This past weekend, we traveled to the Volta Region to see the Wli Waterfalls, hike in the rainforest, and explore that area of the country.
I will first write about today, which exemplifies a "typical" day in Ghana, as all of the unexpected, amazing events that happened seem to now be "typical" in that they are all perfectly timed without being planned!
1. Autism Center, drums and jamming
2. Best Buddies Ghana
3. After school
4. Cultural observations: "I want to be your friend"
Volunteering at the Autism Center
Today was a really spectacular day at AACT, the Autism Awareness, Care, and Training Center. While there were no special activities, the children and staff were so productive the entire day. Last week, I worked individually, in the afternoons, with some of the staff to talk about how to run a lesson with their child. I talked about trying to really test if the child is learning, and also to vary the tasks, not just doing the exact same "trace this, count this" every day. Today, I watched the 'teachers' with whom I had worked doing CREATIVE things with their students! One of the teachers went and got different objects for the child to count, rather than just putting up his fingers like they had done EVERY day since the beginning of the program. It was so amazing to get to watch the effect of just some simple brainstorming and "culturally sensitive" sessions that worked with the staff there to get them to improve on what they wanted to teach the children.
In the afternoon, I helped the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) people from the Global Autism Project to make lots of PECS symbols. (Their blog is: http://globalautismproject.blogspot.com/ It is really great, and tells in more detail about the project here. Check it out!)
During the past few weeks, we have been doing preference assessments and also formulating communication symbols for different students. This afternoon, we printed, cut, and laminated all of the symbols so they will be in use starting tomorrow! One of the best parts of the day was when one student (who had bit me hard earlier in the day, a particularly rambunxious young child with Autism with lots of energy) climbed onto my lap while I was cutting out the pictures, grabbed the scissors from me, and began cutting the pictures himself! This seven-year-old ended up cutting out the PECS symbols for his whole class! It was so rewarding to see this child, who is often very difficult to control, be so successful at a work-related task.
Best Buddies Ghana!
One of the staff members there is SUCH an amazing teacher, and so passionate about serving people with disabilities in Ghana. In a casual conversation, "What did you do this weekend?" he told me about how he took one of his former students, twenty-something years old with cerebral palsy, to the hockey tournament in Accra! I asked him if he had heard of Best Buddies, and he and a friend had actually be in touch with Best Buddies International (Valerie, the same person I have talked to about expanding our travel program abroad) about starting up in Ghana! He just needed someone to help kick it off, as he and his friend have been working on brainstorming and formultaing a proposal and beginning schedules. Right place, right time! I will be here for the next three weeks and will be able to help them with Best Buddies Ghana!
Drumming, Jamming, the beach... typical after-work experiences
Louis is a 'famous' drummer, at least to me, as I had heard about him from Molly, the director of the Global Autism Project, for quite some time. He makes drums, and has played drums for people such as Stevie Wonder. He volunteered at AACT's field trip last Wednesday, and we have been in touch ever since. He is custom-making a drum for my brother, Jordan, and wanted me to come over to his shop today to check out how he is making it. We went after school.
The 'shop' is in an area along the beach where TONS of drum-related trades-people have "set up camp" in clusters around the land, not really on streets but paths along the dirt/beach. There are people who cut the wood, hollow it, carve it, work with the hide, sew the bags, everything you could think of that has to do with drums, all over this beach area! We saw Louis's area and Jordy's drum. It is REALLY cool.
After taking us around to see the drums being made, he took us to a group of his "Rasta-friends" to JAM. We rocked out for a good two hours to everything from Bob Marley to the Indigo Girls, and an amazing rendition of "Ameh Yisrael Chai," the African-style Jewish song. They asked Diane and I to play songs for them from "our culture," so we did, and they loved it!! We stayed there on the beach jamming until after dark, and then one of Louis's friends drove us to a place for dinner, where it cost less than 30 peswas per dish (about 22 cents) and then he also drove us all the way back to the Ikando house!
Louis is a 'famous' drummer, at least to me, as I had heard about him from Molly, the director of the Global Autism Project, for quite some time. He makes drums, and has played drums for people such as Stevie Wonder. He volunteered at AACT's field trip last Wednesday, and we have been in touch ever since. He is custom-making a drum for my brother, Jordan, and wanted me to come over to his shop today to check out how he is making it. We went after school.
The 'shop' is in an area along the beach where TONS of drum-related trades-people have "set up camp" in clusters around the land, not really on streets but paths along the dirt/beach. There are people who cut the wood, hollow it, carve it, work with the hide, sew the bags, everything you could think of that has to do with drums, all over this beach area! We saw Louis's area and Jordy's drum. It is REALLY cool.
After taking us around to see the drums being made, he took us to a group of his "Rasta-friends" to JAM. We rocked out for a good two hours to everything from Bob Marley to the Indigo Girls, and an amazing rendition of "Ameh Yisrael Chai," the African-style Jewish song. They asked Diane and I to play songs for them from "our culture," so we did, and they loved it!! We stayed there on the beach jamming until after dark, and then one of Louis's friends drove us to a place for dinner, where it cost less than 30 peswas per dish (about 22 cents) and then he also drove us all the way back to the Ikando house!
Cultural Observations
It is really interesting that a lot of the things I have read about in the guidebook are actually TRUE. For example, it says that children in rural areas will ask foreign people (Obrunies) for a pen because they know they will get that more likely than money. In the Volta Region, a child straight up asked me for a pen as I walked by the path! Also, people REALLY do just want to be your friend here, ALL the time. On the tro-tro, at school, on the street, at the store... everywhere, someone will help you or talk to you and then say, "I really want to be your friend," and then request your contact information or provide theirs. We really have made some true Ghanaian friends, from work and even some random encounters, but the legends of everyone requesting your information really are true. I usually say, "My cell phone does not work here."
Additionally, strangers are more than willing to go out of their way to provide directions on the streets. As there are rarely street names, it is difficult to give or receive directions. You just have to "go." If you ever ask, "Where is ______" a person on the street will never just point you in the right direction... they will make sure to walk you all the way to your destination, whether you want them to or not! The people here have such kind intentions and have really made the experience enjoyable at all moments, even while lost in the city.
It is really interesting that a lot of the things I have read about in the guidebook are actually TRUE. For example, it says that children in rural areas will ask foreign people (Obrunies) for a pen because they know they will get that more likely than money. In the Volta Region, a child straight up asked me for a pen as I walked by the path! Also, people REALLY do just want to be your friend here, ALL the time. On the tro-tro, at school, on the street, at the store... everywhere, someone will help you or talk to you and then say, "I really want to be your friend," and then request your contact information or provide theirs. We really have made some true Ghanaian friends, from work and even some random encounters, but the legends of everyone requesting your information really are true. I usually say, "My cell phone does not work here."
Additionally, strangers are more than willing to go out of their way to provide directions on the streets. As there are rarely street names, it is difficult to give or receive directions. You just have to "go." If you ever ask, "Where is ______" a person on the street will never just point you in the right direction... they will make sure to walk you all the way to your destination, whether you want them to or not! The people here have such kind intentions and have really made the experience enjoyable at all moments, even while lost in the city.
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