Operation Ghana

The Crocodile

(Wow, I can’t believe I never posted this… as we are getting ready for our 2012 trip, I noticed this draft, hanging out unpublished- so here’s the wrap up from 2008 and some info about our trip in January 2012!)

I had purchased a large crocodile in Aburi earlier that day.  I brought it out and Curry and I reenacted our paddleboat adventure for everyone.  No it was not an Emmy worthy performance, it was sort of like girls camp, but we laughed hard.

Sneaking Past the Tail to the Boat

You Go First! Crocodile Reenactment

When Wooden Crocodiles Go Bad

Which reminds me, you haven’t seen the original crocodile and paddleboat footage.  There is no time like the present! (Drum Roll Please!) This footage should be called “Two Obrunis, A Crocodile and A Broken Paddle Boat”

Looking back, I am still so blown away that Curry and I ran past a crocodile, only to find ourselves in a broken paddleboat.  Who does that?  Oh, we do!!  The large crocodile carving will live in my living room, to remind me how good it feels to take chances… act crazy… and live.

and as for The Dress…

I have been home for quite some time now and am happy to share that just this week I got my Ghana Dress.  I wish you could see it up close, because it is fascinating how they made it.  Since there is no electricity, they use the “old school” pedal powered sewing machines.  The seamstress took all of my measurements and my fabric and voila!  A perfect fit.

Before

Perfect Fit

Love it!

It has this great inset panel in the back of the skirt, so I can actual walk while wearing it.  The zipper in the top is orange… It’s not like they had a wall of notions like a fabric store… Where did she find an orange zipper?  The rickrack around the neckline is dark blue. When I picked out the pattern, the picture had rickrack, I asked them what it would cost to include that and they said it was included in the cost already… remember it cost $6 to have it made. Deal! When I go back to Ghana I think I will have some more dresses made.  Though I am not sure where I would actually wear them here in the US. Maybe I will start a new trend.

Thanks for following our adventures! You can help support our 2012 trip back to Ghana by purchasing some of our limited edition pewter pins here:

Hopkins Pin and Rachel ILY Pin

Quantity

One of each pin $20.00 USD Two of each pin $40.00 USD Three of each pin $60.00 USD Four of each pin $80.00 USD Five of each pin $100.00 USD Six of each pin $120.00 USD

Wednesday May 14, 2008

Today we woke up and went to Aburi to the wood carvers shops.

Not that this has anything to do with anything But I think in general people are much more friendly when you are traveling with children.I have also noticed that I am much more relaxed and less concerned when I am not traveling with children.This trip has been a piece of cake emotionally compared to January.My stress level is almost non-existent.This makes sense when you consider how many areas I was concerned about for myself and for two children.Safety, health, food and nourishment, germs, hygiene, hydration, and medication are all areas that I can rattle off with out hardly thinking.

Yeah, so like I said we went to Aburi.It was fun taking Deb.It was also great to see Alfred.

He is now working on carving picture-scapes.Deb bought one.I visited the jewelry shop again. I bought the same necklace as the one I gave away to my mother-in-law and a few more!After buying all of the necklaces, the woman who was selling them gave me one more for free.I am glad she did, because it was one I hadn’t noticed and it is really cool.  She remembered me too!

I bought some bracelets and a few items to list on Ebay for the Signing Time Foundation, like a set of elephants!(Be sure to GoodShop for the Signing Time Foundation when you shop on Ebay!)  Deb bought a drum for her son, we will have to go back later tonight when it is finished being made to pick it up, yes, Special Order

The power outages are annoying!Sometimes the lights flicker a few seconds before they go out, which gives us time to grab flashlights and headlamps.This is good.It is NOT good when you are using the bathroom and the lights go out. That is probably the worst. When the power is out, like it has been since last night, the internet cafe is down too.Our cokes are warm and our ice cream pouches are like water, warm water.There is no way to cool down.

After Aburi we went to the orthopedic hospital.I brought some more Signing Time DVDs for Brenda and her staff.We sat down with her and discussed yesterday’s meeting. There were a few more great connections made for the future. Curry is associated with a group called Hirche Smiles who travels to third world countries to do cleft palate repairs and they are looking for a hospital in Ghana.Brenda said she would be happy to have that done in one of their three surgery theaters. We met the doctor too. Turns out he has a guest house that can be rented as well.

After that I went to a dress shop and brought in my 6 yards of fabulous fabric.There were poster size papers on the wall with countless possible dress patterns. It was so hot and humid.We were all dripping sweat. If you had a backpack on, you had a backpack shaped sweat mark on your shirt and waist. We were standing in this tiny wooden shack with the old fashioned, black metal sewing machines. I was so hot I could hardly think, let alone choose a dress style that I thought might work!I finally settled on a style for a top and skirt, handed them my fabric and then they took my measurements. It will cost $6 and it will be done in two days, which is Friday, and I will already have left. Amy said she would bring it to me in July when she completes her volunteer time here.

We stopped by Cynthia’s to let her know we did not want dinner tonight. She brings enough for an army and we only eat a tiny part of it. Last night Luke and Teddy came by and we gave it to them to eat. We bumped into them on the road and they both said they slept very well because they were so satisfied having eaten our food. Luke asked again if I would leave my honey bear.I said, “Yes.” Last night I made him a peanut butter and honey sandwich so he could see how we eat honey, rather than drink it He devoured the sandwich. Both Teddy and Luke plan to graduate from High School and come to The U.S. for college.

