My name is Jimmy and I am one of the 2012 Junior Fellows from the University of Waterloo Engineers Without Borders Chapter. For the next few months I will be working on a project called Sustainable Land and Water Management under the Agricultural Extensions team in Northern Ghana. Below are recent thoughts and observations from my life overseas.
I’ll be honest and say that my first few weeks here were exhausting and at times frustrating. I found that I often needed to take personal time to regenerate. I found there was a significant energy barrier to engaging in public activities; I had to be very conscious of my efforts to engage socially.
While there were always ups and down, good days and bad ones, on the whole it was very draining to keep pushing myself to integrate, to keep focus and hope in my work, to greet people in the morning.
I’m happy to say that things are looking up! What was initially shocking is now becoming familiar, I’m gaining the comfort of routines and expectations. After several weeks of pushing, I’m making progress at work. I have four field visits set up in the week. I’ve also been advised to look for side projects which I can use to stay motivated.
Considering this, I’d like to place an open call for ideas for side projects. I have several ideas which I’m making progress on, however I’d love to hear any suggestions from you! For example if you are curious about some aspect of Ghana, the people, or my work I can take the time to gather some information and write a post about it! I’m open to all ideas, so comment or email me if you have something!
As for my own ideas, I have a few things I’m mulling over. These include learning traditional weaving at a nearby vocational school; working at a road-side bike repair hut; recording and gathering a collection of local recipes for a cookbook; and working on a hydraulic analysis of a nearby water hole.
I’m excited about all of these, but I’ve made a lot of progress on the first one. I’m going to meet with the principal of the school tomorrow to sit-in on some classes. I’ll probably also just go for the cookbook idea anyways, it seems many RJFs would kill for some good instructions on how to make Fufu and groundnut soup.
I’ve also made what I think are my first few good friends. While you can’t help but be friends with pretty much anybody you meet here, I’ve become closer with a few of them in the past weeks.
One is named Clement, he used to work in my office as an AEA. He too found the work environment frustrating, and so decided to take up teaching at the agricultural colleges in Bolgatanga. He is hoping to go to Kumasi and get his master’s degree and work abroad for a while to see the world. I told him a lot about Poland (where half of my family is from) and he seemed really excited about it. He is also the first Ghanaian I’ve met who questions Christianity and holds job satisfaction above income. I don’t mean to disparage the others I’ve met and talked to, but I just can’t see eye-to-eye with them when they speak of their spirituality and their perceptions of success. It’s really refreshing to speak to him and I’m hoping to meet up with him sometime this week in Bolga for Guinea Fowl and drinks.
The other is name Isaiah, an orphan from Tongo who (with some help from his friend in America, David) has set up one of the only Orphanages in the area. Isaiah has helped me a lot with finding a side project. I met him originally while looking for a place to stay in Tongo; there was an open room in his orphanage where many white people have stayed in the past. I’ve bumped into him a few times since. He recently invited me to come visit the orphanage and we talked for a long time about the logistics of running the place, and his role as a care-giver for the children there. I mentioned that I was looking for a side project thinking he might have work for me in the orphanage. However he was quite honest in saying there was nothing for me to do there, and instead suggested that I enroll in the vocational school (also built by his friend David). He took me to meet the Chief of the small community there who is also the principal of the school. The three of us shared many bottles of Star beer and agreed that I should come sit-in on a few classes to see which I liked.
On the whole, things are progressing here. I’m making friends beyond those I yell “Hello! Good Morning!” to on my way to work. Even the children and bugging me less as they have learned my name and no longer call me Salaminga (white man). A sure helper for culture shock and isolation is connecting with like-minded people, I’m happy to see that happening. My work is picking up and I’m making progress on my project. Each day I wake up with a little more energy and each day I have fewer and more shallow lows, with higher and more persistent highs.
Even though things are easier here, I still miss home. It isn’t the constant distraction I felt before, but I am eagerly waiting to come home and see my friends, family, and my chapter. I’m sure it will happen sooner then I am ready.
Next week I will be travelling to Mole National Park for our Mid-Placement Retreat (we are already at the half-way mark!). I will be reuniting with the 20 or so Ghanaian JFs and we will be sharing learning, star beer, and sight seeing in Ghana’s most famous park. Some of the sights include ancient mosques, baboons, and elephants! I will be staying a night in Bolga to connect with some friends I have there, then off to Tamale for a night, then to the park! Plenty of pictures with follow!
Peace, love and happy trails!
Want to read more? Check out my blog for many more thoughts and updates at:
thelongertrail.wordpress.com
More information on the Junior Fellowship program and Engineers Without Borders can be found at:
www.ewb.ca
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