Operation Ghana

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.

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!!!

Robi left for Africa today. Curry and Heidi leave tomorrow. They are all going in advance to have meetings and take care of some of the business aspects and formalities so that we can hit the ground running when we arrive.

I asked Curry, how we are going to get from the airport to Mampong, a one and a half hour drive. He said he will be picking us up in the Deaf School’s bus, if it is running. Why am I having flashbacks of “The God’s Must Be Crazy?” I can’t imagine it will be hard to spot us at the airport. Just look for a group of 5 sun-deprived Utahns… very pale:) It helps that Aaron is 6′ 5″ and sun-deprived. When we lived in CA and Leah was 2 years-old, I was always amazed that people would stop us in the store and say “Wow! Your daughter is SO WHITE! I have NEVER seen a child so WHITE!” I am not kidding, it was like a running joke. I don’t think you could get away making that comment about any color other than white though and I don’t suggest trying.

The flight from JFK to Accra is about 12 hours. I would love some suggestions of things to keep Alex and Leah interested and happy for 12 hours. I think our ipods last about 3 hours each. My laptop (if I bring it) will last close to 3 hours, ooh 3 hours of backgammon;). I know there will be movies, sleep, food and snacks… but 12 hours in the air? I picked up the 3rd Traveling Pants book for Leah as a surprise… she will devour it in an hour or two. I should have picked up the 4th as well… there is still time.

Yesterday Aaron and Leah completed their shots! Today I am ordering 15 family pictures at Costco. I am making copies of our passports. (You keep the copy on you at all times, rather than keeping the real thing – except for when you are at the airport, you better have the real thing). I will pick up 400 Signing Time temporary tattoos for the school kids. Doing wash and then spraying our clothes with insect repellant. Do you think I should spray then pack or pack then spray when we arrive in Ghana? I just don’t know.

Two weeks from today we are going to be on the plane! I have been stressing out because I have been sick since the week before Christmas. It’s been one thing after another.

Aaron, Derek, Alex and Leah all started their typhoid medication last night. I didn’t start because I am going to see the doctor today and see if I need an antibiotic for what ever it is I already have. I can’t take the typhoid meds and be on an antibiotic at the same time. PLUS we start our malaria medication the day we leave. Can I effectively manage all of this??? Yes, I can:-)

(Oh, if you are not seeing any donations on Chipin, you just need to empty your cache. Keep on Chipping In!)

In case you haven’t heard, we are going to Ghana . Take a look a the count down to our flight on the right hand side of my blog. With your help, we have raised over $12,000. We are still $4,400 away from our fundraising goal.

We sent in our Visa applications two days ago. Aaron had accidentally run his passport through the washing machine a month or so ago, but his replacement came just in time. Aaron, Leah and I went to Rite-Aid to have our Visa photos taken. It took 45 minutes! When I went in and said we needed passport photos, the woman look frightened. I said, “Is there a problem?” She said, “No, not really we just don’t do them very often.” I guess that was evident when she called for some of the stock boys to come move a large display that was blocking the white screen where the pictures are shot. (Are you kidding me?) The man who took the pictures did not seem to know how to use the zoom, so he took the pictures at about 8 inches from our faces. Note to self: Next time go the post office.

Leah was able to meet with Curry from Signs of Hope International and ask questions. Her first question was about the machete men. (Are you surprised?) He explained that these men are working in the field and yes their machetes are just about as long as Leah is tall. Curry told her that she will get to cut grass with machetes when we want to play soccer with the kids. Yes they cut the entire field with knives before they play. (And I hardly let her slice a tomato!)

We also talked about what we should bring to eat and drink. We are each to pack 2 suitcases and split our clothes and food between 2. That way if one suitcase gets lost, we still have half our clothes and food. While we are there we will have dinner catered each day. This is supposed to consist of bread, beans, rice and always a hard-boiled egg. That’s what they said to count on.

So we need to bring or buy food to eat for breakfast and lunch. Things to bring: beef jerky, pouches of tuna fish, jars of peanut butter, granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, fruit snacks, pop-tarts, packaged cheese and crackers. Basically, anything that still tastes good even if it gets smashed.

Do not bring chocolate. It melts all over everything. Do not bring packaged chips, they gets smashed and explode all over your belongings. Do not bring candy that has a lot of wrappers. Trash is an issue and you need to plan on being responsible for all of your trash.

Oh yeah bring lots of ziplock bags and your own toilet paper!

Looks like a meal fit for a king!!