Email Number 2
Email Number 2
Accra, Ghana
June 2, 2006
“Maakye”! Etusey?”
( Good morning! How are you?) “Eyeh! (OK)
Hope all is well with you. We have so much to tell you that we are writing this a little sooner than we had originally planned.
In the future, on our emails, at the bottom where our signature is, just copy and paste our blog address into your browser and we will be together here in Ghana. Better yet, add it to
"Your Favorites".
One of you asked what we are eating here in Ghana, so let’s tell you about that.
First of all, West African food is considerably spicier and hotter than East or Southern African food based on our experiences there. I, (Peter), like it better. Hinda is more cautious and does not try everything.
The African food is here called “local food” as compared to other western foods.
There are a lot of foods made with pounded plaintains, pounded cassava, corn meal, and a mixture of some of those. Local names of some of them are kenkey, banku, fufu. These are eaten with stews and soups such as groundnut, okra, and palava, (leaves, tubers and cabage). Lots of fish, chicken, and goat. And of course great tree ripened, sweet fruit: pineapples, mangoes, oranges, bananas. Lots of veggies too. Finally, lots of rice. (the pinapple is so sweet, I have given up chocolate)
Enough about food. Here’s some other stuff:
“Adagocome” is Nigerian slang also used here: “I’ll go and come back.”
In our office we have a fan – it’s called a typhoon, and it’s so powerful, we have to yell at each other just to talk and hear, (and our desks are side by side). We really need the fans, it is so hot and muggy here that we feel sticky all the time and take at least two showers a day, when the water is running.
We are working on getting rid of all of the viruses on all of the computers here. What people do is go to the internet café because it is a faster connection and download things to their flash drives; then bring them back to the office and then here come the viruses – big time. Since we have the only laptops (thanks to a couple of you), that have anti virus software on them, people stop at our office first and clean their memory sticks before putting them in their and other computers. We are working on getting anti-virus software installed on all of the laptops, but it would be much easier if we have a faster connection than just a dial up at 56kbs. We will try to help raise money to install a DSL line. In the mean time we are downloading some free anti virus software on the dial up and will do that until we can do something better. But it is very very very sloooooooow.
We have taught most of the staff how to use Outlook in order to keep their calendars, jot down tasks, and keep a list of contacts. We are going to try to put all of Pro-Link’s contacts together so that they can communicate with their entire list in order to raise funds, provide information, and easily access all of their contacts. Right now people keep contact info on bits of paper in various pockets.
We are helping with some grant development – mentoring and teaching rather than doing which of course is better in the long run. The other day we had a great staff meeting and did a mini seminar on how to develop a grant using the strategic plan, Pro-Link’s mission statement, forming small task forces, timetables, etc., etc. It was very well received and we felt good about it also.
We will be doing some more detailed workshops on fundraising, as well as a board training, and then going to 3 of their project sites outside of Accra and doing the same on a more limited basis. We are looking forward to it.
Pro-Link is in a bit of a funding crisis and we hope we can help. But, which non-profits, either here, or back home aren’t in a continuing crisis, some larger and some not so large. Anyway, we are committed to trying our hardest.
A good word to describe urban West Africa is “bustling” which seems pretty apt to us compared to the other parts of Africa where we have lived and worked. Ghanians are very friendly, and we feel completely comfortable, (except for the heat and humidity), here. Even though we are technically living and working in Accra, it can take 1.5 – 2 hours to get to Accra Center to conduct Pro-Link business. This is not because of the distance, but the traffic. If you think sitting in the hot sun and not moving for most of that 1.5 – 2 hours is fun, (no AC), think again. We will never complain about Seattle traffic again.
We are going to be doing some traveling and for those of you who have an atlas or map of Ghana, we will be visiting the Cape Coast to learn something of slavery, Kakum to walk in the tree canopy on a rope walk (I,Hinda will likely wait below for Peter to return, to Mole in the North to see some game, (we hope – but probably not like E. and S. Africa, and to the Volta region in the East. When we go to the Cape Coast we will try to visit a small Jewish community there. So you will hear from us about all of this throughout the summer.
