John's Next Step

We got a new ICT teacher this week.  The headmaster did not have a choice in the matter.  The new teacher seems fine, he was a teacher at the local senior high school, but circumstances changed.  I don’t know, and don’t need to know, the whole story. The big impact is that he is teaching all of my classes starting this week.  It has been nice hearing the students come up to say they would rather have me teach them, but we are making the best of it. So now what am I to do?  One thing is certain in the Peace Corps.  You will be placed in an environment that has plenty of potential work. I hope to be able to take some of the more advanced students through some programming theory and practice using a programming language called “Scratch” from MIT that takes a lego approach to writing programs.  I need to get started on this soon. There are other things that could be done with the computer to make them more useful at the Junior High level, such as...

Camera issues My camera battery and or charge is/are spoiled – African electrical current.  So the easy way to take pictures is not available.  I’ll still try to get a few snaps with my phone. Fresh clementine from the store in Rabat Morocco Display of some ceramics in Casablanca airport Slowly getting back into school Last week I was not at school and the students were busy with a lot of work around the school.  I understand few classes were held. I got back on Tuesday afternoon after my class time was over, but that was only a single class.  I was able to work on my lesson notes. I was able to teach three hours of lessons on Wednesday and give a quiz to the form 3’s this week. Thursday would have been another busy day of teaching, but all the schools in our district had a meeting.  Some of our girls provided entertainment in the form of a few songs. Dondometeng D/A JHS girls signing during district meeting My place My plac...

I received great medical care for my teeth while in Morocco.  The doctors also worked on my sore shoulder – nothing major – a bruised muscle that will take more than a few months to heal.  And then I have a recurring problem growing a fungus in my ear canal – so that is also being treated. The food and the people of Morocco are great.  I stayed in Rabat but was able to chat with some of the local Peace Corps Volunteers.  I left Morocco on Friday night/Saturday morning. I’m now back in Ghana, but I cannot get out of Accra until Monday night as the bus is full for Saturday night and Sunday night.  So it will be a little bit longer before I get to site on Tuesday afternoon.  I should get some teaching in and I will check on my other projects.  However, I’m also to come back for an ENT visit to check up on my ears in a couple of weeks. I don’t have a lot to say this time, so I figured I would show a few pictures of Morocco. Cathedral of St. Pete...

My medical conditions were enough for the Peace Corps to send me to their regional medical center for West Africa – Rabat Morocco.  It is here that I’ve seen the dentist, ENT, orthopedic doctor, and physical therapist. My tooth was both worse – with a major chunk broken off on Christmas and better – as no root canal was performed.  The original plan was a root canal, but the doctors in D.C. wanted a more conservative approve.  The doctors in Morocco have to follow the directions of the doctors in Washington D.C. like everyone else abroad in the Peace Corps. I have a temporary crown and should have a permanent one on Tuesday if all goes well.  (No pain that would indicate a root canal.) I have yet another fungal infection in my ear canal which is impacting my hearing.  Nothing serious – I have drops now and will have a salve later. My shoulder is a bad sprain of the supra-something or another (I know what it is but will have some semblance of HIPPA secu...

Happy New Years!!!  I realize many people back in the states started having their spring storms early this year.  My heart and thoughts go out to the people dealing with the displacement and damage.  Support your neighbor and your local Red Cross. We are in the dry season here with the blowing dust of the harmattan.  I’m spending my time in the capital Accra.  The city does experience intense rains and flooding during their rainy season. As way to show life in Accra – I took a couple of pictures on the way to the bus station (to pick up a package).  The pictures are not the most outwardly flattering for the city or the country, but this is their life and people are making the best of it.  I admire their happiness in their day to day efforts. Look down the canal - with traffic and a new highway under construction Women walking.  Yes, the one women to the right is carrying 36 eggs on her head. The man is buying somet...