This is a newsletter I typed up in May and is currently posted on the PC(USA) website (you can find the link on my page...above...to the right). I wasn't sure if you all knew that it was there so I thought you'd like to see it :)
Hello Friends!
I have broken into a new world. I came from a Ghanaian school within a Ghanaian community, where I seldom saw a light-colored face. When I switched to my second placement for the year, I went through a bit of a culture shock. I am now living on the other side of Accra, where I am teaching at an American International School. We have about 100 students that attend this pre-K through twelfth-grade facility. Including the staff and teachers, we represent over 20 different countries! I am living with four other ladies that are in their twenties and are from various parts of the United States. The environment in which I am living might be completely different from where I started, but it is just as enriching as the first.
My daily teaching schedule goes something like the following: From 8:00 to 11:15 I am working with a 16-year-old-student who has autism; from 12:00-12:45 I teach an eighth-grade Spanish class, and after lunch from 1:25-2:10 I teach a seventh-grade American history class.
In the beginning, working with my student in the morning was a very large challenge. I have had little to no experience with children with autism, so it was a jump in and swim type of experience. However, after a few months on the job, I’m swimming laps! I have received suggestions and help from all over the world, while I was also doing as much of my own research as possible on the subject. It was amazing to see how God answered my prayers for help immediately and with gusto! I feel very comfortable with the progress my student, his family, and I are making together. He and I have developed a relaxed atmosphere that really seems to suit him. I now recognize when he is about to be stretched too far and also when I can continue to challenge him. His mother and I are corresponding daily in a notebook that he brings home every night, which really helps to inform each of us with how he is progressing either in the home or at school. Suggestions are made from both sides and seriously considered by both parties.
My other two classes are going very well. Each of my students finds a way to make me laugh at some point during the day. I am so grateful that I have been blessed with them to start off my teaching career. They challenge me, but also accept my mistakes when I make them.
Every other Tuesday at our house, three of us, girls, participate in what we call “Kids Club.” For approximately an hour, we invite into our compound about 30 children from the neighborhood who are 11 years old or younger. We invite them to listen to a story from our big book of Bible stories, sing songs together, and play a few fun games. After a full day of kids at school, it is sometimes difficult to come up with the energy for 30 eager and excited Ghanaian children. However, when we have spent the hour listening to laughter, then watch as they walk away with a bag of pure water, a cookie in their hands, and a huge smile on their face, we realize the temporary fatigue was all worth it.
So, my switch in placements has been big, but it is a positive change and I have recently signed a contract to stay on for two more years at this American International School. God brought me into this situation for a reason, and I take comfort knowing that He is in control of what will become of my future.
I try to update my personal blog at least once a month, so please feel free to visit it at himandmeg.blogspot.com. Thank you for your interest in my discipleship!
In Him,
Meg
17 June 2008
Racing to the Finish
Hi everyone! I apologize for my long extended stay away, I am going to do my best to catch you up on all of those previous and exciting activities!
Well, those last two weeks of school truly flew by!
First, there was the formal high school banquet, which turned out to be this fanTABULAR event. It took a LOT of planning on the part of the PTO and the student committee, but in the end it was well worth it...I know, cuz I was there! It was awesome! I was asked to chaperon the event with 4 other fellow teachers. There were appetizers, games, music, pictures, dinner, dessert, and at the last minute a TINY bit of line dancing. The girls were all gorgeous with their 'hairs did' and beautiful dresses; while the guys also looked very handsome. It was quite a change from the everyday red, yellow, and green AIS polos we're used to seeing them dressed in. Both of the Hallead boys attended the bash, so I had to get a family shot!
Carol got a SLAMMIN' deal on that dress as well ($3.00-Not lying! She rocks.)
Next came the fashion show fundraiser! A few of our high school girls were able to help out by modeling in a fashion show to raise money for a foundation that provides heart surgery for children whose families cannot afford it. They looked fabulous in designs by a mother of two of our students here at AIS. Children at the local orphanage down the street also did a little modeling, swaggering their hips and posing for the cameras. Near the end of the show, they also performed a few dance numbers:
It turned out to be QUITE a night and over $20,000 were raised!!
