December 2008

Computer Tables and Table Tennis

Unpublished
Dec31
By shawnrubin
I had to run an errand in Accra today so I got a chance to walk around the neighborhood of Adabracka, where Laura and I lived when we first visited Ghana in 2003. It's now five years later and I was caught off guard to see the same woman who was selling grilled plantains on the corner of our street, for less than 5 cents each, is still there. I can remember my feelings of admiration for the stoic and friendly way that this mother greeted everyone who passed her during the day.

Walls are about finished

Unpublished
Dec30
By jack
It is great working with carpenters and helpers and trading methods of fabrication.  We each have something different to offer each other.  It has been a learning experience putting up framework and then paneling without the benefit of power-tools.  Stephen can cut an eight foot piece of paneling so straight and so fast with a handsaw and it looks as if it was cut on a table saw. Jack

The Run-Off is Still Running

Unpublished
Dec30
By shawnrubin
Knocked off work a bit early today.  The highly contested presidential run-off elections were supposed to conclude today with a noon announcement, and we had heard from a few people that we may not want to be out and about at this time.  I was a bit alarmed by this because absolutely everything in Abeka appeared to be running like normal.  Aside from 4 or 5 trucks of police in riot gear who were blaring down the street, nothing seemed out of step with any other work day. We decided to play it safe, so we returned to the hotel to watch the news and wait for the election result to be announced.

If You Build It They Will Get Really Excited

Unpublished
Dec29
By shawnrubin
What an incredible first day of building. Ed and Jack were rocking from the moment they got their fingers on that first greased hand saw. I couldn't keep the wood coming fast enough as I ran from foreign exchange office to lumber yard and back to the school at least 4 times today.

First day was great!

Unpublished
Dec29
By jack
Ed and I are so in our element. It is 95 degrees and 80% humidity working on the third floor with a metal roof over us and we are so happy at what we are doing. This is the first day and we already put up 5 walls. It is going to be very hard to leave when it is time. The folks here are great. Ed gave everyone some gum to keep them going, and it was much too sweet. The kids came back with a sample of sour candy to see what we thought; and we said it was great. They then came back with a package of sour candy for each of us.

The Village - From Tracey Goes to India

Unpublished
Dec29
By anonymous (not verified)

Now for the good part....

On Christmas day, we headed out from our hotel to the village we will be working with for this week. It's over an hour outside of Eleru. The drive is something out of a movie. I wish you could all be here to experience it. We are piled into an old rickety jeep. All the roads are dirt. Cows and goats usually stop traffic. There are women off of these dirt roads, in their little huts, washing their family's clothes in the stream, but they're wearing the most colorful and beautiful saris.

Christmas Day at Gummallapadu Village - India

Unpublished
Dec28
By anonymous (not verified)

More than one person in our group today has said that the feelings they experienced upon arrival in Gummallapadu village are practically indescribable. Try to imagine the most welcome you have ever felt – coming home for a holiday after a long trip; an induction into a fraternity or sorority; seeing a old friend after many years and knowing that no words need be spoken to bride the gap of years that have tried to separate you. None of those can relay the welcome we received as we drove into Gummallapadu.

Longitude Volunteers Arrive In India for Winter Work Camp

Unpublished
Dec28
By anonymous (not verified)

Arrival and Hyderabad Orientation

All 13 members of the Winter 2008-2009 work camp have arrived safely in India and met on the 24th of December for orientation in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. We are elated to be graced with the presence of the film crew, Something Worth Doing, who will not just be helping one or two villages building homes for 100s but will raise awareness about Dalits in AP and will uplift millions of Indians.

Africa Lite!

Unpublished
Dec27
By shawnrubin
Today's day-long stop in Casablanca, Moroco was the greatest layover I've ever experienced.  Royal Air Maroc knows what its doing.  From the moment we arrived in Casablanca everything has been on the house as we were wisked via shuttle to the Atlas Hotel for a free lunch, dinner, and hotel room.  Now, after two hot showers, a nap, some CNN, and a wireless connection to the blog we are off to the airport once more to finally make the connection that will drop us in Accra at two in the morning on the 28th of December.  It will ultimately be about 40 hours of travel from the time we left our home

Meshach here we come

Unpublished
Dec26
By shawnrubin
I know for sure that when Laura and I first arrived in Ghana in 2003 I never thought I would return again so soon.  Now, I'm returning for the 3rd time in just 6 years?  There are those places in the world where you visit and just know you have to get back there, but to be honest Ghana was not one of them for me or for Laura.  I guess we never counted on the power of friendship and the feeling of family.  These are the reasons we continue to return to Michigan two or three times a year despite its gray sky and sprawling strip malls.  So, why couldn't these same forces bring us across the Atlan
© 2006 – 2012 Longitude - a 501(c)3 organization