Village Life

Today marks two weeks of village life! Overall, it is going really well. We have been in country for 3 weeks now, yet it feels MUCH longer. Although living in the village is less “cush” than living at Valley View, I have found that I’m already significantly more comfortable with life and work here than I was our first week. Our first week at Valley View was awesome, but I’ll admit I was a bit freaked out. I surprised myself with my own nervousness/anxiety because I thought I was SO prepared. Chris and I have literally been preparing to live in Ghana for a year. Through all of my research, reading, and talks with RPCVs I thought I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into. Well, I quickly realized that all of the research in the world can’t totally prepare a person for what it will actually feel like living in a developing country.

On the flip side, another big surprise came along and that’s how dang adaptable I (and all of humanity) can be! I already feel like I’ve been challenged and have grown as a person in my short time here. Yes, about 2-3 times a day a voice frantically goes off in my head “ ahh be brave! Be brave!” But that’s less than it was the first week. And the other good news is I actually listen! I’m learning to handle my unnatural fear of falling into the giant outhouse/toilet throne. I’m letting go of my shock at the sanitation issues. Chris and I have named the animals living in our room (Mo the mouse, Margaret the Spider, and Gary the Gecko ). We wake up at five with the roosters (will somebody send us a slingshot please?). We eat the local food for every meal. I’m surviving without chocolate (small miracle). We have very little control of our jam packed training schedules and we are making it. We have had some “digestive issues” and are learning to deal with it with a bucket (for nighttime) or an outhouse in the center of the compound (must greet everyone quickly!). We are spending six hours a day learning a new language and it’s now slipping into our dreams too… Last week I had my first dream ever in a foreign language- it was nuts! Also, Ghana basically sits on the equator and there’s no ac here… So there’s that. So yes, it’s been an adjustment but we are truly loving it and are thankful for the opportunity to really challenge ourselves and appreciate many of the simple things.

Service has already been full of incredible highs (we are living in Africa! We are doing meaningful work! What wonderful, wonderful people here) and intensely felt lows (I’m SO tired, SO many trainings, so many greetings,  Need cool air… More vaccines??? learning to cook outside, washing clothes by hand (its takes 3 hours fyi). Basically, we feel like babies starting out in the world and learning everythingggg all over again. But it’s good- we are learning, growing, and having new experiences. However, we are definitely looking forward to the day when we are able to function as independent adults again without relying on someone for basically everything.

We really miss everyone and want to start getting email updates on everyone else’s lives. Getting internet access has proved to be more difficult than we were imagining, but we are hoping that as we get more settled in we will get more of a routine going and can stay in better contact. Our days are full of training and are extremely long- but come April 16th- Official swear in day- our load should get a bit lighter. Chris and I do have Ghanaian phones now so if you want to Viber or What’s App us just ask! Till next time! Xo

The throne of terror

Inside a West African kitchen

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Chris on cloud 9 bc he feels like we live in Jurassic Park

Attempting to satisfy our chocolate craving with the real deal- cocoa pods from a tree
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This is a popular dish here called “Redred” It’s made of black eyed peas and mashed plantain served with rice and/or baked cassava and plantain

Enjoying one of my fav food/drinks- some coconut water (33 American cents here)