PRACTICE WHAT YOU TEACH

Harmattan is an intense weather pattern shift in Africa that starts in the Sahara Desert, impacted West Africa. The air becomes iso dry that if you don't cover your skin it will crack and bleed. I completely covered myself for Sunday church since the air was changing daily.

After a long celebration and ceremony we we relieved to take off our heels and change into slippers and eat.

After the long process of butchering and harvesting every viable part of the cow the next day a boy was hired to come and spend two hours hacking away at the skull. The boy completely dismantled the skull to retrieve the meats for stew. This is the lower jaw after it was dismantled.

I have these three girls in class, so sweet and will never stop smiling! But as soon as I asked if they wanted a picture together, they refused to smile with their teeth!

I think Bryan sticks out his tongue in every picture, that's all I have to say about this adorable shot of Winnie and Bryan.

The second level of Greenshield is upper primary (5-8), I teach English upstairs and every day while moving to the next class I get to see life carry on outside Greenshield gate.

Since Accra is on the coast of the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean, the tides and waves are ever changing. The life guards are in the water with swimmers and a fleet lines the sand. You hear constant whistle blows to move over or remove yourself from the changing area of water. These waters are known to take many swimmers each year.

When one person gets a picture, it's like a signal is sent out and everyone comes running. I specifically asked them to make a silly face and after FOURTEEN attempts, no funny faces were made.

The waves were giant on Saturday, this does not even do the magnitude justice. The waves were so big that the white caps made it look like giant snowbanks, of course when I made that comparison no one really understood.

As you know this weekend was spent at the beach. Bryan was late to the picture and attempted to drop the same pose as Kelvin suggests in every picture.

During break, Obette ran into the classroom asking for me. I came out and the boys were posing for a picture, I went to get my phone and came back to them tacking each other. Do not be fooled, is not a hug, this is called the 'pre-tackle'.

Welcome back Margaret. During break, my classroom is her first stop as I am usually in the middle of eating a mango. She picks up my phone and gets ready to pose. Can't say no to the boss.

As soon as I took out my phone to check the time. students ran over requesting to have a photo taken, then shifting gears quickly and specifically asking to see a picture of my mom.

Sassy little Margaret. Let me tell you something about Margaret, the sweetest girl but you have to watch her. During assembly every day I stand right next to her to manage misbehavior, if she thinks no one is looking she'll twist other students ears during prayer.

I have three bracelets on my wrist that never come off. These bracelets are from places I have travelled and have been made for me. Today I have two more to add. Class three (my home class) surprised me with two beaded bracelets, one which spells my name during art class! Excuse me while I get emotional.

The students are lined up for morning assembly, getting a bubbly yet stern pep talk from Madame Frana. She has wise advice for their performance of the Chemical Elements song. The majority of Friday was used for joyful preparation of Science Day, the afternoon dedicated to presentation to family of their science experiments and knowledge.

Bryan jumped in on the picture of Winnie and I to flash a thumbs down of disapproval.

This is one of many banana trees that tower over the Abotsi home. On Saturday morning we all went out to harvest the ripe bananas. My potassium levels will be thriving during my time in Ghana!

This road marks the area of Community 25, a new residential area of the city where people are building beautiful homes. Though there is an increase of population in this area, the road will not be done for a few years. The road is very short but rough until the main road. I advise you not to drive on this road if you are easily car sick for the bumps are enough for Dramamine.

In Ghana many people use luxurious tiles outside their homes in a way to express wealth, my host father John wanted to do the opposite. He used beautiful yet simple tile outdoors and used the luxurious marble indoors for the family to enjoy.

This is one of the three giant mango trees in the front yard. My host brother Bryan told me "the mangoes hide from us and the birds so we must shake them down."

It takes two people to harvest the bananas since they are so heavy. Kelvin had to bend the entire trunk over and cut it down since one trunk produces once. When the trunk is cut down and the bunch is removed it then takes two people to carry the thick bundle to the yard. The bananas are left for the afternoon to drain the trees white milk.

There is no need to seek out produce elseware at the Abotsi home. This is only a portion of the yard, home to a variety of tropical fruit trees. The size of the fruit differs greatly compared to the fruit that lines grocery stores in the United States. Have you ever seen a papaya the size of a basketball? Well come to Ghana and that is exactly what you will find casually hanging from the trees.