Life has greatly improved since I have been feeling better. Who knew malaria could take it out of you so badly. Monday we decided to go to Kokrobite beach and go back to big milly’s. Clearly, an excellent decision. I read on the beach, had a delicious dinner, and celebrated my wife’s birthday from afar. Missing Katie’s 21^st birthday was so sad, but I tried hard to make it special for her even from Africa. We came back to campus Tuesday afternoon and just chilled out. Katie and I continued our marathon of One Tree Hill.

In class on Wednesday I received my first assignment!! I was actually excited. It just felt like I wasn’t in school because I haven’t had any work. I had to write a 2.5 to 3.5 page paper about Things Fall Apart. I was less excited once I actually started writing but it is finished and printed out! I had my social work class on human growth and development Wednesday night and the information is very easy. We were talking about conception, though, and my teacher explained that women release an egg for every orgasm they have during sex?? It was strange. Katie discovered that we can pick up internet in our room from the net café so if we have prepaid time we can use it!! Way exciting!! I have to sit in this ridiculous section of my room but it’s so worth it! Thursday I had my Psychology of Personality class which I really enjoy. It’s great to understand my teacher so well since he has a British accent, and he is very entertaining. My evening community entry social work class was hilarious. Our class rep informed us that if we want our teacher to give our class good grades we need to as a class provide him with orange juice every class. Haha, what in the world. I was sure I wasn’t understanding, but when I asked a friend she told me I had heard correctly. During the class I was struck by the sharp contrast and differences between what I was being taught here in Ghana and what I would be taught in the US. We were talking about questions to ask when entering a community and things like—where is the chief palace, what days are market days, what all livestock roam the streets, where do people go to the bathroom… would not be typical questions I would be taught to ask. I mean, they are important questions here in Ghana, but it made me start thinking a lot about the education system and lifestyle here in Ghana. How do you even begin to improve the education system. What do we want developing countries to develop into? Is modernization possible to separate from westernization? In general I would advocate that modern commodities such as running water, electricity, sanitation systems, computers ect. Could greately enhance the quality of life. But now that I am here I am not sure how those items can be implemented into society without losing so much of an amazing culture. What determines quality of life anyway? Is there anything innately wrong with the way many people live here? If improving public health and education comes with the cost of lowering people’s happiness and sense of culture is it worth it?? I think so, I just hope that I can see ways were partnering with people to improve their lives does not equate to changing their lifestyle into what “we” have decided is the right way to live.