Swearing In Dance

Finally figured out how to upload this. It is from the swearing in ceremony in August.

Issah digs a hole for the doorway.

The tough guys pose to show our buffness.

We got caught in a sandstorm. Mix that with a little (a lot) of sweat and it's not a pretty picture.







Some helpers help us move bags with soil for tree seedlings




















We line them up in groups of 100.


















Some of the crew filling bags with soil and some cow manure fertilizer.













Sarah Panzer Wein transplants some moringa seedling inside the fence. In a few years, these moringa should be strong enough to act as a live fence and they gardeners can use the chain link in a new place and leave long lasting fruit trees in the current location.
























The tree nursery so far...about 1300 trees. About 2500 to go.

The before picture of our new garden plot for the rainy season












Me cooking by headlamp











Me and Osman giving a little education to the mothers that come for the child outreach about adding moringa to their diet. I also get to inform them about the soap making, and they got to try some moringa tea










Our friend Enoch is the clinician. Here, he's working on charting weights of all the babies weighed that month in Tarsor













Sarah will have to tell the story, but the men from the next compound help search for the 3 ft snake hiding under our shed.












This snake is about 3 ft long, and Sarah is never going to feel quite as safe again.














All the locals said the snake came because we had a bunch of dry leaves laying around. Sarah then didn't hesitate to torch them.













Women from around the village came for a meeting Osman and I called to interview them about how they collect shea and how they sell it.










We had a surprise chameleon visitor to the meeting.



He drew a lot of attention.



















The chameleon walked across the barbed wire.










A group picture of the women for the shea interview. They helped by bringing a sample of shea nuts they had collected from the previous season so I could take them to Benin to be tested for quality.















Issah's son Hafiz helps us dig holes to put the posts for the chain link fence



















Sarah also helps to dig the peg holes

One length of fencing stretches across one side of the posts for the tree nursery/vegetable garden.







The view after the fence is attached to the posts.



























Me and Issah and Bashid attach wires to the fence and posts.

More fun Ghanaian Songs!!

Check 'em out here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmVbWROV0cc (Jordan and I saw this guy's concert in Accra)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCnF32rmELo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUYNnVgkAag (Great song that I want to use to spin to when I get home :) )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pMMUU1JryQ (Often heard (blasted!) in tro-tros)

Friends & Family

The whole crew: Kelsey and her parents, Sarah and our driver Mohammed

a nice family photo for the Christmas card :)

— with

Another neighboring Volunteer Rachel holding the son of another PCV, David and Hera (his Ghanaian wife).








Hera with her son Matthew.

March 2012--- & Mole National Park

The 'before' picture where the tree nursery/dry season garden will be built






A big spider just as its shedding its exoskeleton











The walking tour at Mole National Park. A group of warthogs root around for food.



the red monkeys stroll through the camp.









Mother & Baby









And of course, no trip to Mole National Park is complete without some elephants. The were so tame and just strolled through ripping down tree branches like it was no big deal.















Sarah about wets herself with how close we were!

I spy!

Human footprint next to an elephant footprint




































Group #1 in the watering hole. Notice the sneaky crocodile just passing by








a closer look at the croc












Group #2 enters the water





The Kob hang around the watering hole










The leaders from both groups greet each other....looks like all is good.










The buck notices us from afar.



























The territorial male chases off an intruder

Sarah goes to inspect another watering hole.