Red-red (the best food on the planet)

I’ve been really positive in my past posts, which is all completely honest, but I think I’ve been pushing away the little things that are bugging me, and that’s not how I deal with my feelings normally. If I’m being honest, I’ve been feeling a bit dejected lately, although it is changing. I’m in a rhythm here, the honeymoon is over and I’m starting to feel the pangs of homesickness. From talking to people it seems that I’m pretty busy compared to others on the program, probably because not everyone is doing Living and Learning Seminar or Internship, and they both happen to give me the most work and take up the most time. The rest of my classes are interesting, but pretty basic compared to Clark, and I don’t have any outside work except for Twi, but it’s not much. I wouldn’t say anything here is making me unhappy, it’s not like I dislike my classes, but there is definitely a sense that the preliminary buzz of being in a new country is wearing off and I’m starting to feel that I need to be trying harder, experiencing more, branching out, but its hard to know where to start. What I'm trying to say is that I'm realizing I need to push out of my newly formed Ghana comfort bubble.  

But do not fear loved ones! I understand this is all part of the process and that ups and downs are normal. I think I’m making strides towards enhancing my experience with my internship, because until this week and last week, I really disliked my internship. All I did at the hospital was sit at the doctors station and watch them copy charts and meet with patients (which is all in Twi) or follow the nurses around as they give injections and check patients’ temperatures. Of course I am learning from that and it is really good for Pre-Nursing experience, but it’s not very fulfilling. It doesn’t feel like a mutual exchange: I’m not really helping anyone and I feel that I'm in the way. The one aspect of the Children’s Ward that is fulfilling to me is spending time with the abandoned children - they are so sweet and resilient and largely ignored, even neglected by the medical staff. I have been upset by the conditions of the abandoned children in the hospital, and interested in their process to a home and where they end up. Many of the children have disabilities, chronic illness or psychological trauma, which are not addressed in orphanages or with their families (sometimes parents reclaim their children, often if one spouse took the child without the other’s consent). So, I figured while I’m sitting around doing nothing, why don’t I do something to help these kids out! 

After brainstorming with my friends, I have developed a basic project idea that I am initiating (hopefully!) through the Social Work department at the Police Hospital. The idea is to connect abandoned children that come through the Police Hospital with a student volunteer from the Social Work or Psychology department at UG that would be an advocate for them - like a Big Brother Big Sister program. The student would spend time with the child, follow them from the hospital to an orphanage and basically assist the social worker and orphanage in finding the child any extra services they need, such as medical visits, therapy, and just being a friend to a kid that have no one looking after their interest exclusively. I have the support of my academic advisor and CIEE, and the Police Hospital has been allowing me to do the project, even though they are not exactly encouraging but are giving me the resources I need and meeting with me when I need help, which is fine. While drafting the project proposal, I am also trying to advocate for the two children that came through the hospital last week - Donald and Comfort. Donald has cerebral palsy and is currently in an orphanage that specializes in disabilities. Comfort was severely abused and has scars all over her body from a year of domestic servitude with a family that her father gave her to, apparently without the consent of her mother. She is back with her mother now, but she needs professional help that she is not receiving at home. She is extremely bright, difficult with authority and temperamental, which is to be expected. I am in contact with a cerebral palsy organization for Donald and a psychologist for Comfort but I’m still waiting on responses from both on when the two resources and the children will connect. Hopefully everything will come together next week. It is all exciting, one because I feel like I’m actually doing something meaningful and two, I’m not bored anymore, but it is scary because it is very possible that as I continue I will discover that my project idea is not feasible or even wanted. But I might as well try. I will keep y’all updated! 

In other news, I have dethroned myself as the ClarkU Study Abroad blogger and have passed on my duties to Rachel Abrams (Check her out!). From now on my blog will be a lot more introspective. I want to explore my inner conflicts and figure out who I am here. Of course I will continue to post fun photos and trip updates, but a lot more about my thoughts, too.

Here are the things I want to improve about my Ghana experience:

Make more close friends, both within and outside the CIEE bubble, Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian

Explore Accra and feel more connected to the city

Study Twi and actually use it in my daily interactions

Become closer with my host family

Read more about Ghana history, culture and current events (beyond reading Meredith’s cell phone news updates) 

Avoid future sunburns! I’ve been in pain all week after the weekend at the beach.

Of course I must end on a positive note. This is more for my mom than anyone, but I AM having a GREAT time and I’m not depressed all the time sulking around in the sunshine. I love the friends I’m making, I’m excited about my internship project, although its terrifying, and I’m really excited for the trips I’m planning (tentative itinerary to come). But I don’t want to let myself settle into a routine that limits my experience and doesn’t allow me to do all I can, so I would like to keep striving for a more fulfilling, enriching experience.  

Also, all my friends’ blogs have family and friends (and even haters) commenting but I don’t get any blog love =( 

Comment please!!!!

I went to the Green Turtle Lodge last weekend and within 3 minutes (not exaggerating) I got stung by a jellyfish! It was a great first independent trip in Ghana, sting included.