Athletics Day

Last week the school held their Athletics Day. To us in America, this is Track and Field. The kids learned the art of doing the High Jump, Long Jump, and Javelin. They ran hurdles, sprints and middle distance. This one day event was spread out a bit more due to heavy rains. But what troopers these kids are, standing and running or cheering their classmates on in the rain.

Primary grades (Prek, K &1) stretching!

Bailey's division (Senior girls, 11 years+) had only 4 girls in it. 2 11 year olds and 2 14 year olds.

Bailey, Grace & Loretta (the Gazelle).

Bailey, Pilar, Grace & Loretta getting ready for sprints.

Bailey, Grace & Pilar.

Carter's division (7-9 year old boys) was probably the largest. So as hard as he tried, Carter couldn't keep up with the quick legs of the Ghanaians. He did fantastic at long jump though.

7-9 year old boys. Carter's teacher Miss Kim is in the floppy white hat.

Carter in hurdles.

Carter taking his jump!

Regan's division (5-6 year old girls) was close. Regan did awesome and has her fathers athletic abilities I think.

5-6 year old girls sprints.

Regan, check out the eyes. She was constantly watching where her competition was!

Regan taking the hurdles.

Unfortunately I don't have photo's to show my agility in the sack race, pony ride (skipping with pool noodles between legs) or speed walking.

At the end of the days competitions the results were this. Bailey took 3rd overall for her division.

Regan took 1st overall for her division.

That is Regan's teacher, Vice Principle & PE/Health teacher Miss Lynley.

Regan was also awarded the Principles Award for going above and beyond in cheering, helping and motivating!

Way to go kids!

Whats for dinner?

On a beautiful Saturday, the McCann's followed the Parker's down to Sunyani for an afternoon of shopping. This was our first trip down to Sunyani that was not on the Newmont bus for a flight or the scheduled shops on Tuesdays.

Sunyani is the capital of the Brong-Ahafo region and has a population of about 80,000 people. Make that 80,001!

Saturday Baby Girl

While we were in Sunyani, we had the pleasure of visiting Miss Winnie, the school secretary, in the Sunyani Hospital. Miss Winnie gave birth to a beautiful (4 week early) 2.6 kg baby girl. Here she is at about 8 hours old, ears pierced already. She will be called Amma (female born on a Saturday) until she is named a week later. This was Miss Winnie's first baby and was leaving the hospital that evening...12 hours after giving birth to a preemie! What a difference from America. I was thrilled to be able to hold this wonderful gift from God.

Now for our shopping...

Shoes anyone?

More shoes...

and clothes

These are some non edibles that are available. As for the things I needed, I was able to get watermelon, pineapple, apples, oranges, potatoes, onions, peppers and eggs. All of this has to be washed well, but I am learning all the ins and outs of safely feeding my family.

On our drive home there was loads of people carrying what they have gathered for the day. It is amazing to see children so young carrying maybe only 1 piece of wood or a small bowl on their head, but doing it, all the same. Unfortunately we were driving too fast to get any photo's of the young children.

And now for the highlight of the trip. As the Parker's pulled over to the side of the road I was not sure why. Until the kids came to show us! Grass cutters! The real name is the Greater Cane Rat. It is a type of bush meat and considered a delicacy (?). I am not sure that RAT and DELICACY go in the same sentence. But I was thrilled to finally be able to see these and get a great photo. And by the way, neither us nor the Parker's bought them for dinner.

A tasty treat?

Wonder if it tastes like chicken.

Anansi and The Moss Covered Rock

The school puts on a musical production each year. The kids have been singing and dancing for weeks now, learning movements and words. With anticipation, the big day arrives. The make up and costumes were wonderful, the kids were fantastic!

The story is about Anansi the spider who discovers a "strange moss covered rock." He then learns of the magic this rock holds - a special sleepiness overtakes the animal that says "Isn't this a strange moss covered rock!" He tricks various jungle animals so he can steal their food. Until one day Little Bush Deer, who has been watching Anansi's game, turns the trick on him and safes the animals and their food.

Regan and Bailey were both Ostriches, their food was coffee beans! Carter was a lion with meat of course.


I will continue to since the various songs for weeks to come no doubt. Enjoy the photo's.

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Driving to Tutuka

Sean decided to take up for a drive a few weeks ago. We headed out of the gate and in the jungle. We started heading for a village Tutuka (I hope I got it right) but never did see the village. We ended up driving around the Newmont tailings. The kids were starting to wonder and worry. "Are we lost?" "I have seen that tree before." "Oh look, there is that chicken again." There were times, when I thought there is nothing here, no one around, then we turn a corner and there are goats or chickens or even a bus. If your eyes looked carefully you would see the people in the jungle, behind the banana trees or among the corn. I feel that I will never be alone here, there are always people, even if you don't see them. Throughout the drive Regan kept saying she wanted to live in the jungle so she could be a jungle princess. I love seeing all this through the innocent eyes.

Here are some various photo's from the drive.





Here are few other things we saw...
A termite mound. They really are all over.

This is Mosquito Heaven! Malaria waiting to happen.

Making A Home

Our shipment arrived last Tuesday. The morning had started out with a huge thunderstorm. The skies opened up and dumped buckets and buckets of rain. More rain than I had seen since being here. I was a little apprehensive about the truck actually making it here. But like clockwork, it made it. It was so exciting. The kids bikes were the first things to come off and they were so thrilled! It took weeks and months of planning and packing and anticipating this move, and in the matter of an hour and a half, 5 men had our possessions unloaded and stacked around the house.

Regan started playing straight away. It was too exciting to wait. By the evening all the Little Ponies were lined up military style, waiting at her beckon call.

Carter was thrilled to see him MegaRigs again and soon took over my sun room.


Bailey was more set on getting her room back to her style.


I was lost in paper and boxes and emotions. Because even though it is thrilling to have our stuff and to make this house a home for a short while, it is all that more permanent. There is no turning back, no more thoughts of this as an extra long vacation. This is real, this is happening, this is scary.

Speed Stacking at its Best!

1. Bailey and Bronwyn in the Team Stacking event.

Last Thursday there was a school wide Speed Stacking Competition. For those who are not familiar with this stacking crazy, Speed Stacks are stackable cups with holes in the bottom. They are being used in schools world wide as a form of physical education. There is a method to the way the cups go up and come down. It is really amazing to watch! You can check more out here. Here are some photo's from the event last week.

2. Bailey in the individual stacking competition.

3. Carter in class tower stacking.

4. Regan and her group tower.

5. PreK, K & grade 1 in the group tower stacking.