One week down, two weeks to go

A lot of the same stuff has been happening since we all got back to home base from Ho, Volta Region. But we all kept thinking "There's no place like home...base." There's an exception for all the sand that is in our rooms though...

Tomorrow is our last day at the local school here in Anloga, it's bittersweet for some of us. We've grown attached to the kids and vice versa. The kids wear us out in time for lunch.

We've been waiting for our seamstresses from when we had stuff made specifically for us (it's so exciting). I ordered 3 skirts and a bag with a zipper. The seamstress for my group is supposed to be here today.

Yesterday, we went to our host families for the second time and at my family, we talked about the differences between Ghana and America and the weird interpretations of white people.

I love Ghana!
Until next time,
Lena !

So much to do, so little blogging

And I'm sorry about that! I'm just having the time of my life here in Ghana.
Right now, the gang is in Ho, Ghana. We're staying at a rather nice hotel, so we can see the sights that are worth seeing within a 3 hour radius. Our first day here, we visited New Seed International Orphanage. We were only there for an hour, but I'm a new girl. Each child there has been affected by HIV AIDS, whether their parents died from AIDS or they have AIDS themselves. Out of all 68 children, 22 of them had AIDS. The part that brought me to happy tears was the fact that you would have no idea any of them were affected. They were all so happy and playful.
I made a little friend at New Seed, her name is Daniella. She held my hand the whole time we were there. We played for an hour straight, no joke. When it was time to leave, all of us from GLA were brought to tears. We just wanted to play and snuggle forever!
When I get back to the US, I'm bringing New Seed to my school to fundraise. These children are amazing and deserve a chance. The compound they live in has as much potential as the children do.

We went to a monkey sanctuary yesterday and fed monkies. It was a crazy experience.
After the sanctuary, we headed 2 hours east on the coast to hike to Wli Falls. I had a strange flashback to 2nd grade when my biggest dream was to hike through a rainforest. Dream: accomplished. The waterfall itself was a sight for sore eyes. It's unreal how tall and beautiful the waterfall is. I didn't get in, but the other teenagers said it was amazing!
After, we all went souvenier shopping at the bottom of the mountain. Everywhere, not just at Wli Falls, theres a wood carving booth. There always seems to be some weird body part carvings at each of these booths...

So far, I choose Ghana over America. The peacefulness and kindness Ghanaians show is overhwhelmingly beautiful! It's so weird to think I've been here for a week. But it's also weird to think that I have 2 weeks left!

Who knows when I'll write again, but keep checking!
Miss all of you!
Akos Lena

P.s. I was named Akos because it means I was born on a Sunday. We all got names.
Everyone in Ghana is named according to when they were born. A good example is a girl named Market, but in Ewe. She was born on the way to the market. FaFa, meaning peace in Ewe, was born at the end of a war. Someone asked me what Lena meant, and I have never felt so lame.

Every day is amazing !!!

These past few days have been making top numbers on my list of favorite days of my life. Everyone in Ghana is incredibley friendly. Everyone welcomes you by saying "woezor" (pronounced way-zoh), which basically thanks you for walking to see them. I wave at everyone, and they wave back. Such different culture, it blows my mind. When I first arrived, we all got into tro-tros (vans) and headed to a mall not too far away to buy some snacks for the week. The driving here in Ghana... SO scary. Everyone is all over the road and everything. Men and women known as hawks stand in the middle of the road and sell various things from plates or bowls on they're head. They all walk and run as though nothing is on their heads, though. I've been learning how to do that with water on my head, but not as amazing as the Ghanaians.
GLA is a fast moving organization, we're always traveling, doing, and discussing. I like how organized it is though.
The children at the schools we teach at and where GLA home base is are so cute and funny. All they want is to play with our cameras and take our hair ties. I have so many random pictures of feet and noses on my camera at the moment.
The humidity is insane. The heat isn't so bad, but the humidity is just nuts.
I already feel greatly impacted by the culture. I have a greater respect for life itself and I've only been here for a few days. The peacefulness of Ghanaians is absolutely moving...

