Day 21 – Wrapping It Up
It is at this time during my month long journeys here when I feel the pull from my family in the States. It’s not a bad thing. I know that with us having such young children, my presence is needed more than if they were older. I miss everyone and look forward to sharing face to face with the family. It’s only a week from now that I will be waking up in U.S.A. airspace again. It’s time for me to wrap up these loose ends here.
Today we went to Takoradi to see a Vocational Training school for Esi. WHOAH, that Trotro ride. The Driver was arguing with his ‘Mate’ (Assistant to Driver who calls out the stops and takes money). Later he was arguing with passengers about fares. He pulled over twice to argue with folks. The Ghanaians are very afraid of accidents so most were trying to squash the arguments so that the Driver could focus on the road. What a trip. But we finally made it safely. Me and these Trotros. I have named Jen, “Jenny Trotro” because she seems to be in harmony with them. We were working on arrangements to travel somewhere and she didn’t want to spend too much on a private car, so she and Kofi were going back and forth about different modes of transportation to bring the price down. Any time they would bring Trotro in as a mode, I would take myself out of the journey. So Jen says, “Oh Kojo, I didn’t know you were so tender.” I told Jenny Trotro that I have had my share of Trotros over my 13 years of traveling here to Ghana. My Trotro days are coming to a full stop. We all laughed, and then they started trying to find a way to get a private car. LOL!!!
The Admission Director at the school in Takoradi was very informative and patient with us. We had a lot of questions and she was making special concessions for Esi since she has been out of school for so long. Also her final JSS score was very low. So the concern is if she will be able to handle the academic aspect of the curriculum. She will take catering, but once she completes the academic portion of the curriculum along with the catering studies, she will be eligible to go on to a Polytechnical School. Polytech is like going on to a University after High School but from the Vocational Training school. If she doesn’t do well on her entrance exam then she will have to go on the track that will focus mostly on the catering rather than both academics and the trade. If she only focuses on the trade, then she will NOT be eligible for Polytech after graduating. I don’t like that. So we will have to talk about that. I paid for her admission application (10 cedis…WOW…expensive ink and paper…LOL!) and we’re OUT. They only have one bed left at the hostel (dorm), so we have to move fast.
Esi is very excited. I spoke to one of the Brenu JSS Teachers that came by today to help Esi review her math and English. They started right away. The Teacher is Isaac, and he is the one that we want to take over Esther’s position with OYC after she leaves to join her Husband in Accra. Esther has been working with Isaac for years and I have always liked his energy and passion for the youth.Once we returned, I checked my emails and saw that the Farm Consultant, Mr. Kwame, had emailed me saying “Hi Kojo,Since paying has become an issue I have provided some answers as per attached to end the debate. The meeting then will not be necessary.
Let me know if you have other questions through the mail.
Thanks
Kwame”
AND he CC’d Mr. Appiah, which led me to believe that our Gov. Official STRIKES AGAIN!!! Or it could’ve been my back and forth with him about his fee. Or maybe a combination of the two. Either way, he sent me all of the answers to my questions without me having to pay and travel to Accra. The answers were very informative and have impressed me enough to secure him as our Consultant. He told me that we will meet before I leave for the States to get things started. The biggest reality of the mango cropping that has come out of my initial inquiries is that we won’t see commercial yields until 6 years after the initial planting. So, we will have to plant other crops like Pineapple to get the program going. This is a serious project and I am convinced that we will need a Consultant like this to help us reduce our overall risk with this investment. I feel good about this relationship.
Jen is doing a great job with the youth at the school. She is really enjoying herself and the short amount of time that she is working with them will leave a long lasting impression on them. We are enjoying the stories about her daily fitness and reading classes. I would love to have an ongoing cycle of volunteers coming through to help out with our youth here. There are so many youth at the school and they need more than what they are getting in the current curriculum.“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”
Love Family
