here come the water works. . .

so. last post from ghana. what do i have to say.

well update from last week. yeah no school friday, so i am another day behind. i finally got all but one lesson covered and understood so i feel confident in what i've taught them, now just to review with them. dang. looking over last year's test (thank you Selorm), they are expected to know some off-the-wall things that i would have never tried to memorize in my life. different culture. different education expectations i guess. so, been trying to work around what i think they find important in order to prep them for next week's test.

i had a proud mom moment today. we had to move bunk bed pieces from last years guest house to the school. i asked a few of my jss 2/3 boys to help. so emmanuel, larty, isaac and patrick wandered over to the house with us then moved everything from the storage to outside. then loaded up these beds and mattresses, and pretty much carried all of it on their heads. smart boys. i was just entertained by their engineering skills finding ways to get it all to go together so we only had to carry minimal things. oh i love those boys. they are awesome (and being paid with american candy :) so yeah. proud of them. awww.

so two days left of teaching and one day of partying (crying) left for me in Ghana. then i can say i've lived in africa. how cool is that?!?!? oh oh. and i have a special place in one african man's heart (he said that himself). then i have a marriage all lined up to one of the teacher's sons. a place to live when i come back and stay for a year. a cook for when i come back on my honeymoon. an extra dad who expects to interview any marriage prospects. taxi drivers to take me to shop for avacados. i just love the ghanaian people. they are so willing not only to give help, but to receive it. i feel like they may not have benefited from my time here as much as i would have liked, but i feel so loved and appreciated for giving of myself to the students and the people here. i don't know how i have helped specifically, but i know ghana has changed and helped me. i'm so grateful for the people who have willingly given of their time, talents, and knowledge to help me feel comfortable and loved in this country. i can't wait to return.

so. i leave in 3 days. *tear* but i've done what i came to do. and really am looking forward to some ice cold lemonade. and cheese. and my mommy :)

i don't eat enough peanut butter. . .

So getting on the plane over 50 days ago, i had a problem. my suitcases weighed too much. a lot too much. but i couldn't give up the peanut butter! so, i carried stuff in my arms and only giving up one grape jelly, i got to move on to boarding.

now i realize, i just wish i had some fruit snacks. i have MAYBE eaten 1.5 cups of peanut butter. that's rounding up. so my 3 unopened jars are collecting dust (k maybe mold. . .) in the cupboard and wanting to find new homes. So, i think i pawned one to Kelsey. I think i have some willing consumers in Mampong. I just don't eat enough peanut butter. Sorry mom.

well, after trying to organize my room so Charity can find her way onto my side of the room to do her hair in the mornings, i realized how much of Ghana i am bringing home. NO WAY that peanut butter will fit. I'm so excited about the things i've collected and the memories they hold. i can't believe i've lived in Africa for nearly two months now. Sorry America, i know it was your birthday and all, but i kinda don't want to come home yet. YET. i am looking forward to a nice glass of ice cold lemonade.

but with two weeks to go, our group sat down and made some goals. Mine? prepare this jss 2 class for their test. I want them to have confidence in their test taking skills, not only their recollection and understanding. I feel like they are so concerned about how to write the test, they overwhelm themselves to the point of overall confusion. so, go back at night. keep up on correcting their exercises. give them lot's of example questions and start to link their courses and understanding together. oh. and learn all their names again. i forgot some and i feel bad. . .

So it's revision week this and next week. we are supposed to be finished with the scheme of work. HA. not funny. i have at least 2 lessons to go. . . so hopefully i can get it done this week and review with them next. pray we have school all this week. it would make for our second or third full school week we have had since arriving in mid-May. crazy. it's been better now that they can't complain that they're tired from staying up too late watching Ghana in the world cup. . . oh yeah. that loss was SAD. ghana was sad. i was sad. watching Papa screaming and rolling on the floor cheering for his Black Stars, then seeing his look of disappointment, heartbreaking.

So the 4th of July in Ghana was fun. we got together and boiled corn on the cob, had watermelon, guacamole (thanks mom) and Lemonade! it was a little taste of home. we listened to our Americana music while enjoying the Sunday afternoon. Oh- Hollie even had pop rocks- fireworks for our mouths :D Not the same as those illegal ones i'm sure my brothers found time to sneak in between the cop drive-bys but hey, good for an African style Fourth of July.

well, let the countdown begin. ahh! or not. i don't wanna know.

love you all