After the fashion show my mind sort of went on auto-pilot as my fellow teachers and I struggled and stressed in order to get those end of the year things in order. In all honestly I had about a week in there were I felt like I was being dragged behind a motor boat. One hand on the rope and the rest of me face-down, smacking the water, being pulled at full speed. However, as all things do, it passed. Then came some more fun stuff! My roommates all left me, while I don't judge them for going back to see their families as soon as they were able, I DO judge them for leaving all their chocolate behind for only ME to finish. The things I have to deal with...
Anyway, since they left, I've been spending quite a bit of time outside the 6 bedroom 'palace'...
First was a night at the Callis' (a couple who also teach in the high school at AIS). What I thought might have been a quiet dinner and movie with a few friends, turned into tons of people, barely enough food, cookie-decorating contest, hilarious movie night, with MORE FUN than we could handle!!! Obviously...
Haha, after THAT awesome evening I took a trip back to Kaneshie to visit Grandma, Grandpa, Amakye, and my old school! The visit at home was wonderful. I can't remember if I've told you all before but Grace has moved on to begin studying to be a seamstress like her older sister. Now there was a new cook, who didn't speak hardly any English, but I loved her laughter. I was able to share in quite a few conversations full of advice from both Grandma and Grandpa as I travel to the states and back. And from Amakye was the best gift of all! Amakye, as I've previously told you all, is studying at an art school. I've seen his paintings and have definitely been quite impressed. After telling him this quite often, he began to promise that he would paint something for me before I go back to the states. Now even though he knows I'll be coming back, he wanted to bring me a gift anyway. Now this painting was assigned to be an imaginative painting, because obviously Amakye has never actually SEEN a snowy mountain in person, but here it is, big as life!
Cool huh!
From there, my visit to Kaneshie Presby went SO well. As usual on my visits, when I walk into the room, my previous students burst out into the streak of songs that I taught them. It's incredible that their little minds can remember all of them, word for word, MONTHS after I've gone!
Next, was a bus to Ho to visit my buddy Kristy and our new German buddy Dori! The evening I arrived, I accompanied those two to their friday-night street kids program, where we were blessed by some local drumming. The next morning we left for Wli Waterfalls. I'll let the pictures talk for themselves...
We were staying at a hotel in town, so after we waited for an hour for a taxi with 8 people in what was supposed to be 5 seats, and a full load in the back, our taxi driver decided to take the back roads once we got into town. After a long process, of arguments in the native language that we did not understand, asking them to explain, and not really getting answers, we were dropped off at our hotel just after finding out that the cargo in the back of the taxi was a bunch of bags of illegal merchandise brought over from Togo and we had to take back roads in order to bypass the police station...haha. The next few days were packed full of things we wanted to accomplish, as it would be my last time in Ho. Among those were climbing to the highest point in the area in order to see Ho in all its glory.
It truly was fantastic...and the longest walk of my life. A few other great moments commenced among some good friends and sadly my time in Ho came to an end. I will definitely be going back for a visit within my time next year, but it is quite sad that it's goodbye for now. This also reminds me that within these next few weeks, I have that same feeling to 'look forward to' as I try to say goodbye to my Accra family. I will for sure be needing prayers in these last two weeks as I begin this process of leaving this place that has been my home for the last year. Thank you for your continued support and time and interest in what I'm doing over here. I TRULY TRULY TRULY look forward to talking to you all in person QUITE soon!!!
With TONS of love,
Meg
Well, those last two weeks of school truly flew by!
First, there was the formal high school banquet, which turned out to be this fanTABULAR event. It took a LOT of planning on the part of the PTO and the student committee, but in the end it was well worth it...I know, cuz I was there! It was awesome! I was asked to chaperon the event with 4 other fellow teachers. There were appetizers, games, music, pictures, dinner, dessert, and at the last minute a TINY bit of line dancing. The girls were all gorgeous with their 'hairs did' and beautiful dresses; while the guys also looked very handsome. It was quite a change from the everyday red, yellow, and green AIS polos we're used to seeing them dressed in. Both of the Hallead boys attended the bash, so I had to get a family shot!
