Change, Sweet, Sweet, Change!

So much has changed since my last post I don't even know where to begin!

National Cultural Center

Just some really cool clouds

Last weekend I went downtown again on Saturday to visit the National Cultural Center, which my guidebook told me was a good place to check in with the tourism office about different events going on and there are craft shops etc. Well, apparently everything happens during the week and the place was practically a ghost town. O Ghana...the country doesn't seem to care much about tourism. Anyway, the place had beautiful grounds (minus all the trash that permeates this whole city) so I just walked around, visited the 3 shops that were open, bought a few knickknacks and hung out on a bench and read, enjoying a moment of repose and sanctuary away from the crazy city center. That evening I went to Vic Baboo, a restaurant downtown that my guidebook informed me was the place to run into other backpackers, which I thought might be a nice break from my suburban solitude. There were a few travelers there but the place turned out to be a nice restaurant and not much of a hang out spot. Not really the place for me to meet people so I ate some yummy Indian Dahl and decided to head home. Took me about 45 minutes of walking and getting lost in the dark near Kejetiva Market (the crazy central market I mentioned) and trying to find the place where the tro-tros head back to Kenyase but after many different directions from about 10 people I finally found my way. Spent another hour sitting in the evening traffic so was absolutely beat by the time I got home! Decided to just enjoy a day of rest Sunday. Did laundry, made food, read a book and watched movies. I really appreciated the quiet!

Loom that makes Kente cloth.
It's famous cloth for this region.

So after a fine, but nothing spectacular weekend, things finally started to change! The Founder of the school, Albert, arrived, which really changed EVERYTHING. The shift of energy at the school was shocking. Everyone was moving around with places to be and things to do and people were chatty and looked alive. It was a whole new world. A bit worrisome that the energy seems to really stem from him since he lives in the U.S. and only comes for a few months out of the year...but that's part of my analysis for my project I suppose.

Speaking of my study...I finally received IRB approval to start! I began filling out UNC's proposal the first week of my internship in Chapel Hill but so much kept changing about my project (and then not really changing at all) that I didn't get it submitted until after my first week here. IntraHealth also required an IRB approval so that was application #2 and then UNC required that I get a local IRB approval making it IRB application #3. The local IRB turned out about as hard to get as you'd think it would in Africa... a.k.a. it didn't happen. The second option instead of a local IRB was to get a letter from a local expert saying my study was culturally sensitive - easy enough since the school knows why I am here and are OK with it but not so easy when all of a sudden the Registrar was out of town, the President was at a conference and the Founder was traveling. Whew! Anyway, the Founder a.k.a. Chancellor of Garden City University College finally arrived in Kumasi this week and got the letter signed for me first thing. I submitted it all to UNC and I was approved by that afternoon!

Another change started to take shape last weekend and that is just the fact that I've been here for a few weeks and feel more settled and comfortable with my surroundings. It's amazing what a few weeks will do. I have learned to appreciate the quiet I have in my big African compound, even with the cockroach problem I seem to be having. I also feel more comfortable at the school, my "office," and people are more comfortable with me. One of the women who works in accounting got me fabric and helped me go to a tailor to have it made (and paid for the tailor!) after I complemented on her dress. I think we're even going out dancing after work tomorrow since it is her birthday!

Part of the great thing about having Albert here is that he is determined to help me learn more about the school and he's definitely a do-er so when I've needed things done for my report he's been a great help.

Yesterday, Albert took me to visit a new hospital that is being built by his cousin on the outskirts of Kumasi. The new hospital will serve as one of the clinical training sites for GCUC nursing students. The school needs more sites for clinical practice since the one teaching hospital in Kumasi is completely overwhelmed with students and therefore they don't get well trained. To supplement, the students go to various private hospitals around the area. This new hospital looks top of the line as well with new technology that will be really great for the students to learn.

Chinese Food!

Albert Acquah

My cooking station...
always an adventure

After visiting the hospital, Albert took me to a Chinese restaurant at one of the nicer hotels in the area. Food was nothing amazing although the spring rolls were really good. It was nice to get out for a change since I've been eating chicken, rice and the few vegetables I got at the store for about a week now. (Definitely not complaining though that I can cook for myself - my stomach has been much happier! Also, GCUC's Practical Coordinator was with us and when we dropped her off at her house she gave me two small eggplants straight from her garden so I am excited to cook those tonight!).

Before I got a nice sharp knife
from the market last weekend,
this was me chopping
vegetables with my Leatherman...
I'm glad I brought it at least!

Practical Coordinator talks to
some of her nursing students
while at their clinical site

Today, Albert and the Nursing Practical Coordinator and I visited one of the clinical sites where current students have been working for the past 8 weeks. It was great to get a tour of the hospital and see the students in action as they practiced various skills. A graduate of GCUC is now employed full-time there, which was nice to see. I also got to take videos of him and the Practical Coordinator for a "I'm a Health Worker" video series that CapacityPlus has been doing throughout the 5-year project.

Always like seeing condom ads!

All the signs around the hospital were sponsored by an
energy drink company but I asked and the
 hospital isn't funded by the company...only the signs.

I started interviewing people for my study this week as well and while quite a few had to be re-scheduled it has been a good start. I have a lot more to do so it is going to be a busy few weeks but it will be good. I've already gathered some information from the interviews that made me realize there was a huge misunderstanding here at the school for what they thought was happening with one of the tools from CapacityPlus so I am trying to work on that on top of my project.

Also, now I have exciting plans in my future! The founder really wants me to see the rest of Ghana and all there is to see so we've coordinated a trip to Mole National Park this weekend! It is Ghana's largest wildlife refuge so I get to go see elephants, monkeys, maybe lions, etc! We're also going to go up to the most Northern part of Ghana to Bolgatanga and maybe to Paga where there are these crocodile ponds that apparently have the friendliest crocodiles in Ghana, whatever that means....I am for sure not going to test out the theory!