March 16, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Finally!  Harry says this is our last update—but you all know him better than that.  His laptop addiction is comparable to the photo addiction!  Life is never dull.  We are writing this on Monday evening at home and will send it tomorrow morning when we go to the internet to check in with British Air and choose our seats.  The internet opens at 8 a.m. and our flight is not until after 11 p.m.   We are going to be using the school van to take us to the airport.  The van will take the students home as usual and then come to transport us.  We plan to depart from here by    6 p.m. which will give us plenty of time.  Check in closes about 9:30 which seem strange when it is two hour early.  However, there is a British Air flight arriving about that time and it unloads, loads, and turns around for London.  The same staff is most likely responsible for both flights.

Yesterday we called some of the people we have met—Meri Jaine (the woman with the beautiful house), Dorothy and Kathryn (two Peace Corps Volunteers) to say goodbye.  We had hoped to see them again before we left but that is not possible.

During the day Vera presented us with matching Obama material outfits.  Harry has a shirt and Joan has a dress.  These were from her mother, Victoria who has come to the US to visit two nieces in Queens.  One of the nieces is expecting twins in April so Victoria will be coming again.  We plan to pick her up and show her some of New York City during her stay.  We will wear the outfits on Monday the 29^th when we go to Guilderland High School for their annual Culture Fair.  She also had a dress made for our granddaughter, Michelle. 

This morning a mother came to school to give us a gift.  She gave Harry two shirts and Joan a dress which matches one of his shirts.  We had paid for her daughter to have her eyes checked and for the glasses.

We gave the students in the JSS some pencils, pens and erasers as little gifts—they were thrilled. Harry brought the laptop down and showed them pictures of the trip to the castles.  We had purchased a DVD of the Elmina Castle for the school—somewhere there is someone who has a DVD player with a TV, and Mr. Boafo, the proprietor, has a generator.

While Joan was teaching reading to Clinton today, one of the other students came over and asked, “Madame, who will teach this to Clinton when you are gone?”  Abdul was the student and he is on one of our scholarships—a very sweet boy with art talent.  She told him she wasn’t sure—maybe he, Abdul, would help him.  It was a real tear jerker moment.  Clinton is a very quiet boy and listens well—just can’t read or write well.  His progress has brought him to beginning first grade.  Joan gave him the first grade reader to keep, with his name in it and a parting note.  He was pretty sad and grateful.   

Today the school had a small ceremony for us at lunch time.  The teachers met in the faculty room and they presented each of us with certificates of appreciation for our teaching and for what “Friends of Akuffo Tom” have done for the school.  At the end of the day they had us speak to the students while they were lined up for dismissal.  A faculty member and a student thanked us again.

Harry turned his grades over to the teacher he replaced.  Joan is working on them as we speak!  She has one class tomorrow and plans to be there for it.  Harry does not teach on Tuesday.  We’ll not stay after Joan’s class.

We are pretty well packed.  We had hoped to leave in two bags but we will have three.  Weight is our problem—not the room in the bags.

Some people have e-mailed and inquired about helping the school and Friends of Akuffo Tom School.

“Friends” is a 501(c)3 Public Charity and donations are tax deductable.  We are matched by GE and some other corporations.

If you wish to make a donation to continue the support to the school, checks may be mailed to:  Friends of Akuffo Tom School, 23 Jennifer Road, Glenville, NY 12302.  A letter of receipt will be sent to you after we return next week.

Thank you for your support in the past and your e-mails and prayers while we have been here in Ghana.  We have had a wonderful experience and look forward to sharing it with you soon.