I've kept long

I would guess every PCV-authored blog features at one point or another an apology for their delay between posts. Let this be my first of hopefully not many. It's been almost two months since my last post and not for any legitimate reason that other PCVs might claim, such as lack of access to internet. We have internet, albeit slower than 56K, in our own home. So with that said, let me provide an update on my life as a PCV with responsibilities, as a stranger experiencing culture shock, and as a person with hobbies.

First, PCV. So the third term of the academic year is underway and it stands true with exceptions that kids have little affinity for math. I like to believe however that my students do enjoy coming to class and that they all learn at least something each class. At times it's hard to say, but I really do enjoy teaching them. We're going to paint. I've started registering interested students to enter their paintings in a contest meant to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. The contest is sponsored by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR, yes, there's an acronym in that acronym). The Plan supplies students with painting materials in exchange for their finished works all of which should depict a certain HIV/AIDS-related theme. This years theme is "Protect Your Dream." In our meeting, we've discussed how contracting the virus can interfere with accomplishing your dreams and, subsequently, ways to avoid contracting the virus. The twelve best paintings from children throughout Ghana are selected by a panel of judges and featured in a published calendar. We want a library and computer lab at the school. We have loose plans to construct a building at the school that will serve as a library and computer lab. The aim of the project would obviously be to raise proficiency in English and computer use for those with access to the school. Stay tuned on that one. You will most likely have the opportunity to contribute. Ghanaian languages are interesting, so interesting to some of us PCVs, that at least one of us has spearheaded a project to document a lot of them in the form of language-learning audio. I've joined the Celebrate Language Project (CLaP) to help with the editing. Here's an example of what we're working on(coming)

Now, as a stranger experiencing culture shock. This is more of an I.O.U. than an update. I have a number of fascinations with Ghanaian culture that I've started to put into words. I plan to post them as I see fit in stand-alone posts. So, expect to see more of those.

Now, as a person with hobbies. My name appeared again in the Problems section of Mathematics Magazine, here's the full article and my solution. During last school break, I spent a good number of hours writing a java applet that animates a four-dimensional cube. The applet is more or less proof that I learned something during the research project I did senior year at St. Mary's College. Partly in preparation for getting myself together to apply to grad school, I've gathered these things and more into a personal website.

By posting shortly after Hallie, I've stolen the space at the top of this page. If you haven't read it already, scroll down to read about Hallie's work with Ghanaian female youth.