Alli's Blog

Can't Believe It - December 2004

I can't believe we have been here over 3 weeks! Time has been flying by. But then again, just last night I told Chuck that things are started to feel more "normal" here--I think we are starting to feel at home. It is incredibly hot and dusty! Our house is right on the intersection of 2 dirt roads, so cleaning floors and windows is a constant job. We do have running water and electricity, which makes everything easier. We are excited about the next semester coming up. I will be teaching 2 courses: one on Faith Foundations and one on the Holy Spirit. I am also helping to organize the SIMS program (2-year program) and to help as a registrar. Chuck has been working hard starting a computer lab and he will be teaching computer classes starting in January, also. Life here is so different...we are both growing in so many ways. It is so interesting to learn about the culture in West Africa. We are really inspired to learn Twi and Fanti (two local languages). Because our whole lives have changed so dramatically, normal things (like holidays and our anniversary!) become less significant. We actually completely forgot our 2-year anniversary! Both of us...until someone asked us the day after what we had done to celebrate! We just looked at each other and gaped! The school is starting to build in Winneba. It is a wonderful town. Originally named "Windy Bay" it is breezy and beautiful--located right on the coast. The name turned into Winneba, which is the Fanti people's pronounciation of windy bay. We are hoping to build a house there on the school property. Renting is incredibly expensive, and since 2 years have to be paid upfront, we will actually save money by building. We are planning to move the entire school there during the summer, and classes will begin there in Fall 2005.