The other day a guy came into the bank with a guard toting an AK47 and a shopping bag of money they had was so heavy that it took both of them to carry it. Here, everyone is a millionaire. You can only get $40 from the ATM since the exchange rate is 9000 Cedis to $1. Not really of course – lots of very poor people. We just have to look out the office door and see all of the squatters – homeless people. On the other hand, Ghana has a very good educational system which is free, but then children need money for books, uniforms, lunch, etc. We are going to show them the school fee program that we worked on in Uganda, and perhaps they can adapt it.
So, Peter is Pappa, and Hinda is Mommy. Peter’s Ghanian name is Kwesie, (born on a Sunday), and Hinda;s is Abinah, (born on a Tuesday).
Hinda is busy developing and revising job descriptions so that they match what people are doing, and are done simply so that they can be useful. Next she will do the same for personnel policies so that they match reality and also so that they can actually be used by everyone – management and staff.
All of the stores and shops here have religious names, e.g. Jesus’ Best Beauty Parlor, The Lords Restaurant, Beat Swords into Plowshares Clothing, etc.
You can buy ANYTHING from sellers n the street corners or in the lanes between cars at traffic lights: Food, clothing, games, pots and pans, TP, etc., etc., etc.
One of the trips we are planning is to a resort. Get this golfers: It has a 3 HOLE COURSE!!!!!!
By this time you must be tired of reading this assuming that you even got this far.
We’ll write again in a couple of weeks. Until then, stay cool and enjoy it. You don’t know how good you’ve got it.
Love, Peter and Hinda
Accra, Ghana
June 2, 2006
“Maakye”! Etusey?”
( Good morning! How are you?) “Eyeh! (OK)
Hope all is well with you. We have so much to tell you that we are writing this a little sooner than we had originally planned.
In the future, on our emails, at the bottom where our signature is, just copy and paste our blog address into your browser and we will be together here in Ghana. Better yet, add it to
"Your Favorites".
One of you asked what we are eating here in Ghana, so let’s tell you about that.
First of all, West African food is considerably spicier and hotter than East or Southern African food based on our experiences there. I, (Peter), like it better. Hinda is more cautious and does not try everything.
The African food is here called “local food” as compared to other western foods.
There are a lot of foods made with pounded plaintains, pounded cassava, corn meal, and a mixture of some of those. Local names of some of them are kenkey, banku, fufu. These are eaten with stews and soups such as groundnut, okra, and palava, (leaves, tubers and cabage). Lots of fish, chicken, and goat. And of course great tree ripened, sweet fruit: pineapples, mangoes, oranges, bananas. Lots of veggies too. Finally, lots of rice. (the pinapple is so sweet, I have given up chocolate)
Enough about food. Here’s some other stuff:
“Adagocome” is Nigerian slang also used here: “I’ll go and come back.”
In our office we have a fan – it’s called a typhoon, and it’s so powerful, we have to yell at each other just to talk and hear, (and our desks are side by side). We really need the fans, it is so hot and muggy here that we feel sticky all the time and take at least two showers a day, when the water is running.
We are working on getting rid of all of the viruses on all of the computers here. What people do is go to the internet café because it is a faster connection and download things to their flash drives; then bring them back to the office and then here come the viruses – big time. Since we have the only laptops (thanks to a couple of you), that have anti virus software on them, people stop at our office first and clean their memory sticks before putting them in their and other computers. We are working on getting anti-virus software installed on all of the laptops, but it would be much easier if we have a faster connection than just a dial up at 56kbs. We will try to help raise money to install a DSL line. In the mean time we are downloading some free anti virus software on the dial up and will do that until we can do something better. But it is very very very sloooooooow.
