Been Good

Hello just wanted to say that I am fine sorry haven't been able to post anything the internet has been slow, I promise pictures are coming soon and updates about projects but I am fine and healthy enjoying life to the fullest. Hope everyone is good I miss you all and it is hard to believe that I am already a quarter of the way through my service.

Peace, Love , and all that good stuff

Austin

Hippobottomus

So this a story about a boy or really a man that saw a hippo walk by his house one day and so like any curious person would do he followed. Now this individual started to gather a following of children who could have been following him more than the hippo but we will never really know. So the hippo leaves the main road and heads into some tall grass, so naturally everyone follows each other down a small path. With no hippo in sight the hero of our story starts to look around behind him and to the sides. While he is doing this the hippo reappears in the path, the children scatter and now our man finds himself alone with a hippo bearing down on him. I want to add this side note that it was only a year ago that people stopped hunting hippo's for their meat, so for the hippo this was purely self defense. So our hero after overcoming the shock of hippo starts to run but without getting far he trips and falls to the ground. He gets up with the hippo still coming at him, being that this is a very scary thing his fright took over flight. Yes I do mean fright and not fight. This resulting in another fall to the ground that ended with his rear end getting bit. Now the lesson of this story is the hippo is a very dangerous animal and just because it likes the water does not mean that it is not also just as dangerous on the land. The individual in this story gave me permission to write about it and he is ok after getting some stitches leaving a scar that will always have a good story.
So I went to the hippo sanctuary recently which involves riding in a dugout canoe on the black volta and looking at the hippos in the water. I saw six just swimming around but none really emerging to show themselves to me but it was fun. It may not be as good of a story but I didn't have to get stitches in my butt either.

hello

mullet

America?

So I have had a few lingering thoughts about life and that kind of stuff, I mean I can't help but to think about such things and when you are in another culture it becomes a new window to look at your own culture so to speak. I am constantly made aware of how our American culture radiates around the world or at least to Ghana and other countries like it where the youth are watching movies from the states or even the latest season of Heroes. The thing that troubles me is the same as when I was back home to see a whole culture portrayed in a way that so completely and inaccurately describes what a true American is like. However when Americans go about mocking and acting the way that people do in the movies and music videos then I could be wrong. I know that this is not our culture however and yet it is being passed off to others as being what America is. It is just as troubling to elder in a village who sees a youth wearing his pants down at his knees and sporting chains around his neck, both which cost a substantial amount of money and yet the boy has no job and complains that he is going to move to the city where things are better. Well that was a little rant now wasn't it? The point that I think I was trying to make is that the world sees America through a different set lenses and we wonder how can anyone not like us. Well I know that if everyone was given the chance to actually meet us then yes they would change their minds but as long as Hollywood and the music industry are advertising for us people will continue to think that all Americans are rich, greedy, Godless, and selfish not to say that these people don't exist because they do all over the world. I just like to think that of most of the people I know this hardly does justice in describing an actual American. So now that, that is off my chest I would like to say that I am well and healthy. I am excited about the projects that I will be doing with my community, from building latrines to digging fish ponds. Even the smaller ones like painting a world map at the school to having a HIV AIDS awareness soccer matches. So life is good just as you may have noticed plenty of time to be critical yet anyone who knows me would say that I have always had time for that. So I hope everyone is fine and that life is also good.
Peace, Love, and all that Good stuff,

Austin McCain

Thanksgiving

You know it is funny to celebrate a holiday that is unique only to the US in another country. I remember the first time this happened to me was while I was in London such that right after Halloween the Christmas decorations started coming out. Makes you think about people who think that right after Thanksgiving is to soon for Christmas stuff, but the point I was getting at is that I remember asking myself what about Thanksgiving. Of course I realized that the holiday is an American creation and so that only we would celebrate it just as other countries celebrate their own Independence. But Thanksgiving here in Ghana at the US ambassadors house was great just like I had never left the states eating a turkey leg and pecan pie(no whip cream)mashed potatoes, and stuffing. The weird thing is that while yes all these things made me miss home and feel nostalgic I also realized what things I am giving up for these two years. This did not depress me but rather remind me of what I came here to do and that is the important thing because the world goes on life goes on and I know when I get back Thanksgiving will be there for me. So the real funny thing is that later that night I go and play trivia and drink a margarita as if it was cinco de mayo so really no matter the holiday what truly matters is the people you are with and despite not being with family I was surrounded by friends and really who could ask for a better Thanksgiving than that? So I hope that everyone had a great turkey day I know that the one turkey who got Obama's pardon did.

my local name

So while I have been in Ghana I have pick up some names so as of know I may be known as Austin Auzansoma Kofi Wesley McCain. So you may ask what are the meanings of these names and so here it is "Auzansoma" means all is well, all is good, with God all is good, or all is well with God. Basically all is good but with the many different variations. Kofi is simply Friday meaning that I was born on a Friday which actually I was born on Thursday but because of the time difference when I was born in Ghana it was Friday, plus I didn't like the name for Thursday. So life is good I remain in good health and have been playing soccer almost everyday since receiving a ball in the mail thanks dad. I am excited about the projects that I will start and as always my community is great they make it feel like home. I miss all of you and hope that things are well back home and sorry for no pictures this time.

Peace,

Austin