Joy and Wine

“The joy of travel is in the wandering.”
- - Joe Robinson

It was a fantastic week! Mid-week, I spent some time at the School for the Deaf in my community. A Peace Corps volunteer, Kaitlyn, is teaching art there, and she kindly allowed me into her classroom as well as answered some of my questions about special education in Ghana. Sign language is fascinating to me. I cannot for even one second imagine what it would be like to not be able to hear. Kaitlyn said that formal sign language is taught beginning in kindergarten, but that many of the younger children rely more on general gestures, which makes communication a bit more difficult. It seems though that some signs just make sense. For instance, I learned how to sign “good morning”, and at the end of the sign, your hand comes up just as the sun would come up in the morning. That is one basic example, but it helps to make those associations when you are learning a brand new form of communication. Being in a deaf classroom is essentially the polar opposite of every teaching experience I have ever had: it was silent. Getting kids quiet is a significant aspect of teaching, but at a School for the Deaf, I found myself reveling in the silence. But at the same time, struggling to not speak. I talk a lot! No surprise to most of you out there. But to not have to is actually quite a challenge!

Friday I was part of a teacher-training workshop at my college involving about 80 primary teachers from local schools. I was responsible for teaching the English portion of the day, and I focused on different strategies for teaching vocabulary. It felt amazing! Most of the teachers were enthusiastic, engaged, and genuinely interested. Now if every day here in Ghana was like Friday, I would feel much more fulfilled. But, I guess I will just have to take those days as they come. On top of the workshop, I got to chat with one of my favorite Ghanaian people, Juliana, from the office of my organization.

Following the workshop, I, along with the Peace Corps volunteer, Sam, and the Japanese volunteer, Morita, were invited to the priest’s home for dinner. His name is Matthew and he is amazing. His undergraduate studies were in Ireland, and his post-graduate studies were in Scotland. He’s traveled the world and returns to Scotland every summer for six weeks. And to really tug at my heartstrings, this man is a reader as well! One entire wall of his home was filled with books. Too bad this guy’s a priest. Matthew had his housekeeper prepare a most elaborate meal for us. Fish, chicken, fried yams, jollaf rice, white rice, kelewele, some chinese curry stew! Delectable! All followed by cappuccino and ice cream. Throughout this meal, and from the moment I walked in the door, large amounts of white and red wine were also consumed. As the evening progressed, Matthew offered us a Ghanaian brandy made from cashews. This is what surely pushed us all over the edge. We had a blast! The entire evening was filled with interesting conversation. We chatted about everything from education to soccer to traveling to gender roles to stereotypes to booze. This was, by far, one of the best days I have had in Ghana.