Almost PCV

My mosquito bites are killing me today. Okay, maybe not killing, I’m being pretty dramatic. I’ve been taking Benadryl at night to not only to help me not scratch my feet to pieces but also to help me sleep. I long for the day that I’m not itchy. In other news Kris and I are preparing to take our LPI (language proficiency … something) on Wednesday. We had our mock exam today and probably would have passed, but still have some studying to do. Things we’ll talk about in Likpalnpaln/Konkomba: ourselves (introduce yourself), how to get to our site/home in Ghana (directions), daily routine (what we do when we get up), and market vocabulary (what’s in the market). I’m rather impressed with how much I’ve been able to learn in a short ~4 weeks of intensive language training. Our language instructor is very good at what he does and tries very hard to help us do well. I plan on getting a tutor when I move to site to help me become more functional in the language, also to get more instruction in the other language spoken in/around my village (Twi). With any luck when we leave in 2 years we’ll take the exam (LPI) again and achieve a higher and government official status in the language.

We swear in next Thursday, it’s going to be a very exciting day! I’ve become pretty comfortable in this little town. My home-stay mother is great, she cooks our meals and does our dishes so what free time we have can be spent studying or relaxing. She even did a little laundry for me when I got back from technical training, I must have looked pretty dirty because she didn’t ask to wash my clothes she said, “Ama, give me those shirts you were wearing and I will clean them.” I had just washed them, but admittedly did not get them Ghanaian clean. I’m actually looking forward to moving into our own home. We have big plans for the place to spiff it up, and can’t wait to get into the garden. Kris will have about a month off before he starts teaching, so most of the renovations will be taking place the 1^st month. I also need to learn how to cook here; I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

Yesterday Kris and I went into Koforidua (a bigger city) and went shopping! It was their clothing market day, so I got some clothes J 2 pairs of jeans for 12 cedis ($9), and 2 shirts for 2 cedis ($1.50). I bargained pretty hard for the jeans and was able to get them down about 10 cedis from asking price, I love bargaining. Most Ghanaian sellers like a good challenge so we share in the fun.

I hear it’s been pretty hot back home. I actually have no idea how hot it is here; I think not knowing makes it easier. When we arrived it was in the 90s and very humid, I took 3 bucket baths a day to make it through. Vision quest was in the north for me, and it was even hotter though less humid, I had some mild heat exhaustion from that trip. Now it’s probably just as hot as when we came, but it feels much cooler. I can wear jeans and a t-shirt all day and not suffer; I am an anomaly amongst most of my colleagues. It will get hotter, I hear February and March are obscenely hot and that not much work of any kind gets accomplished then, bring it on. I’m probably going to regret that cocky statement.

At any rate, maybe the next time I get a chance to write will be after I've passed the LPI, maybe I'll even be a PCV, no longer a PCT (Peace Corps Trainee)

Stay Cool as best you can! :)

Love you all.