Update

All has been well back Kintampo.  It felt good to get “home” after the week in Accra.  Though, the time I spent there around some of the Americans who have a lot of experience working in international public health was really helpful.  Obviously, I understood that it will take years/decades to effect big changes; but I think I came away with better appreciation for how much inching along actually does matter. 

Things have been busy in Kintampo.  At the junior high, I’m essentially teaching one section of English/Language Arts.  Originally, I was hoping to collaborate with the teacher to find ways to break kids into groups since it’s such a large class; but the teacher pretty much never shows up, so I’m just doing what I can.  At the Psychosocial Center, there is a great group of motivated, compassionate people who are, quite admirably, trying to take on some new initiatives to support mental health in the community; it’s pretty cool to be able to work with them.  Also, I started lecturing at the College of Health.  The director of the two mental health certificate tracks is very much interested in what I do as a school psychologist and is eager for me to present on anything and everything ..multi-disciplinary evals, ADHD, LDs, FBAs, etc.  Who knows, maybe they’ll start a school psych program someday!

Weather-wise, we are going to be entering the dry season and I already feel the change.  It definitely rains less; there are fewer clouds and the sun feels like it sits about twenty feet above my head.  I get a lot of conflicting reports regarding the dry season, so I’m not entirely sure what to expect.  Intuitively, seems that dry season=hotter, but, maybe not if it’s less humid.  I also heard it’s often windy, which originally I had been pretty pumped about; who wouldn’t like a nice breeze on a 100+ degree-day?  But, I’ve since been told that this results in a constant haze of red dust.  So, given that I wear contact lenses, I’m thinking this might actually suck a little. TBD I suppose.

Okay, onto yet another completely different topic.  I’ve been asked a lot about the food.  While there are many fruits and vegetables available, the tricky part is that they are not always available.  This is true for many things actually.  My first few weeks here I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where to get what.  I discovered which shops sold lettuce, wheat bread, nuts, diet coke (well coke light  –not the same thing), shampoo, etc.  But, then I found out that that doesn’t mean that they will have it again anytime soon, as in ever;-).  As the Ghanaians say when something is sold out, “it’s finished”!  So you really have to grab it when you see it.  Also, the fruits and vegetables can be a bit of a mirage; for example, at the market there will be barrels overflowing with tomatoes, but often when you get up close you’ll find they are all rotted.  Protein is what I miss most.  I want cheese, nuts, chicken breast, good fish and more.  But, on a positive note, there is no shortage of eggs and Ghanaian eggs are the best I’ve ever had!  All in all though, I’ve got it figured out and the food situation is under control.