Pictures Link and Site Annoucement

Today will be a picture posting day! Hopefully I get all these pictures uploaded in a reasonable amount time because I don’t want to be walking home after 7pm, which is really late here, like 10pm USA time. 

I was able to post my pictures on facebook really easily and will eventually post them here.  They should be able to be viewed by anyone even if you don’t have a FB account.  The link is https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150676524760495.713336.705840494&l=f1555abc85.  Go there for now and I’ll post directly to the blog on another day.

My permanent Peace Corps site for the next two years will be: Diare in the Northern Region of Ghana!  I’ll be at Diare Junior High School.  In addition to Math I may also teach Science, and Computer Technology (known here as ICT).   They also have a course called Religious and Moral Education which I would love to get involved with too. 

“Diare is a village in the Savelugu-Nanton District, located on the main Tamale-Bolgatanga road in the Northern Region of Ghana.  It is predominantly a farming community with few people involved in petty trading.  Market day falls once every week making Diare a commercial center for the local community.  Most of the trade in the community involves buying and selling of foodstuffs and animals such as sheep, goats, chicken, etc.  The town is 95% Muslim and the festivals celebrated are Damba and Fire festivals.  The main supply of water for the community is a mechanized borehole system.  Electricity is from the national grid but there can be occasional outages.  The nearest big town in Savelugu which is about 25 kilometers away (I have a friend-volunteer working there.)”

“Diare Junior High School has operated since 1987 and in 1993 the Ministry of Agriculture mobilized farmers in Diare to construct a three classroom block.  The enrollment is 114 including 34 girls.  The school also has one of the best computer labs in the district (which are NOT connected to the internet unfortunately).  I will be replacing PCV Guillermo Moratorio (who’s blog you can find at: http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/?Journal&journal_id=7375).”

“Your accommodation is a bungalow which is less than 1 kilometer from the school compound.  There is a kitchen, toilet, and a bathroom which will not be shared.  Electricity is from the national grid but there can be occasional outages.  The source of water is borehole.  Cellular phone services are accessible.   The school will provide basic furniture.”

So, there you have it!  That’s my site from September onward.  For now I’m in Kukurantumi doing teacher training, language training, teacher practicum, homestay, etc.  I’ll have to update you all on those things in detail another time.  The highlights: teaching science is easier than math, my homestay “parents” which are only a few years older than me speak English really well thank God, we eat EVERYTHING with our hands, it is hotter than h*ll here, taking a shower in the rain is awesome but bucket showering isn’t so bad either, the other volunteers are awesome friendly and great people to be sharing this experience with.

Thanks for reading!  I’ll post again soon.  Godspeed.  –Zachar

Week 2

Sorry friends, pictures are going to have to wait because I could feel electric current running through the USB ports on this computer.  I'm glad I was able to log in and post however.  So, we are in our second week in Ghana and so much has happened already!  We visited downtown Accra via trotro (the minibus public transportation system).  We've studied the most common local language of Twi (pronounced Chee).  We've of course sweat a lot since its so hot here (80-87 most days)!  The food is spicy most of the time, but I'm hanging in there.  We do a lot of training.  We're constantly in and out of presentations, either on safety, health, teaching, culture, etc. 

What is very exciting is that we are now with our host families!  I'm living with a young couple (in their 30s) who have a one and a half year old son.  I have my own room in a small home right near our training site and not too far from this internet cafe.  Hopefully I'll be able to return tomorrow to post pictures of everything.  My home only has electricity.  Water we fetch by bucket from the well which is in our backyard.  We use the water to take bucket showers, wash anything, and pour water into the toilet to flush.  Cooking is done on a single propane gas fed burner.  Yesterday, Na (the little son), and I played soccer all afternoon.  We had tomato stew for dinner, which we ate with our hands.  Tomorrow I'll begin my practicum in teaching at a local Junior High School. 

I have to depart for now, but more will follow.  Know that I'm well and having a blast.  Peace Corps Ghana is everything I imagined it would be.  I'll be back to post soon.  Godspeed.  -Zachar

Departure Day

 “The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.  All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.”  Genesis 12: 1-3

Here we go, we’re off to the airport.  There are 68 of us on two buses.  We are each other’s new family, friends, support network and lifeline.  Most of us are 20 somethings, some of us are in our 30s and there are a few retires.  We are a bunch of random people thrown together to serve those in need and to promote peace and understanding among nations.  We’ve barely gotten to know each other and now we’re going to experience together the most transforming life experience that many of us will ever go through.  Wow, how humbling and powerful.  The only thing there is to do is trust, have faith, and remain present.  We are being sent from the land we call home, from the culture that has shaped and educated us, away from family and friends, to a place that will shock every sense, tissue and bone in our body.  Through fear, language miscommunication, safety threats, loneliness, and work incompetence we will discover a way to be a blessing to the people of Ghana.  I’m confident and look forward to the welcome we’ll receive, to the relationships with our host families we’ll grow, the training we’ll receive, and the launch into assignment on August 30^th that is coming in three months time.  Until then I’m not sure how often I’ll write to you.  I’m not sure where in the country I’ll be, but do know that the Peace Corps address will always work for mail and packages.  Please pray for me and my new Peace Corps family.  I will pray for you and yours.  You have formed me and helped me get to this place of peace, contentment, and joy in life, let us continue this journey in the spirit together.  Godspeed.  –Zachar