My mini, two-week vacation is here and is half way gone already. And so far I've done what I've planned to do during this short vacation break: get some little rest and relaxation. In the beginning, I felt a little weird not having to think about studying or reading a book but I got over that pretty quickly. For the most part, things have been cool.

I'm still on a job hunt looking for a part-time position as either a receptionist or customer service position, preferably at a call center. So if anyone knows of anything, please get in touch with me... a sister is broke for real. I'm getting scared, lol. It's funny but it's not funny at the same time.

During my vacation, I've been doing a lot of thinking. I've been thinking a lot about the future and how I would like my life to be. In the next 4 years I see myself finishing school with a Master's in nursing and start getting some experience in the hospital first before I move out into community and public health. I also see myself married and with at least 1 child within the next four years. I've dreamed it and now it's only left with putting it into action and I'm ready!

I've also been reflecting, reminiscing and comparing life for me in Ghana and life here back at home. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to be back with my family and starting this new chapter in my life in school, but I sure do miss my Ghanaian life. What I miss most is people having time for each other and a life that is not focused on work, work, work. No matter how tough a day's work can be, I can always count on someone coming by to check on me or being able to go to a friend's house anytime. I always wonder how things would be in America if we adopted some of the Ghanaian social culture. What if we didn't have to focus so much on work and relied on each other more for moral and financial support and work came secondary. Now, this is not to say that in Ghanaian culture people don't focus on work but  people make sure they have time for their family and friends and socializing. That, in my opinion, seems to be one of the priorities in Ghanain culture and one that is very good for the human heart and soul.

I have been able to replicate some of my Ghanaian lifestyle here. I've made a few dishes, which still need to be perfected, but have worked well in curbing my cravings for some Ghanaian foods. I have a bike now too that I've been riding for exercise and it feels really good to get on and ride, except I never have a destination. Sometimes when I'm riding, I just wish I could be transported for just a minute to my rural town of Lawra, riding my bike to town to by ingredients from the market or to visit my friend or to a client's house to see how they are faring.

Well, enough about Ghana. I need to bring myself back to the present. The present is filled with bills, no money and the job search. My most immediate focus is to find WORK! Then finish these prereq's and move on to the Master's degree program. I just hope this time once school starts, I'll be able to be a little more balanced. But then again, I have to remember these are science courses, not liberal arts stuff.

Ok Ok, let me get out of here. It's 1am and I feel like I'm rambling. Check in soon for more blog postings. 

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 12:58 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, 28 May 2007 1:09 AM EDT

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I'm HAPPY to report that......FINALS ARE OVEEEEEERRRRRR!!! I don't think ya'll know just how happy I am. For the next two weeks (before the summer session) I will have some freedom, fun, and relaxation away from school work. As you've read from my previous posting, my head was in my books practically 24/7. I had no life, no entertainment... nothing! Everyday after class I would come home and do more studying and reading and then wake up and do it all over again. When I was working, it was a little more balanced because I had a  "social life" in the office and it got my mind off of school for a little bit while I interacted with my hilarious co-workers. So now one semester down, and about 5 more to go. I just hope my classes get more practical and hands-on. And I hope that I'll enjoy a career in nursing. I've heard some stories about current nurses who aren't happy with their field.

So now that I'm freed up from classes a little bit, I have to get some things together. I have to look for a new part-time job. I'm hoping to find something along the lines of a receptionist. Hopefully something slow-paced. I would like to also visit the college I would like to transfer to after completing my prerequisites. Along with that comes looking for scholarship monies or someking of financial aid to help pay for schooling. Then, I want to start studying for the GRE's. I really wanted to try to study for the GRE in one-2 weeks and then take it afterwards but my bother thinks it won't be feasible, so I'll try to study over the summer months and take the exam near the middle to the end of the summer. I'll work out a plan and try to get all these things done in two weeks.

