No more issues with insects

That is to say I no longer fear or loathe them. We’re just roommates. Here’s a pictures of my roommates hanging around the house:

Christmas and New Year’s in Roma

A much needed escape from an increasingly overwhelming experiment in cultural immersion resulted in a spur of the moment trip to Rome, Italy to meet both my Mother and bestie, Bekka. To sum the experience up in a few words: cold, delicious, and brief.

It was just a mere 10 day excursion and despite my mother’s best efforts to ensure we saw everything Roma had to offer, I did lack the relaxing people watching time that Rome is famous for. Keep in mind it was probably 40 degrees Farenheit and after living for 18 months in daily 80-90 degree weather, I was hardly down to sit in an outside café to watch people while freezing my ass off.

I’m better with pictures than words so here are a few of my favorites:

New Bike

It’s sweet and fast. It's a Schwinn.

Thank you Dan Fowler.

16th National Best Teacher Awards

I was selected by my colleagues at Peace Corps Ghana to be the recieve the Foreign Volunteer award at the 16th National Best Teacher Award Ceremony. Upon learning of the nomination I was astounded. I was not entirely sure of what the award entailed and I was even more skeptical when I was informed that I needed to report to Koforidua in the Eastern Region 3 full days before the awards ceremony was scheduled to begin.

I truly had no idea what to expect. I packed light, making sure to bring one nice outfit and several books to kill any down time which would arise. I was pretty much ready for anything but could have never guessed what a lovely time lay before me.

I reported to the Ministry of Education in Koforidua on Saturday afternoon and was promptly greeted by name. I was put in a car and driven to quite possibly the nicest most luxuriant hotel in all of Koforidua. The Capital View hotel was truly a sight to behold- a pool, tennis courts, a fitness room, free computer and internet use, lovely restaurant from which my meals would be served, room service, DSTV, air conditioning! You name it- this place had it.

The details of the weekend began to unfold as I was shuffled to a conference room where the Deputy Minister of the Eastern Region warmly welcomed all of the Best Teacher Awardees to his Region. After his welcome we supped on delicious catering and were informed that the next morning we would need to wake up very early to be taken to the Akosombo Damn for a Volta River Cruise!

Outfitted in our matching shirts and hats the Best Teacher Awardees started the journey early in the morning from Koforidua to the Volta Region.

The Cruise was amazing! It started at the Akosombo Dam and went north on Lake Volta to a small island called Dodi Island. The cruise last approximately 5 hours which seemed to pass too quickly. As we cruised a live band played, and fresh tilapia right from the lake were grilled to order for lunch.

I had to opportunity to chat with some of the other teachers and made some good friends of the National Service Volunteers who were being recognized for their exceptional service as part of the awards scheme.

After the cruise on the way back to Koforidua they program organizers closed the Akosombo Bridge down so we could have to opportunity to walk across it and take some great pictures. I couldn't believe I had the chance to walk across the most impressive bridge in Ghana without dodging cars and tro-tros. It was a once in a lifetime chance.

Akosombo Dam

Akosombo Bridge

Me on the Akosombo Bridge

We returned to the hotel to learn that the following morning we would be traveling to Accra to meet the Vice President of Ghana at Seat of Government in Osu Castle! Sure enough, I got to shake hands with the VP and even get a picture with him which was featured in the Daily Graphic the next day. We were not allowed to bring cameras into Osu Castle so I don't have any photos of that day to share. Sorry-o.

The next morning would be the award ceremony. I learnt from my APCD Mary, that she, Joe Bee, the Country Director, and additionally Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams would all be attending the event. Director Williams made some brief remarks at the ceremony along with the Vice President of Ghana and many other Honored Guests. The ceremony couldn't have happened at a better time. With Peace Corps Ghana's 50th Anniversary just around the corner it was nice to see everyone excitedly lauding the hardwork of many of our important and motivated counterparts. I am truly grateful that I was able to attend.

Here are a few photos from the ceremony:

Director Aaron Williams, Me, and Country Director Mike Koffman

Vice President of Ghana

GTV Camera Guy

Joe Bee, Me, nd Mary

The various items included in the Awards Package: Native Carvings, Artifacts, Certificate, and Citation

Following the awards ceremony we were invited to a VIP reception at the Eastern Regional Minister's residence. It was a very swanky Gala.

There was a lovely band comprised of Fire Fighters from the Region and of course food and drinks were served. We drank wine from bottles (a luxury I'd forgotten was so luxurious with all this cheap box wine around), ate delicious food and danced the night away. A wonderful ending to a most surprisingly wonderful weekend.

Puppy Time

It must be puppy season in the King family because in addition to my parents getting two new additions to their household, Alex's dog, Isla, had another litter so naturally it seemed like a great time for me to ask for a new best friend. I asked Alex to do extensive interviews with the 5 canidates and to select the right puppy for me. Just a few days short of 6 weeks later, my request was honored.

Ladies and Gentleman, may I introduce to you- Bella.

Swearing In!

Congratulations to all the newly sworn in volunteers!

Kathi and Joel in Ghana

The moment I've been waiting for a good 8 months- the arrival of my mother and father! I have a month-long itinerary to keep them busy, exhausted and totally overwhelmed with Ghana. Due to the fact that I have been increasingly less able to identify Blog worthy opportunities- I've asked my Mom and Dad to take pictures and post Blog entries. I would like them to recount their journey to share with everybody.

A few lovely pictures during our time are posted below and accounts of their adventures should soon follow:

Environment Technical Training

The more time I spend in Ghana the more I respect the limited scope of my knowledge. I've realized that the moments I am most actively helping my community and they actively helping me actually happens when I play the role of the student. In the classroom I've implemented such programs as “Fante Friday” where I give students the opportunity to teach me about their culture, language, and interests. So often here the role of “Teacher” is so rigidly absolute. It is a loaded title that just compliments the, at times, detrimental oligarchical Ghana society. For example, for a teacher to admit they perhaps do not know the answer to a student's question would be far worse, culturally speaking, than to supply the student with blatant misinformation. The concept of lifelong mutual learning is absent and as a result students that have the potential to be motivated in their studies by challenging their educators and in exchange being challenged remain bruised and beaten in aspiring for futures outside the limited scope of reality presented to them.


I like to take a different approach, constantly reminding students (and fellow teachers) that as Phil Collins so eloquently says in his hit Something Happened on the Way to Heaven, “I don't know. I don't have all the answers.” I mean who does really? In an effort to level the playing field and potentially start some lucrative projects with school clubs and such- I decided to (on my own dime- thanks for supporting your eager-to-learn-new-practical-skills-volunteers Peace Corps) attend the Environment Technical Training in Techiman. The training included a whole bevy of information that I think all Education PCVs in Ghana should be presented with. The week was packed with hands-on activities for several popular alternative livelihood projects. We learned about mushroom farming, bee keeping, rabbit farming, grasscutter farming, animal rearing, mango farming, cashew harvesting, and many small agro-processing practices. I am hoping to work with a few teachers in my school to implement a few of these projects to help the school generate income for facility maintenance. In addition to some sweet instructional workshops the training also took us to the Tano Sacred Grove (the source of the Tano river), a Monkey Sanctuary, as well as the Kristo Buase Monastery. It was a magical week of learning and relaxation that was much needed after such an intense month of being a trainer. Here are a few photos from the training:

Monkeys love juice boxes

Mushroom Harvesting and tasting