Lydia's AFS Blog

2009-08-04T11:24:00.001-04:00

time flies!

2009-07-24T13:59:00.002-04:00

So this will be my last post in Ghana. I leave in three days. It still feels like I just got here. And I finally was adjusting to the heat! The last day at the orphanage was pretty sad. I wish we were there for a longer period. The children there did cute songs and dances to show their appreciation. We handed out all the gifts and it all went very well. This past week, my team was traveling and sightseeing and such. We went to see Cape Coast and Elmina Castle, where millions of slaves were shipped out. They were beautiful, but it was so sad. We saw the dungeon chambers and heard all the horror stories. I don't think anyone had a dry eye at the end of the tour. We visited a National Park and were able to do a canopy walk that overlooked the rain forest. It was gorgeous. We then went to Kumasi, which is much like Accra. Kumasi was much more cultural, though (and cleaner!). We learned a lot about the Asante tribe. It was all incredibly fascinating. I am now back in Accra with my host family again. This is my last weekend, and there is still so much I want to see! There is a farewell reception on Sunday, where I get to where my traditional dress that was made for me. I look pretty ridiculous in it, but it's too cool not to wear. My flight leaves on Monday. My leaving is bittersweet. I can't wait to see my family and friends again, but I wish I could stay in Ghana longer to learn and experience more. First thing I'm doing when I land in New York: eating a Big Mac and french fries. :]

2009-07-16T13:30:00.002-04:00

Wow. It is crazy how fast the time goes. I've done so much! I've never realized how much time is in a day until I had to get up at five every morning! Because of the traffic, my family has to leave the house very early to get me to the AFS meeting place on time.
Obama came and went. Everyone was so excited about his visits. There were t shirts, songs, music videos, and tons of billboards. It's really funny. They get really excited when you say you're from the U.S. and they'll reply "daughter of Obama!"
Tomorrow is the last day at the orphanage. I can't believe it. I painted all week and today we started scrubbing the floors and finishing up on other cleaning. The painting was fun...scrubbing the floors? Not so much. :] Computers were stolen from the orphanage just days before we got there and so we're collecting donations from every team member to get one or two computers for them. I feel much better about using my spending money on donating a computer than wasting it all on plantain chips (They're delicious!). The kids told us today that they have a special performance for us tomorrow. I'm excited!
We start our week of travel on Monday. We're going to various tourist attractions and coming back on Friday. That's when we get to go to super cool craft villages and markets and such. It'll be so much fun. Then I only have one more weekend with my family and then I'm coming home. I wish we had more time at the orphanage. :[
Oh and my rash is getting better, thank goodness. I was a little worried there.

2009-07-09T13:11:00.002-04:00

On Monday, I missed out on the orphanage because I had to go to the hospital. I have this wierd, gross rash on my leg. Not cool! The hospital was nothing like our hospitals. I was a little scared being in there. The doctor gave me some cream stuff, and it's has gotten a little better since then, but I'm still pretty worried about it.
Aside from that, everything is going great! The orphanage is really fantastic. On Tuesday, I taught one of the classes how to make bar graphs during their math class. They're all so so cute! On Wednesday, we sanded the main building to get it ready for painting; today, we put new screens on all the windows; and tomorrow, we get to paint. Our team split into groups, so each group does a different thing everyday. We're getting a lot done.
This weekend, I'm going to the market with my host mom. I'm pretty excited to see everything and to go shopping! Everything is so cheap here and I want to buy almost everything I see. Africa is so cool. I am so glad I'm here experiencing it. ♥

Almost a week

2009-07-02T14:19:00.002-04:00

So it has almost been a week in Ghana. It seems like so much more only because we do so much in one day. I met my family on Monday. They are very nice, but it is hard to understand them. Though the official language is English, they are always speaking Twi and it is very confusing. I never know what is going on! At my home, there is no running water, so I have to take buckets from the well and take bucket showers and fill the toilet tank with water to flush. It is a bit tedious, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I think I have had rice at least three times a day since I've been here. And my family gives me such huge portions. So much for losing weight in Africa! Today was my first day at the orphanage. We didn't do much except tour the grounds. We played with the children for a only a short time before we had to say goodbye. Tomorrow, we will start painting the buildings and teaching the kids. We have been in the city the entire time we've been here, but the orphanage is out in the country. The countryside is beautiful! Much better than the city. I am so excited to really get to know the kids. It is so hot here! It has rained a lot, but today the sun came out and stayed out. I was sweating so much! I was telling my host brother, Frank, about snow and he said he would never be able to handle it. He even said it was cool today. I beg to differ! I can't even imagine how hot it must be during the dry season. Well, that's enough for now! All is going well in Ghana!

first post in ghana

2009-06-28T12:41:00.005-04:00

So I'm in an internet cafe in Accra. We're taking a city tour thing. It's pretty cool. The trip was EXHAUSTING. Our flight didn't leave until like 11:30 friday night. It was a seven hour plane ride. Then we had like two hours off the plane and then ANOTHER seven hour plane ride. I am not looking forward to the ride back! Last night was the first night I actually got a decent night sleep. It is soooo humid. Our beds felt wet because of the humidity. It has rained nonstop since we got here because it's the rainy season. There are 21 people on the trip. Like half of them are from the San Francisco area. Every one is really nice and fun. We're having a lot of fun so far, considering we have to sit through a super boring orientation. Our host families don't pick us up until tomorrow. We're staying at a hostel now. Some people have had a lot of contact with their host families. One girl even had a phone waiting for her at the hostel sent from her host mom as a gift! I'm so nervous about meeting my host family! I reallly hope they like me. And guess what!? There's a movie theatre here, which means I can still see Harry Potter! :] Well, depending on what my host family lets me do. I have to go now, but I'll post another blog soon hopefully!

