to ask "Auntie, Auntie! Play ball?"

This Monday I started work at the Kids Ward, which is pretty tough. I've been on the brink of tears several times, and would probably have cried if there weren't several handfuls of Ghanaians around me, who don't really understand crying. There was one little boy, not much more than a skeleton. 1,5 years old, and he only weighed 5,5 kg. There's another boy, 6 years old, everyday more malnourished, and sicker, after he had an intestinal perforation from typhoid fever. Then there's the girl today, who died before the IV line could be passed. Or what about the twins, whose mother is continuously busy to soothe one of the other, and who probably have TB? But there are heartwarming moment as well: the boy with a broken arm, who always starts to smile as soon as he sees me. The girl who recovered from malaria, and who sang for me today. The baby I thought was going to die for sure, but who seems to be getting better. The little boy who started making little baby sounds of joy everytime he saw me.

It's both so much harder and so much more gratifying to work here.

This week I also had the chance to show someone what I'd been doing these past weeks. Berte stayed two nights at my hostfamily, and on Tuesday she came with me to the hospital. Absolutely forbidden in the Netherlands, and apparently also in Ghana, but in the end the Medical Director didn't have a problem with it. Huh? But it was nice to show someone, because now at least one person really knows what it's like to work at Bolga Regional Hospital.

And as of now, I'm the only Meet Africa volunteer still in Bolga. But, I also only have 10 more days here - why is it going by this quickly? This weekend, I'm taking my host family to Paga, to the Crocodile Ponds, and I'll try to help a bit more at home, since I haven't really had time for that yet (and if I have, such as in the afternoons, most family members are sleeping...).

Speaking of family members, I don't think I ever really explained who lives on my compound! I have a host father, Michael, and host mother, Christiana, and a host brother, Bless (he's almost 3). Then there's Eunice, I don't really know how she's related, but she's of my age. Then we have Mayveece (or however it's written) and her husband (I think, I don't see him around often) and her daughter, Balinda. My grandmother also lives on the compound, she loves teaching me Frafra and laughing at me when I don't understand her, and Winnifred, who I believe is my host mother's sister. That's it. Oh, since a week we also have Thanks, the dog, who's extremely cute and always happy to see me, but also has the nasty habit of pooping and peeing in front of my door - deja-vu to last summer? Balinda was extremely scared of me at first, but now she loves to be picked up by me, and she comes running to me when Thanks chases her - both Bless and Balinda are terrified by him; "He bite, he bite!" "Did he ever bite you?" "No, but he bite! He bite you too!" My family expects me to rest, a lot, so I have enough privacy, and whenever I feel like it, I come out of my room, to play ball, or maybe help some with sweeping the floor of the compound, or wash my clothes, or whatever. I hate doing laundry here, everytime I rub the knuckles on my fingers open. Oh well, I guess I'll come back stronger and tougher.

Speaking of that, it's amazing how I adjust to life here. I had expected to miss a lot more, but at the moment, I only miss a decent toilet. Bucket showers are OK, the heat is doable, no AC needed, sleeping without a pillow is not bad, either. Drinking water from a tap, instead of out of plastic bags (with sometimes disgusting tasting water inside)? Nah, not that much. I had half a stroopwafel last weekend, and it was the best tasting stroopwafel I ever had, so being deprived of some of the things we think of as normal is actually not all that bad. And you get so much back for it. The warmth of Ghanaian people, the way they always want to help you, greeting everyone you meet, stranger or not... I'm not yet ready to leave! Fortunately I have 4 more weeks - in exactly 4 weeks, I'll be home...!

Anyway, let's make an end to this, I've been talking for way too long. I hope all of you are doing well, I can't wait to hear all YOUR stories when I'm back.

Love from Ghana, Jonneke

P.S.: Els, you'll manage perfectly fine on your own, and in 4 weeks I can assist you where needed.
P.P.S.: Matthijs, I bought the fabric! I hope you like it! I'll drop it off at the tailor today or tomorrow, depending on whether she's still open.