My time here in Ghana is finally coming to an end. I must say that it’s been a wonderful 2 years! The people in my town have really made me feel welcome and I’ve had just a great experience. Even through all the frustrations with teaching, the townspeople have always been there for me, and have given me so much support. I don’t know what I would have done without all of the friends I made when I was here.
With that said, I’m spending my final weekend at my house here with some big big plans. I’ll post more about that next week. However, for this post I’d like to update you all on some of my recent activity here.
I’ve been fairly busy, haven’t been teaching too much but I have been playing basketball a lot with my friends and been hanging out in town a little more often. Here is a photo of my basketball crew. I must say that none of this would have been possible without a previous Peace Corps Volunteer, Patrick Choquette’s, work in building the basketball court. I have continued to teach a few of his former students and some other young men in the community. Well, it hasn’t been so much teaching, but us getting together a few times week and playing and having fun. From left to right we are: (bottom) Discuss and Kingsley (top) Archer, Cantona, Sketches, and I.

Not pictured: Kobe, Stitches, Shadow, Cesar, Rasheed, Ashes, Daniel, and a few others.
Last weekend I celebrated my 27th birthday. I tried to throw a big celebration Ghana style. Meaning that since it is my birthday I pay for and arrange for everything. Well, one of my really good friends, Ishmael, was instrumental in getting everything arranged. We had enough cokes, alcohol, and food for more than 30 people. It was a giant undertaking, and many thanks go out to Ishmael for helping me to setup everything.
Many thanks also go to these fine ladies, Tina and Fidelia
they (with the help of some of my students) prepared all of the food for everyone. We had fufu and rice balls with ground nut soup and beef, grasscuttter, and antelope. My goodness, they did an amazing job. Everybody applauded the food.
Other than people in my town, I had 7 of my closest friends here in Ghana come and celebrate with me. Here we are (where is nancy?) pictured with 4 of my students:

After enjoying all of the food and drinks we had a small dance party and many of my students also showed up:

Here is a photo of the 2 caretakers of my house. They have been very helpful with everything during my stay, they are Bugga and Oyibo

Another very helpful woman in my town was Mama Gladys, she was a wonderful neighbor and was always looking out for me
Another important person was the woman that helped provide the cassava and plantains for my party and that was Abena, I see her almost everyday:
Lastly, it wouldn't have been a party with some of my peace corps friends....here is a few photos:
Kyle, myself and Andrew.
and lastly, a photo before the party:
That's all for this update. I'll try and post one or two more times before I leave Ghana. I've got a lot more photos to take and things to do/see. I'll be flying out of Ghana next Wednesday the 28th of July. It's really been a good 2 years, this blog doesn't even begin to describe all of my experiences I've had in Ghana.