Still moving like a snail, but now posting my updates...

Great, now I can retype.
So this weekend was a blast. We went into Kumasi and grocery shopped, and met up with Elisabet and Toon and got ice cream-a total luxury here. Then the next night Toon and Liane came to stay with us for the evening. We had a nice dinner, rice...yum, and then went to get some Star beer at a local bar. Speaking of that, its funny how when you ask for anything here people will ALWAYS want to show you. They will never just point you in the right direction, they have to show you.
Elisabet is unhappy with her project because she is working at a very wealthy school, where she barely interacts with the children. She is trying to switch, but we are going to visit her Friday so we can at least see how bad it is.
Liane lives in a small village with a host family. She is also working in a private school, however it is funded by the government, so in reality it fosters to very poor children. She was telling us how her host family takes her into town everytime they go. Its almost like they are showing her off. So not only is she benefitting from this, but her host family and the school they run is too...
Toon is bored because his school doesn't start for another couple weeks. He is busy exploring Kumasi. I am jealous, even though Kumasi is the most overwhelming thing I have ever experienced. Well, expect Accra. I thank G-d that I am living in a village, especially the one I'm in.
Let's face it, I love Africa.
Well, at least Ghana.
What I don't love is that in our house there are spiders thesize of a small child. Okay maybe not that bad, but I am talking HUGE like 3 or 4 inches in diameter. We have killed a grand total of10 as of today. We are having a nice dinner to celebrate.
Another highlight: We found peanutbutter.
On Sunday Auntie Mary took us to 4 funerals, which I am really glad we did. Funerals here are held on the last weekend of the month over a 3 day period. Saturday is a parade and the burial, while Sunday and Monday are dedicated to receiving guests and friends. It is traditional to wear black, cover your head with a scarf and give a little money to the families. Unfortunately the last 2 things we weren't informed of, regardless I think people we just glad to see us there.
It makes me really happy to associate myself with this community. Everyone knows us, and they all try to help us get around and get things and feel comfortable. All the kids still chase after us yelling "Obruni" but I am hoping that will pass in due time, the sooner the better.
I go by Rebecca here because no one would ever catch onto Rebi, probably because Rebecca is a bible name...hahaha. Anyway now I am "Sister Becky." So if anyone plans to write me, you have to address it to Rebecca or Becky because no one will know who Rebi is.
Today we worked from 7 till1ish with the babies! We had to weigh them and give them vitamins and vaccines. I love Tuesdays, but towards 12ish I start to get exhausted because waiting your turn isn't really a Ghana thing. They kinda throw the kids at you all at once and expect you to figure it out. Great...well I do have to say, there is no such thing as a cuter baby than a Ghana baby. I swear by it.
The health system in Ghana is a little demented because native and local medicine is still widely used in villages. It only costs 70,000 cedis or around $7 a year to be insured for all medications or emergencies, but most people end up paying into the millions, cedis that is, for operations and sudden illnesses because they can't afford the $7 a year. Or because people go into such denial about medicine here. The tribal medical values are extremely difficult to change.
It costs around 30,000 cedis a week to treat malnutrition. It has become a huge problem in villages where mothers are weening the children too early from breast milk because of new pregnancies. Also, malnutrition causes swelling, which most locals treat with oinments of lotions. In reality malnutrition is caused by a lack of protein which can only be treated with proper nutrition and an extra intake of lacking vitamins. Sadly malnutrition, if not treated, is always fatal. The cure lies in education.
It seems it almost always does.
I am very impressed by the attempt at spreading the knowledge of proper health care in Ghana. Most of the adults and elders have scars covering their cheeks from native medical practices, but you rarely see it in children or the younger generation. Also the number of "life choice" signs-choosing to have sex and using the right protection-posted around the cities and villages is astounding. It is the smaller and more rural areas that need to be targeted though. The information rarely gets all the way out there.
I should get going though, we want to go to the market to buy plantanes, casava and yams...personally I am getting sick of spaghetti.