FOUR MORE DAYS!

2009-06-22T00:41:00.002-04:00

Woah! It is so soon! This is so crazy and awesome and exciting and cool and nerve-racking! I've got to talk to a lot more people that are going to be on my team via facebook. They all seem really nice and I can't wait to meet all of them. I also talked to one of my group leaders. She was very informative and really nice. I want to try to talk to my host family again before I go. I started packing, too. I hope I don't forget anything, though I'm sure I'll forget something vital. Obama is going to Ghana while I'm over there, too! I know one of the team members wrote him, and I wrote him as well. Hopefully we'll get his attention, though it's highly unlikely.
I started packing. It's so wierd. It still doesn't seem real.

TWELVE DAYS!

2009-06-13T12:19:00.005-04:00

Oh my goodness. I am getting so nervous, but definitely super stoked. In less than two weeks, I'll be on my way to New York for our Gateway orientation. This is so crazy! I talked to my host father on Sunday. He was really nice and said everyone in the family is excited to have me stay. I can't wait! I've met a few of the other people going on the trip as well. They seem really cool and fun. I'm leaving the day before my graduation, so I'll have to have my valedictorian speech recorded for the ceremony. I should probably start buying travel accessories and start to get luggage ready and stuff like that. Woohoo!

The dates!

2009-05-20T21:13:00.002-04:00

Woohoo! Departure date is known! I will be leaving on June 25th to go down to St. John's University in New York. I'll be missing my graduation from high school. That's kind of a bummer, but this definitely is worth it. My plane leaves from JFK airport on the 26th at 10:20 p.m., so I'm assuming I'm spending the night at the university? From New York, I go to London, and then to Accra. I will arrive in Accra on the 27th at 8:10 p.m. I leave Accra on July 27th and will arrive in New York the 28th at 11:20 a.m.
Wow. It's crazy what a difference knowing your departure date. This is really happening! It has finally hit me. I am finally able to make one of my biggest dreams come true. I can't get over how awesome this is going to be! I only half a month left and so much to do! I'm having a bake sale on Memorial Day and I'm going to speak to our local Rotary club on June 10th. I still have yet to call my host family, but I want to get an international calling card first.

Host Family!

2009-05-09T10:39:00.002-04:00

I found out who my host family will be! They are the Tanlongo family. There are four kids: Francis, who is 11; Joseph and Josephine, who are twin siblings and 15 years old; and Jonathon, who is 16. The parents are Francis and Elisabeth. They live a little outside of Accra, Ghana's capital. I just found out yesterday and haven't gotten a chance to call or write them, but I can't wait! I'm a little nervous, though. I hope they like me!
Now I am waiting on my departure date, and then almost everything will be set! There's only a month and a half left and still so much to do...and so much money to raise. I've raised about $2,500 so far. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me get this far!

Spring Mixer

2009-04-20T14:24:00.003-04:00

So I'm finally having my first big fundraiser. The Chestnut Inn (a local, fine dining restaurant) has offered to hold a benefit this Friday from three to six. There will be free appetizers and drink specials and things of that nature. I'll have a little set-up of information about AFS, Ghana, the two of them together, and how I'll be involved with it this summer. I'll answer any questions anyone has about the trip. It'll be a lot of fun, and I hope people will come!

The Acceptance!

2009-03-13T21:08:00.002-04:00

Being a senior and all, I have been focused on recieving reply from the colleges I've applied to these past few months. Recieving the acceptance letters was fantastic. I think my most exciting acceptance was not from a college, but from AFS-Ghana! When I read that I was accepted, I was ecstatic. I was so relieved to know I was accepted. Now I really need to get focused on my fundraising efforts! I intend to get a spaghetti dinner organized soon. I think that'll be my first big project to tackle. I hope it'll go as well as I anticipate. :]

My First Blog Ever

2008-12-14T11:44:00.004-05:00

My name is Lydia Krembs and I'm a senior in high school in the tiny town of Deposit, New York. I am applying for the Ghana Community Service program for 2009 through AFS. When I read the description for this program, I was overwhelmed with excitement! I have always loved the entire continent of Africa, and to be able to work in an orphanage (I love kids!) over there for a month is absolutely fabulous. I am attending college in fall of 2009, so a month is the perfect amount of time to travel.
My life is pretty busy, but not too bad. In a small town, there aren't a lot of activities and clubs, but I try to stay involved in as many things as I can. I'm the yearbook editor for our school, the president of our Tri-M Honor Society, and a member of the National Honor Society. I love music. I am in our chorus and I play trumpet in the band.
I am so unbelievably excited about this opportunity. I really hope everything works out and I am able to raise the money for this trip. Thanks for having interest in my blog and my dream. Click on the ChipIn! gadget to the right of this blog to help me with my journey! Anything you can give is greatly appreciated!