Moving Forward One Day At A Time

January 18, 2012

So this past week and some has been quite a ride. I am coming to understand that each day is a force to be reckoned with and the only way to handle it is to take one day at a time. The end of last week had me kinda in an odd place, I haven’t done much of anything the whole week and felt bad about it. That Friday I met up with my supervisor and had a little chat. We discussed what my role is supposed to be with the NGO and the community but of course its still a lot-a-bit hazy. You see the NGO is putting up a training facility about a kilometer down the road and there is a lot to be done with designing the animal pens and how the office is going to run, so they day I will be very busy…soon.  But right now sitting at home or going to the field just to watch chicken coops be built really isn’t my style so I wanted to see what I could be doing right now.  It turns out that its not much. My counterpart is extremely busy with the farmers and moving his family from his village to Nkurakan where he is in the process of building not to mention taking care of his farm with over 300 chickens and sending his children off to school for another term (side note he’s also a church leader in his village so he goes back every weekend).  It tires me out just thinking about all he does. Back to me, I needed something to do, anything, even busy work just to make me feel like I’m contributing something.

So the plan was to go to the beads office on Monday. I liked this idea, I had wanted to get over to the beads ladies for a while now but it didn’t seem right going without Rachel who’s finger and stomach have been really hurting her lately. She is now doing better and is coming to work so I headed over there to find something to do. The last PCV they had worked there so I figured they could at least find me something to do for a little bit. I was new to the office so it was like stepping into a whirlwind of beads. I met the ladies stringing the beads and got a little tour of the building which is basically three rooms and a bathroom. Then I was set to work I got the mindless task of winding the bracelets and putting tags on. There is an order to be sent out soon so they are trying to finish up but ran out of plastic bags (something I never thought I would say) which is holding up production for the time being, that and Rachels hurt finger.  I have a lot to learn about how the office is run and how I can help in little ways to improve it.

I went out to the field to check on the farmers for the next few days which was actually semi-productive except that one of the communities was not ready for us which was disappointing.  I have to be very careful on days I go to the field. Ghanaians or at least the ones I work with do not eat lunch or snack really they just have a huge breakfast and wait to eat until 3 or so. That’s not how I work. So I have started to learn from my mistakes and take snacks with me. This helps my blood sugar levels and my attitude for the most part but I still have to be conscious of how I am acting. It’s hard to pay attention and even just act like you know what’s going on (Im becoming a very good actress).  The second day I had the task of taking pictures of coops and a meeting in one of the communities which kept me more engaged but sometimes the heat and just sitting really gets to me and I totally space out.  I think the best thing for me is to just keep going out there and pack more snacks.

So one day at a time I am slowly figuring out my place here in Nkurakan. It is going to be a complex mix of farmers, animals, beads, kids, and me trying to be me. Things are getting easier. Kids are learning my name. I’m trying more foods. I’m still excited to be here. 

Live in Love