So, I have arrived in Ve-Deme, at the Volta Home Orphanage, about 40 km from Hohoe in the Volta Region of Ghana. I started teaching immediately - I'm teaching 13-17 year olds, which is a new challenge. Day one, they threw me in and I was teaching advanced geometry. I messed up a lot, but they were understanding.
Meanwhile, I am growing reflective. This is probably due to the fact that there are no other volunteers here (yet) and I'm bored. I'm feeling lonely and homesick, which makes me feel guilty for two reasons: I know David is missing me and home (and I him) and that I'm not here and "with it" 100%.
Anyway, I've come to the realization that if nothing else is gained from this trip, I have learned how important it is to never take anything for granted. From water running from the tap, having a place to sleep at night, food to eat, someone who loves me, a mother and a father... there are just so many things these children don't even know they should have... and again, I
feel guilty. I miss my family desperately, but I will see them in a matter of a few short weeks. These children long for something, anything that feels like the family and the home they've never known. I feel guilty that despite my presence here, and the appearance of selflessness, I am very selfish in my heart. I want nothing more than to spend the night lying next to my husband, with my cats nearby, in my comfortably luxurious apartment. I want to watch The Daily Show and surf the internet mindlessly. I want things to be easy again.
Sorry orphans! :)
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2 comments:
That's just about how I felt in Belfast, only slightly less because they do have running water. It's interesting traveling like that. I saw huge British guard towers, and armored windows etc
Realize the dream.
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