More on the Meeting May 13, 2008

(written May 14th)

When the meeting ended everyone walked across the street to the restaurant where we had put in our food order. SOHI was picking up the tab since they called the meeting

This is the first time I have had anything more than a soda at a restaurant. They sat us based on what we had ordered. The “chicken and rice table” had the fewest Ghanaians, since it was the safest and most recognizable food. First they brought buckets of cold soda bottles with extra long straws. Then the food came out. Ghanaians like spicy food. Conversations continued as we ate, the mood was happy and positive. The meeting was a success. There was a radio station playing loudly at the outdoor restaurant and even though we heard little recognizable music during our previous visit, a familiar song started playing and it seemed a perfect fit. John Mayer, singing “Say.” It was so surreal hearing John singing that song while I sat in the midst of so many different people from so many different nations having lunch in Ghana, Africa after discussing the best possible future for deaf Ghanaian children.

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Today, Curry and Heidi from Signs of Hope International left for Ghana. 3 down 4 to go! Last night I called Curry about some last minute things. He has been there many times and it was at his invitation and the invitation of the schools that we are fortunate enough to be part of this amazing experience! I was asking him about packing swimsuits and rain gear.  Yes talk about two ends of a spectrum. The packing list we received from SOHI mentioned both. He said there is not a body of water that he would recommend getting into. As far as rain, he said, WHEN it rains it is still 90 degrees so jackets aren’t necessary. I told him that I had been looking up different travel sites that talked about Ghana and I saw some pictures of very large lizards. He laughed and said on one of his past trips a lizard gave birth on their front door and there were baby lizards everywhere! Then he said “Do you like spiders?” He actually sounded serious. I hardly dared to ask him, “Why?”
“There are spiders as big as your fist. They come out every night, the same spiders. You start recognizing them and naming them after a couple of nights. And you’ll wonder hmmm, where is that one?” I could hardly answer. I think I managed a very weak, “Oh good!”

Leah’s skirts arrived yesterday and then I found a great skirt in her closet… yeah, I didn’t think to look there. Luckily Old Navy is having a huge sale. 50% off the sale price! This trip brought to you by Old Navy, Ziplocks and Ebay Actually this trip is brought to you by real live Signing Time fans!! Every time I see that the Chip In meter has another contributor, I am so touched by YOUR generosity!

I only posted the Chip In donation meters 2 weeks ago and so far 51 people have donated raising more than $2,145. We have hit the 50% mark of the final leg! You can visit the Chip In page and see the messages some have left. You have kept me busy sending out “Thank you!” messages to each of our Signing Time friends. And I mean it “Thank you!”

If you were one of the many who almost Chipped In over the past few weeks… maybe you clicked but got distracted, or planned to do it later, there is no time like the present. Chip In now and I might even name a fist sized spider after you!!!

Support the Signing Time Team
Going to Ghana
with your Donation today!

We have an incredible adventure coming up! The Signing Time Foundation has partnered with Signs of Hope International to bring Signing Time to Ghana Africa.

The Signing Time Team will include Leah, Alex, Rachel (me), Aaron (my husband), Derek (Alex’s Dad) and Robi (Alex and Leah’s uncle). On January 21st we will head to Ghana Africa to teach deaf children and to teach their teachers for 10 days

Why Ghana?
Ghana is the size of Oregon. They have 13 schools for the deaf. Deaf children start school at the age of 5. Many are dropped off for their 3 month semester and their families never come back to pick them up. A week after the semester ends, an orphanage bus comes to get the children who have been left.

Many of the families cannot afford the tuition $83 per semester. Many families are embarrassed that their child is deaf.

The teachers have no background in Deaf Ed. They finish college and are assigned to teach at a school. Most teachers are unhappy to find they are assigned to a deaf school. They do not know the language and have no proof that these deaf children CAN be taught.

I learned about a student, Silvia that goes to a special school for the deaf in Mampong, Ghana. Apparently, Silvia was born hearing and attended the hearing schools until she was devastated by a sickness that left her deaf. A few short years later another sickness caused her to lose her sight and become blind. Now without hearing and vision Silvia struggles to learn and progress and wants so much to be in a classroom where she can learn. I feel that Silvia deserves an opportunity to become what she hopes for!

Organizations like Signs of Hope International have found that most teachers are entering the deaf schools without proper sign language education. Because of the lack of suitable resources, deaf children are struggling to learn and progress using sign language to enhance their education.

In Ghana deaf children have extremely limited rights and opportunities compared to deaf children in the United States. Like Silvia, any students at the schools for the deaf in Ghana struggle to receive an education, and it was not too long ago that some headmasters at the high school for the deaf have finally allowed girls to attend too.

When Leah heard this, she was distraught. Her eyes were full of tears and she said, “Mom!! We have to do something!! I’m deaf and I’m a girl and if I was born in Ghana I wouldn’t have a chance!”

Leah’s Wish

While filming the last Signing Time shows we interviewed Leah and I asked her what she wants to be when she grows up. She said, “I want to be a writer and make books or a teacher for the deaf African kids that don’t know sign yet. At these schools the teachers don’t know anything about the deaf and ASL.”

Well, Leah will not have to wait until she has grown up. We have partnered with Signs Of Hope International – they have created internships for Americans who know ASL to go teach the teachers. They also have a teacher incentive program, to encourage the teachers to show up to class and to learn ASL. We are looking to make this a yearly trip, where we can go inspire, teach and show these children the possibilities for their futures. It is our goal that on our future trips we will not only teach and inspire, but we will be building playgrounds and dormitories at these schools as well.

Support the Signing Time Team
Going to Ghana
with your Donation today!

Everyone Wants To Make A Difference

You can become a member of our team by making a donation to support our efforts. You will see the pictures and watch the videos taken in Ghana and be able to say -”I am a part of that! I helped make that happen!” You can donate any amount via PayPal right now or send a check to:

The Signing Time Foundation
8760 E 7145 S
Midvale UT 84047

The Signing Time Foundation is a 501c3 Non-profit Organization. Your donations are tax deductible.