Not much time to spend writing in my blog - bear with me and my small details!

I love and miss you Daddeo !

Lena (Aka: Akos)

One year

Since I've been fundraising to go to Ghana! And also, I'm a whole year older than I was when I started... Yay! I leave in 4 days. It's incredible!

Keep up on here, everyone. :)

Not that I'm counting down or anything....

But I'll just let you know that there's exactly 16 days left until I go to Ghana. No big deal! :) :) :) :) I'm so excited! I had my Hep A and menengitis vaccines and still have to take the four pills to vaccinate typhoid. So you can imagine how I'm feeling right now! Bleh, yeah. Good news is: I'll be 17 when I go to Africa!

Keep up on here, everyone. The exciting stuff will come in 16 days!

Lena

One month !!

Oh my. It keeps hitting me in waves that I, Lena Grout, am going to AFRICA for the first time. In less than a month, too! I am so excited, it's incredible. I have no idea what it's going to be like when I get there, so I've given up on trying to imagine it. What an opportunity of a life time!

I had my yellow fever vaccination about a month ago, and let me tell you, it was terrible! But SO SO SO worth it. I'm days from getting the typhiod and menengitis shots, too - thank goodness. After that, I get my visa and then I'm off !!!!

I want give another big thank you for the people who donated even just a little bit. If it weren't for anyone that did, than my dream wouldn't be coming true right now! Also, thank you for following my blog :) I'll see if I can keep it up while I'm abroad.

Love and light !

Third page in the Steamboat Pilot!!

Yesterday, I was very suprised to find my picture and a very well written article about me by Nicole Inglis on the third page! I opened the front page and BOOM there I was! I was so excited to see myself there I was almost in tears. All day long at work I had customers asking me as they read the newspaper, "Isn't that you right on page three?" I recieved some extra tips and everything!!

Going to Africa is a dream that becomes more and more real for me every day. The more I think about it, the more I smile like a dumby. :)

(The article: http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2011/jan/22/soroco-junior-raising-funds-order-travel-ghana/

Today, I found a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that spoke out to me in a way.

He said: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Not only is it incredibley true, it's very inspiring for me. As simple as the quote may be, it makes me think about the war and violence that is used to solve problems between countries. Questioning the government is normal, I suppose!

Just a thought, I guess...

Fundraising like crazy

I learned about Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) in June 2010, and commited immediately. For quite some time, I've been searching for an organization to go to Africa with, and GLA was the shoe that fit! I'm so happy to finally be going abroad this summer instead of watching from the side-lines and occasionally contributing a dollar or two. I know the people around me are proud of me because I'm proud of myself. For my parent's sake (and mine, of course), GLA reassures safeness when traveling to other countries. The tuition is reasonable for the safety I'll be recieving and I'm quite happy about that. My fundraising is going smoothly, so I'm not worried about the pricey tuition. On my birthday, my family and friends came from around the state to come to my party. I recieved over $400 dollars in leu of gifts that day! My dad owns a restaurant here in the small town of Colorado that we live in, and naturally, I work as a waitress. My paychecks/tips and small donations that I've received from helpful townspeople and friends have been very helpful for a few months. I recently had a bake sale to raise the extra money I needed to go to Ghana. My dad and I baked and decorated delicious red velvet, sour cream chocolate, and vanilla cupcakes along with sugar cookies. I was very lucky that Saturday because many people came into our restaurant to buy goodies. Even the people who only came in to eat lunch and dinner bought from me! My teachers and friends all stopped by to contribute to my fundraising and enjoyed a cupcake and/or cookie. My town may be tiny, but the people sure know how to be like a family. By the end of the day I was tired, but it was worth it. I raised $200 to add to my goal. Along with financial aid and scholarships, I've made enough money to pay for my tuition! I'm SO happy. People that care about me are writing letters of recommendation as well - how exciting.

Now all I need to focus on is paying for my airfare to Ghana... :)