Carol got a SLAMMIN' deal on that dress as well ($3.00-Not lying! She rocks.)
Next came the fashion show fundraiser! A few of our high school girls were able to help out by modeling in a fashion show to raise money for a foundation that provides heart surgery for children whose families cannot afford it. They looked fabulous in designs by a mother of two of our students here at AIS. Children at the local orphanage down the street also did a little modeling, swaggering their hips and posing for the cameras. Near the end of the show, they also performed a few dance numbers:
It turned out to be QUITE a night and over $20,000 were raised!!
After the fashion show my mind sort of went on auto-pilot as my fellow teachers and I struggled and stressed in order to get those end of the year things in order. In all honestly I had about a week in there were I felt like I was being dragged behind a motor boat. One hand on the rope and the rest of me face-down, smacking the water, being pulled at full speed. However, as all things do, it passed. Then came some more fun stuff! My roommates all left me, while I don't judge them for going back to see their families as soon as they were able, I DO judge them for leaving all their chocolate behind for only ME to finish. The things I have to deal with...
Anyway, since they left, I've been spending quite a bit of time outside the 6 bedroom 'palace'...
First was a night at the Callis' (a couple who also teach in the high school at AIS). What I thought might have been a quiet dinner and movie with a few friends, turned into tons of people, barely enough food, cookie-decorating contest, hilarious movie night, with MORE FUN than we could handle!!! Obviously...
Haha, after THAT awesome evening I took a trip back to Kaneshie to visit Grandma, Grandpa, Amakye, and my old school! The visit at home was wonderful. I can't remember if I've told you all before but Grace has moved on to begin studying to be a seamstress like her older sister. Now there was a new cook, who didn't speak hardly any English, but I loved her laughter. I was able to share in quite a few conversations full of advice from both Grandma and Grandpa as I travel to the states and back. And from Amakye was the best gift of all! Amakye, as I've previously told you all, is studying at an art school. I've seen his paintings and have definitely been quite impressed. After telling him this quite often, he began to promise that he would paint something for me before I go back to the states. Now even though he knows I'll be coming back, he wanted to bring me a gift anyway. Now this painting was assigned to be an imaginative painting, because obviously Amakye has never actually SEEN a snowy mountain in person, but here it is, big as life!
Cool huh!
From there, my visit to Kaneshie Presby went SO well. As usual on my visits, when I walk into the room, my previous students burst out into the streak of songs that I taught them. It's incredible that their little minds can remember all of them, word for word, MONTHS after I've gone!
Next, was a bus to Ho to visit my buddy Kristy and our new German buddy Dori! The evening I arrived, I accompanied those two to their friday-night street kids program, where we were blessed by some local drumming. The next morning we left for Wli Waterfalls. I'll let the pictures talk for themselves...
We were staying at a hotel in town, so after we waited for an hour for a taxi with 8 people in what was supposed to be 5 seats, and a full load in the back, our taxi driver decided to take the back roads once we got into town. After a long process, of arguments in the native language that we did not understand, asking them to explain, and not really getting answers, we were dropped off at our hotel just after finding out that the cargo in the back of the taxi was a bunch of bags of illegal merchandise brought over from Togo and we had to take back roads in order to bypass the police station...haha. The next few days were packed full of things we wanted to accomplish, as it would be my last time in Ho. Among those were climbing to the highest point in the area in order to see Ho in all its glory.
It truly was fantastic...and the longest walk of my life. A few other great moments commenced among some good friends and sadly my time in Ho came to an end. I will definitely be going back for a visit within my time next year, but it is quite sad that it's goodbye for now. This also reminds me that within these next few weeks, I have that same feeling to 'look forward to' as I try to say goodbye to my Accra family. I will for sure be needing prayers in these last two weeks as I begin this process of leaving this place that has been my home for the last year. Thank you for your continued support and time and interest in what I'm doing over here. I TRULY TRULY TRULY look forward to talking to you all in person QUITE soon!!!
With TONS of love,
Meg
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