First 9 days in Ghana

I forget how hard everything is here. It takes about 20 minutes just to check email. That is if the server is working. It can take 10 minutes just to decide that there will be no email today. And yes, it is hot. This is the rainy season so we have some cloudy times during the day and it feels like heaven. The sun is so intense when it shines. I have been trying to pace myself for the long time ahead. Everything moves so slowly here. But I am adjusting

We spent last week checking on projects. Almost everything is going very well. We have retained almost all of our teachers at CCPS. 32 children have graduated and finished taking the BECE test. 7 of our scholarship students are almost done taking their final exams and will graduate from High School. The new roof on Sound Foundation looks great.

I have decided to hire Evelyn, one of our new HS graduates to be my voice as the small children really can not understand me very well as I speak too fast and a different kind of English than they do. Rudolph and Otoo are going to tutor the students in the first year of HS as they are finding Math and Science hard. Evelyn, Rudolph and Otoo will also be having classes for the “leavers” (they are the 9th graders who have taken the test and have nothing to do until the results come in September. Yes, September! And of course the 7 students that have graduated HS will not know how they have done until October) ..

George and I spent a very nice weekend not doing much work. . It was a holiday Monday so we had most of the day off and we just lazed around the pool. We are also taking time looking at the birds. George’s Mom got him a West African Bird Book so we can finally know what kinds of birds they are. Makes me wish I had a life list of birds.

I am not sure how often I will post here. I may feel like I have more time when George goes home. We will see.

Getting ready to leave

I leave on Saturday and I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off. (Writing that makes me hope that I do not see a chicken with it's head cut off. Food is very fresh in Ghana.) Anyway I hope that I do not forget anything that I think that I will need. I am such a wimp. I believe I have purchased one of every over the counter remedy available. I hope that I will not need any of it.

Now to pack everything in two suitcases weighing no more than 50 pounds each. I wonder how much I can fit in a carry on that must fit under the seat in front of me.

If I have forgotten to say good bye to anyone, please forgive me. Remember I am old.

The next time I post I will be in Ghana.

Kathy

Introduction to Tomorrow's Stars

Tomorrow's Stars is an all volunteer organization that helps make education possible in Elmina, Ghana, West Africa. We started in 2003, and since that time we have funded the building of CCPS a private school in Elmina . We subsidize part of the teachers salaries as well as other needed school materials. We sponsor 21 children in Senior High School mostly at the local school, Edinaman. This year 7 of the Young People (as they are now) will be taking their final test before Graduation. We think a few may do well and may need help going to university.

For more information please vist our Web Site http://www.tstars.org/ or check out pictures at http://www.pbase.com/gkweir/galleries

To Make a Donation: Mail a check to Tomorrow's Stars, 241 LaRue Drive, Moon Twp, Pa 15108
or
on Paypal