Fw: hi

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Rauk"
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 8:28 AM
Subject: FW: hi


> From: Anna Rauk [mailto:africarauk@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 8:07 AM
>
>
> Hi Again!
>
> I am on a crazy slow computer, so I hope this has time to send before I
have
> to leave.
>
> Things are wonderful. I am currently in Accra with two other trainees,
for
> "Accra quest", where we do a little scavenger hunt around the city to find
> some places that might end up important in the next couple years. We
aren't
> having much luck today....but that's to be expected the first day of
> navigating a new city, public transportation, etc.
>
> Whenever I sit down at a computer I draw a little blank on what I was
going
> to talk about, but I'll give a few answers to peoples' questions.
>
> Which reminds me......thanks to y'all who have been writing. Rest
assured,
> I will get your e-mails....but I can't make any promises about when I will
> get to reply.......internet time has been ljittle so far, but hopefully
when
> we get to our training sites it may be a little more accessible....but
then
> again....it may not.
>
> The group is great. Mostly my age (between 22 and 28), though a couple
are
> in their 30's, and one is a retired grandmother (in her 60's...and she's
> never left the country before!)
>
> There is one volunteer who came here directly from a previous 2-yr peace
> corps service in Bulgaria. Another served in Kenya ten years ago. They
are
> all Americans, as peace corps is an american program.
>
> I am currently taking "survival twi" lessons, because that is the language
> generally spoken in and around Accra. Most people here in Accra speak
> english as well, but they speak Twi with each other. I find out tomorrow
> which village I will end up in...and until then, I dont know what language
I
> will be learning.
>
> Oh. I was going to tell you. My favorite lesson/seminar so far has been
on
> how to interact with my village chief. I am excited to meet him.
>
> Shoot. Iwould love to write a ton more. But there is no time. Like I
> said, tomorrow we find out waht villages we will be in, and Saturday we go
> to our home stays. I will be by myself with a family, and staying in the
> same village (during training) as 2-4 other volunteers who will have to
> learn the same language. We will have language class together every day,
> and will meet up with the rest of hte group who is in the same half of hte
> country once a week, and stay in a hotel together as a group one night a
> week, and have lessons more specific to our jobs.
>
> Last night we had a reception at the Ghana US Ambassador's house. They
> served us wine and American food (mini pizzas!!!!!), and we schmoozed with
> all the big-wigs in Ghana who are connected with the US government. Or,
> more accurately, the big-wigs schmoozed with each other and we peace corps
> trainees watched. Afterwards we went to the French embassy, where there
is
> a drumming/dancing performance once a week.
>
> Amazing.
>
> I want to learn to drum and dance by the time I leave.
>
> I better send this. There is so much to tell. Hopefully when I get to my
> training site, I can find an internet place to sit at for a few hours
> (rather than 20 min at a time) and collect my thoughts and give you an
> adequate e-mail.
>
> But rest assured that I am with a good group, I am making
> friends (it may be comforting to know that one of my better friends so far
> has worked his way through school as a body guard to celebrities...he has
> protected George W, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise............), and I am happy to
be
> here.
>
> I am excited and nervous to meet my home stay family.
>
> And now I really have to go.
>
> LOVE YOU.
>
> -Anna-
>
>