Dear Family and Friends,

The weather here is still very hot—as we expected it to be.  The wonderful part is that we have had both piped water and electricity all week!!!  Harry takes a shower twice a day just because he can—Joan saves the water and only takes the shower once.

Wednesday was another good day at school—still a little frustrating about the government book situation.  Because we have so many resource books that we have sent over, both of us and Veronica are able to compensate for our lessons.

This week many of the Primary teachers attended a teacher workshop to help them teach English better.  As a result many of the other teachers were covering their classes.  We have heard from the Primary Headmaster that it has been very worthwhile because they are breaking away from rote learning.  He said that it is difficult for the teachers to make the change.

Wednesday evening we went to Mamphe in the evening with Veronica to Mama's Cafe.  The Project Abroad Volunteers have a weekly meeting and then come to the bar afterward.  We have not seen that many obronis together in one spot ever in Ghana.  There were about 20 volunteers.  Most were in their 20's with a few older.  One man from the Netherlands had been a volunteer who had helped to build an orphanage.  He is in his 40's and recovering from a divorce—what better place to come and find out that there are a lot of problems in the world.

Anyway, he has returned for two weeks to help both finance and construct the project.  Tomorrow we plan to go there to attend a meeting he is having with local chiefs and elders of the surrounding villages for a "Durbar" (sp?).  The elders and chiefs will decide on a commitment to the project.  The village is about a half hour from here in a very rural area.

He was very interesting.  We also met another man who is 50 from the Netherlands who is returning home next week after being in Ghana for three months.  He has been working with computers and helping teachers to learn how to use them.  His problem has been that he has also been in a very rural area where they did have electricity but only two computers.  He works for a bank and he used his vacation time and the bank gave him an extra month with pay to continue his work.

Veronica had a chance to meet several of the younger volunteers and hopefully will be able to make plans to travel some with them.

One of the Irish male volunteers had a guitar and a female volunteer had a fiddle.  They played some great Irish music.  The cafe served beer (Star beer) and soda.  A trip down memory lane for our Peace Corps friends.  Many Ghanaians were standing around watching and laughing—we had a great time.

We returned home by taxi about 10 pm which is late for us but not for the young set.  Some were just getting started, but we had eight classes the next day.

Thursday is our busiest day.  We both have double periods of both Form 1 and 2.  It is very long the saving grace is that we usually do have a breeze going through the classroom.

We have met many of the students who are receiving scholarships from "Friends".  Several are in our classes.  One boy has been out ill all week.  That is a real problem because he will have to make up much work.  We have discovered that some lack reading skills so we will work on that during lunch or break time.  It is a puzzle how they pass the kids through—does this happen in other countries—hmmmmm!

On our way home from school we were given a big bag of oranges as a greeting gift from a lady who attempted to teach us "Twi" two years ago.  She was very happy to see us.  In the evening we were greeted by the tailor, Enoch, who has made clothes for us in the past.

The teachers appear to be more educated this time.  They have more credentials now—they have post senior secondary schooling. Some are there because it is National Service—much like our Teacher Corps.

Friday is a lighter day for us.  Joan teaches one double period in the morning and Harry teaches a single period in the afternoon.  Friday is to be Africa Day with African dress.  However, the obronis and Vera were the only ones dressed that way yesterday.

The afternoon was practice marching (phys. ed) for Independence Day—March 6.  Many of the students were wearing their "sports outfits" which have our names on the back.

We stopped at the internet and read our mail but decided to wait to write our letter.  Thanks for keeping us updated on the news.

This afternoon we will visit William Lartey the former administrator of Akuffo Tom.  He has retired but stays in contact with the school and us.  Tonight we are meeting with a computer person who is coming to the house.  He teaches IT at Okuapiman Senior Seconday School.  He lived in the UK for a year and has taken Ghanaians, including Vera, to the UK to observe a Primary School.  Akuffo Tom is in a pilot project with this teacher—so—we are hoping to make a connection here.  We are excited.

Hopefully, with the information that Ross sent us and his input we will get our laptop into use here—especially the one that the Gottlieb's contributed.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers—Joan has discovered big spiders here!

Love and Prayers,
Joan and Harry