on your mark, get set. . .

6 hours on the internet= 5 GH Cedis

Material for clothes= 12 Cedis

Artwork=10 cedis

Blogging to the sound of FuFu being made=Priceless.

We are finally finding our places in the schools. So i pretty much help with math in the JSS school. it's frustrating because they are supposed to have all of these skills. . . and they don't. multiplication tables are neglected, so when we try to simplify fractions. . . well, it doesn't work as you'd imagine. I have now started to implement the after school math room where we have had multiplication table races. i set up three students around the classroom, give them chalk, on your mark, get set, go. . .and they go do their number, x1-10 on the board. hopefully i can get them to memorize them. i'll have to find a way to bribe them though, or they might stop coming.

but teaching in the schools is way fun! i am working closely with some student teachers as well as the science teacher, Margarite. They are fabulous signers so i'm just there for support, or new ways to explain concepts. i get to add my little knowledge in many of their core classes so i get a full ghanain education throughout my day. pretty interesting.

yeah. i get sunburned here. the 30 spf does NOT cut it for my skin :S I'll have to do a little swapping with the girls here. we are already so close it is fabulous. our little family. but i've started to buy things. oh no. they use the Cedi here. . . so i get 1.40 for every dollar. and stuff is cheap. so today was some art and material, oh and more internet time from Kuami. He is ahead of his time investing in a little internet cafe. love it.

my mom wanted to know about my living conditions. sooo! papa ellis is our hotel owner guy. haha. he wants 8 american wives. . . how convenient. but we have running water and power, which means showers and a fan blowing at night. awww how i feel like i am living large.

It is African Union today so there was no school. we went and saw the gardens in aburi. it is sooo green here. oh my. and the humidity, i'm about to say that i'm used to being sticky. it doesn't feel so bad. and i'm wearing a sweater today! who knew? haha. ok it is hot. but i won't get sunburned. (although the farmers tan i am sporting really suits me, don't ya think?)

well, any math/multiplication table suggestions are welcome at sohi.holli@gmail.com

but, i will get them up to speed :)

Love from Ghana,

Holli

BUG KILLER!

so yesterday, i met the students. so exciting! they are so ready to learn in the JSS school so it is exciting to get to teach there. we just observed yesterday and met the faculty.

today on the other hand, i felt like i dove right in! there are the faculty, then student teachers, then us. i was observing a math class for the JSS prep class and. . .well we know me and math. i have my way of doing things. so, after the student teacher (because the real teacher doesn't think it is important to come to school) deemed my answers correct, i got to stand up and teach. and teach. and teach. for quite a long time! but i think they understand percentages now! woo woo! he told me i will be teaching science for him tomorrow and math again on monday. i guess my foot is in the door.

i love it here. it is hot. the children make it all worth it. especially those really bright ones who try not to pay attention. it's them i'm after. they have to fight to get into high school, so i want to make it possible for them.

so there is this store across the street from the school. i broke down today and finally bought some bug killer. that ate THROUGH my baggies and into my food. yes, they got my cookies from home. i ALMOST started to cry. . . but. i guess that's more of the african diet for me. ugh. but they were my favorite (oatmeal choc chip). *sigh* i'm over it. they have bofut here. . DELICIOUS. take a donut hole but add the taste of a scone. yummy.

till next time

holli

ete sen

ok all of you.

im here safe! we are staying in a hotel actually. and when i mean hotel, i mean there was a HUGE cockroach and spider welcoming us into our room. yuuuuck.

yeah so our flights were interesting.slc to jfk was smooth. . . except my bags were too heavy and it cost $150 to let them fly, so i left out some jelly, and carried my pillow. whatever. but jfk to accra (uh- KRAW`) we got on. . .flew. . . sat. . .flew about 500 miles, 1.5 hours then turned around. fun i know. apparently something was wrong with the engine but they left that out till we were landed and greeted by ohh, 50 firetrucks, cops, airport security, etc etc. lights flashing and all. but we got here sunday afternoon. got through customs and to our new home in mampong. papa ellis runs the hotel. he is sooo funny and thinks that we are all going to marry him so he can have his 8 american wives. excited for me? i guess i can say i'm engaged. . . to some old man. anyways. that is a tip here. tell everyone your are either married or engaged, then no questions asked, they leave you alone. well, at least stop asking for money.

so after not sleeping last night, it's finally catching up with me. i'm tired and i don't know when i'm hungry. but i'm thirsty ALLLLLL the time. it's soooo hot and humid. my hair never dries. so i may be getting braided this weekend after all. we will see.

we haven't met the students yet. we just got permission to enter the schools about an hour ago today. so that means we go tomorrow, meet the headmistress, the faculty, then to be attacked by children! i'm so excited for that. sitting around playing cards gives me too much time to miss home. . . and well. you all. . . *cough cough* but MOM. the cookies in my bag were a real tear jerker. and brandt. ahh that first song. . . grrrrrrr. but last night, during some free time, a few of us started to memorize the articles of faith in asl. fun experience. i hope i can share a few when i get back in primary. awww. primary. OH OH! how was aubrey's baptism??? hope is was fabulous. i'm sure she did great on the piano too. such a cutie. i can't wait to meet the students though cause i'm missing my own. i just love teaching! so this will be different. from being soothed by teaching music lessons to teaching in silence. this will be weird for me.

but in the few days i've been here, my sign is already sooo much better. thanks mel for all the support. i do feel confident in my skill. but now. communication is getting easier. i'm excited to see where i will be even next week with a few days with the children.

well. i hope home is wonderful. this is going to be a long 2 months.

oh i forgot the best part. we have power and running water... well HAD. the power went out at the hotel on monday morning. and the water shut off this morning. but i never knew how much i would appreciate a cold shower and a skirt. *sigh* wonderful. hopefully they will start working again, before i smell TOO much worse.

well i love and miss you all already.

talk to you soon!

holli

sohi.holli@gmail.com