My Real Peace Corps…

 There has been a blog circulating around, causing a ruckus about ‘The Real Peace Corps.’ And the writer had it down to almost a T about ‘The Real Peace Corps’ (you know what we are actually experiencing)… the writer described in his blog “some days I could be perfectly happy watching paint dry”, “I have dreams about a bowl of ice cream with a brownie diving board”, he told the girls to “stay strong”, talked about how his “sweat sweats”, and made reference to when the public transport is full they cram about 15 more people in. And lastly the writer said that when the public transport breaks down, because it’s inevitable that is will, there is only one thing on the side of the road being sold to eat, of which is his least favorite food ‘in county.’

Again the writer almost had it down to a T… Some days when the power is out, my computer is dead, I’m sick of reading, I’ve already spent a few hours greeting people, watching people, and I’m bored beyond bored. I probably could be perfectly happy watching paint dry. I was told that in Peace Corps you learn to turn your thoughts off when that bored, and well yep, I’ve hit that point. I know how to turn my thoughts on and off… all the while watching paint dry.

I’ve never had such intense food dreams/thoughts/desires/craving. I could really go for a bowl of ice cream right now, or just a glass of milk, I would settle for something dairy, anything dairy… oh and some chocolate would be great too.

I’m trying to “stay strong” as the writer said… but being a women in a male dominating world is hard, really hard… harder that I ever anticipated.

My sweat does sweat… I never knew that I could sweat that much and then continue to sweat some more, and a little more after that.Public transport is a story unto it’s self… lets just say I long for the day when I don’t have to argue with the mate to put my bags on the car, or when my rear end isn’t rubbed raw by the end of a journey because the seat I was sitting on had no padding. I’m ready to have room for my legs (and I can only imagine how really tall people feel… because the cars sure as hell don’t have enough leg room for me and I’m only 5’ 10”). But mostly I’m ready to be in a car that hasn’t crammed in 30,000 extra people.  

But these are just the small things (that we like to complain about when other volunteers and myself get together)… the writer didn’t talk about what is compelling him to be there, the times that make it all worth it. My real Peace Corps is filled with moments that make my day and make it worth me being here, doing what I’m doing. ‘Ghana Moments’ as we like to call then, are times when my small children around my house help me to bake banana bread, sing and dance, ask for help on their homework. When my little girl would rather I hold her than her mother, when my family knocks on my door telling me that they are preparing my favorite Ghanaian dish and that I will take some with them. Going to farm with my family, or helping the children fetch water and laughing with them as they float down the river in their bowls making fun out of a mundane chore. Ghana moments were watching the girls come alive at Camp GLOW, and seeing them realize that they can make it. Or hearing my Ghanaian Mama tell me I am her child now, and how she will miss me when I go. Seeing my women’s group come together to work, or watching as they have earned something small all on their own from the work they are doing. Ghana moments are giving my family American food, watching as they try it, and then having them tell me that they enjoyed and they would like more. Having my ‘brother’ ask if I can bake him a birthday cake because he has never celebrated his birthday and would like to celebrate this year.

These ‘Ghana Moments’ are my ‘Real Peace Corps.’