After finishing my exam tonight, I was talking to some of my classmates who are from West Africa. I was telling them how I struggled to pass these courses this semester, reading day in and out and how difficult and frustrating it was for me at times. They just amazed me with their stories, all the struggles they've been dealing with for years just to get to where they are today. One lady was telling me how she came to the U.S. after  graduating with a degree in education back in her home country. She came here and decided to change her degree to nursing and jumped from many schools until she could find one that wouldn't require her to have a green card, only to have things change on her and after completing a year at that school she had to leave. She was finally able to get her green card and was able to finally complete an LPN degree. She's now an RN and is pursing a BS in nursing. In her pursuit her degree, she's struggled raising three kids, taking care of a husband, and pregnant with child number four and working full-time while going to school too. She says she doesn't know how she was able to survive it. Her story sent chills down my spine. I mean, here I am trying to take care of only myself with minimal responsibilities and I'm complaining about the little bit of stress compared to what this woman went through. Her story has inspired me and reminded me how strong women are and wondering what the world would be like without them.

 I don't know if it has anything to do with all the stress of studying and work, but I've been missing Ghana A LOT lately; missing some foods like banku and okra stew, missing my friends, the heat, the social life and the non-chalantness of the society of the rural life. Sometimes I just wish I could be chillin' under the mango tree in front of my friend's house sitting on a blanket and just chatting about life in general. I miss riding my bike and buying fresh vegetables from the market and greeting almost everyone I pass on the way to town or on my way back home. OOOHHHHH, and I especially miss my favorite food, santanpion and tz from Lawra. I would die to have a taste of it right now.

I think I better stop now before I go put myself in someone's suitcse and find myself at the Koto airport. Oh, how I wish.

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 10:31 PM EDT

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Well, I'm starting my finals this week and needless to say that means my head is stuck in a book doubletime now. I'm gonna be taking finals for the next week and a half so wish me luck cuz I'm gonna need it. I have no idea how all the information I've learned over the semester will stick in my brain for one test and be regurgitated correctly in order to pass test. But we'll see. Pray for me ya'll.

 My brother is also graduating this weekend. I've very excited about that. He's finally finished his four years at Clemson and will be getting his degree in mechanical engineering. He plans to continue his education and pursue a degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan with a FULL ride. Can you beleive it? Go AMIR!!!!! I can't beleive he's finished four years already. I was so used to him being in school.  Now we're both  'adults'. That's scary.

 Nothing much else is new. I haven't been working since my job ended with the tax season. Since then, I've been focused so much on my classes. But once this semester ends, I plan on getting another part-time job to balance things out a little bit. I think I'd love to work for an airline company in their call center so that I can have 'stress-free' work. But if I can't do that, then anything that'll bring in some cash and will allow me to do my school work is cool with me.

 Well, again wish me luck and pray for me during these finals.

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 3:11 PM EDT

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I feel like I have NO LIFE!!!! All I do is study, study, study. I don't have much time or money to hang out with friends and it's really annoying. I knew my time would be constrained when I started school again but I also thought it would have been more balanced. Because of all this I'm frustrated and wondering if I made the right choice to go back to school.

I'm trying to look at the end goal of attaining my nursing degree, but that's kind of hard since this is only my first semester. Hopefully,  the classes will get a little easier. I HOPE THEY DO! I do believe that once I start clinicals, it'll be more hands-on and less book work which should be interesting. That's IF  I even get accepted to the transfer program I'm hoping to get into.

It's really hard for me right now mentally though, but as I've always said, God has always been good to me and he's never failed me. I'm pretty sure he didn't bring me this far to let me down. So I'm just going to stop worrying and try to stop complaining. I'll struggle through with HIS help.

 Ok ya'll, I just needed to vent because things have been hectic with me lately with exams packed back to back, leaving me almost no time to even brush my teeth. I don't know how students are able to go back to school who have their own families to worry about and try to get their degree. I mean, I don't have a family to worry about and it's hard enough on me.

Well, thanks for checking in. Keep coming back to read updates.

