Kumasi

Well, I've been in Kumasi for a month now, but since my internet access has been limited, this post is an excerpt from my diary, written 3 days after arriving in Kumasi:

My host family is fantastic, my father Mr. Appiah, took me to my work place on my first day, only to be told that the director wasn't there, and that they'd call me later that week. My poor father was stuck with me for the whole day! He took me to his work, where I sat in on a meeting (I use the term meeting very loosely- they brought out 3 chairs, a desk, and set it under a tree...Instant boardroom!) The people treated me very well, and I could tell it was because they had tremendous respect for Mr. Appiah. We grabbed lunch at a chop shop, fried rice and salad for 1 ghana cedi. This was the BEST rice I've ever tasted. The woman making the food, asked questions about me to Mr. Appiah. She then took a ring off her finger and put it on mine. She sould also not let me pay for the food, and said it was her treat.

The next day, I went to an orphanage. Based on Mother Theresa's principles, this center houses orphaned babies and infants, as well as disabled children and adults. I spent the morning in the little room, where I met two 6month olds, 5 one-year olds, 1 child with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and one toddler who was deaf and possibly mentally delayed. The latter two sat in wheel chairs the whole morning and the 2 nuns adjusted their heads when they could. My friend told me that they spank the deaf child frequently and when they say "don't worry, she can't feel it". The thing is, it's very obvious that htey love these children, they just don't have the patience or training required to deal with special needs. For somereason, none of these children wanted to walk. They would cry when they were forced to stand. I have no explanation why.

The center is very hard to deal with. The plight of these children is disturbing, and yet, they are so wonderful, I never want to leave. I kept thinking, where is their future? what will/can they become? I don't mean this to sound pessimistic. This is reality. Their reality. I felt so helpless. Knowing that many of these children's parents have died from AIDS and that they may have it as well.

I also went to a deaf school to meet some other volunteers. We sat in a computer lab, but I soon got bored so I waandered out by myself. 2 children were waiting just outside the doors. They started signing to me and I had no idea what they were saying. I remembered enough sign language, however, to tell them that my name was Niv and that I was from Canada. We met with the director and he told us that htey had 45 teachers and over 480 students, with 100 kids on the waiting list...and this was one of the better equipped schools.

These 2 days have made me realize how lucky we are to have what we have in the West. Even the poorest person in Toronto is luckier that most of the adults and children I've met in the past two days, for we in the West have opportunity. We are so lucky.