We have taught most of the staff how to use Outlook in order to keep their calendars, jot down tasks, and keep a list of contacts. We are going to try to put all of Pro-Link’s contacts together so that they can communicate with their entire list in order to raise funds, provide information, and easily access all of their contacts. Right now people keep contact info on bits of paper in various pockets.
We are helping with some grant development – mentoring and teaching rather than doing which of course is better in the long run. The other day we had a great staff meeting and did a mini seminar on how to develop a grant using the strategic plan, Pro-Link’s mission statement, forming small task forces, timetables, etc., etc. It was very well received and we felt good about it also.
We will be doing some more detailed workshops on fundraising, as well as a board training, and then going to 3 of their project sites outside of Accra and doing the same on a more limited basis. We are looking forward to it.
Pro-Link is in a bit of a funding crisis and we hope we can help. But, which non-profits, either here, or back home aren’t in a continuing crisis, some larger and some not so large. Anyway, we are committed to trying our hardest.
A good word to describe urban West Africa is “bustling” which seems pretty apt to us compared to the other parts of Africa where we have lived and worked. Ghanians are very friendly, and we feel completely comfortable, (except for the heat and humidity), here. Even though we are technically living and working in Accra, it can take 1.5 – 2 hours to get to Accra Center to conduct Pro-Link business. This is not because of the distance, but the traffic. If you think sitting in the hot sun and not moving for most of that 1.5 – 2 hours is fun, (no AC), think again. We will never complain about Seattle traffic again.
We are going to be doing some traveling and for those of you who have an atlas or map of Ghana, we will be visiting the Cape Coast to learn something of slavery, Kakum to walk in the tree canopy on a rope walk (I,Hinda will likely wait below for Peter to return, to Mole in the North to see some game, (we hope – but probably not like E. and S. Africa, and to the Volta region in the East. When we go to the Cape Coast we will try to visit a small Jewish community there. So you will hear from us about all of this throughout the summer.
The other day a guy came into the bank with a guard toting an AK47 and a shopping bag of money they had was so heavy that it took both of them to carry it. Here, everyone is a millionaire. You can only get $40 from the ATM since the exchange rate is 9000 Cedis to $1. Not really of course – lots of very poor people. We just have to look out the office door and see all of the squatters – homeless people. On the other hand, Ghana has a very good educational system which is free, but then children need money for books, uniforms, lunch, etc. We are going to show them the school fee program that we worked on in Uganda, and perhaps they can adapt it.
So, Peter is Pappa, and Hinda is Mommy. Peter’s Ghanian name is Kwesie, (born on a Sunday), and Hinda;s is Abinah, (born on a Tuesday).
Hinda is busy developing and revising job descriptions so that they match what people are doing, and are done simply so that they can be useful. Next she will do the same for personnel policies so that they match reality and also so that they can actually be used by everyone – management and staff.
All of the stores and shops here have religious names, e.g. Jesus’ Best Beauty Parlor, The Lords Restaurant, Beat Swords into Plowshares Clothing, etc.
You can buy ANYTHING from sellers n the street corners or in the lanes between cars at traffic lights: Food, clothing, games, pots and pans, TP, etc., etc., etc.
One of the trips we are planning is to a resort. Get this golfers: It has a 3 HOLE COURSE!!!!!!
By this time you must be tired of reading this assuming that you even got this far.
We’ll write again in a couple of weeks. Until then, stay cool and enjoy it. You don’t know how good you’ve got it.
Love, Peter and Hinda
posted by Peter and Hinda Schnurman at 4:01 AM
1 Comments:
Dear Kwesie and Abinah,
It sounds like fun so far, except for the heat! Now that you mentioned there's a 3 hole golf course, I may want to visit. The photos and letters on the blog are great! It sounds like you're already doing good things there in such a short time. Keep up the good work! We're proud of you!
Love, Seth, Lalida & Nathan
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