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 9:26 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, 20 April 2007 9:45 AM EDT

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Last week was my spring break from school but it didn't actually feel like it with all of the catch-up studying I had to do and errands I had to run. I don't think I actually had one day for myself. But I guess I can't complain since I didn't have to wake up at 6am on any of the days. I can't say anything special happened or that I really "enjoyed" my break like I feel I should have.

A crazy event did happen during the break through. MY CAR WAS STOLEN!!! Yes, from right in front of my house. I went to the libary to study that evening and returned home around 9pm. I ate, watched the "Roots" special on TV, and around midnight I checked the front door to make sure it was locked before I went to bed. I slept all through the night this time and woke up remembering I needed to get something out of my mother's car before she left for work. When I opened the front door to get the stuff, I realized MY CAR WAS GONE!!!!! All along I had a feeling that something would happen to the car because it's one of the most frequently stolen, a Honda, only second stolen to the Toyota Camary.

Needless to say, I was bumbed and worried about how to get around and make all the appointments that I had for the week, plus get to work. Fortunately, I was able to use my mom's car. I was a little worried that I wouldn't get the car back but then decided that the situation is not in my hands; I needed to leave it all to the big Man upstairs. And surely enough, 3 days later, the car was found down in Virginia. I definitely can not complain because I got the car back in good condition. None of the parts were stolen. There was some damage to the car though, but not as much as I had expected to see. Whoever stole the care punched the ignition (that means the place where you put the key to turn the car on was knocked out). There was also a dent and scratch on the passenger side that was done while the thief/vies had my car. But it's not that bad. It's still driveable, it runs just the way it was before it was stolen. So I'm happy. I just need to get it fixed.

During my spring break, there was a tv special of the program "Roots", a book about an African-American family written by Alex Haley. He was able to trace his family roots to the "African" that was brought from the continent all the way to his then-current American generation ( I beleive they were living in Tennessee then). Basically, the story (the movie does at least) narrates 4 generations of a family that derived from one ancestor from the Gambia and his offsprings through their story from slavery to freedom and all the challenges, struggles and pain they faced along the way. It's a story I beleive every African-American should read or at least see during their lifetime. It shows us where our people have come from and what they had to endure in order for their offsprings, we, to be able to have to freedom we have today.

Now ya'll know one of my interest is history/genealogy and African culture and history and this movie kind of blended both for me. All through out the week I was looking up ways to do a family tree and researching history about the slave trade and I came up with some interesting information.

I was looking up the history of slavery of my mother's caribbean island, St. Thomas, USVI and found numerous historians and articles that supported that  at least 100,000 slaves between 1617 and 1807. Can you believe it? I was so excited to hear that. What it means to me is that possibly somewhere I have Ghanaian ancestory. As you already know, I served in the Peace Corps in Ghana from 2004-2006. I possibly could have had interactions with some of my ancestor's family. Ok, I know that may be far-fetched but while I was in Ghana, my host famiy actually looked a lot like me, lol. And others said that as well.

Wouldn't that be crazy? The funny thing is that while I was serving, I never thought of it as a home-coming experience that is common among African-Americans who travel to Africa. I saw it more as a learning experience and an opportunity to visit, live and learn the culture and customs of a tiny piece of a VAST continent, where I know my ancestors came from. And now to know that it's possible that my forefathers and foremothers may have come from there, makes me feel more of a connection with the country. I'll definitely have to share this info with my Ghanaian friends. They'll be excited, lol. I just wish I could trace my heritage back. I'm sure if that were possible, I'd find that they are from various parts of Africa, as people are always confusing me for an Ethiopian.

Ok guys, I hope you enjoyed. I'm going back to my new work of: study, study, study. Check in every now and then for new entries!

Until next time.

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 1:38 PM EDT

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Hey you all,

Just in case you haven't read my last entry, this is my new blog site to write down my thoughts and events of my post Peace Corps experience called... LIFE!.

