John's Next Step

The St. Louis Pride festival is this weekend and the Peace Corps has an information booth so I volunteered to help out yesterday.  I was there from 11 am to 1 pm, on Saturday before it got really crowded. Still I was able to talk with a number of people interested in the Peace Corps.  Some of the young people were looking for ways to improve career opportunities.  Some of the people with more grey than pink in their hair were interested in a change from their current career.  I was happy to speak with a number of high school students very interested in Peace Corps.  They know they need to get a 4 year degree so they have time to think about it. Nice sunny day out for the festival when I was there. Had to get a picture with the arch in the background. Still need to work on my selfie Replacements take off the booth at 1 pm, just as it is getting hot. (at least by STL standards - I thought it was still rather cool) There are m...

Today is father’s day and I’m very happy to be able to spend it back home.   I wish   all the fathers a good day. Thinking about stuff I’ve been back in my four bedroom house for over two weeks now.  Being back with family and friends is nice while the circumstance of my departure from friends in Ghana is regrettable.  Life with hot showers and a washing machine is very nice while seeing all the stuff in the house compared to my place in Ghana reveals a need to simplify.  I’m still adjusting. One of the reasons I joined the Peace Corps was to learn to live more simply.  I came back from Ghana with two bags.  I now turn my attention (when not focused on doctor visits, reconnecting with family and friends, etc.) to the stuff acquired in a lifetime.  My house, particularly the basement, is full of things for me and the kids.  Things we thought we needed at the time, things that have sentimental value, things that have economic value, th...

Last weekend I was able to meet up with my recruiter at a farmer’s market.  While helping at the recruiting booth I met a couple returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs).  I’m looking forward to comparing notes in the future. My parish had their annual summer ride festival the first Sunday I was back.  The rides impact parking and so the Sunday schedule was thrown off.  Today is “fellowship Sunday” – AKA coffee and donuts – so I will be going to my “normal mass” at 10:15.  I hope to see a number of friends there.   Last Sunday mass in Ghana First Sunday mass in Missouri Summer festival at my church I went to an early mass so parking would not be a problem last weekend. Doctor visits I’ve been busy making doctor appointments for this and that.  I’m scheduled for a session with respiratory therapy to learn how to clear my lungs on Monday.  I’m also going for another primary care visit to talk about other issues from Gh...

On May 24 th I was notified that Peace Corps medical office decided that I should be medically evacuated as my cough was still lingering.  They figured that getting medical treatment at my home town would be the best way to address the situation.  I would have preferred to learn to clear my lungs and so be able to stay in Ghana until my desired close of service date of August 18 th .  However, I realize that no one really had all the facts and we were all just trying to make the best decision. I have 45 days to be medically cleared.  During this time Peace Corps will take care of the bills and I will officially remain a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV).  In a normal case I would be back on a plane to Ghana within 48 hours of my medical clearance.  However, as I have less than 90 days of service returning to site only to leave again would be very difficult on everyone.  So upon medical clearance I will complete service and become a Returned Peace Corps V...

View from a large cave on the groups of the monastery. Selfie in front of an arch.  I so need a hair cut I was at the Kristo Buase Benedictine Monastery from the 19 th to the 23 rd .  I spent the entire time on the monastery grounds relaxing and joining in with the prayers when my cough allowed.  It was very pleasant.  One minor disappointment was the limited time to be able to discuss things with the monks.  They hold to silence for most of the time as part of their practice.  I did have a nice chat for about an hour on Saturday with some of the monks and a nice shat on Sunday after mass with the priest. I highly recommend a short stay for those visiting Ghana.  There are also plenty of other sites in the area that come highly recommended.  More information is on their website: http://www.kristobuasemonastery.org/ The monastery was established in 1989 on about 400 acres.  The monastery is surrounded by sandstone outcroppings...

No word as of Wednesday from medical.  Peace Corps doctors said it was OK to go to the monastery for a short visit while I wait for the final test results and word of my diagnosis and planned treatment.  I will return to Accra on Monday or continue on to my site depending on what the doctors want.  I’m eager to get back to site and my work but also eager to get rid of this cough and other nagging though minor health issues. I’m hoping to use the time at the monastery as a spiritual retreat.  So I wrote this short post early and scheduled its posting in case I’m unable to post while at the monastery.  I hope to have pictures and something interesting to say next week.  Another reason to go the monastery is to see if a change in environment helps.  My cough got noticeably better at the COS conference and got a little worse once I spent a few days in Accra.  I hope to have some health answers and how this might impact my future health by my...

View of  part of the resort for the COS conference This week I went to the Close of Service (COS) conference.  The conference was two full days with an evening arrival before for dinner and a morning departure after for breakfast.  The purpose of the conference was to let us know how to successfully complete service and to give suggestions on how to move back into the American lifestyle.  After two years of being in the remote villages the reverse culture shock can be difficult.  The meeting for was very good and informative.  It was also nice to see the whole group again. The conference was at a resort in the Volta region and it was very nice.  The rather modern resort was well maintained and by a river.  The food was good - fish every night.  I got to get in a swimming pool for the first time in Ghana.  All in all it was very different from the normal accommodations for a Peace Corps volunteer. While I was at the resort ...