week 1: preservice training in Anyinasin, Ghana

I have just completed the end of my first two weeks in Ghana.  With no internet and a very particular phone that the peace corps sold me, or rather brought some vendor. We are required to own one so that they can contact us and visa versa.  Our first week was at a dormitory at Valley View University.  Where they tried to prepare us for homestay pre-service training.  We practice Ghanaian Twe, Visited with the US Ambassador and our Peace Corps Country Director; got to know each other (there are twenty five education volunteers in our group); and shopped in Accra.  While there we also learned how to take bucket baths and do our laundry.

Angel, me and Bob, Trainees near construction at Valley View University, Accra, Ghana

On Monday (6/10) they bussed us to our homestay families where I stay in a nice room with a family.  Each volunteer has his or her own family and we are one of their children while we are here.  The kids look out for us and the mama feeds us and makes sure we are cared for.  We greet everyone we meet on the way to our classes which are held either in a large Presbyterian church or a large Methodist church.  Each day is full with instruction and we have each presented two short lessons one to  other Peace Corps volunteers and one two an actual Ghanaian Junior high school class.  Next week we will begin Practicum teaching where for one week I will teach some regular 70 minute math classes while my partner teaches science.  Then for a week I will teach science.  All under the direction of working Ghanaian teachers and four working volunteers who have come in from their assignments to instruct us.

My homestay sister, Amma, in front of the house
where i will stay for the next few weeks of training

So far I have taken a bucket bath every night, but my sister has kindly offered to do my laundry (yea!)  Last night my homestay father, Atoko asked me if I liked warm or cold bucket baths.  I said cold was okay, but I would prefer it to be a little warmer, so he sent my sister (Amma) to put some hot water into my bucket.  Oh!  If I had only known!   It was wonderful.   I miss everyone a lot, especially since I have not had the chance to e-mail anyone.  But I am very busy with language and teaching practice and trying hard to do a good job for this part of my training.