Weeks 12 and 13

I only have six weeks left. How is that even possible? It seems like just yesterday I was jumping up and down with my roommate after finding out I’d received the Lumos Award that got me here. I’ve come a long way since that day. I’ve had my entire world flip upside down in front of me without having any control of any of it. This country has rocked my whole world. These people have changed my life. I can’t count individual days anymore. I haven’t gotten to journal as much as I usually do. Truthfully, I’ve just gotten so caught up in everything here, I’ve kind of just shut everything else out. It’s become a horrid habit, and reverse culture shock is going to hit hard.

Here’s some updates on the past two weeks though:

Exams finished this past Monday. They lasted two weeks, and while they were testing, Chrissy and I supervised (or essentially did nothing). Quite entertaining.

This past weekend (December 7-8), a group of the volunteers and I traveled to Green Turtle Lodge, which is a cute little beach resort a little farther west of us. It was a nice little get away before vacation, but my friend Farida and I only stayed for one night instead of two cause I was missing all the students too much!

Elections took place in Ghana last Friday, December 7th. John Mahama, the NDC (National Democratic Congress) candidate was announced as President on Sunday evening. For the past three months, Ghana has been covered in posters and there has been multiple parades and trucks driving by, blasting their party’s music from the car. It’s a very big deal to this country. Very big. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if I vote back home, who I voted for in America and even who I was going to vote for in Ghana… I never quite understood why the last question was ever asked, but I guess it was fair of them to ask!

The term ‘Papa’ means a lot. So if someone says ‘I miss you papa,’ they miss you very much.

People like to call each other everyday here. If you are very close with someone, and you don’t talk to them at least once a day, something’s gone horribly wrong.

Sticking to all of the school rules has definitely still been a challenge. These students have become like family to me, and I’ve put myself in some extremely sticky situations because I’m staff, and I have to remind them that I’m their teacher. I look forward to the day I can come back to Ghana and just be their friend. I really, truly do. Until then, I’m on my best behavior, I swurrrrr Chrissy!

Chrissy is the coolest roommate EVER. I’ve yet to mention how awesome she is. No, this is not her writing this. It is I, Aly Meisterling, and I’d just like to say I LOVE CHRISSY DOCHERTY, my sweet little Scottish gal! She’s blunt and tells me when I’m being an idiot. We don’t always see eye to eye…in fact, we rarely see eye to eye. She’s the good one, and I’m apparently always bad! She’s my mommy when I’m being a big baby. She takes very good care of me, even though I secretly think she normally can’t stand me. But God grant her patience, courage and tolerance, and I am forever grateful for that. Amen.

I have a pretty amazing life. It’s not perfect. I make mistakes everyday. But I don’t believe in a life of regrets. I put my heart and soul into everything I do and every person I know, and that is who I will always be.

To everyone back home, I love you more than you’ll ever know. You have supported me and shaped me into the woman I am today, and I will be forever grateful for each and every one of you.

I’m sorry this blog isn’t longer. I promise I’ll have more to say over vacation.

For now, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each and every one of you. God Bless you all. x