...Out of the 'funk!'

It has been a long time since my last entry, I know. I don't really know why: laziness, disinterest, lack of anything interesting to say, unbelievably slow internet...the list goes on.

I was in a 'funk' from September to December of last year. I was just really tired of the same old routine (and probably the prospect of another whole year). Somehow I managed to re-charge a bit. Now I'm just trying to enjoy my last months here (only about 8 left to go!) and not worry so much about actually getting anything concrete accomplished. No use in stressing myself out.

A good friend of mine ET'd (Early Terminated) her service a few weeks ago. Her community was not very cooperative or supportive of her. It was just time for her to go. Its really hard for PCV's to go home early because we all committed to two years service and if our projects don't work out (as many of them don't) we tend to blame ourselves or keep hoping that a breakthrough might happen. It takes a strong person to admit and confront the reality that things just didn't work out the way they hoped for. So, I'm proud of her. She knows how to make herself happy.

Tourism development in my village is moving at the fastest pace it ever has since I've been here. We are holding training sessions on business management and development. So far we've covered an overview of the tourism industry and community-based tourism and management and governance. It is going well, but as usual we're still having trouble getting everyone to attend meetings. Something is better than nothing I guess.

My womens' group is still working on getting an estimate for a building for them to do the work in during the rainy season. They keep telling me its coming. I told them to get it to me by today, so that means maybe next week.

Also still working on the business plan with the transportation union...they're supposed to get biographies and financial projections, but have been delaying on that for at least 2 months.

The mushroom project with the local chapter of the Ghana Association for the Blind has petered out. The leader told me something about them trying to organize a storage area and some more funds.

The reading and writing club is going strong. I have a core group, though they are getting rowdier with every class as they realize I'm a push-over.

Soon I'm travelling to Togo and Benin with another PCV. It will be a welcome break. So, I'm studying my French, au revoir!