Homesick

I am very ready to be home. I am starting to get very homesick. I miss American food so much. I can’t wait to be with my friends and family again. I miss my puppy, Sadie. Maybe, I missed my parent's monster (I mean dog), Dala, too a little. 

I’m trying to learn and grow from this experience so I’m realizing how lucky I am that I do get to go home in 3 weeks. I realize how hard it must be for immigrants. I understand now why they often only hangout in their own groups or neighborhoods. It isn’t easy to want to assimilate.

On this trip, I really haven’t interacted with other Americans or volunteers very much. There are other volunteers in Kpando, but I only really saw them in passing. It seemed weird and sort of wrong of me to want to seek them out. What, just because they are white I should try and friend them? That just seems illogical. It shouldn't be about friending foreigners. It should be about me making friends with Ghanaians. It's just hard because sometimes I don't feel like I relate to them.

I’ve enjoyed my talks with the other volunteers at the hospital, but I think it’s been good for my experience to have the host family stay. When I’ve been homesick, like now, I’ve been a little jealous of some of the volunteers who have a fast new-formed group of friends with fellow volunteers. However, I’ve gained a whole new family. I’ve experienced another culture completely. So, I guess it’s a little lonely at times because I don’t always understand the culture, but it’s given me such a great perspective on life.

It will be good on Wednesday when another volunteer comes to stay with Isaac. Her name is Tiffanie. She is an Occupational Therapist. I’m excited to have American company in Kpando, since I need it now so I don’t become a complete hermit the next 2.5 weeks. Haha! Also, I just want to talk therapy about all the patients in Kpando with someone who understands what I’m saying completely! Hopefully, I can introduce her to some of the people I met so we can continue the progress we therapist have made in Ghana!

I have been meaning to write down the name you are given for the day of the week you were born. They asked me what day of the week I was born as soon as I got to Ghana. I had to text my dad because I had no clue. They thought it was so funny that I didn’t know. Anyways, I was born on Saturday, so I am Ama. In Ebe, they spell most of the boys name with a “K”, but I’ve seen them spelled in other areas of Ghana with “Qu” if that gives you any idea how to pronounce them. Have fun finding out your Ghanaian nickname! A lot of people go by this name more than their given name!

Names for the days of the week in Ghana (Ebe spelling)

	Boy	Girl
Sunday	Kwasi	Akosua
Monday	Kodjo	Adjo
Tuesday	Komla	Abena
Wednesday	Koku	Aku
Thursday	Yao	Yawa
Friday	Kofi	Afi
Saturday	Kwami	Ama

I hope I haven’t offended anyone talking about how homesick I am. I am trying so hard not to check myself out of this trip just because I want to go home. It’s not easy being in another culture without friends and family; however, I recognize how valuable this experience is even if I’m terribly lonely right now. It’s sort of funny, I am so lonely at times, but I’m still so happy! It’s weird to think you can have both those emotions at the same time.

Love, Kari