ehy!

Well Amy has done a nice job of filling you in on our week, but I’ll add in a few thoughts.
Village life is quite different from the hustle and bustle we had been getting used to in Accra. The days are quite quiet here with the major activity of the day being people coming and going from the bus stop (which is right outside of the center). We have met many interesting people in the village including the mayor, the traditional tribal Ga chief, a woman who lived in Montréal for many years and of course the family we are staying with!
Staying here with a Ghanaian family, we have been exposed to everyday Ghanaian life. While there are some obvious differences, with the largest one being the delicious Ghanaian meals that are prepared every night, the overall dynamics aren’t so different from what you would find in Canada. For example the kids had a great time poking fun at their father for a failed handy project of making a certain rod. Definitely a scene you may encounter at my house on a Sunday afternoon. We have been welcomed into the family, and are often referred to by our Ghanaian names, which are based on the day of the week which you were born. Amy’s name is Ya (female, Thursday) and mine is Aquia (female, Wednesday). However, at times around the house Amy and I don’t really know what to do with ourselves. We are always trying to offer to help cook or clean (even though we have realized we don’t do either of these things well), but as their guests they say its stranger for us to help than to relax.
Ghanaian hospitality is quite incredible. Everyone is so willing to help you with whatever you may need, or offer to bran di di (come and let’s eat!). We are often trying to refuse people’s offers not wanting to be any trouble but it is really to no avail (For example, one of Mr. Paintsil’s friends is a designer and made us beautiful african wrap skirts that we went and picked up today).
Some of my favorite times here are going to the market and riding in the tro tros. there are so many things to observe and take in. Although the constant "obrunis" yelled at us can get quite tiring, were going to practice our twi so we can have some things to say back and take people by surprise!
Work at the center has been good. The entrepreneur Mr. Paintsil is a very kind man and has lots to share about Ghana but also many questions about Canada. He is a smart man, and I have learned some interesting things from him. We have been working with him teaching him computer basics, and he is learning quite fast. His center is newly opened this week, and with all of the great plans Mr. Painsil has, Amy and I would love to try and make it back to Adoteiman for a day towards the end of the summer to see how everything is going.
One thing I’ve definitely figured out this week is that life in Ghana is not as strictly scheduled as a day would be at home, sometimes a planned meeting can be delayed for hours, and a regular 20 mintue drive needs to be scheduled for at least an hour and a half, but during those quiet times you can have some pretty interesting encounters.
Today we commuted to our next center Dodowa, but are still staying with the same family we were in adoteiman. Actually, they told us if things dotn work out with our project, we can just live with them all summer and travel around as we wish, wayyy too nice. The first day at this center went much smoother than our first day at adoteiman, I guess Amy and i are establishing a successful groove pretty fast. We are returning there tomorrow and saturday and hopefully will have our next center secured by monday.

Hope everyone and everything at home is good, please send me some emails with updates!
Love Lindsey