Ok, so I'm back on the east coast of the U.S. to start the new chapter in my life, after serving two years in my other home, Ghana. I came back to the cold winter weather (my least favorite) to brave the cold weather, day in and day out. And let me tell you, I'd rather have excrutiating heat any day.  So far, the adjustment hasn't been too much of a problem. I feel like I've slipped right back into life as I knew it before I joined the Peace Corps; a life of working hard, struggling to get money only to give it away, and the countless things to worry your head with on a daily basis. On the other hand, I am glad to have running HOT water with a simple turn of the handle and food galore. Not that I've been cooking much but I sure as hell can buy food anywhere and at any time. I'm definitely happy to have cheese again and a variety of foods at every meal time.

My family was so overjoyed to see God take me overseas away from them for 2 years and bring me back safely. They threw a surprise party for me at the house so that when I hopped off the plane and arrived home, everyone was waiting to see me. It was really a warm welcome. Thanks mom for hooking that up! The fanfare lasted for a little while. I even received more christmas gifts than I thought I would. I'm sure it's because they are all so excited and happy to have me home. Either way, I'm happy to be with my peeps again.

So, my new chapter begins with school. Back in Ghana, I decided I wanted to go back to school to study nursing and practice community health nursing, just like what I was doing in Ghana. I've started taking the prerequisites for the Masters in Nursing program at the community college. In the begining, I was so excited to start school again because I've always loved school and now it's become a chore. I seriously don't remember ever reading and remembering so much for a few classes. Maybe that was because I was a liberal arts major that could easily bullsh*t my way through some classes by being able to defend my abstract thinking. Now, I'm reading all science courses which are no joke because it's either I know the stuff and can apply it or I don't and I fail the course. Needless to say, my books have become my boyfriend, lol. I'm in them every single day of the week. My mom says that's how life is, it's always something to do but I honestly don't remember it being that way. Maybe I was so preoccupied with trying to reach my goals and working hard to get there, the busyness didn't bother me so much.

Right now, I'm taking A&P I, Microbiology and Nutrition. People tell me I'm crazy for taking both of them at the same time but I really have no choice if I want to start the nursing program by next year. So I'm grudging my way through those classes and have Chemistry and A&P II, along with a psychology course to take over the summer before I can apply to the school. Sometimes I wonder if I'm making the right choice by going to back to school. My friend Tasha says it's the best thing to do, so I'm going to take that advice and keep on trekking. Plus, I feel like once I get my degree in nursing, I'll be able to do something that I love and be able to travel with it. Nurses are in need everywhere, basically.

In addition to going to school, I'm also working part-time at a tax office. I'm happy to say that I am the only American among the Ghanaian staff. It's really cool because I feel like I'm in Ghana most of the time and they always have news and new music and things going on to share with me. They almost always speak Twi, which I have yet to learn, but I'll never give up my loyalty to the Lawra people, lol. Unforunately, the tax season will be over and I'll have to look for another part-time job while I'm in school to pay the bills.

As for my personal life, it seems like I don't have one really. I keep in touch with my old friends every once in a while but mostly I'm either working or studying/going to school. I try to go out once a week but lately that hasn't been happening. Maybe when the summer is in full bloom, I'll feel the urge to get out more.

Alrighty then folks, I'll write something soon.

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 12:56 PM EDT

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Hello all! Welcome to my new blog site. I've created this new site to be able to blog about my life back home, back to the stress-filled, work-driven world of the USA. I want this blog to contrast my Peace Corps experience in the beautiful land of Ghana, where everyone knows your name, where people matter, and good friends and food are just a stone's throw away. Of course there's also the down side, but I think many media outlets have protrayed those things enough already.

 This is just my little introduction to you and I'll be sure to write another post  before the end of the week arrives.

 Toodles.

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 11:08 AM EST

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WELCOME!!!!

Posted by pennstatepeanut at 10:02 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 28 February 2007 11:07 AM EST

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