New Pictures

We just got internet at our sub offices here, so now I have time to upload pictures.  I posted some on the flickr account, and will try to post more soon…I’ve noticed I haven’t taken much pictures lately, not sure why…but here are some old ones at http://www.flickr.com/photos/7392286@N08/  I think that address will work…much love

 

Kids Tree Project

hey yall…so i am getting requests that yall back home want to send the kids something, or help them in some way.  well, we planted some trees a few weeks ago.  we planted 23 trees at the primary school…i got pictures of the kids up on my flickr account, so check them out.  we measured them and will measure them again at the end of the term in late july.  the kids with the tree that has grown the most will win a prize.  the children whose trees are still alive will get a lesser prize.  so if yall want to finance these prizes, it would be a great way to provide aid to these children.  i will buy them notebooks and pencils and such…so send word if you want to help and i’ll give you details.  i only need one or two sponsors, so it is first come first serve.  thanks for the support and i’ll look forward to hearing from yall…much love.

 

Pictures

6 months into it and I finally posted some pictures. I chose to do them on a flickr account (part of yahoo.com). I don’t think you need an account with yahoo to view them, but if you do, just make one, it’s free. Anyway…I hope yall enjoy, sorry there are so few, more will come…when I have the time.

Website address is http://www.flickr.com/people/7392286@N08/

 

Somalia

I wanted to post a querry to yall back home about the recent intervention in Somalia.  My only source of information is from the BBC…VOA hasn’t really discussed America’s bombing Somalia last Monday.  This is my exposure and a little of my opinion:  Ethiopia sent troops into Somalia, upon Somalia’s transitional governments request, to help run off the United Islamic Courts in southern Somalia.  Ethiopia denied having troops there for the first few days, then admited they did, but only because Somalia’s tranistional government requested them.  Somalians calling into the BBC all say they do not need more chaos.  They have been in unrest for so long, and no citizens want Ethiopia or any nation to get involved.  BBC listeners calling in kept assuming that America was at the core of the reason for Ethiopia getting involved.  This agrivated me because I didn’t think there was any reason for people to think this.  There was no evidence, people were just voicing their assumption because, well, not many people like America right now in the world.  I dismissed it, thinking they were entitled to their opinions and there was no signs of America’s involvement, so no reason to worry.  Then America bombed southern Somalia Monday, saying we were targeting terrorist groups associated with the American Embassy bombing a decade ago…oh why?  I don’t understand the action, and have little faith that reasons told are the true reasons.  American officials say that Somalia’s transitional government gave the go ahead.  But Somalian citizens calling into the BBC say that the transitional government is nothing more than an unwanted dictatorship that is just acting as a rubber stamp.  Now, I don’t know if yall are getting coverage across the lake, but if you are, what are some more details, what are your opinions, what does it seem are the majorities opinions.  Also, if anyone wants to comment on Bush’s request for more troops in Iraq, please feel free.  I don’t want this to offend anyone, so please keep your comments respectable.  Assumptions can cause lots of problems, so I don’t want to jump to any, nor would I want you to.  Share information and opinions and differenciate between the two.  Ok, please, share words with me, with us…I hope all is well, and much love.

 

My Salvation

My bike…it is my escape.  Lord I love it.  I have my sudo mountains that I live in, and now, with my bike, I can make the hour and a half trek to the White Volta River.  I am set.  I spent last Sunday by the river’s bank, reading my World Religion’s book (thanks Jim), and eating a whole watermelon (with salt)…they are at the end of the season and damn if I am going to enjoy this comfort food conservatively.  Anyway, point is…I love my bike.  I have amazing moutain trails for recreational riding to help me take my mind off of things.  I wish I could share pictures with yall of my village and the surounding area, it is amazing. 

