pee

Lydia (a little orphan girl) fell asleep in my arms today, which is not unusual, but today when she got up I noticed that my whole lap was covered in pee and a few tiny smears on poop too. That was fun. I washed my pants and they're dry now. Mostly I was just afraid of getting a disease from her. It's a little unnerving sometimes. Realizing thatthere's a pretty good chance that the kids that are orphans lost their parents to HIV or something similar. I was starting to freak out about it a bit today because I totally come in contact with a lot of body fluids, but then the thought came to my head that when Jesus came to earth he spent his time with the Lepors and in poverty, so since I'm following in his ways I'll be kept safe. It's getting easier to understand the little kids. That was pretty hard at first. I'm also getting them to call me aunty. They won't call you by your name. I've figured out that that's considered rude, so not only is it difficult for them to remember your name, but they've probably been told not to do it. So, every time they call "obroni carry me!" I tell them to say aunty please and then I'll respond. So far so good. Despite all the sanitation issues I love working there. Or at least at the end of the day I'm glad I was there.

When I was waiting for Marian to pick me up from the orphanage today I walked down the street and saw a stand of jewlery, so I went to go look at it and bought a beaded bracelet. It is so cool and cost 1 GC (around 1.15). First thing I've actually bought myself. Believe it or not kind of exciting.

I am so in love with the food here now. I am definetely going to have to learn how to cook the food, because I don't think I can bear to leave it forever. The beans (nothing like what you're picturing I can assure you), plantain, stew, rice, kenkey, garry (yes, Marian I know 1/2 this isn't spelled right), pepper. yum.

I let the little girls plait (braid) my hair today and I left it in because it always made me feel so special when I did an older girl's hair and she left it in, but now my hair is a rat's nest. I guess I'll have to wash it tonight. I'm going 2 or 3 days without washing my hair. I'm sure a few ppl just gasped seeing as that's totally not like me, but it works here.

I'm really glad Abbey is rooming with me. I can't imagine now sleeping in a room by myself. Good preparation for college I guess. It's also so nice to have someone to talk to. It's also fun because she just got baptized and has all these questions about our religion and seeing as I love nothing more than to have religous discussions this works out fantasticly for me. My favorite thing is when she's talking to me and then starts to talk in Twi and doesn't even notice till I look at her with a blank look and she starts to laugh. I understand her so well now. And Pa Kojo too (Marian's younger brother that's been staying with us). At first I had the darndest time trying to understand him.

Mom, you'll be happy to know that I've tried to be more help at home playing with the kids, helping with home work, opening the gate, etc. I'm trying to watch and learn how and what to do.

I still can't get over the lizards here. They're everywhere. Just yesterday Sedinam came to me screaming and crying saying that there were lizards in a bucket making noise. So, I went over and sure enough there were two lizards there staring at me. I cracked up and let them go. The kids are so afraid of them. If my brothers were there all they'd do all day is chase them and catch them and make them homes in boxes. I've tried to think of a way to smuggle some on the plane, but I've failed thus far. Dumb terrorists. Now I really have no chance of taking one on. I mean if you can't take a bottle of water on I imagine a lizard no matter how small is no easy feat.

Michael, I don't know if you've bothered to read this, but my mom said you called for me the other day. wow, how are ya? It's been a while. Still like tickle me pink crayons? I can't believe you're in messengers? Is Mrs.B getting desperate? j/k. I didn't know you could sing. drop me a line if you want. Ask Carrie for my email. Can't post it, I'll get a bunch of psychos hunting me down. However I think they'd really have a difficult time finding me. Glad you still remember me. :)

Pa Kojo and I went to buy some credit for my phone the other night and there were ppl selling porridge. Well, muslim porridge. I guess they eat it a lot during Ramadan (which just ended by the way). It's gray, has the consistancy of pudding that's not quite set and tastes the way the herbal section of wild oats smells. I've never tasted such a combination of spices before. It was more fascinating than anything, like nothing I've tasted before. It's made out of millet and an array of spices, the only one I was able to make out was ginger. Intersting. Whenever someone eats in front of you they said "please, you're invited". At first I was like what? I'm invited to what? Then I figured it out. I'm not really a big food sharing type especially here, but when I'm hungry and think it's safe I take a bite. Thus far I haven't gotten sick. A white lady I talked to said I need to soak all the fruits and vegetables I eat in a clorox solution, but I haven't with everything and thus far I'm not sick. I still try to avoid eating a lot of produce, but especially pineapple is just to hard for me to resist.

I'm really starting to like it here and can't believe that I'll only be here for about 2 more months. I kind of think I'd like to stay longer, but it just seems it'll be impossible w/college applications and school. We'll see. I guess everything will just figure itself out.

I knew once I got here that when I got home I'd either be totally addicted to traveling or plant my feet on the ground and vow never to leave the USA again. Well, it seems that I'll have to find some line of work that is international because I am still dying to see the rest of the world. In fact I was watching a documentary on the middle east and India (is India part of the middle east or considered part of Asia?) and now I really want to go and spend a few months there. Talk about a fascinating culture. I'm also determined to be multi lingual. English, Spanish, hopefully Twi (i'm working on it, but it sure is different), and many more. It's beginning to seem so limited speaking only one language.

My views are definetely changing and I am really learning so much. I know I've made the right choice by coming here and I'm glad that I did. It will definetely be weird going back to lone peak. I am so not looking forward to going back to the high school seen. bleh.

Hope you're all doing well. Miss ya all.