Dear MacCormacks,
It has reached the “now or never” point of no return for
newsletter blogging. So here we
go, I am writing to you from my desk of Lincoln Community School in Accra,
Ghana. The time is 12:27 GMT and I
have 33 minutes to finish my lunch, type a newsletter, plan my math lesson,
and… relax? You can check
out my school’s website at: http://www.lincoln.edu.gh
They have lots of very cool information, even about life in
Ghana, probably more than I will be able share now. I would direct you towards my personal blog except that it’s
essentially nonexistent at this point.
I had strong intentions to blog but have quickly become swept up in
teaching life at an international school.
I think there’s a bit of a running joke that teachers can be the masters
of their domain inside the classroom; they can give and give and give all day,
then when it comes to taking care of their personal lives (and families),
everything falls to pieces!
Anyway, the good news is that I am very happy here. I do not come from a tropical climate
or exotic culture, but somehow I enjoy these things and feel more comfortable living
abroad more than I am in the USA.
I have quickly adjusted to life bordering the equator and life in Africa. It’s super hot, the food is spicy, the
music is loud, there’s dancing, kids, people, and garbage everywhere, but overall
I love it.
Stereotypes about Africa abound, especially in the USA. People often think that life in Africa
is challenging, or that everyone’s poor, or maybe has malaria, among other things. I am writing to debunk those
philosophies wholeheartedly.
Africa, and especially Ghana (although developing) has a sizable middle
class. Africa, on the whole, also
has a social system set up such that those who “have” live very well. Don’t get me wrong, there are very poor
people, and there are social issues.
Yet, there are also rich and moderately wealthy people who enjoy a high
standard of living. Even many poor
people in the countryside drink mountain stream water, have plenty of fresh
fruit and veg, and also have a high quality of life…
Personally, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that my
apartment here is bigger than any apartment I have ever lived in. I live alone and I have a spare bedroom
and bathroom. It is the first time
in my life that I have 2 bathrooms!
I have somebody who cooks and cleans for me. She also does food shopping, laundry, and ironing. My grandma isn’t wrong when she says
that I’m getting spoiled and may never want to return. There are night clubs that could exist
anywhere in the world, world class restaurants and most Western amenities. We have a mall and a Shoprite, but why
would I shop there when I can get cheap vegetables at local fruit stands, or on
the roadside out of my driver’s side window?!
Some of the unique and amazing things are that people do
truly carry everything on their heads.
Water, coolers, stores, firewood, mobile restaurants, you name it. If it exists, it can be, and is carried
on heads. Babies are also carried
on backs. I met a friend who
recently tied her baby boy to my back and it was so comfortable! When my time comes you can bet I will be using that
technique J The traditional cloth in Ghana is
called Kente and I already have a series of beautiful traditional outfits. (The seamstress comes to my house for
measurements and deliveries)!
The school is of the highest calibur I have yet to
experience. I have been transformed
into a classroom teacher, and my second graders are extremely advanced. Most of them are bilinguals, hailng
from all over the world including Ghana, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa,
India, Pakistan, Lebanon, the USA, Paraguay, Holland, Belgium, Norway, and
South Korea. The parent support is
also unparalleled. I feel lucky to
be a part of this educational community.
I don’t have much time left today except to say that I am
doing very well. Accra is on the
coast so I am able to go to the beach most weekends. I will be visiting a childhood friend living in Gambia and
Senegal for the 3 week winter break.
My school will fly me home over the summer, and also pay for some
training at the Colombia taecher’s college in NYC. I signed a 2 year contract so I know that I’ll be here
next year as well! Hope you all
are well.
All my love, Sage
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