 A little free writing to update yall as to the most interesting recent events:  I caught a picture of Albert (my pet mouse) hanging on the side of my food shelf, staring at my other house gest, a gecko.  A few days ago I turned down the chance to have a pet monkey…I know, what was I thinking.  But looking past the novelty of it, I don’t want one.  The girl who was trying to get rid of it said the monkey is like an infant child…she cries, has to sleep in bed with you, gets into everything, eats pens, and basically has to be watched at all hours of the day…so no thank you, Albert is enough for me.  I also found a scorpion yesterday.  I was putting the guitar away, getting ready to enjoy my cup of Earl Grey (thanks Aunt Marlene and Grandma) while listening to the BBC in my bed and I noticed him above my bed on my wall.  A small one too…not an emporer scorpion, which means he makes up for his lack in size by the potentcy of his sting.  I emptied some tupperware and put some rocks in there and made a home for him.  I released him today with my Ghanaian friend Francis (I call him Fresh), who thought I was mental for not killing it and then burning the remains…it didn’t hurt me, so couldn’t justify it.  I placed him up on the mountain where no one goes, don’t worry.  Work wise…we have the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independence coming up March 6th, and after that the Golob Festival.  So we are trying to get the visitor’s center ready for the influx of tourists.  We are also trying to publicise the festival…invite the media as well as dignitaries…try and see if we can’t get them to see how beautiful a place Tengzug is, and how great it would be four our primary school to have a roof on the back two rooms.  So that is life in my small town Tengzug.  I want to write more, but I need to go buy locks in market for the visitor’s center bathroom…locals keep releaving themselves in there, not using the toilet (one of the many interesting hurdles our community needs to overcome).  Well, much love to all and send me words.

 

Replying

So the computers and Internet connection here…shotty at best.  In actuallity they aren’t all that bad, but I have tried to upload pictures with snapfish and flickr and on facebook, but it just takes to long and I usually have to try and download a software program that the computer is lacking.  So, no pictures as of yet…maybe never, but we will see.  Posts and comments…wordpress is not the fastest page, so it takes me a while and a lot of patients to post entries.  I want to reply to all those who have posted comments, but the capacity just isn’t here.  I love reading the responses to work (Lynne, Denise, Josh and all), it solidifies what I have been realizing.  If you want dynamic interaction with me on a topic, please email me…but don’t think that my lack of responses to your comments is a display of my interest…I can’t think of anything more that I enjoy than hearing opinions and news from home…so keep it up.  Ok, I’m going to attempt a post, if this computer cooperates.  Much love…

 

Send Mail To

Starting November 1st, 2006…send mail to the following address:

Zach Petry – PCV
PO Box 743
Bolgatanga, UER
Ghana, West Africa

This will be my mailing address while I reside in Tengzug.

 

Tengzug Bound

I received my site assignment last week. Sorry for the delay in posting it. I will be located in the Upper East Region of Ghana, close to the boarder of Burkina Faso. Tengzug, meaning the head of the mountain, will be my home for the next 2 years. Historically, it was used by the Fra Fra tribe to escape and take shelter from the British. A natural shrine is the historical monument that I will be promoting for eco-tourism. From what current volunteers tell me, the site is amazing. I have an hour or more hike from the road up the hills to this village that remains secluded from western influence, or so I am told. Traditional tribal beliefs dominate the village…quite interesting to me. I will have a house with no running water or electricity, also interesting to me. I am told that I will be the third and perhaps last volunteer at this site, for unknown reasons to me. I will be the first male volunteer at the site, so it will be interesting to see how I will be treated as apose to the 2 female volunteers before me.

This was the site I hoped for…I feel I will be experiencing what is left of a truely ancient way of life. So far, western influence has been seen everywhere in my travels. A superimposed way of life. I will be exposed to these people’s manifested livelyhood while I am in Tengzug. I have worries about increasing tourism to this village…increasing influence (not saying all influence is bad, and certainly not pinpointing western). But eco-tourism is a gentle approach, so hopefully I will agree with what has been established by these two volunteers before me. Hopefully history, culture, and beliefs will be preserved, while improvements can be made towards these villagers’ life process. Ok, well I am running out of time on this computer. Send some love, words, and thoughts my way.

 

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website do not represent the views or opinions held by the Peace Corps or the United States Government. All comments, questions, and concerns should be addressed to me on this website or via e-mail at petry@vt.edu. I encourage you to voice your opinion, but please keep comments respectful.

 

Akwaaba

Welcome!  This is the greeting I have received in my travels to and around Ghana.  It has been more than a week since my plane landed, and I am still in awe.  There is so much to be said, but I can not begin to say it.  My thoughts ignite from curiousity and are fed by the willingness of these people to share with me their culture.  Frequently I expose questions before the prior have been answered.  So much to take in, it is hard to even give priority at this stage…I love it.  From stepping off the airplane I was hit with a wave of newness.  I am under a sea of unfimiliarity, looking for something to give me berrings so that I may be able to breath a word of expression.  It will come, but for now I am observing…so I am sorry if this post does not describe my environment, but others that follow will…and slowely I will find the surface and will be able to tell of my experience.  I am well, physically and emotionally…I hope the same is true for all of you whom I miss back home.  Send me love through e-mail or messages on here.  I will try and post another message soon.  Until then…much love.