It was the first day in almost three months where I hadn’t begun sweating by 10:00am. The clouds were holding back the sun, the air was dry, and the breeze was active. At first break of the school day, the 4-H club executive team and myself met under the tree in the schoolyard, its exposed […]
Continue ReadingBlindsided
The temperature has finally cooled to a breezy 27 ℃ after it had reached its peak of 32 ℃ earlier in the day. The sun is starting to set and the golden hour is upon us. The way the sun makes everything glow only makes me fall more in love with Yamoransa and I feel […]
Continue ReadingClose Your Eyes
On the night after returning from a long trip back to Koforidua from the Centre for No-Till Agriculture (CNTA) in Kumasi, I took some time to gather all my thoughts and reflect about the events that took place over the past week and how much knowledge I have gained from that experience. I went outside […]
Continue ReadingThe Masterpiece of Life
As I am making my daily trek up the mountain to get cell service, my shirt is soaked from the beaming heat of the afternoon sun and the stifling humidity. Feeling absolutely miserable, I begin to hear my phone’s familiar “ding” as the once patiently waiting messages now begin crowding into my inbox, and I […]
Continue ReadingThe 998 Good Bricks
Here I am, lying on the bed of my room, starring at my broken leg in Yamoransa, Ghana. As I stare at my broken leg, I have been wondering how much more challenging it has been to carry out my goals here in Ghana. The doctor told me to put no weight on my leg […]
Continue ReadingAid?
Is foreign aid all bad? These days, it seems like almost everyone has something to say on the matter. Though I’ve personally maintained my silence for as long as I can suffer, today I will confess that I am no exception. Allow me to explain. I’ve spent the last 14 months living with, learning from, […]
Continue ReadingRain on a Tin Roof
It was one of the first class periods I was teaching on my own. I had spent hours meticulously working on my lesson plans, making sure each aspect of the lesson was planned out and properly prepared. My class period was to be held from 12:50 – 2:00pm, in the heat of the day. I […]
Continue ReadingHelping without Hurting
When I first set foot in Mensah Dawa, so many questions ran through my head simultaneously. I wondered how my life would look here, if the people would treat me well, and will the students thrive under my instruction? As we came to my small house behind the school, we passed through the primary school […]
Continue ReadingNow Take it to the Farmer
The suspense hung in the air as Professor Aaron Asare of the University of Cape Coast closed the novel cowpea seed presentation and it was time for the National Varietal Release and Registration Centre Committee to decide which varieties to take to the National Seed Council. Everyone shuffled outside the room as the gears behind […]
Continue ReadingWear Socks, it’s Very Cold
On the first day of school at Nana Ankobea Takyiwa, a bell rang and over 200 primary students gathered in lines by grade level on the grass in front of the classrooms. The teachers went up the steps to stand on the cement walkway, and proceeded to list the school rules that all students should […]
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