Yo I have words

He who will live for others shall have great
troubles, but they shall seem to him small
He who will live for himself shall have small
troubles, but they shall seem to him great

-William R. Inge

Well I left off at our 3 days off. So for the next week we stayed at Pamela and Colleen's place. We spent this time debriefing our camping trip, looking more in depth about Ghana and it's culture, seeing pictures from the times other groups had gone and last minute checks about the program and the things we were committing to. The first night we went to the Guelph library and we each did aspects of Ghana. I did the history of Ghana starting from 1500. I'd write it all but it's 3 pages long so I'll pass. Although I will say this it, was a very interesting history. Learning more about Ghanaian culture and seeing all the pictures with all the different stories behind them was very educational/moving. It's funny how it's all the little things we may take for granted, in the sense that we assume it's same all over the place, are a lot of the time what really matter in Ghanaian culture(as well as others). I really have come to understand the goals of this program and have come to respect it even more. We're coming into Ghana with a sense of trying to accomplish solidarity. Although this is a goal we all realize will be hard to truly to attain, seeing as we're only there for 6 months of our lives. I'm not saying it's futile but it's a reality we must face. When i compare this program to others I'm really glad we're not coming in as a group of foreigners telling people what or how to do something. Much disrespect can result from doing this especially from how our cultures differ. What we value as important and a sign of respect may in other places not be valued and disrespectful. In terms of money, giving money just because we can may not always be the best solution, unless properly investigated. An example given to us was, if we had the money to pay for the towns to get water why wouldn't you just give them the money. Although you want to pay for it(lets say it's 600 which seems so small a price to pay when your talking about getting water to a whole village), what could be the consequences. When it's payed for and you've left, do these people still have monthly fees to pay? If they do, how are they going to be able to pay for it? Will it be a small fee that's affordable or a large one that's not. Remember we all have different views of what's affordable. Charity should not start and end at the idea of giving money to the problem. It should start with researcher and knowledge. Not for our sakes but of those we're trying to help. Why give money to an charity,who's fees and costs take away a huge portion, when we can find one that directly helps the people. I'm not trying to say don't give money it won't help, it will, but not when it's given blindly and we hope that where ever we put our charity it's helping. Some times the sad truth is it's not but it doesn't have to be like that . Know where your money goes. This sentiment is not only to money but as well with groups going into other countries to help. Our idea of help is not always as ideal as we'd like to think. All I'm saying is look into what your doing with your charity and make sure it's helping the right way and not the wrong way with good intentions. I feel happy that where I'm volunteering is at a free medical clinic set up by Ghanian's for many years. This program is created so that or understanding is big but our impact is small. Then when we return we're able to take that big understanding and small impact and turn it into something bigger. In the past, participants have gone back with Oneworld to help setup change in Ghana, in terms of water, money, food, but this change comes from the people there, we only come to help it get started.

So the next week we spent at a cabin on Lake Huron for or spiritual retreat. It was a really nice way to unwind from all the things we've been experiencing over the past month. With the exception of one night, there was always an amazingly crazy awesome sunset each and every night across the sky and over the water. We had really interesting and neat workshops on hope, images of god(god in a general term),creation(not creationism but of the cosmos down to humans, this one really made me want to learn biology), journal writing and our individual needs. We also did one day called monks day where we didn't talk or eat the entire day. I found it surprising that the entire day i was not hungry at all. Except i decided not to drink anything as well and i was doing really good until around 7 or 8 pm. All I could think about was the orange juice we had in the fridge. I broke down and went to go get some but all we had was lemonade(devastating...well not really, it was the best f'n cup of lemonade I'd every had). That week was a very relaxing one except for the lose of Maria at the end of it. But i did get a lot out of that week and one thing I felt really good about getting out was on paper. Normally I'm not one to do poems but after the discussions we had on hope I just wanted to write something about it. It came from a place that seems dark and a place where we may be when in Ghana. But this isn't a poem about the end or having no where left to go. It's about finding that bit of hope when you think it's not there. I don't have a title yet but here it is below. I'm flying out today so this will be my last post for a bit. Hope everyones enjoying the blog so far and hope to hear from people when i come online next. PEACE.

Hope
I have none
In my mind I've been stranded
On an island, all that surrounds the tides of black
Inch by inch it creeps, the tide comes in
Over the sand, it does not stop
It crawls to the sun and covers the sky
Hope
I have none
It comes to cover the grass
And follow me to the forest
So slowly it consumes everything on this island
Trudging along, as if it wants me to witness it's intent
I curse it
Hope I have none
No where left, up I climb
What was once enveloped in shimmering beauty
Is only the ever present dark rising tide
It moves faster now, engulfing all
I stand at the top, alone, no where left to go
Every last move exhausted
No where or thing left to contemplate
Except ...
Hope
I have some

PEACE(I'm saying peace that's not part of the poem)