Gone To Ghana

The sweet taste of success!  On Monday, February 1, 2010, six mothers from the farming community of Guanwarre balanced 2 large kettles over wood fires, measured the rice, tomato paste, palm oil, and dried herrings, then added some iodized salt and hot peppers as they prepared the first of many midday meals for their new primary school.  One hundred twenty [...]

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Yen’s Story
He is deceivingly old for his appearance. He stands at easily under 5 foot, a slender body as most people here. But what raises question as for his correct age, is the fact that he has scarification on his face, which is a discontinued birth ritual practice. Up to probably the later 1990’s it [...]

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Sleeping Beauty, a good name for my seemingly un-trainable, but much needed 19 year old Nabt language assistant.  She is my mouth and my ears as we see 20-30 patients per day.  On a good day we might have one patient that speaks any English at all.  Schools were very few and far between until [...]

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One week ago the weather in northern Ghana made an about face, bringing a conclusive end to the regular farming season. The pervasive heat, humidity and occasional rain shower of October and early November resulted in a steady temperature of 89.5 degrees in our room, not the most pleasant conditions for sleeping. At these temperatures [...]

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Highlights of a school day in Upper East Region, Ghana Up late, 6:30 A.M. By now all elementary students are ambling to school. I too traverse the hill upon which we live, carrying my trombone and school bag. I drop by the seamstress who has my pants to be repaired. The thread is bare in [...]

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